Lifting L200

[calcite]

I have a '97 L200 all stock. This has coil springs in front and rear leafs. I have 14" tires and am thinking of replacing it with 15" tires for a slightly higher ground clearance. Is it possible to lift this a bit? I know that I can use longer shackles on the rear leafs but how do I lift the front with the coil spring suspension?

[luckytruck]

for a 4x2, i think some people on this site will recommend a 1 or 2 inch body lift. let's wait for more info na lang from the others.

just a bit of correction, by going from 14 inch to 15 inch rims, you will not increase ground clearance, it is the outer diameter of the tire that will increase ground clearance (the body lift will increase body clearance but not chassis clearance)

but you are on the right track, choice of words lang siguro. in any case, you can opt to stay with your 14 inch rims or go to 15 inch rims, but if you want more clearance, go for larger diameter tires. if you do go the body lift route, do the body lift first them choose the biggest tires that will fit without rubbing.

andy

[calcite]

I was assuming that by changing to 15" rims, I can install 15" diameter tires which will be larger than the 14" tires.

I looked at my front wheel wells and I don't think it can accomodate 15" tires without raising the front suspension. Has anybody tried using 15" tires on a stock 4x2 - L200 without raising the suspension?

[luckytruck]

pare, i see that you are in gen santos. puntahan mo ang mitsubishi gen santos and look for russel. siya yung mayari at marami yang alam tungkol sa L200. may kilala nga sya na nag-turbo ng L200

andy

[wildthing]

medyo dapat i-crank mo ang torsion bar para maiaccomodate ng harap ang bigger tires.

tech jargon lang... the 14" and 15" tires that you are refering are the rim diameter. You can have 2 different rim tires and yet will have the same outside diameter ng gulong.

as such if you swap your stock 14" rim and tire set with a 15" rim and a tire with shorter side wall then baka pareho lang ito ng stock config mo - then it would fit your wheel wells.

Pero if you put a 15" rims with taller sidewall...maybe a tire with an outside diameter of 30" then it may have some wheel well "fit-ment" problem.

Most stock 14" with 195 rate (195/R14) tires will have an outside diameter of 27". A 235/R15 will have around 30" OD if i am not mistaken.

There would be some adjustment needed sa T-bar and the "turning stopper" ng L200 if you load these tires sa harap. Sa likod, you can still have the stock as long as hindi naka-tingala ang stance ng pick-up. Pero pag-may load ka na more than 500kg malamang mas mataas na ang harap. A shackle na about 2-3" longer might be needed.

[calcite]

Wildthing

My problem is that my L200 has front coil springs, no torsion bars. Mas madali sana kung torsion bar.

I am not really a fan of those wide off-road tires. I use my pick-up mostly on highways so I prefer highway tires for this vehicle. I once used a vehicle with wide off-road tires and the noise created by the tires at high speed was very irritating.

Once a month I travel from Gensan to Surigao City via Agusan del Sur (550km one way). There is a 30 kilometer stretch of rough road in Agusan kaya I wanted slightly bigger tires. I have 185R14 tires with the original mags and would have liked to use those 205R15 radials mounted on 15" rims except the front tires might rub against the wheel wells.


Luckytruck

Glad to know that there is somebody else from Gensan here. I'll try to look for Russel next time I have a tune-up/oil change.

I have long thought about turbo-charging my L200 but that is another story. My ride is 7 years old but with only 60Tkm on the odometer and runs fine. Maybe when it is time for an overhaul I'll consider bolting on a turbo.

[Ungas]

calcite::: Bakit po kakaiba yata ang suspension configuration ng L200 nyo? Yung gamit namin sa province 93 model pa started out with torsion bars for the front and upto now, yun pa rin ang gamit ng factory para sa front suspension. Meron po itong double A arms but the springs used are torsion bars.

