Suspension Lift For Montero

[Chaconnect]

Hello Everone,

I am planning on getting a Montero 2004 NP as it has excellent On-Road and Off-Road capabilities. The first modification that I would like to do is lift suspension(about 50mm) for better off road driving capability. I have had a look a kits for Ironman Australia and ARB which come with for Gas nitro struts and coils springs.

Does anyone know a company in Sri Lanka that specialises in Montero modifications??

[Gummybr]

Hello Everone,

I am planning on getting a Montero 2004 NP as it has excellent On-Road and Off-Road capabilities. The first modification that I would like to do is lift suspension(about 50mm) for better off road driving capability. I have had a look a kits for Ironman Australia and ARB which come with for Gas nitro struts and coils springs.

Does anyone know a company in Sri Lanka that specialises in Montero modifications??

Well I know of one guy who has done it. But must check with him as to who did it. I presume he bought the kit down and gave it to his mechanic to fix.

(he did it cos his Montero got stuck on places where others went through and came out with bent side steps, badly bruised bumpers)

But no it looks kinda too tall but its upto the monetro lover to decide.

[milindu]

Well I know of one guy who has done it. But must check with him as to who did it. I presume he bought the kit down and gave it to his mechanic to fix.

(he did it cos his Montero got stuck on places where others went through and came out with bent side steps, badly bruised bumpers)

But no it looks kinda too tall but its upto the monetro lover to decide.

We ran a 2002 Monty with the 3.5ltr power plant. We fixed a kit which which was supposed to give a slight lift and make the ride more comfier. While we got some lift...the ride quiality was still horrible.

The suspension setup and drive train are also not tough enough to do much off roading with the bulk weight of the vehicle. A lot of things can and will break and are very expensive to replace maintain (one reason we dumped it). It averaged about 4km/l and rattled a lot despite having done only 100k while being agent maintained.

Are there any alternatives you might have looked at?

[Chaconnect]

We ran a 2002 Monty with the 3.5ltr power plant. We fixed a kit which which was supposed to give a slight lift and make the ride more comfier. While we got some lift...the ride quiality was still horrible.

The suspension setup and drive train are also not tough enough to do much off roading with the bulk weight of the vehicle. A lot of things can and will break and are very expensive to replace maintain (one reason we dumped it). It averaged about 4km/l and rattled a lot despite having done only 100k while being agent maintained.

Are there any alternatives you might have looked at?

The Montero is an excellent offroader with good on road behaviour. This is due to the Independent suspension and moncoque chassis which is not available on the Prado. It also has MATT(Mitsubishi All Terrain Technology) which provides enough options for any off road situation.

As with all offroading 50% of getting stuck is dependent of the driver skills and assessment. The main disadvantage with the Montero is the departure angle and there is a big chunk after the rear wheel comprising of the bumper(which is not that strong). A lift would help to overcome this problem to a great extent.

I know that Australia the Montero(called Pajero there) is used to cross the Simson desert which is one of the most gruelling four wheel drive tracks in world. The Ironman and Arb lift kits are the most popular, but I don't know a place in Sri Lanka that can give me a end to end solution for a suspension lift.

[Velocity]

The Montero is an excellent offroader with good on road behaviour. This is due to the Independent suspension and moncoque chassis which is not available on the Prado. It also has MATT(Mitsubishi All Terrain Technology) which provides enough options for any off road situation.

As with all offroading 50% of getting stuck is dependent of the driver skills and assessment. The main disadvantage with the Montero is the departure angle and there is a big chunk after the rear wheel comprising of the bumper(which is not that strong). A lift would help to overcome this problem to a great extent.

I know that Australia the Montero(called Pajero there) is used to cross the Simson desert which is one of the most gruelling four wheel drive tracks in world. The Ironman and Arb lift kits are the most popular, but I don't know a place in Sri Lanka that can give me a end to end solution for a suspension lift.

Bro are you sure that Montero is much better than a PRADO.

I am not a 4x4 guru, but for the studies i have done in the past couple weeks and months it seems the Prado is a much better off roader than the Montero

Please do correct if i am wrong.

[Gummybr]

Bro are you sure that Montero is much better than a PRADO.

