I finally installed a lift to the ZR

[Walker Member Find all posts View Profile Close Walker]

The Ironman suspension and bullbar went onto the ZR this week. I only picked it up tonight but my initial thoughts are this.

1. The ride is a LOT firmer. The stock 3 door has a very soft ride. It is not bad around town but the handling was terrible with a ot of dive under brakes. With the new suspension the ride is a bit firmer than I would have liked but it handles a lot better with no dive. Slightly softer springs would be better but I guess you cant have everything.
2. It is very high. My main worry with the lift was that it would be too high if they used the LWB springs.What I didnt do was take some before measurments. Could someone with a stock SWB please measure the hub to guard at front and rear, thanks. I will measure the new hights tomorrow.......and hope that it settles down a bit. They had to install a new panhard rod in the back ( I assume a longer one), is this normal on a Toyota? My main reason for the suspension was that I will be doing some heavy towing. I tow my 2T Range Rover on a car trailer with it and also a 2.5T caravan and the new setup should be perfect for this use.
3. The Ironman protector bar looks good. Although I havnet really had a good look in the light, they seem to have done a good install job, including transfering over the front parking sensors. My only criticism is that the top of the chrome tube refelects some headlight light back at the driver. I will have to look at putting some matt black paint on the offending areas.

Will post some pics tomorrow.

[hookedon4wding Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close hookedon4wding]

Re: I finally installed a lift to the ZR

Any pics yet Walker. Considering the Ironman Protector Bar for my Prado. How are you finding it?

Cheers, Sam.

[maxjj Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close maxjj]

Re: I finally installed a lift to the ZR

the ironman springs that went in are they the same as for the longer and heavier Prado or do they allow for the 200kg or so the ZR is lighter?
Maybe they are a bit on the firm side.

Range Rover on the trailer, is that how to take it for a drive? :mrgreen:

[Walker Member Find all posts View Profile Close Walker]

Re: I finally installed a lift to the ZR

Sorry I have been slack and not looking at the forum for a while.

This is the update on the suspension. I found out a couple of days later that they had installed the harder shocks to the rear. There are a few different shock absorbers available which will change the ride quality and feel. I had asked for the soft shocks so that it would match the lighter vehicle. They put the soft shocks on the front but had run out of them for the rear. They put the harder ones on the rear but will change them over at no charge when the install the shorter springs they are producing for the SWB. I have been assured that all will be good once they go in.

The suspension was great while towing 2.8T up to Queensland and the bar is fine. It looks good and has good protection for the intercooler and steering undernieth. I do think the ARB color coded bar is probably a bit better looking but at $800 cheaper the Ironman bar is great.

Sorry I have not taken any pics of it yet so I better get onto it.

As for the Range Rover. :twisted: The Rangie is my bush basher and I did not want to drive 4,000km on 35" simex's. Here is a pic of her

[maxjj Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close maxjj]

Re: I finally installed a lift to the ZR

wow looks the goods, nice Range Rover. Good news, on getting the shocks sorted out.

[Schniff Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schniff]

Re: I finally installed a lift to the ZR

Does the ZR have KDSS? Do you have a lean after the lift was done?

[Walker Member Find all posts View Profile Close Walker]

Re: I finally installed a lift to the ZR

No, no KDSS and no lean

[blackcoal Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close blackcoal]

Re: I finally installed a lift to the ZR

Hey Walker,

I completed the measurement you were after from my recently received stock ZR. Centre of hub straight up to the body guard, front 520mm and back 545mm.

Any update on how the lift is going? I too want to get a lift but am uncertain which product to choose.

Blackcoal

[trackers Member Find all posts View Profile Close trackers]

Re: I finally installed a lift to the ZR

Hi Walker,
What colour is your prado? Ours is silver pearl and we are having the same bull bar fitted on Wednesday.
Cheers

[Walker Member Find all posts View Profile Close Walker]

Re: I finally installed a lift to the ZR

Yes, we have a silver pearl as well.

Here are a couple of pics. Sorry the quality is not that good, I only took them with my phone.

The coils and shocks for the rear are still not ready and I am really looking forward to getting them as the ride quality is still very harsh.

[Walker Member Find all posts View Profile Close Walker]

Re: I finally installed a lift to the ZR

Hey Walker,

I completed the measurement you were after from my recently received stock ZR. Centre of hub straight up to the body guard, front 520mm and back 545mm.

Any update on how the lift is going? I too want to get a lift but am uncertain which product to choose.

Blackcoal

Thanks for that, that is exactly what I was after and confirms what I thought. I have a 2" lift in the front but a 3" at the rear. In the photo's it doesnt look so bad because I am running larger tires, but with the standard highway tires it looks ridiculous because of the huge space above the rear wheels. Once the proper springs are fitted it should drop back to a 2" lift in the rear and will be perfect. Other than the ride quality (which will be fixed when the correct shocks are installed) the Ironman suspension is great. Much better handling on the road and great for towing.

[Walker Member Find all posts View Profile Close Walker]

Re: I finally installed a lift to the ZR

Ironman changed the rear shocks last week to the specs I wanted. It now rides and handles beautifully.