Pajero Owners Club of South Africa

I recently embarked on the massive challenge of lifting my Pajero IO (Baby Pajero)

The problem was that its a mac-pherson strut front suspension and only there is only one manufacturer that makes the shock for the IO. They are the OE supplier to Mitsubishi. Good news was that they made two versions, OE (30mm) and heavy duty (35mm) but both are %^$*# expensive. The heavy duty also had a higher spring base plate, which is a bonus, now I can fit bigger tyres.

My local spring manufacturer and myself did a lot of experimenting with which steel to use and opted for a 45mm lift with a slightly softer spring rate. This turned out to be a complete balls-up as the rear suspension collapsed in Ponta forcing me to drive back to joburg on the rubber spring stop.

We then went to a different grade steel (mostly used on the Hilux aftermarket susp such as Ironman) with the original spring rate at the back and 5% stiffer at the front, aswell as a 60mm lift. I thought that this would make the paj drive hard and uncomfortable but the new spring rate suited the heavy duty shocks better than the softer spring rate.

The next problem is that the front and rear shock has 200mm travel, now with the lift it has a massive 160mm up travel but only 40mm down. I am in the process of making a adapter/spacer that will "zero" the shocks giving a balanced up and down travel.

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The lift looks awesome and I am sure transforms the iO to a Monster!

CATS

Thanks Cats. The hulk sure looks good but haven't had time to test. Still needs a little work to truly live up to its name.

Watch this space, we are transforming the IO into a real monster!!

Awesome Jaco,

Any alterations needed on the drivetrain because of the lift?

None what so ever.

Rear works is connected to two forward facing torque-arms, thus as the car is lifted the propshaft moves inwards instead of outwards as on other types of suspensions.

Front is independent, so the only problem I can think of is CV angles. There are a number of guys in Brazil that lifted their IO's by 70mm, so that is why I went for it. So far I've had no problems.

There is a church fund raiser "Hindernis Skattejag", called Klipkoppies (in alberton), on this weekend which I am thinking of partaking. Will let you know how it went if I do enter.

Hi Jaco

Your modification looks great. Well done.

Achille

Thanks Achille

Went to Klipkoppies yesterday and had some fun

The suspension behaved pretty well but need to fit those spacers to give me more down travel!! The machine shop making them said they should be done by Friday. I cant wait!!!

Hi Jaco

It certainly looks like you got "into the mix" of things......

Please let us know when you've fitted the spacers for the extra travel, and how they turn out "in the dirt"......

It's great when you put that extra effort into making your 4x4 more capable, and the result is successful and rewarding .....Go for it

Achille

Nice Jaco.

Do you have bashplates fitted?

Hey Jonny

Yes I've got one. 3mm thingy. I will be fitting a "fris" one with the new bumper.

You definitly need one, just ask Fielies.
Jaco