I am not a 4x4 guru, but for the studies i have done in the past couple weeks and months it seems the Prado is a much better off roader than the Montero

Please do correct if i am wrong.

I agree machang. because they couldnt break the Prado off road they kept to their basics in having a ladder frame chassis and live axles.

But on road the Mitsu is good.

Machang why dont you contact local agent for ARB, he's on Baseline Road towards Kirulapona on the left if your going from Borella side. sorry cant mention name. buy if you went to waters edge yesterday you could have met him (he was in the organising committee)

[Pericles]

The Montero is an excellent offroader with good on road behaviour. This is due to the Independent suspension and moncoque chassis which is not available on the Prado. It also has MATT(Mitsubishi All Terrain Technology) which provides enough options for any off road situation.

Reality is different from the brochures bro. When most people say off-roading, it doesn't mean flat grasslands and deserts. Not dissing the Mitsus, they have had marvelous success at Rallies and such, but ....

[Chaconnect]

Bro are you sure that Montero is much better than a PRADO.

I am not a 4x4 guru, but for the studies i have done in the past couple weeks and months it seems the Prado is a much better off roader than the Montero

Please do correct if i am wrong.

Well, I would say that they are both good offroad vehicles but I the Montero(Pajero) has the following advantages for off road situations,

The Montero has a monocoque chassis which provides a lower centre of gravity. This does not mean that it has less ground clearance than the Prado. Higher does not mean better ground clearance. A lower centre of gravity makes the vehicle more stable and less likely to roll when tilted or driven over uneven terrain like deep rutted tracks. The prado has a ladder frame chassis which makes higher and increases the centre of gravity.

The Montero has Independent Rear Suspension(IRS) which tucks the rear differential high up under the body and uses drive shafts to each wheel. This ensures that the wheels have maximum contact to the surface in any situation and prevents the differential getting wedged in deep rutted tracks. The Prado has a rigid beam axle and each wheel cannot move independently for the best surface contact. The differential sits lower and is likely to get wedged(or damaged) in deep ruts.

The Montero has Engine Brake Assit Control(EDAC) which engages automatically when Low Range is engaged without a separate switch. This intevenes and automatically makes the vehicle crawl on steep descends by coordinating throttle and braking in conjunction with the Mitusubishi All Terrain Traction(MATT) controls. The Prado has Downhill Assist Control(DAC) which is a separate switch and does not work in conjuction with the driveline. It keeps the vehicle speed at 7km/h which is far to fast in most situations. DAC is just an elaborated handbrake.

The Montero comes with tiptronic gears as standard in all models. This enables the driver to manually select different gears in offroad situations to get the best gear(High Range & Low Range) for the job. The Prado does not come with tiptronic which gives less control to the driver.

So there are some points to note. Having said that, most Montero's in Sri Lanka have road tyres and never see more than speed bumps in car parks. This does not mean that the vehicles is not capable.

[Gummybr]

Well, I would say that they are both good offroad vehicles but I the Montero(Pajero) has the following advantages for off road situations,

The Montero has a monocoque chassis which provides a lower centre of gravity. This does not mean that it has less ground clearance than the Prado. Higher does not mean better ground clearance. A lower centre of gravity makes the vehicle more stable and less likely to roll when tilted or driven over uneven terrain like deep rutted tracks. The prado has a ladder frame chassis which makes higher and increases the centre of gravity.

The Montero has Independent Rear Suspension(IRS) which tucks the rear differential high up under the body and uses drive shafts to each wheel. This ensures that the wheels have maximum contact to the surface in any situation and prevents the differential getting wedged in deep rutted tracks. The Prado has a rigid beam axle and each wheel cannot move independently for the best surface contact. The differential sits lower and is likely to get wedged(or damaged) in deep ruts.

The Montero has Engine Brake Assit Control(EDAC) which engages automatically when Low Range is engaged without a separate switch. This intevenes and automatically makes the vehicle crawl on steep descends by coordinating throttle and braking in conjunction with the Mitusubishi All Terrain Traction(MATT) controls. The Prado has Downhill Assist Control(DAC) which is a separate switch and does not work in conjuction with the driveline. It keeps the vehicle speed at 7km/h which is far to fast in most situations. DAC is just an elaborated handbrake.

