Gen 2.5 - Upgrade Advice Needed - Body Lift or Suspension Lift, and Maintenance Item.

[nwoods]

Well, on 4Wire, Ray (Off Roader) posted that his old Geocities website is back on line. Yeah! On his site there is a functioning link to the KYB shock info. Here are the part numbers:



This information occurs NO WHERE ELSE. It is NOT listed on 4Wire.

 

[off-roader]

Dude... That's right because those part numbers are a stock parts from KYB, not a special part number. Pretty much anyone can get that info from KYB.com or your local or online KYB dealer.

In fact, I just tried to check for the correct part number and was able to easily get to their online part catalog..

What's not available on KYB.com is which KYB shocks you use if you've put in longer shocks in a Gen 1. That info is what we consider relevant to keep track of because it's not easy to get.

Should I queue that whining comment again??

 

[nwoods]

Ray, you have suggested that I search on 4Wire no less than 4 different times for this information. It's not on there. That's all I'm saying.
Edit, no its not, I'll say more:

I have found far too many instances when the "hot setup" that people figure out for a given vehicle involves parts or pieces that are not directly listed in mfr's catalog's. On 4Wire I read many threads that the KYB's were not a direct bolt on application, and that you needed to do "something" to them to install them. Slowly, many, many hours of reading later it seems that this was for Gen 1 Monty's only. I don't see a whole lot of mention of extended KYB's for Gen 2's. And I most certainly did not find part numbers related to Gen 2's. I feel that this is pretty critical information if this is going to be a recommended product!

 

[off-roader]

Ray, you have suggested that I search on 4Wire no less than 4 different times for this information. It's not on there.

Nathan, sorry for any confussion. I must have thought you were looking for the longer gen 1 kyb shocks that a lot of owners ask me for. You're correct that the stock length gen 2 shock part numbers arent listed anywhere and i hope were clear that this is actually done by intension...

We usually only keep track of exceptions on the wire. We typically don't bother listing stock part numbers on the wire especially since the Mitsubishi Part Catalogue Software is available (that's the Mitsu ASA app found on Mitsubishilinks.com) and you can find pretty much any original part number there.

So the gen 1 kyb shock part numbers we list on the wire are not for the stock replacement KYB shocks. They are for the longer shocks. It took a lot of time spent with KYB support personnel to identify a standard shock they make which has similar design specifications (damping/rebound rates, etc.) as the original montero shock but is 2" longer and still has the same end attachments (so we could use it with 2" taller coil springs).

Hope that helps to set your expectations a little clearer. If not, I'll happily PM my cell number to you and we can go over it in more detail since I'm sure the ExPo staff would probably prefer we not discuss it here anyway.

 

[Toasty]

You don't want to just slap a longer shock on your truck, there's more to it than that. 2" of lift doesn't just mean you need 2" longer shocks, upgrading to a longer shock requires more than just buying some other application that just works. Take your sway bars off and run your truck up an RTI ramp, measure your full extend and full collapse. Now you can order shocks from who ever you want, You may need to adjust your bump stops. Run stock length shocks up front, they are long enough even for running no bump stops (not that you should do that). I lengthened my upper mounts and i'm running a 8" or 9" shock, makes for some good flex. More flex in the rear makes up for the lack of up front.

 

[nwoods]

You don't want to just slap a longer shock on your truck, there's more to it than that. 2" of lift doesn't just mean you need 2" longer shocks, upgrading to a longer shock requires more than just buying some other application that just works. Take your sway bars off and run your truck up an RTI ramp, measure your full extend and full collapse. Now you can order shocks from who ever you want, You may need to adjust your bump stops. Run stock length shocks up front, they are long enough even for running no bump stops (not that you should do that). I lengthened my upper mounts and i'm running a 8" or 9" shock, makes for some good flex. More flex in the rear makes up for the lack of up front.

