Sierra Suspension. A Disaster? How can i fix it?

[mike_nofx]

Hi all. Just bought a sierra (first one i've owned) and I need to do something about the suspension set up.

It has a 2" body lift, and extended shackles on standard springs and shocks (i believe they are standard anyway)

Rear shocks are at full extension when just sitting on level ground... what the? and when hard braking off road, it feels like the rear tyres are coming off the ground because there is no up-travel.

I'll post up some pics, maybe someone can help identify if springs are originals. Also, am i correct in guessing the angle of the shackles are wrong (theyre basically 90 degrees)

It is currently fitted with 33"x12.5" tyres, which have low tread, and when i replace tyres i'll probably go an inch or 2 smaller.

The ride off road with the suspension as is, is shocking. No flex and hard as a rock (no joke, feels like there is NO suspension at all) I expected the ride to be hard, but not this hard.

What im asking, is what is my best option here?
I've seen 2" suspension kits on ebay for around $600 such as: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/SUZUKI-SIERRA-SA ... dZViewItem
will this help? or will the shocks that come with the kit still be too short?
Or are springs ok, just need longer shocks?

Do i need to adjust bump stops? right now, the bump stops wont even come close to touching.

Here is my suspension set-up:

http://www.4wdmonthly.com.au/forum/atta ... 1219565536
http://www.4wdmonthly.com.au/forum/atta ... 1219565546
http://www.4wdmonthly.com.au/forum/atta ... 1219565558

Thanks in advance, and sorry bout so many Questions!
Mike

[mike_nofx]

Just thinking of it now, a body lift wont effect how long shocks need to be will it?

So if i just get a 2" raised kit with shocks i should be right?

[zook4fun]

they are lifted springs i'm pretty sure. pull the botom or 2nd bottom leafs in the rear and it will soften them up. do the bottom leaf in the front. then you will have some flex, better shackel angle and smoother ride but it will lower your car a bit

with shocks go some hilux rear shocks in the rear and some vs wagon shocks in the front but you have to put some bump stop ext in for both. 25mm min.

body lift doesn't do any thing to the shocks.

[mike_nofx]

So standard height Hilux shocks (and what model hilux? 4x4 obviously), and same with wagon shocks?

Mike

[GRPABT1]

Hilux and commy shocks won't make it softer, they are designed for heavier vehicles. Get some shocks valved for a zook like OME for example.

[alien]

i think i speak for a lot of people when i say:

"this thread is useless without pics" =)

[mike_nofx]

i think i speak for a lot of people when i say:

"this thread is useless without pics" =)

I've included 3.... click the links

Mike

[zook4fun]

yes std hilux 4x4 shocks. the ones i used were out of a 93 single cab. the commodore (wagon) shocks are from a vs so about 95 i think. i have them in a car right now and it is a nice smooth car to drive.

the shocks don't make it softer but taking a leaf out of the pack will.

mike 1st thing to do is pull some leafs out then see if you need longer shocks.

[Adsport]

your shackles are dead vertical , this will make it hard to begin with . they definately look like lifted springs at least 2".

i used the dampers the guys are talking about with 2" lifted springs and extended shackles . i found the specs on this forum but the details are as follows:

Orignal shocks
Full open 470mm
full closed 290mm

81147 Rear gabriel - Hiace hilux
81340 Front gabriel - commodore wagon rears

Gabriel 81147
Full open 515mm
full closed 315mm

[ajsr]

those springs are raised for sure my 1.5" raise rancho's dont have anywhere near that arc in them

[alien]

wow - how'd i miss that?! lol

definitely a bodgy set of springs and standard shocks... that shackle angle is just plain wrong! (unless you're at full droop on the leaves, and even then its no good).

[MART]

If you want to stay at that height you will need longer leave's , you can get the two top leaves made longer and change your shackle angle , by the looks of that you could probably go 21/2 to 3 inch's longer , this would allow you to move your diffs back and forward a little , stretching the wheel base and avoid scrubbing. Longer shocks for sure with the right load rating and you can angle them in a little so they don't travel as far. Also you need to lower your bump stops to avoid inverting your springs and damaging them , the reason your shackle's are straight is because the arc on your springs has shortened them , Cheers Paul.

[want33s]

i think i speak for a lot of people when i say:

"this thread is useless without pics" =)

I've included 3.... click the links

Mike

Try posting the pics HERE not in Womens weekly.
"you do not have permission to access this page. This could be due to one of several reasons:"
so /\ doesn't happen.

[11_evl]

[11_evl]

fixed

[RockHopper]

The kit you're referring to on ebay is a heavy duty kit and as such won't do anythnig for improving ride. As always you get what you pay for. Having said that, I've got soft rated 2" OME's in mine with the commodre/hilux shock setup and it does'nt ride too bad. I got eveything at trade price at around $450, but retail should set you back an extra $100 or so. I wished I saved up a bit more and bought the adjustable rancho shocks now, but it was all I could afford at the time.

