Prado 120 suspension lift

[marcovn]

After having to push the rear bumper on my Prado 120 back in its place several times, it became clear that a suspension lift is necessary. The pictures below tells the several months long success story to get it all done.


The front suspension was raised making use of 30mm spacers (compliments from Uys) which resulted in about 62mm effective lift.

BEFORE

BLOOD SWEAT AND TEARS


GREAT SUCCESS!


After about three hours of intense labour (because I thought I am the master mechanic) a remarkable difference was visible.

Now for the rear: The vehicle was riding visibly nose up.

BEFORE


At first we thought similar spacers might work on the rear suspension. After closer inspection we realised that it might not work as planned. The decision was made to replace the rear coils with extended coils. However, I did not want to loose the nice soft ride comfort of the Prado.

I then measured the standard Prado coils, made a sketch of an extended coil and issued this to Deon at East Rand Spring Works (011 914 2399). After installing the new coils, the suspension lift was still too little. Deon offered to fabricate similar longer coils - these unfortunately started buckling under the weight of the vehicle. Deon again offered that I return the vahicle to him to fit a coil of his own design.

All of this fiddling, three sets of coils and hours of labour was dealt with by Deon and his team with a great attitude and a ridiculously low price.

REAR SUSPENSION RAISED


Now I am happy and can think of several obstacles to take revenge on.

Obviously I also fitted the coolest bash plate ever (compliments fro Uys).

MAKROMAN


A little bit of patience and it all work out well...

[herby]

You could have fitted the MAD suspension from Sportsvans in Pretoria.
After fitting the Mad i noticed a increase in ride height of 35mm and a big improvement in handling on Tar and Dirt roads on all our cars.

[Jengel]

Marco, have you done a wheel alignment? Lifting an IFS has some complications and one of them is the camber/castor that change. Also to extend the rear coils need longer shocks.

[oradba69]

So glad I only need to push a button for the same effect
Friend of mine had the Ironman fitted to his Prado, looks quite good and handling is not too shabby either.

[ArthurB]

Afrishox (Ted) did this lift for me, using Bilsteins.

I decided to re-use my existing coils and rather put the extra money into the Bilstein Shocks, and I think it has paid off.

On the front Bilstein, they cut extra grooves at 8mm and 16 mm from the existing groove. We used the 16mm grove to get 32mm lift, and at the back, they made aluminium spacers 30mm thick.

It works well - no clonks in the back at all. The rear spacers cost me R600.

Overall cost just below R11 000.

[Johan Visser]

Hallo almal,
Na n ongelooflike SOS duine toer deur Namibia met Wittes Beukes, is my arme PRADO 4l effe gebuig. Die agterste bumper het herhaaldelik losgeskeur ; die kar is te laag ens. ;Ek oorweeg n ARB voor bumper , n suspensie lift 50 mm , nuwe rock sliders asook n STAAL aterbumper, maar niemand vervaardig so n stamper nie. Ek soek dringend raad. Johan Visser.........0834556556

[Randy]

Johan

Ek soek ook al lankal 'n agter bumper.

Gareth Anderson kan dalk vir jou een bou as jy jou kar vir a week of 3 by hom kan los.

sy nommer 0 Agt 3 2 AGT nil 3 Nil triple 7

[Johan Visser]

Dankie Randy,
het met Gareth gepraat .Enige voorstelle t. o. v. suspensie oplig .

[gavpike]

Johan

Ek soek ook al lankal 'n agter bumper.

I've found an outstanding rear bumper for a 120 and am seeing how I can source it. Problem, if I look at the Snorkel thread, I'd bring in it in, sell 1, somebody would copy it and tell me I'm too expensive

[Randy]

I've found an outstanding rear bumper for a 120 and am seeing how I can source it. Problem, if I look at the Snorkel thread, I'd bring in it in, sell 1, somebody would copy it and tell me I'm too expensive

Gavin

Any pics from the side, this looks almost like it fits behind the bumper. which will help NOUGHT!

[gavpike]

You're right Randy - although it doesn't have side pics, that's what it looks like

[Uys]

Johan

Ek soek ook al lankal 'n agter bumper.

Gareth Anderson kan dalk vir jou een bou as jy jou kar vir a week of 3 by hom kan los.

sy nommer 0 Agt 3 2 AGT nil 3 Nil triple 7

Ek kan hom na Paasnaweek vir jou bou.

[DionWheal]

Uys, as jy n Prado 120 agter bumper bou sal ek definetief ook belangstel in een.

[gavpike]

How about this?

[Randy]

Gavin

Thanks for the pics. They have obviously tried to keep the shape similar to the OEM bumper.

I would prefer mine to have more of an angle on the corners, inwards and forwards. if that makes sense.

I know that the chassis goes right upto the existing bumper which limits how much you can take away, but there is room to cut the bumper at an angle forwards to get a much better departure angle.

This is currently the weakest part of my PRADO.

I leave my towbar (PLOEGSKAAR) in when 4x4 ing just to try and prevent FURTHER damage to the bumper.

[richyv]

Why would one take a route like this, opposed to doing something like a old man emu suspension upgrade?

[Randy]

About 10 000 (R10k) reasons!

[richyv]

I see a figure of around 11k here. For 4k more I can get OME fitted? Hence my reason for asking why would I spend a fraction more for this solution?

[georgej]

So glad I only need to push a button for the same effect
Friend of mine had the Ironman fitted to his Prado, looks quite good and handling is not too shabby either.

until you press the button and nothing happens.....R19000-00 later