Lost height

[pyemaster]

Chaps

Just measured the ride height on the front of my 2nd Gen, which is 13" NSF and 13.5" OSF. From searching this seems to be about right.

Trouble is this is with a 2" body lift fitted, so have I really lost 2" of height at the front from something else? Is there any other way of checking if I'm lower than I should be?

Owen

[pyemaster]

I was under the impression it was just the rear that sags!?

I do have a winch bumper on but I can't imagine that would drop the front by two whole inches?

Owen

[pyemaster]

I think softening torsion bars with the added weight of the winch bumper may have contributed to the 2" drop.

Does anyone know if I crank the torsion bars up 2" to the original height, will that affect the CV joints in the same way it would by cranking them up from stock 2" higher than normal?

Owen

[shokenore]

What is you measuring from?

[NiftyNev]

Does anyone know if I crank the torsion bars up 2" to the original height, will that affect the CV joints in the same way it would by cranking them up from stock 2" higher than normal?

Owen

No. because it will be at original height (if it has dropped 2") and cranking up 2" from original will change CV angles and also decrease suspension down travel. Having said that I also do not understand what it is you are measuring.

Nev.

[pyemaster]

Sorry I should have been clearer, I was referring to the gap between the top edge of the (15") wheel and the bottom of the arch lip.

I'm not sure if there are any other ways of checking your height against the stock height that anyone is aware of? And / or what those stock measurements are?

Thanks
Owen

[pyemaster]

Sorry I should have been clearer, I was referring to the gap between the top edge of the (15") wheel and the bottom of the arch lip.

I'm not sure if there are any other ways of checking your height against the stock height that anyone is aware of? And / or what those stock measurements are?

Thanks
Owen

Right just to add, I've just popped out and measured it on the absolute flat (think it was on a slight slope before):

NSF - 12.25"
OSF - 13"
NSR - 14"
OSR - 14"

The above is with a winch bumper and hi lift jack mounted on the front. No rear bumper currently. New 32" mud tyres on 15" steelies all round, and with a 2" body lift.

I would expect with the extra weight on the front it might compress the front suspension a bit, but without the body lift the wheel-to-arch gap would only be 10.25"!?!

I'm thinking of getting a pair of new stock springs for the back and cranking the torsion bars up on the front to bring it back to its stock height (well, the stock height plus the 2" extra for the body lift), but only if it won't bugger my CV joints...

Have the Hilux Surf brain trust got any thoughts before I start wielding spanners?

Owen

[shokenore]

I got 31's on mine let me grap a tape measure


wheel rim to wheel arch
Front 14 "
Rear 16"


help ?

[Tankerman]

Can you actually notice half an inch difference? Are the tyre pressures identical? Are the torsion bars equally adjusted?

[pyemaster]

Tyres are all a couple of weeks old and bang on 30psi. Just had laser alignment so everything is straight on the geometry too (annoyingly this will have to be redone if I start tinkering around with torsion bars).

It's not that I notice half an inch, it just measures as such. I'd rather the truck not sit on the wonk and/or be sagging at various corners.

Shokenore do you currently have a bodylift at all? If not you would expect to be measuring 16" front and 18" rear with a 2" one, which makes my 12-14" range with the body lift seem really really low?!

If you're parked on the flat, can anyone else with a tape measure shed some light as to what you measure? (oo-er)

Owen

[shokenore]

50mm lift
31 bfg's

[andyverran]

NSF - 12.25"
OSF - 13"
NSR - 14"
OSR - 14"

Lets not forget, that if you mostly drive with no passengers it probably is level at the front.

[pyemaster]

That's a fair point, will need to keep that in mind if I adjust the torsion bars.

Can anyone confirm if winding the torsion bars lifts the inside end of the bottom wishbone up? If so could that be a reliable measurement point? I'd like to get it back up to stock height but I'm not sure what that height should be?

Owen

[andyverran]

winding the torsion bars up increases the tension in the spring pushing down on the top wishbone...therefore the chassis moves away from the ground...

I don't think it matters as much that you get the original height as it does that the car rides evenly (don't forget it effects head lamp alignment to).

Ground to chassis on a flat surface is the most reliable I would say.

[pyemaster]

Thanks for the explanation, so I wonder if there are certain points on the bottom of the chassis which should be a certain height off the ground which I can use as a reference point to measure against?

Owen