Lifting my Montero

[MonteroLTD]

I am looking to lift my 03 Montero Limited. Living in Canada makes it extremely hard to find a suspension kit that is affordable and in stock. I was wondering what my options are, any websites that you guys/girls can recommend? Would I be able to use just springs to lift and keep my oem shocks and struts? Or is it necessary to replace it all? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[off-roader]

The '03 is tougher to lift. You can do longer springs (unsure if longer shocks are needed) and even fabricate a custom "body lift" for the front and rear subframes that its suspension is built on. You may be able to find a shop to custom make coil springs for you.

Only kits available are from overseas (Australia mainly) since it was never that popular an off road 4x4 in N. America.

HTH.

 

[bpgt]

I've been looking into this as well. I haven't purchased my Montero...yet, but there are 2 kits that I've found to be the most common. One is by a company named Lovell's and the other is Old Man Emu (OME). If you search google for both, you'll see their pro's and con's. A lot of your search hits will come from South Africa or Australia where the Montero is a more popular platform as off-roader mentioned.

 

[Inyo_man]

The suspension lift I used on my Gen. III is the Australian made Old Man Emu (ARB).
I'm running the HD set up that replaces the coils, shocks, and struts.
The 1.75'' lift keeps the drive line within factory specs.
I've been very happy with the ride as a DD and when laden for the back country.

I would recommend purchasing shocks that have been valved and tested for a particular spring and spring rate.
Unless you want to do the work of testing and valving the shocks, let the company do the R&D so the products work together right out of the box.

 

[MonteroLTD]

I've heard of 3 brands. According the what I've gathered, Lovell makes coil springs and seems to be the most expensive, OME and Ironman make both shocks/struts and springs with OME being slightly better in quality. I am trying to acquire the OME set, but I was hoping someone here could recommend a good place to buy these online (Preferably from N.America). Maybe I'm wrong and I could go with an Ironman set-up, elighten me please because I am torn.

Another option that I have been looking in to is purchasing OEM replacement struts/shocks (KYB Gas-A-Just) and buying the Lovell, OME, or Ironman coil springs to save a buck. Can I even do that? Do the shocks/struts need to have a certain length to work with taller springs? Or should I just stop being cheap and buy the absolute best? I don't know, I'm kind of a newbie to this. You guys are the pros. I am just a dreamer looking to make it into a reality.

 

[off-roader]

Kyb gas adjusts are inexpensive but very good shocks in my experience with them.

id buy the ARB springs (Sierra Expeditions is a good source) and kyb shocks without hesitation.

 

[JAvendan]

when i was looking to upgrade my suspension on my '88 4runner i went with this company:

http://www.camel4x4.com/merchant2/

i believe they are a sponsor here... as i selected their link from the home page

call or email and speak to eli.

Eli Spigler
Director of Operations
Ironman 4x4 North America
Phone: 973-847-5417

joel

 

[cnutco]

I have been thinking of getting the OME, but just have not pulled the trigger yet. I've been buying guns and photography stuff instead.

 

[off-roader]

One good lens or gun = a lift kit purchased & installed... I ought to know. I've been eyeing a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens for a while now...

 

[cnutco]

Yeah... There's one in there somewhere!


Oh, it's standing up not attached.

 

[off-roader]

Yeah... There's one in there somewhere!
View attachment 145967

Oh, it's standing up not attached.

Looks like Nikon gear? What do you shoot? And I don't mean the Nickel Plated 'camera' in your Case either LOL...

 

[tank87]

If you're Interested in an old man emu kit try:
http://www.arbcanada.com/
They can email you a quote and are based out of Quebec.

James

 

[cnutco]

What do I shoot... With or what?
With:
D3 and D300 (been looking to add a D3s)

What:
People mainly. From seniors to weddings and most anything else to make a buck.

 

[MonteroLTD]

The suspension lift I used on my Gen. III is the Australian made Old Man Emu (ARB).
I'm running the HD set up that replaces the coils, shocks, and struts.
The 1.75'' lift keeps the drive line within factory specs.
I've been very happy with the ride as a DD and when laden for the back country.

I would recommend purchasing shocks that have been valved and tested for a particular spring and spring rate.
Unless you want to do the work of testing and valving the shocks, let the company do the R&D so the products work together right out of the box.

I was waiting for someone to say this. I am waiting to hear back on price and availability on an OME set up.

If you're Interested in an old man emu kit try:
http://www.arbcanada.com/
They can email you a quote and are based out of Quebec.

James

Thank you, I wasn't aware of this site.

 

[off-roader]

What do I shoot... With or what?

I was wondering what you shoot, not necessarily what you shoot with . Like you, I understand its the person behind the lens that's the most important piece of kit.

Myself, I shoot macro's of flowers and insects mostly. Like you I also have a D300 but for me its just a fun hobby so no need for a D3 much less D3S. If anything, the D300 is aging so I may get the D7100 as an upgrade if its a good body. As for lenses, yeah, lost of fast glass there.

ok, sorry for the sidetrack guys. Back to your regularly scheduled programming.