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**nero279** · 11 January 2007, 01:16

Originally posted by ian619

I've been thinking about this for a while now,dont know if its feasable so any ideas/info would be great, Basic'ly id like to lift the truck by about 6-8 inches overall, I think you'd struggle to get that from an airbag system, maybe need to look at hydraulics (which is what the lowriders use) but i don't know how hydraulics would perform if you were to venture offroad?but i still need to park it in the garage so!! i can get away with a 2" body lift and still get it in OK, as far as the suspension goes what i'd like to do is this,
Be able to lift it and lower it back down by flicking a switch, I'm thinking of airbags, i've been reading through a few posts and believe AndyLaLa and Jotto have fitted them, (even had a look on a lowrider site, USA but had a job to understand what they were talking about,) Dont want to make it hop but there's an idea

Any thought's on this, is it possible? what sort of lift can i obtain with airbags without the springs falling out? can you fit em to the front (IFS) I would imagine you'd have to convert the front to a coilover system rather than torsion bars, but it could still be independent, the castor angles on the wheels would alter a lot using that much lift which might cause serious problems. (or mean you'd have to do a solid axle conversion)any drawbacks you can think ofyes, If this idea's a goer would it be possible to fit some sort of sensor to either warn me i've forgotten to lower it before i go hammering into the garage yesor better still activate the lowering automaticly,and yes
Any thoughts?

Cheers Ian

It would require serious work not only to suspension components, but also to drivetrain stuff. I would imagine you would be looking at wide angle outputs (yokes?) on the front diff, Propshafts with some sort of double cardan/universal joint system.

I'm no expert but there's a hell of a lot of work involved. It would probably be cheaper to do a solid axle conversion on the front, but i would still estimate the costs to be into the tens of thousands easily.

**nero279** · 11 January 2007, 01:29

Having said all that, i'm now not even sure it would be possible at all, i reckon you'd be looking at an absolutely one off fabrication job. Either to build the parts to fit your truck, or to alter the mounts on your truck to take something designed for a totally different vehicle. Maybe it'd be worth paying LA Supertrux a visit, they've done big lifts etc before (certainly on solid axle pickups) but, the question would be have they done one on IFS or one with hydraulics?

I would imagine if you could get that much of a variable lift on IFS it'd be custom fabbed wishbones aswell as prop shafts/half shafts, and i would imagine it would push the wheels out further, making your truck a good few inches wider than it is now, and also meaning bodywork work to keep the tyres inside the body come MOT time.

**dave.j.robbo** · 11 January 2007, 03:30

An easier and cheaper way would be to...

either......

a). Hire a JCB and dig out 6-8 inches from the garage floor, and it's approach..

or..

b). Knock the garage down, and rebuild it with a taller door..

**AndyLala** · 11 January 2007, 18:31

How about this... just an idea.

I have been scratching my head for a while on this one...

get hold of the wide angle UJ's... and try this on the front:
http://www.chaosfab.com/gen2caddy.html

use your hydraulics...

set it up for the mid point of where you want the truck to be...
drop it to get in the garage... and lift it to show off...

**POPEYE** · 11 January 2007, 20:54

Thanks for the replys Ian, Dave, Andy, looks like unless i win the lottery this is a non runner, i've downloaded that Andy and will have a good look at it, i'm guessing they aint cheap though, Have you still got the air bag system on your truck? i take it you only fitted it to the rears, Just though that if i could gain a little lift using bags on the standard suspension even if it's only 2 or maybe even 3 inches that added to the 2" body lift would make the truck
"look" better and still allow me to get it in the garage, I'm asking all this as when you jack the body up, it goes up quite a way (aint measured it) before the wheels clear the deck, if air bags would pump it up half of that distance i'd be happy with that, Where did you get your air system from Andy if you dont mind me asking, also am i right in thinking that a 2" body lift will allow me to fit 33's, my 31'S rub very slightly at the mo but i think thats down to all the weight(junk) i got bolted on the front,

**marky** · 11 January 2007, 21:30

Let the tyres down or jack up the Garage

**POPEYE** · 12 January 2007, 10:56

Originally posted by marky

Let the tyres down or jack up the Garage

A cheaper option i must admit

**BUSHWHACKER** · 12 January 2007, 11:05

Originally posted by ian619

Thanks for the replys Ian, Dave, Andy, looks like unless i win the lottery this is a non runner, i've downloaded that Andy and will have a good look at it, i'm guessing they aint cheap though, Have you still got the air bag system on your truck? i take it you only fitted it to the rears, Just though that if i could gain a little lift using bags on the standard suspension even if it's only 2 or maybe even 3 inches that added to the 2" body lift would make the truck
"look" better and still allow me to get it in the garage, I'm asking all this as when you jack the body up, it goes up quite a way (aint measured it) before the wheels clear the deck, if air bags would pump it up half of that distance i'd be happy with that, Where did you get your air system from Andy if you dont mind me asking, also am i right in thinking that a 2" body lift will allow me to fit 33's, my 31'S rub very slightly at the mo but i think thats down to all the weight(junk) i got bolted on the front,

31" tyres shouldn't rub at all.
Either your wheels have a bigger off-set than standard or your torsion bars are knackered or need adjusting.

p.s. You'll need 2" body and a 2" suspension lift to fit 33"s.

**POPEYE** · 12 January 2007, 15:14

Originally posted by BUSHWHACKER

31" tyres shouldn't rub at all.
Either your wheels have a bigger off-set than standard or your torsion bars are knackered or need adjusting.

p.s. You'll need 2" body and a 2" suspension lift to fit 33"s.

I think it's the offset Vince, their quite a bit deeper than standards, it only catches on the N/S mud flap bolt, O/S is OK, plus i got 30mm spacers on as well, it does sit a bit lower at the front though, probably due to all the bars and stuff, so torsion bar adjustment may be in order,

**andrewlee31** · 12 January 2007, 15:19

you could always sell the surf and buy a p38 range rover...

i'll get my coat...

**POPEYE** · 12 January 2007, 16:13

Originally posted by andrewlee31

you could always sell the surf and buy a p38 range rover...

i'll get my coat...

Errmmmm...................... NO

**andrewlee31** · 12 January 2007, 17:34

Sensing a certain hostility to this option.......

**AndyLala** · 12 January 2007, 18:58

Airbags came from the states... but with a torsion front end, I am at a loss as to how you would fit sirbags to that...

As for the wheel rubbing at the front... uprated torsion bars would be advised, as they appear to sink gently over time, much as the rear springs do.

Airbags came from the US, from a company called ... can't remember, can't find the receipt... can't find any cluese anywhere... maybe Jotto remembers.

details here...
http://www.fsip.com/pdfs/RR/installa...2/crin4112.pdf

Jotto, got the compressor as well as a controller, so that he could adjust the height from the cab... not a long stretch to automate that so that ride stays level... with a few microswitches...

I think this is Jotto's controller.
http://www.fsip.com/pdfs/RR/installa...,2158,2236.pdf

Also note that the 4112 bags are for normal height springs... if you have lifted springs, you'll need the same diameter bags, but whatever lift springs you have higher...

**jotto** · 12 January 2007, 23:25

This is where we got the air bags from. I ordered the Firestone 4113 kit which suits the 2" plus rear springs on the
Surf/4Runner.

www.truckspring.com

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