Most efficient lift

[pridhac]

Folks,

I have a 75 series cab chassis, and for some time I have been pondering what exactly might be the most efficient way of achieving some extra lift, and some extra flex.

Today, parked at Macarthur Square in Campbelltown, I saw a Hi-Lux, badged as a 2.8D, fitted with standard springs, 35" BFG's and 8" shackle plates!!!

This seemed to me a novel route to have taken, and seems at least in part, transferrable to my 75.

I'm thinking, as my 75 is very firmly sprung to carry weight, I could have 8" shackles made, and take one or two leaves out of my heavy springs, thereby achieving both lift and flex. I never carry much weight at all, around 600-700Kg of camping gear at most.

The questions I have thought of so far, are how much lift my shocks can handle? Currently I have about 2" of spring lift. If I subtract a leaf or two from the pack, surelyit will sit a little lower, and reduce some of the lift generated by long shackles? The shocks are brand new, having been fitted by The Ultimate Suspension at Minto just a few months ago, and have seen very little work.

This design seems to simple (read: good) to be true. Someone shoot this idea down beefore I get too carried away....

Cheers,

Chris

[-Nemesis-]

I'm no expert, but i'd hazard a guess as to it being incredibly illegal. Major cop and defect bait...... Actually i'm pretty sure in the vehicle standards bulletin, one of the few things listed that cannot be legally done, was to have extended shackles.


Edit* Yep, look at clause b) under Suspension:

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/ ... /vsi06.pdf

However, the following suspension modifications are not acceptable:

b) fitting longer, non standard shackles to leaf springs.

Having said that, i'm pretty sure most people do it anyway....



As for the travel from your shocks. That would obviously depend on the shock, and it's max stroke length.....

Also, like they say: You get what you pay for. Which is not always true with the home engineers around here, but in most cases. If you only want to "lift it" the easiest way, be it for aesthetics or whatever, you are not achieving any gain in what the vehicle is made for by taking simply the most frugal path.

I think you just need to assess what you want out of your truck. If you only want the height for the sake of having it then yeah, go the "easiest" route. If you want it to work at it's most efficient in an off road sense, alot more thought, and possibly $ (not always) is needed.

[dogbreath_48]

Folks,

I have a 75 series cab chassis, and for some time I have been pondering what exactly might be the most efficient way of achieving some extra lift, and some extra flex.

Today, parked at Macarthur Square in Campbelltown, I saw a Hi-Lux, badged as a 2.8D, fitted with standard springs, 35" BFG's and 8" shackle plates!!!

This seemed to me a novel route to have taken, and seems at least in part, transferrable to my 75.

I'm thinking, as my 75 is very firmly sprung to carry weight, I could have 8" shackles made, and take one or two leaves out of my heavy springs, thereby achieving both lift and flex. I never carry much weight at all, around 600-700Kg of camping gear at most.

The questions I have thought of so far, are how much lift my shocks can handle? Currently I have about 2" of spring lift. If I subtract a leaf or two from the pack, surelyit will sit a little lower, and reduce some of the lift generated by long shackles? The shocks are brand new, having been fitted by The Ultimate Suspension at Minto just a few months ago, and have seen very little work.

This design seems to simple (read: good) to be true. Someone shoot this idea down beefore I get too carried away....

Cheers,

Chris

With a 2" body lift on top of your existing 2" spring lift, my understanding is that you should be able to fit 35" tyres. Unless you need bigger tyres, why go any higher?

-Stu

[+dj_hansen+]

Find a shop that will do a springover...

Overkill, ORI, Macquarie will all be able to help you out...

[-Richo-]

Folks,

I have a 75 series cab chassis, and for some time I have been pondering what exactly might be the most efficient way of achieving some extra lift, and some extra flex.

Today, parked at Macarthur Square in Campbelltown, I saw a Hi-Lux, badged as a 2.8D, fitted with standard springs, 35" BFG's and 8" shackle plates!!!

This seemed to me a novel route to have taken, and seems at least in part, transferrable to my 75.

I'm thinking, as my 75 is very firmly sprung to carry weight, I could have 8" shackles made, and take one or two leaves out of my heavy springs, thereby achieving both lift and flex. I never carry much weight at all, around 600-700Kg of camping gear at most.

The questions I have thought of so far, are how much lift my shocks can handle? Currently I have about 2" of spring lift. If I subtract a leaf or two from the pack, surelyit will sit a little lower, and reduce some of the lift generated by long shackles? The shocks are brand new, having been fitted by The Ultimate Suspension at Minto just a few months ago, and have seen very little work.

This design seems to simple (read: good) to be true. Someone shoot this idea down beefore I get too carried away....

Cheers,

Chris

The hilux you saw more than likely had IFS rears in it, for them to work you need to have the longer shackles. If you keep the springs you have and just add longer shackles in, you will get some lift but your shackle will be pretty much straight up and down and it wont flex much more than it used too. If you just want more flex and arent too concerned about lift get some longer springs than what you have, take a couple of leaves out and get new shocks to suit. I dont know if you could use IFS rears in a 75 or if they are longer than standard. If you just want lift do a body lift. Like what Stu said, why go higher than you need? you can gain flex without height, extra height just makes you less stable.

Also if you soften up your springs youll want to add a traction bar for sure or youll start bending them from wrap.

Spring over is another option, but i woudnt have any lift in your springs, 75's always look to tall when sprung over to me...

[dogbreath_48]

The hilux you saw more than likely had IFS rears in it, for them to work you need to have the longer shackles. If you keep the springs you have and just add longer shackles in, you will get some lift but your shackle will be pretty much straight up and down and it wont flex much more than it used too. If you just want more flex and arent too concerned about lift get some longer springs than what you have, take a couple of leaves out and get new shocks to suit. I dont know if you could use IFS rears in a 75 or if they are longer than standard. If you just want lift do a body lift. Like what Stu said, why go higher than you need? you can gain flex without height, extra height just makes you less stable.

Also if you soften up your springs youll want to add a traction bar for sure or youll start bending them from wrap.

Spring over is another option, but i woudnt have any lift in your springs, 75's always look to tall when sprung over to me...

When would you suggest a wrap bar becomes nessecary? I would have thought you'd have to remove a good few leaves from stock before wrap became an issue (depending on tyre size/power of course. lets presume stock power and 35's). Also has anyone considered the 78/79 rears on a 75? By the looks of them, they'd be way too long, but i could be mistaken.

[-Richo-]

well in my case i was getting away without a wrap bar after taking out 2 leaves, but being soft it was hopping alot, i put in some 18mm blocks to replace the missing leaves after i wasnt happy with how it sat compared to the front, with this small amount of extra leverage the springs were beginning to bend. The wrap bar stopped the bending and hopping, it was a very good mod that i should of done earlier in hindsight. The more firmly the diff is helding in position the less hop and better traction youll get. IMO wrap bars are an absolute must if you want flexy leaf sprung suspension.