Lifting a Pajero for Offroading

[MrTwister]

The Pajero (especially the SWB) has good body geometry, but a lift is needed for off roading for several good reasons.

The lift will make the car less likely to stuck on the top of the dunes when cresting.

The lift together with proper front bumper cut and rear bumper fix will prevent any damage to the body.

The disadvantage of a lift is that the center of gravity will be higher and the risk for roll over increases. The remedy to that is a set of aluminium wheel spacers to widen the stance.

Too much lifting reduces the "droop" of the wheels and the car starts lifting a wheel from ground and loses traction. Difflock will be useful to compensate.

So how much lift is enough? 40-50mm is good even without any other compensation.

The cheap lift is done by rubber spacers placed under the coil springs and a front torsion bar adjustment. Sounds good but look at the photo what a Sharjah specialist (dirty workshop) is capable of doing for that 800 AED. When the rubber spacer does not fit, they cut it to increase the diameter. The car gets bouncy when crossing humps of residential areas. They do not care that the open spacer may get out of place and the car sits down to the original height.

Proper lift can be done by replacing the coil springs by longer and stronger ones and replacing the shock absorbers too. Iron Man an Australian brand provides a complete set for 2600 AED and the installation is 400 AED. The opportunity should be used to replace the rubber washers that are under the springs. After this 50mm lift a computerized wheel alignment is necessary. This Ironman lift provides a firmer ride, but it is not harsh at all. The car does not kneel down when it hits a hole in the desert, and the sand will never touch the (cut and fixed) bumpers again.

[anoop]

Fantastic solution, and excellent write up. Read and enjoyed every word of it. Very useful information, i have stuck Pajero on beach sand for 5 hours, now i know what this little thing can make wonders.

[happy]

Anoop, next time you are stuck deflate tires to 15 psi from 32 psi and u will drive just fine in beach sand. What twister mentioning is for sand dunes driving, climbing and bashing.

[doobre]

Hi MrTwister..

can you tell me where you got the Iron Man lift kit from in Dubai.

Did you replace the torsion arms on the front as well.

I am looking to replace all shocks and springs on my 2000 SWB pajero 3.5, and think I might as well add the lift also..

do you have any other details you think to mention. when doing the job..!!?

cheers

CD

[MrTwister]

I did not change the sway bars.

The workshop to buy Ironman coils and struds:

Dollar Auto Works

Address: Ras Al Khor Industrial Area 2, Street no 7 , Plot no 101 - Ras Al Khor Industrial Area 2 - United Arab Emirates

Phone:+971 4 333 6780

Best regards

MrTwister

[doobre]

great thanks very much..