Mitsubishi Pinin lift option?

[Godzuki]

My little bro has just purchased a 2000 Mitsubishi Pinin 1.8 GDI, and was trying to find some options to lift it. Alas, he is finding it very difficult, and is coming across lots of dead ends. Does PH have an answer? Anything would suffice at the moment. I know Astra estate suspension fits the back of my Vit, but is there something similar for the Pinin? Any other cars out there that will be of use to snaffle parts from, etc?

Oodles and oodles of thanks in advance.

[Chainguy]

Very little in the way of options I'm afraid, which is silly, as someone in the trade is mising a trick here. Almost everyone with a Pinin wants to mod it.

First off, its a monocoque, not a seperate chassis, so its really suspension, not body lifts, he's looking at.

Either call someone like Leyland fabrication and throw them some money, or do as I'm doing, and get some suspension struts and springs custom made. I'm going slimmer springs to allow me to fit 235 section tyres.

[Godzuki]

Chainguy said:

Very little in the way of options I'm afraid, which is silly, as someone in the trade is mising a trick here. Almost everyone with a Pinin wants to mod it.

First off, its a monocoque, not a seperate chassis, so its really suspension, not body lifts, he's looking at.

Either call someone like Leyland fabrication and throw them some money, or do as I'm doing, and get some suspension struts and springs custom made. I'm going slimmer springs to allow me to fit 235 section tyres.

I noticed on the front that the spring sits right above the wheel, which sort of stops him from lobbing larger tyres on. he's had a look at the Leyland site, (I think it was a forum post somewhere that led him there). It does seem silly. Having done a bit of research tonight, seems like it is decent offroad, so I wonder why there is nothing?

[Chainguy]

Godzuki said:

Chainguy said:

Very little in the way of options I'm afraid, which is silly, as someone in the trade is mising a trick here. Almost everyone with a Pinin wants to mod it.

First off, its a monocoque, not a seperate chassis, so its really suspension, not body lifts, he's looking at.

Either call someone like Leyland fabrication and throw them some money, or do as I'm doing, and get some suspension struts and springs custom made. I'm going slimmer springs to allow me to fit 235 section tyres.

I noticed on the front that the spring sits right above the wheel, which sort of stops him from lobbing larger tyres on. he's had a look at the Leyland site, (I think it was a forum post somewhere that led him there). It does seem silly. Having done a bit of research tonight, seems like it is decent offroad, so I wonder why there is nothing?

It is odd that there isn't anything for it, as since I've got mine I've met a few farmers (I live in a rural area) down the pub who have them. Pretty capable wee machines it seem, and they go forever on not much maintenance at all.

[Godzuki]

Chainguy said:

It is odd that there isn't anything for it, as since I've got mine I've met a few farmers (I live in a rural area) down the pub who have them. Pretty capable wee machines it seem, and they go forever on not much maintenance at all.

He'll be chuffed to hear that,, I'm sure. Still, seems to have decent clearance for a stock vehicle, to be honest.

[Cloggie]

Dobinsons Springs make springs for the Pinin with about 30mm lift. Australian spring manufacturer with plenty of dealers here in Europe. Don't know about UK though.

[Godzuki]

Cloggie said:

Dobinsons Springs make springs for the Pinin with about 30mm lift. Australian spring manufacturer with plenty of dealers here in Europe. Don't know about UK though.

Magic.. Passed it on. He's about 20Km from me in Bulgaria, so we'll see if we can get them delivered here, from wherever.

[Chainguy]

Godzuki said:

Magic.. Passed it on. He's about 20Km from me in Bulgaria, so we'll see if we can get them delivered here, from wherever.

Let him know that if he just goes the spring route, he still cant put bigger rubber on the front - the bottom spring pan sits within an inch of the stock rubber as it is. Taller rubber would foul the spring pan, hence it's not as easy as just a spring set.

A few people have been caught out that way, sadly

[Godzuki]

Chainguy said:

Let him know that if he just goes the spring route, he still cant put bigger rubber on the front - the bottom spring pan sits within an inch of the stock rubber as it is. Taller rubber would foul the spring pan, hence it's not as easy as just a spring set.

A few people have been caught out that way, sadly

I think he's happy with the tyre size. He would have been happy just getting bigger tyres, but that option was scuppered with the spring position. (It does seem like an odd position, especially considering the Shogun, Pajero, modding market)

[Chainguy]

Ah, he'll be fine then. In fairness to it, I have AT2's on mine all round, and and even with those it's coped with everything I've ever thrown at it. That includes a 50 foot high gravel bank, and some seriously deep snow, as well as the usual up to the belly pan in mud stuff.

