Malaga Suspensions GVM Upgrade

[rwo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close rwo]

Just wondering if anyone on the West Coast has dealt with Malaga Suspensions for a GVM upgrade on a 150 Prado (or other vehicles for that matter)?

I got in contact with them after reading about some GVM work they did on an FJ, and was supprised to hear they are willing to offer a fully engineered and compliance plated upgrade to 3500kgs GVM for the 150 Prado. The upgrade uses Dobinsons springs and Bilstein shocks (although he did confirm they use the German imported shocks and not the Aus spec'ed ones) and can offer a lift of around 2.5" and hopefully sneak through with only a brake test and not requiring a full lane change test.

Still waiting for a final quote but it will be in the $3k ball park drive in drive out.

I didn't confirm with them, but fully expect this would be a WA only registration upgrade (we just moved back to WA after a few years on the East coast with no plans of doing it again!).

[Green dog Member Find all posts View Profile Close Green dog]

we do GVM's for Hilux only so cant help you there.
The guys at Malaga Suspensions know what they are doing though so you wont have any issues there.
As far as price goes 3K sounds on the money especially if it includes engineering signoff.
I am keen to see the finished product though.

[rwo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close rwo]

It seems to be common place for GVM upgrades on Hilux's, LC76/78/79's and 200's but this is the first mob I found in WA that are willing to engineer work on a 150 with ESC, let-a-lone doing a full GVM with compliance plate...

Just got the quote back, I wont post the exact amount but it's close to the figure listed in the first post and does include all engineering and compliance work.

They have specced the 24-173032-1 struts and 24-217897 shocks to replace my A712/A713's. Does anyone know how these differ, i.e. any longer or different valving (the 24-... part no's are not in the suspension database), the photo on the Bilstein website shows the pressed spring seat and no grooves but I am not sure if they are internally different as well?

[Green dog Member Find all posts View Profile Close Green dog]

have a chat to wholesalesuspension who are regulars on here mate. They know this stuff back to front.
We dont do the Bilstein stuff, but in saying that its great kit.

[Whitey1 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Whitey1]

So its just a suspension swap that allows a gvm upgrade? Nothing else? Except paperwork of course!

[KIMBOPRADO Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close KIMBOPRADO]

rwo

Don't know if you have already spoken to WA Suspensions in Osborne Park WA about a GVM upgrade on your 150

http://wasuspensions.com.au/4x4-gvm-upgrades/

No affiliation, I just used them for my suspension upgrade and happy with their service

Here's some example of work they done to Toyota's

http://wasuspensions.com.au/gallery/toyota/

cheers kim

[rwo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close rwo]

So its just a suspension swap that allows a gvm upgrade? Nothing else? Except paperwork of course!

Yep basically, pulling out 2" king springs and blistein shocks to replace with 2" Dobbinson springs and bilstein shocks, seems silly I know but it is the price to pay to get it legal. This all came around when we weighed the car while packed for a trip, it came in at 3000 kg with the four of us standing in the office, steel steps and scrub bars have already been put on and the Kaymar will be coming in the new year. I have also been unable to find a Wa engineer willing to certify the vehicle in its current form due to the ESC.

Unfortunately the paperwork is the hard/expensive part....

I haven't spoken to wa suspension yet but I believe they are a lovells reseller and lovells don't offer a GVM for the prado.

[reggie426 Member Find all posts View Profile Close reggie426]

I'll be seeing them shortly too, I got a quote at the 4wd show over the weekend, $2150 for Dobinsons and adjustable Bilsteins, which will give me 40-50mm lift. Seemed reasonable to me, but I never asked about the gvm

[rwo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close rwo]

Just in case anyone is interested, the car went in on Tuesday and came out with new suspension, compliance plate and engineer's report. Pretty happy with the service and work performed by the guys at Malaga Suspension, they even accommodated the fact I was traveling about 2 hours to visit them so instead of keeping the car over night like they normally do, they air freighted the correct springs from over east to ensure they got there on time, organised the compliance plate and pre-booked the engineer in advance so I could get it all done in a single day.

As sad as it is, this was also the 6th wheel alignment the car has had since being lifted, and the first one that has actually been done right! The vehicle now drives straight and the steering wheel is finally centered when it does, even if you don't get your suspension installed with these guys, I would strongly recommend visiting them for an alignment and save the hassles dealing with some of the other idiots out there...

Booked in to get the pit inspection next Thursday with the local garage, but showed the guy all the supplied paperwork from Malaga Suspension and he said everything is in order, so that should just be a tick in the box process.

[Andrew119 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Andrew119]

Good to hear, I got all my set up from the guys out there , great to deal with !

[Wil Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Wil]

Is the upgrade only valid when towing in WA? Or aussie wide?

warranty issues?

[rwo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close rwo]

Technically doesn't do anything for towing just what the vehicle can legally carry (including the towball weight that needs to be added on), the upgrade is valid all over Australia, but only while the vehicle is registered in WA. This basically means that if the vehicle is moved/sold interstate, a new compliance plate for that state has to be obtained and the vehicle re-engineered.

As for warranty, no different than any other suspension change.

[shodown Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close shodown]

Can I ask a ball park what it set you back ?

Good to hear RE wheel alignment. Too many muppets out there doing a half assed job.

[reggie426 Member Find all posts View Profile Close reggie426]

Just got off the phone to them, its just shy of $3000 with the Dobinsons and Bilsteins, engineer sign off, brake test etc etc out the door

[Green dog Member Find all posts View Profile Close Green dog]

don't want to pump our tyres up but we only do all wheel wheel alignments..
we often get criticisied when asked how much for a wheel alignment.. when it is not $40 like the muppets up the road the customer gets shirty..
when you try and explain that its not just a "toe and go" they don't understand..
good to see all you guys get it!!