Suspension lift-Holden Colorado

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Suspension lift-Holden Colorado

Post by North East » 24 Oct 2014, 10:14 am

Looking into lifting the suspension on my Holden Colorado turbo diesel, 2012 model. I believe the max allowed is 2" in Victoria to be legal. I used to have a GQ Patrol and that had enough clearance but the Colorado is somewhat lacking.

Anyone had any experience with lift kits? I'm thinking the go would be to go to ARB, Opposite Lock, TJM and the usual suspects. Any ideas on the costs?…probably in the $2000.00 range I guess. Might even get a quote from my local mechanic. This is in country Victoria.

So for the 4WD enthusiasts, does anyone have any ideas.
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Re: Suspension lift-Holden Colorado

Post by Combat_Wombat » 24 Oct 2014, 10:40 am

I've got the 2014 model and I plan to lift it pretty soon. I'm no going for the full overhaul because I work with a bloke that has put pedders coils in the front and had the struts reset and the real leafs re set and it's gained pretty close to 2 inches. From memory it was only just over 1000.
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Re: Suspension lift-Holden Colorado

Post by North East » 24 Oct 2014, 10:53 am

Combat_Wombat wrote:I've got the 2014 model and I plan to lift it pretty soon. I'm no going for the full overhaul because I work with a bloke that has put pedders coils in the front and had the struts reset and the real leafs re set and it's gained pretty close to 2 inches. From memory it was only just over 1000.


Thanks for that. I just went down to the local mechanic and he reckons I could go over 2" but the costs would increase significantly due the changes needed. He recommended to stick to 2" so the costs would not get out of control. He's going to come up with a quote.

I'd rather keep the work local as I'm in a small country town and I trust this mechanic.
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Re: Suspension lift-Holden Colorado

Post by veep » 27 Oct 2014, 3:42 pm

Mind if I ask what the prices were both ways?

2" and higher?
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Re: Suspension lift-Holden Colorado

Post by FuzzyM » 27 Oct 2014, 4:59 pm

Try the 4WDAction forum.
Countless pages of handy info there!
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Re: Suspension lift-Holden Colorado

Post by North East » 27 Oct 2014, 5:11 pm

veep wrote:Mind if I ask what the prices were both ways?

2" and higher?


Still waiting for a quote from my mechanic….things are a bit slow in N/E Vic sometimes.
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Re: Suspension lift-Holden Colorado

Post by Bennybigbores » 27 Oct 2014, 7:13 pm

Lifting over 2" generally requires mods to steering and also aligning or moving diff centres in independent suspension to save cv joints and similar in fixed diffs changes angles of drive shafts loading up uni joints, but a good mechanics or suspension joints should be all over it, just worth thinking about if attempting yourself or mates helping out, and then there's alway voided warranty and even insurance probs especially if new vehicle and financed, worst case, not aligned properly blow a uni joint or ball joint spits you off the road, right off car, no warranty, no insurance if not approved, worth looking into before buying the kits, close friend had the above scenario still paying off a wreck three years later!
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Re: Suspension lift-Holden Colorado

Post by North East » 27 Oct 2014, 7:25 pm

Bennybigbores wrote:Lifting over 2" generally requires mods to steering and also aligning or moving diff centres in independent suspension to save cv joints and similar in fixed diffs changes angles of drive shafts loading up uni joints, but a good mechanics or suspension joints should be all over it, just worth thinking about if attempting yourself or mates helping out, and then there's alway voided warranty and even insurance probs especially if new vehicle and financed, worst case, not aligned properly blow a uni joint or ball joint spits you off the road, right off car, no warranty, no insurance if not approved, worth looking into before buying the kits, close friend had the above scenario still paying off a wreck three years later!


Yep…no way known I'd do it by myself, especially a big lift…leave it to the experts…2" will do. The bloke I use basically only works on 4WD's, that's about all there is in this little town.
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Re: Suspension lift-Holden Colorado

Post by Supporter » 28 Oct 2014, 3:18 pm

North East wrote:Still waiting for a quote from my mechanic….things are a bit slow in N/E Vic sometimes.


Just not your PTAs ;)

Still jealous.
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Re: Suspension lift-Holden Colorado

Post by North East » 28 Oct 2014, 3:21 pm

I can get a PTA in a few hours if I want one…and still no word on the suspension. :D
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Re: Suspension lift-Holden Colorado

Post by brisb » 29 Oct 2014, 6:58 pm

PTA here and in WA your get for a retirement don't you? :lol:
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Re: Suspension lift-Holden Colorado

Post by North East » 29 Oct 2014, 7:12 pm

brisb wrote:PTA here and in WA your get for a retirement don't you? :lol:


Victoria…land of the free.

Hunt in State Forests…no problems, anytime…but not deer at night.

Sight in a rifle in State Forest…no problems…just don't call it plinking. But if it takes 200 shots then so be it.

Hunt in National Parks…available in some at different times of the year.

Caliber restrictions on deer and enforced at any time of the day.

….and a PTA means nothing, they are easy.
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Re: Suspension lift-Holden Colorado

Post by Kelix » 30 Oct 2014, 9:35 am

North East wrote:Sight in a rifle in State Forest…no problems…just don't call it plinking. But if it takes 200 shots then so be it.


