QLD regulations re lifts etc

[HeathGQ]

I have been doing a bit of research into suspension and body lifts.

We all know 50mm body lift only. Also, I remember Ruff saying you had to put a submission into DOT detailing what you want, they have to approve that before doing a body lift. Reading some information indicates yes, this is true. And they will not approve any higher, full stop!!

The real interesting bit is about suspension lifts. The general rules indicate:
1)- altered vehicle ride height by no more than one third of the manufacturers suspension travel in the direction of the ride height change;

or

2)- The suspension travel in the bump or rebound mode must not be altered by more than one-third of that measurement as specified by the original manufacturer. http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/qt/driv ... tion_3.pdf page 71 and 72 of 74

The wording of each of these are slightly different, so I guess it depends on who you talk to.

My initial thoughts from this information was
- You can put 12 inch springs in, provided you limit the wheel travel to one-third of the manufacturers measurement.

Further reading searching found this:
- The head lamp height, measured from a level surface to the centre line of the headlight must not exceed 1200mm.

So that limits the actual height of the vehicle.

I think this might need to be investigated further. What is it was possible to provide a travel limiter that could be removed when you want to play???

Anyone else got thoughts on this? Mechanical engineers perhaps...

[spazbot]

limiting straps ??

[HeathGQ]

limiting straps ??

what about upwards?

[spazbot]

well a strap on each side next to the coil , will allow you to restrict the amount of diff movment

[ozy1]

Hydrolics (spelling?)

[HeathGQ]

the point is the regs say nothing about heights specifically for suspension lifts, only a percentage of wheel/suspension travel.....

[ozy1]

well number 1, id say you measure you suspension travel, then 1/3rd of that is how much you can lift your car

[antt]

well number 1, id say you measure you suspension travel, then 1/3rd of that is how much you can lift your car

i don't think ya getting what he's trying to say.

what heath is on about, is having a big lift, but not using all of the possible travel from the bigger coils on the road, you could limit the uptravel by the use of bigass bumpstops, and downward travel by limiting straps. then, you'd have the straps and bumpstops removable, so you can use the max travel out of the springs offroad.

is that right heath?

[Area54]

I've discussed this once before, I came to the same conclusion. I spoke to an officer and asked him about the one third drop ruling, and bump stops and limiting straps, he said as long as the one third increase was maintained. He was still tightlipped as to how high the rig could be, of course within the headlight rule. I think he was trying to tell me something

Limiting straps are pretty easy to setup, they can be adjustable webbing with quick release clips, or cable with quick release clips. Bump stops you would want to lengthen anyway so you can keep the tyres from scrubbing. My bumpstops on the wagon are 120mm longer and they keep the tyres away from the guards, as well keep the compression side of things legal, just need some limiting straps to keep the droop under control for road.

[Link]

I thought the same thing when I first read the regs.. Everyone I spoke to about it though said it's been put to the test before and the dept transport don't like it..

[HeathGQ]

is that right heath?

Yeah that is what I am saying.

Figured it would have been discussed before. havent gone far with it, just thought it was curious.

[mike]

Interestingly enough when I tried to research what the original manufacturers specification was on bump stop clearance in my '86 sierra, no-one could tell me!
Not QT, Not Suzuki Nobody!! (I spose now, having said that, some smart-arse here will have a spec from some obscure manual I've never heard of)

How on earth can you build to a spec when that spec can't be found (or in fact, isn't specified)
Grrrrr QT Grrrr

[Area54]

On older the models, the only way you can ascertain these specs is this way, in the manual there will be specs on how high the rig was (roof line height) from the factory with the factory issue tyres, simulate this with factory spec tyres, compress the suspension to attain the factory roof line height and take some measurements at the bumpstop clearances. Of course adjust for any bodylift that may be fitted.

Manufacturers were not keen to publish the specs on bumpstop clearances, as the springs always sagged a little and were not keen on replacing springs every 6 months due to normal settling.

Could also use a highly compressible material for bumpstops (pool noodles ), this gives the visual impression of an extended bumpstop, without much of a limitation. Some tests would be best to get this to work though, and will not help you in a DOT test.

[HeathGQ]

Interestingly enough when I tried to research what the original manufacturers specification was on bump stop clearance in my '86 sierra, no-one could tell me!
Not QT, Not Suzuki Nobody!! (I spose now, having said that, some smart-arse here will have a spec from some obscure manual I've never heard of)

How on earth can you build to a spec when that spec can't be found (or in fact, isn't specified)
Grrrrr QT Grrrr

Yeah I know how you feel. Do you think I could this info for the Patrol. It has been asked before on Exploroz, but no one answered.

the way Area54 said was the way I was going to do it. Find the original dimensions of the truck, find a stock one and measure the bump stops, this will find the upward travel distance, but the downward travel distance.. thats harder... havent thought about that just yet.

Again, as Area54 said, this has been done, and the means the DOT knew the loophole exists. Not that its a loophole. The wheel travel thing is a good idea, cause the general on-road agility is not compromised.

Making up the detachable limiters would be hard to have approved though me thinks.

[Area54]

Interestingly enough when I tried to research what the original manufacturers specification was on bump stop clearance in my '86 sierra, no-one could tell me!
Not QT, Not Suzuki Nobody!! (I spose now, having said that, some smart-arse here will have a spec from some obscure manual I've never heard of)

How on earth can you build to a spec when that spec can't be found (or in fact, isn't specified)
Grrrrr QT Grrrr

Yeah I know how you feel. Do you think I could this info for the Patrol. It has been asked before on Exploroz, but no one answered.

the way Area54 said was the way I was going to do it. Find the original dimensions of the truck, find a stock one and measure the bump stops, this will find the upward travel distance, but the downward travel distance.. thats harder... havent thought about that just yet.

Again, as Area54 said, this has been done, and the means the DOT knew the loophole exists. Not that its a loophole. The wheel travel thing is a good idea, cause the general on-road agility is not compromised.

Making up the detachable limiters would be hard to have approved though me thinks.

Heaps of ways.

Go to a caryard, find a stocko Nissan, ask to take it for test drive, then ramp it anywhere and measure the length of the shock at full extension.

Nissan parts dealer, ask them if they can give you dimensions of factory shocks - fully extended.

Go to wreckers, find standard nissan shocks and measure them.

Go to a 4x4 shop that installs suspension, ask them to put aside some standard shocks for you to measure them, they only throw them out.


Transpose these measurements to your truck and you will have the factory droop dimensions.


Have a chat to the guys at Wizard performance, they will know where its at. (limit straps)

[auto_eng]

have a look at this website. Type in the approval number listed on your compliance plate and hit seach. This should take to to a the approval. Click on this and then on a document in the RVD section. This should show you some suspension data (late model stuff only). May have to look around at a few RVD's to get the right one.

http://rvcs-prodweb.dot.gov.au/pls/wwws ... ify_Search