Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hey guys, well i just bought my new suzi last week a 1994 WT Sierra (and i will definatley not be chopping this into a ute..) anyways i was just wondering... i have dont a three inch body lift on it and am running 31 BF Goodrich MTs... i dont have much room before i get rub, i was wondering wether i should get a set of shackles and 2 inch springs, i am really keen on getting shackles but am not sure if i should just get some new stock springs or not, i dont want to lift my suzi to a point where it is too scary to drive, my mate did a SPOA on his and it feels like a death trap when we went downs hills!!! so yes tell me what you think??

ditch the body lift, go 2" lifted springs and shackles, plus sum hamer work on ur inner guards an trim ur front bumper mounts if it hasnt been done already, then learn how to drive it.

I disagree, Keep the springs you got but bring the hammer out and if it still rubs then get some slightly longer shackles then go for springs last or perhaps some bumpstop spacers.

bazooked wrote:ditch the body lift, go 2" lifted springs and shackles, plus sum hamer work on ur inner guards an trim ur front bumper mounts if it hasnt been done already, then learn how to drive it.

X2

i don't see why you would want to ditch a 2 inch body lift, which at the end of the day doesn't realy raise the c of g too much and or affect handling, for longer shackles which create all sorts of problems and drive poorly....

joeblow wrote:i don't see why you would want to ditch a 2 inch body lift, which at the end of the day doesn't realy raise the c of g too much and or affect handling, for longer shackles which create all sorts of problems and drive poorly....

because in QLD you can't go 2" lift plus 2" Body Lift, its illegal

grimbo wrote:

joeblow wrote:i don't see why you would want to ditch a 2 inch body lift, which at the end of the day doesn't realy raise the c of g too much and or affect handling, for longer shackles which create all sorts of problems and drive poorly....

because in QLD you can't go 2" lift plus 2" Body Lift, its illegal

Oh yes you can. 2+2 is fine in Qld

grimbo wrote:because in QLD you can't go 2" lift plus 2" Body Lift, its illegal

So are extended shackles

Why to longer shackels affect handleing worse than lifted leaves?

Stupid question, but i cant work it out?


MF

I'd take (short) shackles over a 3" BL anyday.

Sorry I didn't explain myself fully,:

but a 2" BL is all that's required to run 31's on a sierra but it will haev a crap ride and poor wheel travel.

However, a 3" BL is too high and unneccesary. (Under any circumstances)

There's no point buying new stock springs

2" springs and some short shackles would also clear a 31 with some seam hammering and some bumpstop spacing, and the car would ride and travel better on and off road, and overall the car will be no higher than it is now.

Another option would be swap the 3" bl for a 2" bl and run 2" springs with no shackles or bumpstop spacing, but overall that's 1" taller.

Small shackle length increases (around 35mm in the front) aren't too bad, but adding some caster wedges at the same time (pedders) will fix the caster issue they create. They work well with bumpstop spacing by reducing the likelyhood of bottoming.

I hope this helps.

Steve.

Gwagensteve wrote: will fix the caster issue they create.
Steve.

This explains it, Thanks.

MF

joeblow wrote:i don't see why you would want to ditch a 2 inch body lift, which at the end of the day doesn't realy raise the c of g too much and or affect handling, for longer shackles which create all sorts of problems and drive poorly....

I'd prefer to have the entire car at 2" higher than just the body. Body clears tyres. thats it.
2" springs and some slightly extended shackles ride better, flex better, increase belly height and clear bigger tyres...

just cruizin' wrote:

grimbo wrote:

joeblow wrote:i don't see why you would want to ditch a 2 inch body lift, which at the end of the day doesn't realy raise the c of g too much and or affect handling, for longer shackles which create all sorts of problems and drive poorly....

because in QLD you can't go 2" lift plus 2" Body Lift, its illegal

Oh yes you can. 2+2 is fine in Qld

An increase in bumpstop height 1/3 of the original height is all thats permitted suspension wise. Extended shackles are not permitted. OME springs are only 40mm lift.

An application for an approval is required to fit a body lift. Maximum is 50mm.[/quote]

off topic


LIFT IT
Fat chicks cant jump

1- extended shackles don't ride better. it is the shackle angle, not length that detemines ride. usually a longer shackle will be closer to 90° to the chassis, therefore resulting in harshness.
2- extended shackles do not increase wheel travel. this is too long to explain and also relates to shock length, bumpstop clearance and spring rate. just ask any suspension engineer.

I didn't claim in my post that longer shackles on there own improved ride or wheel travel, only that they help to resist bottoming when longer bumpstops are fitted. So if bottoming is causing a poor ride, the will assist in improving the ride.

They do increase wheel travel though, when used in conjunction with correct shock absorber lengths.

You are correct in relation to shackle angle having a major effect on ride though. (it also effects squat too)

Steve.

if you adjust bump stop clearance to compensate for longer shackles, i take it you mean bringin the bumpstops down, then you will not gain any wheel travel, and i'm not taking into account a shock..just talkin about the spring flex.shocks won't do much more when your shackle and spring create a linnear arc.

The only reason to fit longer bumpstops in the application above would be to remove the 3" BL and retain 31" tyres.

Adding 2" springs, 35mm shackles, bumpstop spacers and then sizing shocks to suit, with some seam work, would allow for a net increase in suspension travel, (due to spring arch, shackle length and shock length, a good ride, low overall height, and still permit the tyre size.

We all understand that longer shackles do not permit the springs to flex more, and that longer shackles require longer shocks. Yes, we also understand that longer shocks won't help when the shackles are maxed out and the spring is fully drooped, but a longer shackle will still add 1/2 of its extra length in droop at the wheel at this point, and achieve the same in resistance to bottoming.

As I have said many times, longer shackles are a bad way to gain lift but they can be a good way of tuning ride height or making small adjustments to the suspension. The maximum travel that can be achieved out a leaf spring sierra is not possible with stock shackle lengths.

Steve.

amen

plus the stock shackles are weak as piss