Matt's 2012 TD 150 Series Prado

[vxcruiser08]

Got the Superior Panhard Rod and Swaybar drop/extension kits fitted. Handles so much better, i was quite amazed actually!

I think i'll give the bank account a rest for a while now....

[vxcruiser08]

Unfortunately not, I could probably have got the heavy duty sleeves but maybe i can look at this later if i go more weight on rear e.g. roof top tent/water tank etc. They leak air over 24 hours at the moment, but when they were fully aired up i wasn't happy with the height.

2" sounds like a plan, not for everyone. I can also tell you the car handle heaps better on a 2", but i found it's smoother on a 3" but more body roll.

Matt

[eNaK]

Cheers jkspinner. I might just order their 2" lift kit then. Dont really need a big lift as most the work will be beach work and some touring now.

Thanks as well matt. So your airbags dont hold the prado up once its fully loaded? Or is it just because they keep leaking air? Think the 2" will be less drama and should be high enough for what i want to do now. I like the way they look when they are lifted nice and high and also the view u get. i had a 100 series with 4" and 35s. So i just wanted it up high but im not rock crawling anymore so i think the 2" with 32s should suit me.
I might get on to Cal now and change to just a 2"

Thanks guys

[vxcruiser08]

Hey Kane,

I believe the 20mm spacers got it back up to 3 inches. I actually haven't measured it properly since as i am usually not parking on flat ground! There is a hell of a lot of weight on the rear when I packed her all up with Jerry cans on roof, all camping gear, water etc - so I think it was needed to maintain the height and i am really fussy.

Yes if you go the 3" it's going to be expensive and IMO not worth taking the risk, so i would recommend doing the control arms, diff drop, pan hard rod, and the sway bar re-locators/extenders.

My tyres are only 265/70/17 for now so I imagine 285's will bring it up more again. I can see evidence of them rubbing ever so slightly on the control arms but i'm not worried and when i go bigger tyres will be making sure the offset pushes them out a bit more.

Matt

[Jkspinner]

Hi Kane
Most of the Dominson rear coils will give you more than 2" lift (many around 3") in the rear anyway, especially without any load, same with ARB and other coils. I have the CAL 2" kit and really like the ride, although I am probably going to drop back to a lighter coil in the rear, to lower it a little, and also to provide a more comfy ride around town

Hey Matt

Awesome rig mate loving it. Tough looking truck
I am in the process of ordering my 2"- 3" lift from Caloffroad and just come across this and i am a bit worried now. I have ordered the UCA's and my mate has a diff drop kit i can get off him. But by the sounds of it you need a few more things to make it right. Did the 20mm spacers u installed take it over the 3" lift? If the 3" lift involves all the extra stuff i will most likely just go their 2" lift. Also what size tyres are you running with that lift? and any rubbing?

Cheers

Kane

[eNaK]

Hey Matt

Awesome rig mate loving it. Tough looking truck
I am in the process of ordering my 2"- 3" lift from Caloffroad and just come across this and i am a bit worried now. I have ordered the UCA's and my mate has a diff drop kit i can get off him. But by the sounds of it you need a few more things to make it right. Did the 20mm spacers u installed take it over the 3" lift? If the 3" lift involves all the extra stuff i will most likely just go their 2" lift. Also what size tyres are you running with that lift? and any rubbing?

Cheers

Kane

[vxcruiser08]

Hey Madkore,

I believe it's simply due to going 3 inches and I wasn't clearly informed i would require any additional equipment except the control arms and diff drop. Having said that, it wasn't installed by Cal - he said it should have been picked up when the new kit was installed and by whoever did the wheel alignment. I have to give Cal credit, he has been very helpful and i've been really annoying calling him often with questions etc.

The guys that installed it, let's just say after the rear shock fell out when i was driving and an airbag that constantly leaks now i won't be going back!

I Agree - Coopers are great at honouring their warranty, the rep had all the time in the world for me too so i really appreciated it. Yes 50k in 13 months. ODO is at 95K for a 2012. I wish i had a second car!

[Madkore]

Are the suspension issues because of the CalOffRoad kit?

Good on Coopers though for honouring their warranty. There are quite a number of reports of it not working out for people so well on here. I still cant believe you have clocked up 50,000km in 13mths!!

[vxcruiser08]

Thanks for the comments guys. I will definitely be following up the bent (IMO) arm with ARB or Kaymar if i have no luck!

Latest news:

So the day I left before my trip I had booked in the Prado to get two 20mm spacers installed as the rear appeared lower than the front, even though when i measured it there was about 10mm difference, it was getting to me. Anyway, 2 x $30 spacers turned into a $500 drama! Turns out the panhard rod bolts seized and threads stripped etc. Luckily I was provided with a temporary solution so i could still complete my trip.

From this, I have ordered a few bits from Superior engineering:

- Adjustable Panhard rod
- Extended sway bar links
- Sway bar relocation plates

I hope that is it for now and there will be no more surprises.

My coopers are also starting to crack. They've hit the 50,000km mark and are 13 months old. The cooper tyre rep looked over them yesterday and said they have only worn 1/3 (5 tyre rotation) which is think is impressive. However they have side wall cracks on the outershell and they will honour the warranty and provide me with some sort of cash rebate. Maybe a good excuse to go to 285s...

[foxclan]

Hi Matt
10 pages of a great Rig Build up just read.
Fantastic pictures and info, this will be one of the benchmark 150 series build up post for all to enjoy.
Regards
Troy

[Pearl150]

Thank you, I see what you mean now.

That has made me think about adding a second spare. Might go with the jerry can holder instead. I tend to like things neat and tidy and that would bug the hell out of me.

I wonder if it is just a case of moving the mounting plate for the wheel nuts in a little to straighten him up. I know mine is adjustable for different width tyres on the drivers side arm.

Maybe it has to be that way to get past the replacement number plate bracket.

Good luck with it anyway mate.

Cheers.

[Nick74]

Nice rig there mate. I wonder if mine will look like yours after I finish with.

Regarding your rear bar, I have a Kaymar on my GU and it has the same misaligned rear arms which looks stupid. I did however have one of the rims off the arm the other day and noticed that the face you mount the wheel on was bent. Thereby meaning the wheels are out of kilter from each other. It may be worth you having a look at that

Cheers
Nick

[vxcruiser08]

Yes there is definitely something not right with the bar.

Okay here a few pics, couple from a friend who is great on the camera, many more to come i'd say. The other few are just some quick ones i took, didn't do any fancy stuff on the trip we didn't have time. 6500kms in 2 weeks.

Great trip but we had a few dramas...! What's an adventure if everything goes to plan.

My rear shock fell out as I was pulling into a town, that was interesting.

My MSA fridge slide which i've never been happy with literally rattled to pieces and fell apart.

Bolts for my side steps fell out somewhere.

Lost my akubra :'(

My coopers are a little bruised and battered, however I was lucky in comparison to the rest of the group. Had a hilux with near new coopers get a massive puncture under one of it's tread blocks. Took 12 plugs to stop it from leaking and he limped it to a station (pays to carry same size spares ). Had a good year wrangler completely blow its side wall into pieces. A set of new BFG AT's got 2 x punctures. Another set of coopers also received a big stick through the middle.

The jeep for once didn't breakdown, his trailer did this time round. The road to chambers pillar is shocking. Had to organise a car trailer and hang around alice springs for 3 days.

Started off nice and clean....

[tdprado]

Hi Matt, for the price I know you would of paid, I would not be very happy with that. Stephen.

[jonoxplor]

Pic's are needed Matt!