[want33s]

It looks to me like you already have 2" springs and 3"-4" extended shackles.
This give you at least 3&1/2" maybe 4" of lift.
If they are standard shocks they will be at their extension limit.

I would remove the bottom leaf from the front and the bottom two leaves from the rear and then swap shackles to something about 100mm max (bolt centres), combined with small bumpstop extensions(1 or 2" and slightly longer shocks you will notice a big difference.

OH... Fit some longer brake hoses!

Jas.

[11_evl]

thats a big ass fuel tank you got there, how many litres?
you will need lots of lift just to stop it hitting and dragging on stuff

[mike_nofx]

Thanks for the replies and advice.
I will be trying the suggestions of removing some leafs first, then extend brake hoses and longer shocks (maybe hilux commo). Then play with shackles.

I dont mind it sitting a bit lower, but would this make the 33's scrub? If so, would a 32 be better? or just drop to 31?

Where would i go to get leafs extended?

And with the pictures, can you actually post them on this site? or do you have to have the pics on a seperate site and IMG tag em?

Thanks again
Mike

[want33s]

I dont mind it sitting a bit lower, but would this make the 33's scrub? If so, would a 32 be better? or just drop to 31?

Where would i go to get leafs extended?

And with the pictures, can you actually post them on this site? or do you have to have the pics on a seperate site and IMG tag?

31's are good on a Zook but your 33's might still fit if you virtual lift it. Or run larger bumpstop extensions.
Have you moved the front axle forward yet?

Leaf springs cannot be extended. If you want longer, you'll have to replace them. Rears can be put in front and several other japanese cars can be put in rear. EG : Mazda 808, Feroza.
A search will reveal all.
Jas.

Pictures are best posted via Photobucket or similar with an IMG tag.

[mike_nofx]

Ok heres what i've done so far.

Removed front bottom leafs, and removed rear bottom 2 leafs.
This dropped the rear by only about 20mm and the front only 10mm. I would have expected more drop than that? it seems to have only dropped about the thickness of the leafs.
Shackle angle remains the same (vertical). Suspension has softened up tho, was way too hard before.

Will fitting shorter shackles give a better angle? or will it remain vertical?

Fitted longer shocks, the commodore/hilux set-up. Main reason was because this set-up was cheapest and others seemed happy with this set-up.

Thats all i've had the chance to do. Will do brake lines before i take it out next, and bump stops. (its off the road for now, fixing transfer case)

With the bump stop extensions, is this mainly to protect the shocks? As the compressed length of the new shocks are only about 10-15mm longer than stock, so why not just extend this much?

Are the bolts that go through the spring bushes, just standard bolts? or are them meant to be a special type? mine has just standard 12x100mm bolts fitted (one is actually a 10x100mm bolt!)

I want to replace all spring bolts and U-bolts, (U-bolts are stuffed) where is the best place to source these?

Thanks
Mike

[GRPABT1]

AFAIK the bolts aren't high tensile or anything like that so as long as it's a tight fit then shoudl be ok.

You may find that with time the springs will settle a little lower still and hence improve your shackle angle, although shorter shackles could improve it somewhat.

Bumpstop extensions serve 2 purposes, one is to prevent the shock from bottoming yes, but they also prevent your tyres from fouling the gaurds. So eseensially make them as short as possible to prevent shock damage (giving about an inch extra room as the bumpstops themselves to compress) and tyre rubbing. Bumpstops can also provide stability in the rough stough.

[MART]

All suspension bolts should be grade 8 hi-tensile bolts , they should have 8.8 on the head of the bolt , anything less and you are asking for trouble , just be careful with your current u-bolts because you have removed leave's the nut now sits where the thread used to go through the bottom plate and could be damaged , causing the u-bolt to fail , cheers Paul.

[VR Rodeo]

Leaf springs cannot be extended. If you want longer, you'll have to replace them. Rears can be put in front and several other japanese cars can be put in rear. EG : Mazda 808, Feroza.
A search will reveal all.
Jas.

They cant be extended as such but you can get individual leaves made up, to whatever length you need. When I did mine I simply got a new main leaf made up with the shackle mount to centre bolt measurement 'extended'. This ment that the diff stayed in the stock position, the military wrap leaf could be re-used, but gave me an extra 1/2 inch at the front and an extra 1 inch at the back over stock rears ( eye to eye ). I haven't had any ill effects with leaves bending either.

[GRPABT1]

Leaf springs cannot be extended. If you want longer, you'll have to replace them. Rears can be put in front and several other japanese cars can be put in rear. EG : Mazda 808, Feroza.
A search will reveal all.
Jas.

They cant be extended as such but you can get individual leaves made up, to whatever length you need. When I did mine I simply got a new main leaf made up with the shackle mount to centre bolt measurement 'extended'. This ment that the diff stayed in the stock position, the military wrap leaf could be re-used, but gave me an extra 1/2 inch at the front and an extra 1 inch at the back over stock rears ( eye to eye ). I haven't had any ill effects with leaves bending either.

I think you missed Jas' point, replacing the main leaf is what he meant, not the entire pack.