I know this. I was just under the impression that since this vehicle has been wheeled hard for the past 15 years or so by guys like you and Ray, that it would be documented and posted somewhere, and that I could follow in your footsteps and gain from your experiences. I did not anticipate having to reinvent the wheel.

 

[nwoods]

So, here is a simple question: How do you remove the covers for the little dome tweeters on the front door pillars? Just pull them off? The Service Manual doesn't show any fasteners....

 

[off-roader]

So, here is a simple question: How do you remove the covers for the little dome tweeters on the front door pillars? Just pull them off? The Service Manual doesn't show any fasteners....
View attachment 172557

Nathan, do you mean the one that's colored in blue on that page (the ones you can easily smash with your knees if your not careful? Or the 1" dome tweeters on the A-pillar? On my 96SR, I didn't get the fancy tweeters so I just have that plastic piece without a tweeter.

In either case, IIRC the covers just pop off by prying them up. I believe I simply used a flat head screw driver that I wrapped in blue painters tape (to protect from marring the dash) to help me carefully pry up the dash speaker covers. Alternatively, I may have simply pried them up by hand. Bear in mind its been many, many years since I did that.

Either Grasscat or Sneakyninja have a gen 2.5 so they may be able to tell you.

HTH

 

[nwoods]

Thanks Ray. It was the A-pillar speakers I am refering too. All three local Mitsu dealers near me seem to have stopped stocking misc parts for the Gen 2's, so I am a bit fearful to start pulling panels and risk breaking clips or unseen fasteners.

 

[off-roader]

Thanks Ray. It was the A-pillar speakers I am refering too. All three local Mitsu dealers near me seem to have stopped stocking misc parts for the Gen 2's, so I am a bit fearful to start pulling panels and risk breaking clips or unseen fasteners.

Yeah, i know what you mean, perhaps buy used good condition replacements from car-part.com?

 

[GrassCat]

They are held in place with clips, just pry them off. The speakers have little wires and a small connector.

 

[Toasty]

I'm at the far end of Montero modifications so unfortunately i'm not of much help i guess. If you don't want to figure out which KYB's to get you could just stick with the shocks that go with the spring kits to be simple, I hear the ironman shocks are good.

As for the speakers, the A pillar one pops off like posted above and you can get new clips at your local autobody supply shop (paint shop)

 

[SoCalMonty]

There s a bit of misinformation in here as to lift and suspension, but I'm at work on my cell phone so I'll post more tonight from a computer.

Suspension should be the bulk of your lift. IFS is not a death sentence, and you can get more articulation then you think with a few minor suspension mods. Body lift might help clear your rocker panels, but that doesn't necessarily help you traverse a trail. Whereas more suspension travel (via suspension lift/mods) would.

Also, the rear is coil sprung live axle...so you can get all the travel any other trendy 4x4 can out back.

1992 - 1993 gen 2 used the shorter t-bars. 1994+ uses the longer.

I am very happy with the ironman kit. I've used kits from rustys and rubicon express on other vehicles in the past.


Pics, post #683 in the montero pic thread. Having trouble pasting the link from my phone.

 

[nwoods]

Also, the rear is coil sprung live axle...so you can get all the travel any other trendy 4x4 can out back.
I am very happy with the ironman kit. I've used kits from rustys and rubicon express on other vehicles in the past.
Pics, post #683 in the montero pic thread. Having trouble pasting the link from my phone.

Here you go Sean:

Here's a few other shots of your Ironman suspension doing its thing. If memory serves, this is without your rear swaybar. Still have the front installed? Did you cut down your front bumpstops when we ran Holy Jim? It doesn't seem like it:

Call me a whip, but I do not care for this much body lean on a simple wallow in the trail:

 

[nwoods]

As for the speakers, the A pillar one pops off like posted above and you can get new clips at your local autobody supply shop (paint shop)

That's a good idea. never occurred to me to source them from a shop like that, though it makes perfect sense. Glad to hear that Ironman is considered good.