e bay lift kit opinions

[jonnyjtop]

hey guys just got a little sierra not long ago ita a little beast sj70 1.3l leaf sprung.. i want to do a minor lift kit to it just 2" or so just to fit a set of 29s or 30s mainly to get the handeling a bit better/smoother and steering a bit more responsive and to improve the ground clearence a bit just wondering on peoples experience with the ebay kits avaliable there are basically 2 cheap options the choose from there is bluepac or another one that is no name but i think their ultima shocks i can get one for about 600 which is about half the price of "brand name" kits i will also probably put in 2" shackles aswell and a new dampener..any opinions on the brands would be a help before ordering

cheers

[zukmeista]

Don't put extended shackles on. They suck.

[supazuk]

Don't put extended shackles on. They suck.

i had problems with standard shackles inverting until i put extended shackles on, so i don't
think they suck

[jonnyjtop]

ill only be putting on extended shackles if i have to. the thing is pretty capable as it is so far and really surprized me concidering what i bought it for, its gone alot of places that my swb pajero with 4inch lift locker and 33s went...and it kicks ass on the dunes i dont want it too high and i dont wanna start trimming and welding things and stuff i just want get a bit more ground clearence and it sucks on the freeway...then ill be adjusting the steering box a bit and wheel alighnment and it should be much better..and a body lift would be definately out of the question i hate body lifts.

[zukmeista]

Don't put extended shackles on. They suck.

i had problems with standard shackles inverting until i put extended shackles on, so i don't
think they suck

Yes shep, but you're running longer springs so it doesn't count

[BlueSuzy]

Any kind of lift kit is going to make the ride harsher. Also depends on shocks.

The softest 'kit' out there would be OME(arb), with leafs removed.

Otherwise you want soft soft, ruf and custom packs, extended shackles.

[V.W.Dave]

Any kind of lift kit is going to make the ride harsher. Also depends on shocks.

The softest 'kit' out there would be OME(arb), with leafs removed.

Otherwise you want soft soft, ruf and custom packs, extended shackles.

Lissen to Blue suzy on this one. He had one of the best riding sierra you will ever see. He spent countless hours perfecting his set up.

[jonnyjtop]

not looking to make it ride like a limo when i mean its harsh i mean everything is getting on a bit as things do over time..just wondering how the quality of the e bay kits are if anyone has fitted them

[V.W.Dave]

to give you a direct answer to your question, They are ok. They are a little stiff if you install them as they are. They are normally made with cheaper Chinese steel and they generally sagg sooner then a set from OME or EFS.

If your looking for a cheap set up get your self a set of EFS rears. Mover your current rears to the front of your sierra with a set of 2" extended shackles and re-drill the rear spring perch hole (22mm back and 10mm up) Install the new EFS rears into your rear. Go to repco and get some holden VR wagon rear shocks for the front of your sierra and late 90s model hiace front shocks for the rear of your sierra.

All up it will cost around $400 in parts. But you will end up with a much stronger better balanced set up that will give you a much more comfortable daily driver and about 3" more flex in the front end for your off road needs.

Here is a second option
This is a thread highjack from the tech section on AuZookers for a very cheap 2" lift
http://auszookers.com/index.php?name=Ne ... cle&sid=33" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Parts needed:

2inch Front OME Springs - $88.50ea at ARB

2inch Rear OME Springs - $105.50ea at ARB

Full set of poly bushes - $100 (cashie) at Dobinson Springs

Full set of U-Bolts, Nuts and Spring Washers - Total $65 Boltmaster

Rubber Grease - already had

Rear Commodore Wagon Shocks Gabriel 81340 - $30ea

Front Hiace Shocks Gabriel 81147 - $30ea

Total Cost of Lift - $673

Method of Lift:

First of all you need to make sure you have the car on a level ground to make it easier and safer. Jack the front diff up and remove one wheel. (Note: only do one side at a time or further complications take place) supporting the diff with both the jack and a chassis stand, remove shock to give more working space. (Also allows the spring to be removed easier). Loosen the nuts off the bottom of the U-Bolts and remove the nuts from the shackle pins and the rear chassis mount. Using a wrecking bar try and pry the shackle pins out of the spring, do the same thing with the rear mount. Once all the pins are out, completely remove the nuts under the srping plate and drop the spring out of the way.

If you have not already, remove the shackle from the stock or old springs. Personally I decided these could do with a clean up so I just ran them over with the bench grinder (steel wire wheel).

Insert the bushes into new spring. This may be easy depending on the bushes you are trying to use but if you are using the OME springs and Dobinson bushes, tight is an understatement. With plenty of rubber grease both inside the spring eye and all over the bush, hole it roughly in place and put into the vice. Slowly bring the vice together holding the bush firmly into place. It may slip out of place but keep trying, eventually it will go in. Be careful not to tear the side of the bush with a metal vice jaw.

