[sha47]

I am currently considering either a Dobinsons or Ironman suspension lift. In reading the posts on this forum there seems to be an issue with front bushes. I would be really interested to hear from anyone who has fitted a suspension lift on a late model GV and any issues they may have encountered.

[zooks4life]

Ive fitted bitsa lifts 2 2 new grand vitaras and have never had problems with bushes... maybe im lucky but.

[garryc]

Sorry if I sound a bit dumb zooks but what is bitsa lift.
I've got a new 2012 GV3 and am looking for just a bit of lift to make beach life a bit easier.
From a real newbie I am thinking I could get away with just a set of dobinson springs. Is this realistic?

[zooks4life]

By bitsa I mean bits of everything... Mine has in the rear dobinson springs and rancho shocks and in front dobinson struts and extreme springs. I did have only springs in my 1st NGV but wouldn't recommend it.

[sha47]

I'm tending towards the Dobinsons full kit and it seems problems are minimised if the lift is 40mm or less. Thanks for the response.

[fordem]

The issue with the front bushes is that the suspension design is more suited to a front wheel drive sedan than an SUV - in fact the first vehicle I saw the design on was a 2003 Lancer, and I have since seen it on numerous Toyotas dating back to the late '90's.

The front control arm has two bushes, the rear most one has a vertical axis, but is required to flex, so to speak, along a horizontal axis - to allow this it is made of rubber and has two voids (or spaces) so the center is joined to the outer edge by two sections which flex, and eventually tear - I have seen these bushes fail on low mileage vehicles that have never left the pavement.

Lifting the vehicle forces these bushes to "rest" in a twisted state with the vehicle at it's new ride height, and the as the suspension flexes from this new rest position, the bush is forced to flex perhaps further than it's design limits, causing them to fail even faster.

[sha47]

KPD4X4 are really helpful - thanks for all the help. It's all a bit confusing working out what to do but their advice and information was clear and useful.

[tanshi]

Jason from Direct suspensions.