Have fun!

[Godzuki]

Twill be a giggle. I've got a 2" calmini lift nd a diff drop on the way. Gonna be fun!

[Chainguy]

Godzuki said:

Twill be a giggle. I've got a 2" calmini lift nd a diff drop on the way. Gonna be fun!

That does sound like fun indeed.

Word of caution regarding those Dobinsons springs though, I was speaking to a landy tinkering neighbour this monring, and mentioned the same. He felt that those springs dont actually raise the ride height, but simply compress 2" less for the same amount of pressure. He is pretty knowledgeable on all things British and 4x4ish, so I didn't exactly dismiss it out of hand.

Might be balleux, might not be, but worth checking for sure before your brother spends hard earned money doing it.

[Godzuki]

Thanks for the info... I'll pass it along.

[ChiChoAndy]

He's had an email from

Euro4x4parts said:

Hi Simon,
First of all, thanks for contacting Euro4x4parts!
I would recommend the Belton Desert Fox coils (2 x URB1106 - front + 2 x URB1107 -rear) for your SWB Pinin. They offer 35-40mm lift.
Price: 83,61 euros each (excluding VAT/delivery) IN STOCK

As far as I know, no brand offers struts/shocks specifically for a Pinin suspension lift but we normally recommend the Kayaba range (2 x AMJ1085 - front + 2 x AMJ1086 - rear)
The Kayaba front struts have a reputation for lifting the Pinin by about 20-25mm because the coil seat is slightly higher than standard.
Price: AMJ1085 96,99 euros, AMJ1086 81,19 euros (excluding VAT/delivery). Currently not in stock but we can normally restock rapidly

Just let me know where you are based (delivery address) and I'll prepare a proper quote for you including delivery.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Best regards

Nick

Nick OULD
EURO4X4PARTS.COM
France : 2214 RN 10 - 40440 ONDRES,
Phone : [phone]
Fax : [phone]
Email : [e-mail]

Thought you may be interested.

[Chainguy]

Top work fella, and backs up the following...

I came back from work yesterday to an email basically saying the same, but with using KYB shocks, which also have the spring pan an inch or so higher, and Dobinsons springs, which is seems are less length as OEM but due to the harder spring rate, do the same job with compressability.

All info gleaned from some guys I now know who run Pinins off road in the high mountains of northern Spain. Cars are very expensive there, and the average bloke cant afford the traditional UK Disco or Landy option. Those hold money like crazy it would appear.

It seems, from the pidgeon english email I got, the wee Pinin has a rep of being hard to kill, easy to fix, very capable on loose shale type surfaces and cruicially has very strong diffs so if you put bigger, chunkier tyres on it doesnt blow them when they spin and then grab traction again.

I didn't even know diffs did go kaboom when that happened, so I'm certainly learning something new here as I get into the off road fun thing

Time to bend the credit card, thats for sure!

[ChiChoAndy]

hey Chainguy... Looks like he'll be going for the shocks that were mentioned in this when he gets back from work, se I'll keep you posted.

On a slightly related sidenote, have you fitted manual hubs, or is it even possible on the Pinin? I know new wheels will be required, but I can't get to his car as it's in the airport car park in Sofia, so thought you'd know as much as anyone!.

Cheers

[mrdelmonti]

I know nothing about the Pinin so I've no idea if you can fit manual hubs but the other option is to weld the auto hubs locked, I know people that have done this on Fronteras because manual hubs are as a rare as rocking horse poo.

[ChiChoAndy]

Are you mistaking locking diffs, and manual hubs? Not sure what the benefit of welding an auto hub would be!

[mrdelmonti]

Auto hubs tend to be weaker than manual hubs and less reliable occasionally leaving you thinking you've got 4wd when in reality the hubs haven't locked so you're only in 2 or 3wd.

So by welding them you know that as soon as you select 4wd you most definitely have drive to all 4 wheels.

[ChiChoAndy]

Well, I'll go with my brand new manual hubs on my Vit. Anyway, I had superwinch manual locking hubs on my Amigo, (Frontera sport). Certainly not as rare as rocking horse st. I had one delivered from a 4x4 specialist, (www.independent4x.com) in a day or 2 when I was in the states.