Slide the spring under the diff but on top of the spring plate, and sink the locating pin into the designated hole. (The diff may need to be slightly lowered to do the next step, however with force you can do it without lowering it.) While making sure the locating pin does not come out of the spring plate, push the spring back until you can push the rear pin through the chassis mount and into the bushes, and out the other side. While maintaining the same amount of forcefeed the shackle's top pin through the chassis mount and through the front eye of the spring. Line up the U-bolts and do these up first. Once they are tight do all of the pins (shackle and rear chassis mount) up tight. Compress the new shock down to the needed length and simply insert the top pin through the hole, using all necessary bushes. Do the top nut up tight, then push the bottom mount in and do this up to. Put the wheel back on and that is one side of the front done.

The method is the same for both of the front springs. Only do one side at a time or else the diff can move. When the diff moves it makes it difficult, but not impossible, to return everything to its original location. Also because i did undo both sides at first the drive shaft came out and landed in the grass which meant the tail shaft had to be removed, push the spline back in and do the shaft back up. A lot of mucking around and you do not gain anything from it.

The rear of the vehicle is a lot easier. You have more experience but more importantly there is a lot less components around the back wheels.

Again make sure you have the diff well supported on chassis stands and the jack and remove one wheel, to do one side. Undo everything in the same order. The method is exactly the same as the front. (NOTE: Because of the location of the bottom mount, the shock fits in between the diff and the brake lines. However my brake lines had enough stretch in them that it was possible to simple push, with a fair amount of force, them off the mount and pull them up towards the floor of the car to get them out.)

Back shocks are different as they are an eye to eye configuration and the bottom mount should be done first to stop the brake lines from effecting you putting them in place.

[jonnyjtop]

thanks mate i know that their made of cheaper quality steel ect ect and i know the process of installing them and i also know there are alot of different combinations to be had..its not that im looking for a cheap option but why spend the extra dough if people people say the ebay kits are alright..ill see how i go with it

[grimbo]

Because they really aren't better than the name brands. That write up above is probably your best bet, better than a cheap kit off eBay.

[V.W.Dave]

thanks mate i know that their made of cheaper quality steel ect ect and i know the process of installing them and i also know there are alot of different combinations to be had..its not that im looking for a cheap option but why spend the extra dough if people people say the ebay kits are alright..ill see how i go with it

They are ok at best. They will be rough as guts for the first 5000to 10000ks then they will sag.

Because they really aren't better than the name brands. That write up above is probably your best bet, better than a cheap kit off eBay.

He asked for advise he was given the correct advise he is choosing to ignore it. Oh well. I have first dibbs on the I told you so reply when he posts up in 3 or 4 weeks time saying he has no flex and the ride is so bad his girlfriend is leaving him because her kidneys hurt every time she is in it.

[grimbo]

People aren't saying the eBay kits are any good. Why ask for advice when you are just going to ignore it anyway? Obviously you were going to buy it and just wanted someone to confirm it was a good bargain, pay cheap pay twice.

[jonnyjtop]

show me where i said "yeah i ordered it today i cant wait until it comes"

no one has actually replied with "yeah i had one it was shit"

i diddent say people said their good what i meant by that was "if people say their good i will get one" has anyone said that? no

when i say ill see how i go with it i mean im still doing my reaserch on different combinations.

sorry you guys cant read in context.

i probably will go with an ome kit.

while im installing it you guys should change your tampons...

[V.W.Dave]

show me where i said "yeah i ordered it today i cant wait until it comes"

no one has actually replied with "yeah i had one it was shit"

i diddent say people said their good what i meant by that was "if people say their good i will get one" has anyone said that? no

when i say ill see how i go with it i mean im still doing my reaserch on different combinations.

sorry you guys cant read in context.

i probably will go with an ome kit.

while im installing it you guys should change your tampons...

WOW you really are an ignorant S.O.B.

Have a read over your reply.

thanks mate i know that their made of cheaper quality steel ect ect and i know the process of installing them and i also know there are alot of different combinations to be had..its not that im looking for a cheap option but why spend the extra dough if people people say the ebay kits are alright..ill see how i go with it

Your response was you will see how it goes implying you are going to go ahead and get the ebay kit.
Change our tampons???? Mate get over your self.

[jonnyjtop]

show me where i said "yeah i ordered it today i cant wait until it comes"

no one has actually replied with "yeah i had one it was shit"

i diddent say people said their good what i meant by that was "if people say their good i will get one" has anyone said that? no

when i say ill see how i go with it i mean im still doing my reaserch on different combinations.

sorry you guys cant read in context.

i probably will go with an ome kit.

while im installing it you guys should change your tampons...

