suspension lift 2" or 3" and other tweaks needed?

[biosurf]

I plan to do a suspension lift at some point in the future and have been reading all the threads I could find but can’t seem to get a definitive answer to what I’m looking for, so forgive me for repeating an old question but at least its not about the red button!


I’m running 31’s at the moment and will probably stay that way for now (love the look of 33’s but not sure the cost in terms of the tyres themselves and fuel economy can be justified. )
Soooo.. the lift is going to be a) to sort out the sag b) to give a bit more articulation off-road and c) to look better (natch)

I would like to keep on road handling reasonable for cornering at decent speeds etc. as 90% of the driving I do is on-road (though 90% of the fun I have driving is off-road!) and as other members of my family borrow it and I would prefer it not being something you have to be ‘used to’ to handle

My plan is to get the individual bits together over time when I can afford it rather than get everything for the lift at once.

I have been offered a full set front and back of +2” shocks from a member on here for a decent price so this could be the first bit of the ‘kit’

I was thinking the plus 2” springs and wind the torsion bars up.

Is this the best thing to do or: a)get landcruiser springs for a bit more reach and use the 2” shocks or b) get landcruiser springs and 3” shocks (which will cost considerably more £)

In either of these cases do I need to go for:
1. freewheeling hubs to not get through CV Boots?
2. diff spacers
3. ball joint spacers
4. braided brake line for the back?
5. removal of front and rear ARB’s and will this make it dodgy cornering on the road?
6. Bushwhackers kit inc. panhard rod drop bracket, spacer for the flexi hose, arb drop brackets etc.

Also do I need to adjust bump stops?


What I’m getting at is I want to get the height and articulation up a bit without having to mess around with too much else so should I go for 2” all round and what are the essential other tweaks to make if I do this or if it is only a 3” suspension lift and nothing else can I do a similar amount of tweaks and ride quality etc. not suffer too much?

Ideal responses will be along the lines of:
Its possible to get the 2” shocks I’ve been offered, match them with the 3” landcruiser springs and wind up the front torsion bars a bit (1.5”) and all of this without my 31’s looking silly and tiny (anyone running this set up and has pics? ) .
I’m guessing there’s a bit more to it than that though?

If it’s a lot easier to go without the extra inch and stick with 2” I can live with it. Just.


Hope that all made sense I’ve been reading about lifts for the best part of 4 hours on and off, its been a long day and I feel like my head is about to explode!

[RodLeach]

If I were looking for a mild lift. I would get +2" springs from roughtrax (great springs!) some 1.5" ball joint spacers from whoever is doing them now.. TonyN or www.4crawler.com

That should level the truck out nice! get the shocks from the member an bolt it all up.

You shouldn't need to worry about anything else

[Apache]

You will now get loads of conflicting answers, but in my personal opinion based on my own truck...

1) Yes, freewheeling hubs are a good idea anyway. Lift or not.
2) Diff spacers not really necessary with a small lift such as this, particularly if you have (1)
3) Good idea. Means you dont have to put so much tension on the torsion bars, which makes front end handling interestingly bouncy!
4) I didn't need it as mine was easily long enough even under full extension. Yours might be different.
5) If you have other members of your family driving it, they might not like it if you remove the front one - it does roll more. The back doesn't seem to make a great deal of difference though.
6) I haven't found it to be necessary and I took the extended panhard bracket off after breaking it through offroad abuse, but as I said, yours might be different. I might be wrong but I think Vince might have redesigned it to be stronger now anyway...

Bump stops certainly limit the amount of arty you get. I've cut my fronts down to about 10mm thick (and still hit them!) and taken about 2" off the back.

Contraversial answer number 1. If I was to do it again, I *might* not go for LC springs on the back. Yes, they give you a good, cheap lift, BUT I think they are too hard for the weight of the truck, particularly offroad, and a better answer might be +2" ones designed for the surf, plus 1" spacers.

I'll leave the answer to that to the philosophers of the 22nd century.

<edit> Flippin heck, me and Rod seem to agree!

(PS) I think Mark (Stein) is doing BJ spacers, but I know Tony has a few sets available at the mo.

[BioHazard]

bit the bug i see ......Stein does a adjustable panhard rod if that helps , also as apache says the rear arb doen't make alot of difference to the roll if removed .......BUT is counted as a mod by insurance

[biosurf]

You will now get loads of conflicting answers, but in my personal opinion based on my own truck...

1) Yes, freewheeling hubs are a good idea anyway. Lift or not.
2) Diff spacers not really necessary with a small lift such as this, particularly if you have (1)
3) Good idea. Means you dont have to put so much tension on the torsion bars, which makes front end handling interestingly bouncy!
4) I didn't need it as mine was easily long enough even under full extension. Yours might be different.
5) If you have other members of your family driving it, they might not like it if you remove the front one - it does roll more. The back doesn't seem to make a great deal of difference though.
6) I haven't found it to be necessary and I took the extended panhard bracket off after breaking it through offroad abuse, but as I said, yours might be different. I might be wrong but I think Vince might have redesigned it to be stronger now anyway...

Bump stops certainly limit the amount of arty you get. I've cut my fronts down to about 10mm thick (and still hit them!) and taken about 2" off the back.

Contraversial answer number 1. If I was to do it again, I *might* not go for LC springs on the back. Yes, they give you a good, cheap lift, BUT I think they are too hard for the weight of the truck, particularly offroad, and a better answer might be +2" ones designed for the surf, plus 1" spacers.

I'll leave the answer to that to the philosophers of the 22nd century.

<edit> Flippin heck, me and Rod seem to agree!

(PS) I think Mark (Stein) is doing BJ spacers, but I know Tony has a few sets available at the mo.

soooo.... Apache. In your answer are you referring to a 3" lift all the way through i.e. if I do eventually go for the 2" springs and 1" spacers I can still use the +2" shocks and get away with 1-6 without having to mess around with anything else and with the ball joint spacers will they give me the means to raise the front by 3" too? Or is it just easier to go for the 2" overall?

Never thought I would be so bothered abpout an extra inch. ahem.

If I don't get the freewheeling hubs immediately how quick do you get through CV boots? I'm probably doing around 300 miles per month?

[Apache]

I personally went through CV boots like there was no tomorrow! However, since having the manual hubs last october, I've gone through precisely none.

If you're not looking for huge offroading flex etc, 2" will be OK. 3" that works reasonably WILL require BJ spacers.

[goodcat]

hello biosurf!!
its Jay. we met on beggars lane in Sheer earlier 2day! i got my surf stuck in the mud remember and u gave me a few helpfull tips for my surf and recomended me this site.
anyway i was just reading through this post and it was only about 15 mins later i realised it was actually u!! lol
just measured my wheels and they r only 25" !!!?? no wonder i couldnt make the clearence going up that death valley hill! especially with that silly front bumper add on! it was a painfull and embarrassing site to see u just cruise on up past me effortlessly in ur surf!
and ur right m8, this site is VERY addictive!! been on here for 3 hours now and am obssed with getting a 2" body lift and a 2" suspension lift!! lol
i wont hijack ur thread anymore tho m8. ill start my own thread with my own questions.
thanks again m8.
nice ssr-g by the way m8!