Suspension lift

[tazzie Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close tazzie]

Hi can any body help me I am trying to find a 3" suspension lift but all can find is a 2" which allread have.

[glen_ep Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close glen_ep]

Re: Suspension lift

Above 2" (1.5) is not common due to the difficulties at the front end - upper arms will hit coils, and CV's will be at severe angles.

Upper arms can be replaced with US products (such as from All Pro). Search the forum for upper control arms. Check http://locktup4x4c.web140.discountasp.net/

CV's are still an issue. A front diff drop is available and will help with angles, but apparently it's a legal issue. (?) Heavy duty CV's might be another option (?)

Let us know how you go... I'm also keen for more lift, or at least, more articulation at the front

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

Re: Suspension lift

Check out some of the off road racing sites out there, I know you can get longer upper and lower control arms, with longer cv's, to give a wider track at the front, this maybe able help with the cv angles.

[glen_ep Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close glen_ep]

Re: Suspension lift

Increasing the track width with longer arms and CV's would be wonderful. More articulation and bettter stability!

Too bad there's rules against it though :-( NSW RTA says 25mm max track increase on IFS, that's 12.5mm per side, and that's with an engineers certificate. I don't know about other states.

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

Re: Suspension lift

Increasing the track width with longer arms and CV's would be wonderful. More articulation and bettter stability!

Too bad there's rules against it though :-( NSW RTA says 25mm max track increase on IFS, that's 12.5mm per side, and that's with an engineers certificate. I don't know about other states.

Ahhhh, you haven't thought about this though, when you lift a IFS you actually narrow the track width, so fitting longer arms and cv's would porbably put it up to the 25mm increase after a 3" lift.

[glen_ep Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close glen_ep]

Re: Suspension lift

Well I did consider that, but had assumed that the track increases of long arm kits is much greater than the track decrease which occurs from a lift. It'd certainly be worth chewing through some numbers though...

For example, the All-Pro long arm kit for the FJ (wrong vehicle, but just an example), is 2" wider per side. If we deduct the 12.5mm per side rule, and an over estimated track loss of 12.5mm, we've still increased by 1" too far, per side. You also have to consider any rim offset changes if fitting aftermarket rims.
http://www.allprooffroad.com/fjfrontsus ... longtravel

If you can find some a suitable kit with less track increase, we might have a chance! (I'm keen for more lift)

I reckon the easiest "next step" upgrade would be upper arms, wider offset rims [ed] and a diff drop (I'm still not convinced they're illegal in NSW, and can't find it referrenced on RTA docs). Another option is body lift and bigger tires, but that won't increase articulation (and has issues with air bags [ed]).

[Taresk Member Find all posts View Profile Close Taresk]

Re: Suspension lift

This is the first I've heard of a legal issue with a diff drop kit, what's the story there?

You're not changing anything really, the horizontal mount is untouched so the diff is never going to move, and the two vertical mounts are just spaced with longer bolts like a body lift. I can't see any feasible reason for it to be outlawed.

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

Re: Suspension lift

but why need the bigger lift anyways?!
if you can use a solid 2" lift do some grinding up in the front wheel arches
put 1.5" spacers on the coils
bolt a set of 285's on with rim offset of -20
push caster all the way forward and your done why bother?
285's are big enough on these cars surly? just my 2cents

[glen_ep Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close glen_ep]

Re: Suspension lift

but why need the bigger lift anyways?!
if you can use a solid 2" lift do some grinding up in the front wheel arches
put 1.5" spacers on the coils
bolt a set of 285's on with rim offset of -20
push caster all the way forward and your done why bother?
285's are big enough on these cars surly? just my 2cents

It depends on what you're doing. For beach driving your plan may be fine, but for articulation-heavy tracks it'd be best done differently.

What's your purpose in looking at coil spacers? If that's in addition to a 2" lift, you'll need more work/parts to fix up some issues.

I think the caster is already adjusted forward when fitting a 2" lift. There may not be much futher to go :?:

Yes, 285's are as big as you'd go on a Prado, but personally I'd rather 255/85 (more of a trails guy, not beach). :wink:

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

Re: Suspension lift

It depends on what you're doing. For beach driving your plan may be fine, but for articulation-heavy tracks it'd be best done differently.

What's your purpose in looking at coil spacers? If that's in addition to a 2" lift, you'll need more work/parts to fix up some issues.

I think the caster is already adjusted forward when fitting a 2" lift. There may not be much futher to go :?:

Yes, 285's are as big as you'd go on a Prado, but personally I'd rather 255/85 (more of a trails guy, not beach). :wink:[/quote]


yeah i thought this may have been the case. i want to do trails just not too extreame like yourself!
i didn't think the caster was moved forward?
yeah i thought you could just slap some coil spacers on and away you go?! was wrong again/ gettin used to it lol
what is a 255/85???!! lol how is that different to a 285 shorter and wider?

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

Re: Suspension lift

chubbywagon or can I call you chubby for short :roll:

255/85 refers to the tyre aspect ratio, that is the tyre is nominally 255 mm wide and the side wall is 85% of the width

so in theory
255/85/16 tyre is 255 mm wide with 217 mm side walls & fits a 16 inch rim => approx 33 inch overall height
285/75/16 tyre is 285 mm wide with 214 mm side walls & fits a 16 inch rim => approx 32.8 inch overall height
265/70/16 tyre is 265 mm wide with 185 mm side walls & fits a 16 inch rim => approx 30.5 inch overall height (Standard size GXL, VX & Grande)

Also wider isn't always better for sand work, a longer footprint is better for floatation. Wider and longer footprint better still (to a point though)
As such a "taller" tyre will have a longer footprint & better floatation than a "shorter" wider tyre. Plus a wider tyre in sand will push more sand in front of it compared to a narrower tyre and therefore will require more power to drive it. The early Subaru drivers found that out very quickly :lol: and Manx buggy drivers found that wide fronts didn't steer very well on sand as well :shock:

Having a taller, narrower tyre may be easier to fit inside wheel wells in some cases and be more suitable for the application.

Hope this makes sense lol

Lee

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

Re: Suspension lift

chubbywagon or can I call you chubby for short :roll:

255/85 refers to the tyre aspect ratio, that is the tyre is nominally 255 mm wide and the side wall is 85% of the width

so in theory
255/85/16 tyre is 255 mm wide with 217 mm side walls & fits a 16 inch rim => approx 33 inch overall height
285/75/16 tyre is 285 mm wide with 214 mm side walls & fits a 16 inch rim => approx 32.8 inch overall height
265/70/16 tyre is 265 mm wide with 185 mm side walls & fits a 16 inch rim => approx 30.5 inch overall height (Standard size GXL, VX & Grande)

Also wider isn't always better for sand work, a longer footprint is better for floatation. Wider and longer footprint better still (to a point though)
As such a "taller" tyre will have a longer footprint & better floatation than a "shorter" wider tyre. Plus a wider tyre in sand will push more sand in front of it compared to a narrower tyre and therefore will require more power to drive it. The early Subaru drivers found that out very quickly :lol: and Manx buggy drivers found that wide fronts didn't steer very well on sand as well :shock:

Having a taller, narrower tyre may be easier to fit inside wheel wells in some cases and be more suitable for the application.

Hope this makes sense lol

Lee

yeah cheers heaps for that now i no how to work out tyre sizes!
very interesting piece of info on sand work will have to ponder this?