[paj4x4]

Originally posted by calcite
I have a '97 L200 all stock. This has coil springs in front and rear leafs.

calcite,

your L200 has coil springs up front? i was always under the impression that L200's had TB's as springs up front (IFS).

paj4x4

[calcite]

I am sure I have coil springs because I remember that when I replaced the front shocks, I had to insert the shocks inside the coils which made it a bit harder to do. It has double A-arms with coil springs. Sana nga torsion bar para madali lang i-crank. I want to check it now but I am in Gensan and I left my vehicle in Surigao - tinamad ako mag-drive pa-balik.

Baka naman torsion bars are installed on 4x4 models. Mine is only 4x2.

[Ungas]

4x2 po yung gamit namin sa province. Dapa na nga yun, nagalay na ang torsion bars.

[notEworthy27]

this is very surprising...coil springs in an L200. calcite, where did you buy your L200? every L200 I saw were using tbars be it 4x2 or 4x4.

[calcite]

My L200 is only local. I passed by a parked L200 at lunchtime. Sinilip ko ang suspension and yes - it is also has coil springs.

[calcite]

I checked the specs of the new L200 4x2. It also has front coil springs.

[ARB]

all 4x2 l200, l300, adventure share the same front suspension using double A-arms with coil springs.

calcite you can use longer coils, or put coil spacers. one thing you can use after you lift is to put pajero mags, either the tear drop or the intercooler mags and 225/70r15 tires for that stock look na cool. last time i saw front coil springs na lifted for l200 will write here you if it is still avail.

[Djerms]

My L200 also has coil springs. Its a 96 model. Only Stradas and L200 4x4's have torsion bars.

What I did with mine was to insert rubber spacers in the springs and get longer shackles. Ground clearance will increase for about 1-2 inches but the ride will not be that comfortable anymore. Pero you'll get used to it.

A more expensive alternative is to put in longer springs like what ARB suggested.

I suggest you do the suspension lift befor fitting in larger tires. Malamang sasayad yan sa wheel wells.

HTH

[luckytruck]

pare, kung gust mo ng pajero mags, maybe i can sell you mine? i am looking at getting new mags kas. Gen. Santos lang din ako.

andy

[calcite]

How much? Teka, I have to lift my L200 first.

I am worried by Djerm's remarks that I can put rubber inserts but ride quality would suffer. Maybe my best option is to look at longer springs. I'll look for longer springs the next time I go to Manila.

But I am interested in your mags. I'll just have to make sure that I can get longer coil springs so that the tires wont rub against the wheel wells.

[Djerms]

Calcite,
I already had mine installed with the spacers. Bearable naman ang ride. Its still comfortable but not as comfortable compared to installing longer springs.

The problem with geting longer springs is the availability of the springs. Up to now I still have'nt seen one.

Try installing the spacers first para mabili mo na yung Pajero Mags ni Luckytruck. Just make sure that the spacers you get are the rubber cone type ones (150 each). Don't get those that are clamped on the springs.

HTH

[luckytruck]

pare, don't worry, di naman ako nagmamadali magpalit ng mags.

kumusta and biyahe to surigao? i want to drive there someday. really want to see siargao

andy

[calcite]

luckytruck

My wife hails from Siargao island. We usually spend a few days each summer there. Maganda ang Siargao - at least for a city folk like me. Mag-sasawa ka sa water adventure. There is surfing, lots of diving places, nice white beaches, even a marine park (on the nearby Socorro island). But accomodations are rough - don't expect much amenities. This is a real rural place.

Gensan to Surigao City is exactly 550 km and driving at a relaxed speed will take you there in 12 hours. 9 hours kung talagang nag-mamadali. The roads are excellent most of the way except for a 30 km stretch of rough road from San Francisco to Bayugan towns in Agusan del Sur. Talagang walang cement. They were trying to repair this stretch of road during the election period but I don't know if they will finish it - tapos na ang election.

From Surigao City, Siargao is just two-hours away by fast ferry. But don't visit now, tag-ulan na until about march. Unless you are a seafarer, you won't stand the boat ride. Talk about rough waters and this is it. Best time to visit is during summer - just not on the holy week. During holy week dami tao and the boat ride is chancy.