3" lift questions

[Dominator Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dominator]

I am looking at getting a 150 prado and will be fittn a 3" lift. I have not decided if I will get the superior kit or the cal offroad kit however which ever way I go I will be fitting Aftermaket upper control arms, struts, springs, shocks, diff drop kit, etc, rear adjustable pan hard rod, and aftermarket rear lower control arms. Just wondering if a 3in lift will cause any issues with any of the other suspension or steerig components. I am probably most concerend about the front lower control arms. I am coming froo a patrol so I dont have much experience with IFS. Thanks

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

I am looking at getting a 150 prado and will be fittn a 3" lift. I have not decided if I will get the superior kit or the cal offroad kit however which ever way I go I will be fitting Aftermaket upper control arms, struts, springs, shocks, diff drop kit, etc, rear adjustable pan hard rod, and aftermarket rear lower control arms. Just wondering if a 3in lift will cause any issues with any of the other suspension or steerig components. I am probably most concerend about the front lower control arms. I am coming froo a patrol so I dont have much experience with IFS. Thanks

Personally, I went with a 2 inch lift, to remain legal. If you have an accident (particularly if it causes a fatality) they do check suspension measurements, tyres, brakes etc, so it is best to be legal, but anyway, what I do know is that a 2 inch lift has not required changes to control arms, steering, diff etc, but let us know how you go if you do install a 3 inch lift.

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Have a read through Derek's build.

http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...0-GXL-build-up

If I was going 3" I would follow his lead. His build has been done to the highest standard, great work.

[Whitey Shockie Maker of the Month Award Find all posts View Profile Close Whitey]

Hey Dominator,

If you do a 3" lift, the front upper control arms will be the problem, not the lower ones (although watch out for dust and crap getting in your lower control arm bush tubes, which can sieze the camber bolts).

With a 3" lift on the Prado IFS, for the front you will want to run the maximum open length strut (570mm on the 120, not sure on the 150 maximum open length before CV bind?) to get some decent droop, and you will need after market adjustable upper control arms to stop the arms binding on the coils at full droop, and to also get the front end back into alignment. You'll also need a diff drop (20mm spacers) to keep a decent CV angle so your CV's don't get flogged out. Steering wise at 3" there isn't any issues (although ball joints may get flogged out earlier), and the swaybar should still be fine. You may get the CV boot rub on the strut ringeye at full lock and full droop.

For the rear 4-link with a 3" lift, you will need a lot of modifications, the diff will prolly be out, so an adjustable panhard rod, the upper trailing arms are quite weak and tend to snap in hardcore places (like middle of Simpson), and they bind on the fuel tank at full droop with long rear shocks and extended swaybar links, so get some adjustable offset upper trailing arms. Same for the lower trailing arms, Superior do offset lower arms. You'll need to extend your rear brake lines, and you might need a tailshaft spacer. 80 series landcruiser shocks are good for long travel in the rear, and you'll prolly need swaybar link extensions to prevent swaybar bind before shock top out.

I personally don't like coil spacers in the rear, and there has always been a bit of a gap from the tallest coil available (C59-443V 470mm free height) which will give around a 3.5-4" lift, and the next tallest coil at 420mm which typically gives 2-2.5" lift with a load in the rear.

I recently got a new rear coil designed by Dobinsons which should fill this gap, it's 430mm free height and 280lb/in, which is perfect for a loaded vehicle in the bush, which is what I want. That is pretty much the free height limit for a linear coil in the rear of the Prado. If you're after tall flexi coils which give 3" lift in the rear with no spacers, give CalOffroad a call, but keep in mind they are not very useful for loaded vehicles due to their soft spring rates.

After reading all of that, you should keep in mind what brogers has said. There's no complicated modifications needed for a 2" lift, you can use all the existing control arms, no extensions needed anywhere, just coils and struts/shocks, and you're vehicle will be legal!

Take a look at the 120 series suspension database to get an idea of what's available.

http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...nsion-Database

You'll prolly also run bigger tyres, which may rub in certain places on the guards/front swaybar etc., and you might want lower offset rims.

If you do go for 3", best of luck, and throw up some piks!

Best

Mark