The Montero comes with tiptronic gears as standard in all models. This enables the driver to manually select different gears in offroad situations to get the best gear(High Range & Low Range) for the job. The Prado does not come with tiptronic which gives less control to the driver.

So there are some points to note. Having said that, most Montero's in Sri Lanka have road tyres and never see more than speed bumps in car parks. This does not mean that the vehicles is not capable.

One piece of advise, check out the 4X4 magazine and see where the Montero ends up in their comparison test of the 5 door 4X4's. Its independent suspension is not a winner in those conditions.

I do respect the Montero (Mitsubishi) for its class performance at Paris-Dakar rallies but, realistically its not the same vehicle that you find on the road.

[Ruslan]

There should be a some reason choosing Landys over Montys in United Nations. how about New Landcruiser? are they still using Ladder frame chassis over Mono chassis?

[Chaconnect]

One piece of advise, check out the 4X4 magazine and see where the Montero ends up in their comparison test of the 5 door 4X4's. Its independent suspension is not a winner in those conditions.

I do respect the Montero (Mitsubishi) for its class performance at Paris-Dakar rallies but, realistically its not the same vehicle that you find on the road.

I have substantiated why a Montero(Pajero) is better off road. I would like to hear the same with the Prado especially why IRS is a disavantage over a rigid beam axle.

[Supra_Natural]

I have substantiated why a Montero(Pajero) is better off road. I would like to hear the same with the Prado especially why IRS is a disavantage over a rigid beam axle.

What you have done here is ask for opinion about a lift kit and then started a Montero Vs Prado Comparison.... If you insist that you know better then the people at the leading 4x4 Magazines then we cant really say much more to that... what the people here were pointing out (and mind you several people on this forum have extensive experience of using both vehicles) was that the prado was a demonstrably better vehicle all round... that im afraid, is a fact.

for the record, The two most capable production off road vehicles in the world today.... The Land Rover Defender and the Jeep Wrangler, Use Live Axles.

[Chaconnect]

There should be a some reason choosing Landys over Montys in United Nations. how about New Landcruiser? are they still using Ladder frame chassis over Mono chassis?

There could be several reasons for the UN slection on Toyota and off road capability may not be even in the picture. Merecedes Benz cars are used as taxi's in Germany. Does that mean they are the best for the job?.

[Ruslan]

There could be several reasons for the UN slection on Toyota and off road capability may not be even in the picture. Merecedes Benz cars are used as taxi's in Germany. Does that mean they are the best for the job?.

So what are the reasons?

[Gummybr]

So what are the reasons?

They normally go for the cheaper and most reliable + rugged vehicle. So in my opinion the Prado / Land Cruiser (100 series) is expensive than the Mitsu.

[milindu]

They normally go for the cheaper and most reliable + rugged vehicle. So in my opinion the Prado / Land Cruiser (100 series) is expensive than the Mitsu.

UN Selection is based on cost per km amongst many factors as would anyone running a fleet. Without the tax to be paid, the difference between a Monty and a Cruiser is not a lot.

I do remember the Fleet manager at the UN on Bauddhaloka Mw mentioning the repairs on their Monty (They have a Gold Coloured JX regd one) and swearing by the LC1s and the 105s.

But in cases where the low running/ private users (duty paying mind you) needs an impressive SUV for the urban jungle, the Monty offers better bang for the buck. A majority of our clientele opts for the Monty based on looks.

[SpeedHolic]

I would stick with the prado any day.. Had a intresting chat with Milindu at the YesFM GYmkhana.. regarding the Prado and mine has been all over the country in stock form with only slightly larger tyres thatn stock and i and my dad have given it quite a rough time over the last four years and touch wood it is fine... and i mean if i had doen that in amonty i would have been up shit creek without a paddle....

and even the interior hold up much better than the interior i have seen on 4 yr old monty's.. anyhow this is just a user experience.. however i will say that the 2.7L Prado which is what i have.. serioulsy lack power... and i mean seriously..

[Gummybr]

.. however i will say that the 2.7L Prado which is what i have.. serioulsy lack power... and i mean seriously..

Thats why you get the 4.0litre or in the JDM spec its a 3.4l am I right Milindu?