2" lift

[pete 666]

Im thinking of fitting a 2" lift kit but know nothing about them just seen some pics on the web, im looking for some tips like where to buy, and fit and any thing else you want to share with me.

[RUB]

2" lift

Pete,

the most important thing to remember is make sure you have
everything you need before you start tools especialy four bottle-
jacks and loads of 4" x 4" timber couble of fence post cut up
will do.

buy a complete kit whenever possible, the last thing you need is to
try and find the parts you forgot when your truck is off the road.

Best of luck


R.U.B.

[laser_jock99]

You can buy a 2" suspension lift kit from here:

http://www.supertrux.com/

and it will take you about a day or so to fit. Essential kit is a trolley jack (3 tonne if poss), spring compressors, axle stands x2, some big logs in case the axle stands fall over.

The trolley jack will be needed raise and lower the rear axel under it's weight while you fit longer rear springs. The spring compressors will save a lot of heartache fitting longer springs.

[robnw67]

Testing Time

Does anyone know if these lift kits are safe?

It doesn't take much to unbalance a spring-mass-damper system to a point where it can become unstable.

Whilst I can see the appeal/use pottering around off road at 15mph, how does changing the springs affect handling at speed? Moment arms, spring rates and damper values are all changed, so who calculates/tests all this out?

I only ask cos I would hate to be driving along a motorway with 2 tonnes of Surf with a lift kit bouncing and wobbling it's way toward me out of control!!

Are they manufacturer approved?

[Morr]

Does anyone know if these lift kits are safe?

It doesn't take much to unbalance a spring-mass-damper system to a point where it can become unstable.

Whilst I can see the appeal/use pottering around off road at 15mph, how does changing the springs affect handling at speed? Moment arms, spring rates and damper values are all changed, so who calculates/tests all this out?

I only ask cos I would hate to be driving along a motorway with 2 tonnes of Surf with a lift kit bouncing and wobbling it's way toward me out of control!!

Are they manufacturer approved?

If the idea of a lift appeals to you, but you don't want to upset the suspension, consider a body lift. This will not give any increased ground clearance but will allow bigger tyres, improve the approach and departure angles, keep your sills further away from rocks etc whilst retaining original suspension set-up. It also will not increase your centre of gravity nearly as much as a suspension lift will, as it leaves all the heavest bite ie engine chassis etc exactly where they were.

[JimL]

It doesn't take much to unbalance a spring-mass-damper system
Whilst I can see the appeal/use pottering around off road at 15mph, how does changing the springs affect handling at speed? Moment arms, spring rates and damper values are all changed, so who calculates/tests all this out?

you probably know as much as the people who make these things most so why bother asking, its down to the installer and the quality of the product just like everything else with your car. Theres more chance of your 2 tonne surf wobbling towards someone coz you didnt tighten your wheel nuts right. Who tests your wheel after you've changed it

[laser_jock99]

Does anyone know if these lift kits are safe?

It doesn't take much to unbalance a spring-mass-damper system to a point where it can become unstable.

Whilst I can see the appeal/use pottering around off road at 15mph, how does changing the springs affect handling at speed? Moment arms, spring rates and damper values are all changed, so who calculates/tests all this out?

I only ask cos I would hate to be driving along a motorway with 2 tonnes of Surf with a lift kit bouncing and wobbling it's way toward me out of control!!

Are they manufacturer approved?

Any changes away from the manufacturers spec are bound to affect the handling in some way. Also you must remember that a large 4x4 will never handle like a sports car anyway. There are people who think they do- they throw them around corners etc and then up rolling them. Then they bitch about 4x4's being unstable.....

Raising the suspension WILL INCREASE THE CENTRE OF GRAVITY. Therefore the car is technically more unstable. But then you might end fitting larger/heavier tyres as I did, which balances things up a bit.

I have noticed no differrence in handling at all with a 2" lift- but I don't race my Surf round like a complete tw*t. Be sensible in it and you will be fine. You have to know the limitations of your car and making damn sure you don't exceed them.

[rich]

I have the 2" lift springs but I replaced the shocks with Procomp ES9000's all round which made a big difference. On occasion I "race my Surf round like a complete tw*t" only when safe to do so, but then I know how to do it and the handling is very good for a 2 ton shed.

You need to know the limitations of your driving skills and the characteristics of your vehicle. In essence the Surf is one of the most stable 4x4's I have driven but it aint no BMW!

A 2" lift doesn't alter the characteristics that much especially as the springs are stiffer as well reducing the body roll.

Rich.

Any changes away from the manufacturers spec are bound to affect the handling in some way. Also you must remember that a large 4x4 will never handle like a sports car anyway. There are people who think they do- they throw them around corners etc and then up rolling them. Then they bitch about 4x4's being unstable.....

Raising the suspension WILL INCREASE THE CENTRE OF GRAVITY. Therefore the car is technically more unstable. But then you might end fitting larger/heavier tyres as I did, which balances things up a bit.

I have noticed no differrence in handling at all with a 2" lift- but I don't race my Surf round like a complete tw*t. Be sensible in it and you will be fine. You have to know the limitations of your car and making damn sure you don't exceed them.

[da SLUG man]

what you wanna do is scare yourself silly all day throwing an HGV round corners at 2 mph at 44 ton

then when you drive home in the surf, doing 10 mph on a roundabout seems like daredevil stuff!

(last BMW i drove handled worse than the surf, it had something like a 4 litre engine and handled like a boat! it was a 540i i think)

[JimL]

what you wanna do is scare yourself silly all day throwing an HGV round corners at 2 mph at 44 ton

then when you drive home in the surf, doing 10 mph on a roundabout seems like daredevil stuff!

(last BMW i drove handled worse than the surf, it had something like a 4 litre engine and handled like a boat! it was a 540i i think)

yeah, and a spin home in the surf after hauling a dodgy load of scaffolding off a site is like falling off a log

:are we allowed slag on the tech forum?:

PS make sure your pedal rubbers arent worn we dont want anyones feet slipping off them moreover call into your local MOT centre and have them check the soles of your shoes for anti-slip qualities