Outer Limits 4x4 Board

I'm after a cheap and easy way to get a few more inches out of the rodeo.... i'm told that i can easily get more from the torsion bar and putting new shackles under the ass end (it rarely carries a load at all)...... BUT.... there is no more camber adjustment left apparently on the front end..... would lifting it a couple of inches affect it badly? or just a little?

Hi RoeDao,

Good to see you made it here!

The cheapest and easiest way to do your lift is probably just as you said with cranked t-bars and raised shackles in the rear along with some longer shocks to suit. Id be surprised if you were unable to get any more lift from stock due to lack of camber adjustment. You should realistically be able to get a couple of inches out of it and be able to adjust adequately. One thing that can be done to fix it though if it is the case is a ball joint flip. Just be aware of the legalities of doing this kind of mod in your state and whether it may need to be engineered.
Here is a step by step run down of how to do it...
http://www.planetisuzu.com/articles.htm/78

Cheers,

Noel

Thanks Noel That looks like the go to me..... only thing is i need to get the shackles first of all so i can do it all in one day. I couldn't see that flipping the balljoints would be a huge problem, from what i can see, it wouldn't make a lot of difference structurally because the upper control arm is now supporting the ball joints rather than just having them swinging on 4 bolts. I think that i will give that a go upon sourcing some shackles for the ass end..... What kind of lift can i get doing this? does 3" sound like too much?

I think the amount of lift that you choose in the rear depends on how much you end up getting out of the front. You dont want to have your Rodeos ass end sticking too far up in the air as that would look a little odd. Probably about a 2" shackle lift would suffice.

You planning to put some bigger tyres under there?

Noel

If i can get a couple of inches out of the front, i'm going to try to lift the rear with air, most likely polyair springs. I have been informed that extended shackles are illegal on the road here in NSW
I'm going to put bigger tyres on, depending on budget. Most likely BFG muddies.... i've used them on a cruiser and i like them. They suit the kind of 4WDing i prefer.

RoeDao wrote: I have been informed that extended shackles are illegal on the road here in NSW

No they are not illegal in NSW you just need an engineers cert.!!

urgh............ but how much does an engineers cert cost? prolly cheaper to get air to lift it

anyone know what the deal is in regards to the legalities of extending shackles in QLD?

Thanks

Paul

From memory I think the are not allowed at all in that sunny state... but you should be able to find this with search or ask in the general tech as they will know....

Definately not allowed in Queensland. With or without engineers certificate.

I lifted mine 2" with different rear springs and adjusted the torsion bars up front. I actually went HD bars as I had a steel bar. 2" + 31" bfg stays within legal limits in NSW without getting engineers.

Pm me if you want more detail, Total cost with HD Torsion Bars HD leaf springs, Extended gas shockies and bolts + those half moon things on the torsion bar adjust mechanism (they freeze up) under $1000.00

Tiny

Where does one find out what the legal limts are??
My Rodeo has a saggin bum and I want to fix this and give it some lift at the same time. Ball joint flip is the go and was considering some HD springs but probably need to know what is and isn't legal first!

Rainsey

rainsey wrote:Where does one find out what the legal limts are??
My Rodeo has a saggin bum and I want to fix this and give it some lift at the same time. Ball joint flip is the go and was considering some HD springs but probably need to know what is and isn't legal first!

Rainsey

unfortunately a balljoint flip will not give you any lift in a Rodeo..... unlike a hilux whose T/B is on the upper control arm, all it will give you is a bit more down travel. I have flipped my balljoints and added an 1/2" spacer.... i have a heap more travel, but had to achieve the lift by re-indexing the torsion bars.

RoeDao,

Did you actually replace your tortion bars or just reindex and wind up the originals.
I seem to be gettign some conflicting advice from some of the suspension places. Some saying to defintely replace them but the local ARB dealer indicating that this is a waste of money, stick to the originals.

The rear springs are probably a no brainer as they are visually worn out (ex mines vehicle) but the front has me confused.

Cheers

Rainsey

rainsey wrote:RoeDao,

Did you actually replace your tortion bars or just reindex and wind up the originals.
I seem to be gettign some conflicting advice from some of the suspension places. Some saying to defintely replace them but the local ARB dealer indicating that this is a waste of money, stick to the originals.

The rear springs are probably a no brainer as they are visually worn out (ex mines vehicle) but the front has me confused.

Cheers

Rainsey

i re-indexed the originals...... lifted it no problem!! no use putting H/D ones in.. all you are going to do is stiffen the front up and stuff up what little flex you can get from an IFS..... mine cope fine. The rear springs i just lifted with shackles...... it passed rego with them so i'm happy

some pics of them here http://www.4wdlinks.com.au/gallery/album321?page=1

I just read that artical about the ball joint flip and was just wondering would this work on a 1995 Frontera??

frontie wrote:I just read that artical about the ball joint flip and was just wondering would this work on a 1995 Frontera??

It should. Just stick your head in the wheel well and have a look. Easier to do if you turn the wheels full lock in either direction.

If you don't have a bull bar, then the standard torsion bars should be ok. I had a bar and they do tend to sag over time so I just replaced.

Rear springs are set for loads not flex, so a HS leaf with 2" raise has an additional laod spring which you don't get to untill well into the suspension movement.

Legal limit with no engineers is 2" over standards hieght and 10% over sized tyred.

Body lift requires engineers regardless

Tiny

Just a tip for petrol Isuzu owners. If you want to upgrade your torsion bars to carry extra weight such as a bullbar, winch etc then go to the wreckers and buy some stock diesel torsion bars. The diesel motor weighs more than the petrol. Cost about $75ea.

Although I have only wound my stock 4cyl petrol torsion bars with winchbar and winch and they seem fine.

I till have the original deisel torsion bars if anyoine wants them cheap

Tiny

Folks, just received an email from the NSW RTA in regards to raising my suspension to see what I could do leagally before I did it.. pls do not shoot the messenger...

This is from NSW RTA Technical Enquiries.. Excerpt from Guidlines for light Vehicle Modifications Rev 1, April 1998

Re Suspension

1: Fitting of longer, non standard shackels to leaf springs are not acceptable in NSW
2: Suspension modifications are permitted, so long as the height of the vehicle hasn't been increased by more then 1/3 of the standard suspension travel or bump stop clearance
3: Major changes to suspension (such as fitting of non standard cross member) requires an engineering signatory.
4: Modifying the ball joint mounts will require an engineers report

Re Alternative tyres - exerpt from Vehicle Standards Info Rev 4 Nov 2003

1: Wheel track cannot exceed 25mm beyond standard
2: The outside diameter of the wheel and tyre combo cannot exceed 15mm over the largest diameter specified by the manufacturer

Now this being the case, my Rodeo TF workshop manual indicates the standard shocky stroke is 5.51" which cannot be greater than the standard suspension travel thus a 2" suspension rise is illegal..

Plus being that my workshop manual states 205R16's as standard giving I think a 29" diameter, my exising 10.5 x 31 are also illegal.

These specs do not give much latitute for change.. but I'll go ahead and do it anyway.

I was actually considering also the Calmini 3" upgrade that USA4WD offer but this also includes a new cross member and top arms.

Cheers

Rainsey

mate........ 99.5% of all 4WD mods are illegal if you go by the book...... i just did it anyways

As RoeDao said. Most things we do are illegal. Especially in Qld. I try to keep my illegal mods hidden or easy to revert. Pain in the arse when other States can do things we can't though. I'd love to do a SPOA on my Rodeo.