WOW you really are an ignorant S.O.B.

Have a read over your reply.

thanks mate i know that their made of cheaper quality steel ect ect and i know the process of installing them and i also know there are alot of different combinations to be had..its not that im looking for a cheap option but why spend the extra dough if people people say the ebay kits are alright..ill see how i go with it

Your response was you will see how it goes implying you are going to go ahead and get the ebay kit.
Change our tampons???? Mate get over your self.

your probably a good guy but stop handeling your tools too much your turning into one,
take a look in the mirror if you wanna see an ignorant s.o.b because i know what i was implying when i wrote it and your wrong. your advice was helpful up until you start name calling, and i did take it on board (even though you just copy and pasted it off another forum) i can see how you got banned off 3 other forums carrying on like a baby..
i dont need to read over my post because i was the one who wrote it. if i was going ahead with it i would have written something like "yeah thanks guys but im going ahead with the ebay kit ill let you guys know if its any good when it gets here"

To the others thanks for the advice..

[V.W.Dave]

Telling us to change our tampons was your comment first I was just replying.

I am banned off 3 other forums????? I only know of one can you inform me of the others? The only forums I get on are VWwatercooled, 4wdaction, redlinegti, twincam, Auszookers, outters and from time to time I get on fetlife. I use V.W.Dave on all of them because unlike most of the people on these forums I don't hide behind different names. Can you please let me know what sites i am banned from?

And for that one forum I am banned from AusZookers. My V.W.Dave account was banned but that thread I copied to you can only accessed by members. hmmmmm Interesting

I will also pm this to you looking for a answer.

[jonnyjtop]

patronising people and calling them stupid is just as bad if not worse than anything iv typed..if you cant understand my posts dont reply or ask what i mean, calling me stupid.. my tampon remark was meant in good humor unfortunately took it personally too bad for you mate.

[V.W.Dave]

patronising people and calling them stupid is just as bad if not worse than anything iv typed..if you cant understand my posts dont reply or ask what i mean, calling me stupid.. my tampon remark was meant in good humor unfortunately took it personally too bad for you mate.

Not once did I ever say you were stupid just ignorant for your wording. But I am still wondering what other forums I am banned from?

According to your PM you live close to me. If that is so you need to go see the EFS outlet in eastern subs they will sell you 2" lifted springs for as little as $90 each. PM DAD on here he will tell you where the place is. He ran them for 2 years with good results.
Another cheap but good option is to go to a mazda wrecking yard (mazbits in granville is a good one. Ask for Bradley and tell him the snapon guy Dave sent you) and get a set of springs out a mid to late 90s 626. take the packs apart and replace the top leafs with your old ones (the ones that hold the bushings) and you will have a very soft all around ride. You will pick them up for around $30 each.

In your Pm you also said you don't know anyone with a sierra well between me and my mates there are or have been about 12 of them. Between us there isn't much we haven't done with the zooks.
I may be outspoken, pig headed and sharp tonged on here but in person I am far from it. If you need any help getting parts or help at all feel free to PM me at anytime.

[jonnyjtop]

cheers mate i am pretty much the same outspoken and pig headed but a good bloke in person too (well i think anyway)
i appreciate the advice and its good to know i can get parts if needed..
sorry if i worded my responses in a way that may have given the impression that i was going with the e bay option i can see how people may have thought that i wasnt listning to their advice.

i will look into the efs springs this week and try track down the place..id rather use new springs/shocks than mixing and matching from other makes and models im sure that its all been tried and tested but i dont like all the mucking around im after more of a "off the shelf" kit im leaning more and more towards the ome kit from arb they offer different spring rates depending on what acc you have eg bullbar winch ect ect

im not looking for the cheapest way im looking for a reasonable/effective way to lift it...
my pajero was easy wind the torsion bars and put long wheel base springs in the rear and heyo presto 2-2.5 of lift..

thanks guys will keep you all posted on whats coming..

see you in the mud

[dad]

The mud is all yours buddy, we'll keep posted for these:

e bay wheel bearing options thread,
e bay alternator options thread,
e bay diff breather options thread,
e bay i hate mud it farks everything thread.

[BlueSuzy]

Abit different to the I love rocks subject

e bay how do i exo thread
e bay cv's thread
e bay diff reco kits thread
e bay hardtop thread
e bay retreads thread

[V.W.Dave]

you forgot
E bay stronger transfer mounts to make me need,
E bay bomador motor mounts because I have the
E bay 6.5-1 to stop my need for a
E bay better clutch because I am running
E bay 8" wide rims with my used
E bay 33+" tires that have bent cracked and broken my
E bay diff housings.

[lay80n]

Keep it tech.


Layto....