I'm 1/8 th of an inch off being zeroed.

Scope has 1/4 inch adjustments though, gunna be here aaaaall day :lol:
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Re: Suspension lift-Holden Colorado

Post by scrolllock » 30 Oct 2014, 9:36 am

North East wrote:….and a PTA means nothing, they are easy.


I had to wait 4 whole hours! :lol:
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Re: Suspension lift-Holden Colorado

Post by North East » 03 Nov 2014, 11:28 am

My mechanic finally got back to me and we've decided to go down the ARB path for a 2" lift. There are no ARB outlets within cooee of me so everything will be ordered in. It's going to cost a bit over $2000.00….at this stage. New leaf springs on the back, Nitrocharger shock absorbers front and rear, new shackles, bushes and U bolts. Torsion bars don't have to be replaced, the originals are said to be stronger than what ARB have. Then it's going to need a wheel alignment. Hopefully he'll have all the bits and pieces by next week.
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Re: Suspension lift-Holden Colorado

Post by FuzzyM » 04 Nov 2014, 9:03 pm

Just put some 250KG OME leaves in the back of my Hilux.
Very happy with them. Got a fair bit of air on an erosion mound yesterday and it still landed nicely :twisted:
My car has had a set of OME Nitro Chargers for many years and they are still good.
If you are planning on running a bullbar, winch, etc then I would say it would be a good idea to do heavy duty torsion bars too.
If not then factory should be OK.

Is that $2000 including fitting?
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Re: Suspension lift-Holden Colorado

Post by North East » 04 Nov 2014, 9:13 pm

FuzzyM wrote:Just put some 250KG OME leaves in the back of my Hilux.
Very happy with them. Got a fair bit of air on an erosion mound yesterday and it still landed nicely :twisted:
My car has had a set of OME Nitro Chargers for many years and they are still good.
If you are planning on running a bullbar, winch, etc then I would say it would be a good idea to do heavy duty torsion bars too.
If not then factory should be OK.

Is that $2000 including fitting?


It will probably be a bit over $2000 but includes fitting and not the alignment. He doesn't have the machine for that. One bloke in town has a wheel alignment set up but the mechanic I'm using reckons I'd be better off going elsewhere for a modern alignment set up. He's given me the names of a few mobs in Albury-Wodonga with the good gear.
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Re: Suspension lift-Holden Colorado

Post by North East » 04 Nov 2014, 9:18 pm

It has a steel bar and canopy…the original torsion bars are strong enough apparantly. The ute has only done 40,000K, 3 litre turbo diesel, brought it new.
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Re: Suspension lift-Holden Colorado

Post by FuzzyM » 04 Nov 2014, 9:49 pm

Hang on a sec, 2012 model Holden Colorado? We have a 2011 at work, it has coil struts, not torsion bars.
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Re: Suspension lift-Holden Colorado

Post by North East » 04 Nov 2014, 9:55 pm

FuzzyM wrote:Hang on a sec, 2012 model Holden Colorado? We have a 2011 at work, it has coil struts, not torsion bars.


It is actually an 8/11 model. Sorry I got that wrong. Apparantly the +2012 models cannot be lifted more than 1" because of ball joint and diff issues or something. I'll put some before and after pics up when the job is done.
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Re: Suspension lift-Holden Colorado

Post by North East » 17 Nov 2014, 2:45 pm

Suspension lift done, 2" lift, OME Nitro Charger shock absorbers, new rear spring packs, U bolts and bushes….$2295.00. Have to go to Albury-Wodonga tomorrow for a wheel alignment. It certainly feels different.
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Re: Suspension lift-Holden Colorado

Post by North East » 18 Nov 2014, 12:35 pm

It's been an expensive few weeks.

5 BF Goodrich All Terrain tyres fitted, balanced….$1675.00
ARB, Old Man Emu suspension system, fitted….$2295.00
Wheel alignment….$75.00

TOTAL….$4045.00

The joys of running a 4WD, the fourth one I've owned.
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Re: Suspension lift-Holden Colorado

Post by wheedle » 18 Nov 2014, 3:16 pm

Given it a good run offroad yet?
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Re: Suspension lift-Holden Colorado

Post by North East » 18 Nov 2014, 3:36 pm

wheedle wrote:Given it a good run offroad yet?


Got the suspension put in yesterday and an alignment today…and that took a 75k drive one way to get it done. I wasn't going to go anywhere until that alignment was done and it needed a fair bit of adjustment. I'll head out some time this week as I want to check out the condition of a track that leads to my favourite fishing spot. Start of the track is only a 15 min drive from home.

Might as well take a rifle as well, it's State Forest but legal to hunt in….and I better take a chainsaw as well.
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Re: Suspension lift-Holden Colorado

Post by Turkle » 18 Nov 2014, 8:34 pm

Always in the bright colours... Anyone else not like the super bright suspension or brake calipers not sticking out on cars?
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Re: Suspension lift-Holden Colorado

Post by North East » 18 Nov 2014, 8:48 pm

Turkle wrote:Always in the bright colours... Anyone else not like the super bright suspension or brake calipers not sticking out on cars?


They will not be yellow for long.
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Re: Suspension lift-Holden Colorado

Post by Turkle » 19 Nov 2014, 12:22 pm

That's true... :)
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