Airbag suspension on 120 Grande

[[email protected]]

Guys after just being through this nightmare, I can point some flaws regarding aftermarket lifts and the airbag suspension for the 2008 GRANDE 120 series
I have blow two sets of airbags now, one OEM stock and one from AirBagMan. New shocks were Koni 88's. Can't fault the Koni's or AirBagMan's kit,
The drivers side airbag mount seat is effectively tin. The passenger side is strengthened by other parts of the suspension. What this means is that at full articulation (even with AirbagMans) two inch option the drivers side MAY come out and your back on the stumps.
There are some aftermarket spacers that may help but strengthening the drivers side mount appears to be the only solution (weld etc)
It's a long way from the Wonnangatta to Melbourne dragging your arse along the ground.

Did it again today (sigh......) - looks like I have taken out ABS or wheel speed sensors as the dash lit up like a Christmas tree.

[[email protected]]

Guys after just being through this nightmare, I can point some flaws regarding aftermarket lifts and the airbag suspension for the 2008 GRANDE 120 series
I have blow two sets of airbags now, one OEM stock and one from AirBagMan. New shocks were Koni 88's. Can't fault the Koni's or AirBagMan's kit,
The drivers side airbag mount seat is effectively tin. The passenger side is strengthened by other parts of the suspension. What this means is that at full articulation (even with AirbagMans) two inch option the drivers side MAY come out and your back on the stumps.
There are some aftermarket spacers that may help but strengthening the drivers side mount appears to be the only solution (weld etc)
It's a long way from the Wonnangatta to Melbourne dragging your arse along the ground.

[Justo]

Re: Airbag suspension on 120 Grande

I wasn't aware they had changed them in later models, but yes thats the only problem I had. They would jump off their seats but as mentioned they really only need a retainer pin to stop them from jumping. I'm not sure how far you can go with lift on the originals though. Maybe Autocraft can answer that.
I'm more than happy with the 2" lifted bags I put in though, and should they ever pop out they are a hell of a lot easier to get back together and back in than the originals.

[Callo]

Re: Airbag suspension on 120 Grande

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by Auto-Craft on 08 Feb 2011, 17:38

Very early ones had issues, and could pop the bag, Toyota put longer retainer clips on them, and as long as your mechanic doesnt turn the ignition on whilst its on the hoist, and we have done the retainer fix, they shouldnt ever be an issue.Regards Darren McRae

Recently a mechanic at an auto transmission workshop did this and yes they went pop. Excellent service from transmission workshop. Agreed readily to a fix by Toyota (another story there) and then a full refund to me. Only problem now is that Toyota claim I need a new CPU because it will not raise or lower. More to follow. If anyone has suggestions would love to know.
Callo

[Auto-Craft]

Re: Airbag suspension on 120 Grande

Very early ones had issues, and could pop the bag, Toyota put longer retainer clips on them, and as long as your mechanic doesnt turn the ignition on whilst its on the hoist, and we have done the retainer fix, they shouldnt ever be an issue.

[waltec]

Re: Airbag suspension on 120 Grande

Can you elaborate Justo? Not sure exactly what you mean by your post. Darren (autocraft) put Bilstein shocks in my Grande. He also modded the airbags to ensure no pop out probs.

Darren has a couple of different ways that he uses to retain airbags, originally he used a strap to limit the the travel of the rear to stop the bag "popping" out. He has now found a new way to hold the bottom of the bag to the saddle on the axle.

I love the airbag rear end, always level, rides well, and as others have said no probs offroad.
Matt

[longdog]

Re: Airbag suspension on 120 Grande

Can you elaborate Justo? Not sure exactly what you mean by your post. Darren (autocraft) put Bilstein shocks in my Grande. He also modded the airbags to ensure no pop out probs.

[Justo]

Re: Airbag suspension on 120 Grande

I'll second what Piggy said as long as its in standard form you wont have a problem. If you tweak them up too far for a bit of lift and do some serious offroad work then there's every chance one will pop out. I had one pop out while set on the high setting with some extreme articulation after I tweaked them up. And as soon as I put aftermarket longer travel shocks they jumped out pretty quick too.
Airbagman 2" lift airbags solved that problem.
Love the self leveling rear and the ability to raise when needed is brilliant. Go the Grande..

[vchandaria22]

Re: Airbag suspension on 120 Grande

You can change the suspension from Airbag to Normal but you have to change the fitting (in the car) at the top where either the airbags or springs would fit as it is different for the air bag and different for the spring

[vchandaria22]

Re: Airbag suspension on 120 Grande

You can change the suspension from Airbag to Normal but you have to change the fitting (in the car) at the top where either the airbags or springs would fit as it is different for the air bag and different for the spring

Re: Airbag suspension on 120 Grande

There is a number of threads on the airbags in the Grande. Failure is more a myth than actual happening.

Those of us with them who treat them as 4wd's have found no issues with them..

The other threads offer much more info.

[D4D-GXL]

Re: Airbag suspension on 120 Grande

Hi Steve. There is a 120 Series GXL that comes with the option packs. Mine is an auto D4D and has most of the bells and whistles of the VX except a heap cheaper. It is an option when buying a new 120 Series (back a couple of years now). It has Traction Control and Downhill Assist, Rear Aircon & climate control to name a few. But they are rarer than VXs. Im not sure about the airbags in the VX or Grande, but I have aftermarket airbags in mine and love them when towing the camper.

[Steve M]

If the Airbag suspension on 120 prado fails in the Grande's is it possible to remove and just put in normal suspension eg OME or the likes, or is there more to it and is a major modification required. We are selling the 90 series and going up to a 120 but I would prefer a VX without all the airbag stuff in the rear but VX's are alot harder to aquire then a grande. I want the traction control etc which is available on the VX and Grande but not on the GXL. Regards Steve M