Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hi there,

Just want to know what thoughts are out there regarding coil spacers and lift kits.

I want to get more clearance and I don't have heaps of cash. Spacers seem very cheap. What is going for and against them? Does a spring lift give you more articulation additionally to the extra height whereas the coil spacers would not???

Thanks

What sort of vehicle is it?

I'd tend to go the longer springs. You'll find, particularly on smaller vehicles, that you can often use something from different cars, etc. from a wrecker. The "Pick a part" type of wreckers are usually best (and cheapest).

If u are low on cash there is nothing wrong with spring spacers, it is just like moving the mounts down, u wont gain any flex with either setup, the easiest way to gain flex is through longer shocks because in most cases this is the limiting factor.

If you can find spacers to fit properly... or make up your own, it is a cheap way to gain some suspension lift..
This also retains normal flex characteristics.. as you are not increasing the spring rate of the coil.

But yeh, longer shocks would help.. or modify your top mount to lower the shock down

I just replaced my rear coils with Ironman ones and Rancho RS9000X shocks and the improvement is out of this world...
The coils only set me back $145.. and torsion bar windup is free (If you can do it)

Thanks alot for your posts so far...

Mine is a GQ patrol.

Fitting coil spacers cna be at least as much effort as coils but if you want to maintain factory ride they're the go and cheap.

However they are of questionable legality in some states.

As stated by others you will not gain any travel - you wil lose travel until such time as shocks are replaced.

If you're after cheap and easy height they're the go. But dont expect anything else than the extra clearance..

GQ patrol you say

righto. you're in good hands.

Now, if your just after a wee bit of lift for clearance and can't afford to pay some mob 2k or whatever for a lift then listen up

suspension lifts on GQ's are are pisopis. front eye to eye - lift chassis, undo bolt, release shocker and spring, insert new spring(may involve spring compressor around 4" lift spring) and shocker, tighten bolt. job done!

Rear. same shit only eye to eye. may need to undo bolt retaining lower contol arm if more than 2" required.

bung ya spacers in for a few bucks and a few mm lift or spend a couple of dollars on 2nd handees or cheapees and get a real lift for a couple of dollars more.

anything over 2" you'll have to extend the brake hoses (pisapiss), aside from that your pretty much laughin'

I can gaurantee you that if you put a 30mm spacer in and go propper 4wding you'll be lifting ya springs within a year. I'll put $50 on it now.

Now you've got two choices; have a grouse raised truck ya can have fun in or be dissapointed that your still rubbing out with 33's and just keeping par with pajero's, but $50 richer(ya tightass, if i pay up that is )

once again guys/girls, thanks for your input!!!!!

So if I was to find some extra cash and go down the spring lift path...

How important is it to get the most expensive lift kit, or not to get the cheapest one ? If I could find some second-hand coils would that be a good idea (is there too many pitfalls like wrong spring-rate or cheap* crap which should be avoided) or should I try to get a whole kit where the shocks are matched to the springs (brand-wise)?

I have heard of springs in 2" kits sagging to 1". Is that because they were cheap or was the truck overloaded?

I noticed that ironman were about $650 for a kit.... Are they good? Are there cheaper ones out there that I should consider?

Mostly I wont be loading my fourby up more than just "2 adult +child long-weekends away" but hopefully I will get away on some bigger trips later where the truck will probably be quite heavy, should I be worried about the spring-rate or getting adjustable shocks? Keeping in mind that I have bugger-all money to spend, is it even worth thinking about that stuff now?

Sorry about all the questions - It's like opening a can of worms here. I really appreciate all the comments from people who have the experience & want to share.. Thanks alot

I'd be spending the $700-750 on Dobinson or EFS over $650 on ironman.

Of course, it you are on a really tight budget, if you're only looking for 30mm or so and you buy a secondhand lift set that was 2" and is now only 30-40mm is it such a big drama? (Of course assuming the shocks are not r00ted).

You'll probably find a few kits floating around here which might have had 6 months of use max before people wanted more lift. If you weigh that up against the 15 years your current springs and shocks have probably been in then secondhand isnt THAT bad.


All springs sag eventually. Your stock springs are probably shorter than they were by at least an inch from new. My rig was probably about an inch and a half below original height - yet was still taller than some other "stock" GQ's I've seen.

For general touring and 4wheelin dont stress about it, a springs a spring, a shock is a shock. many are made at the same place and just packaged differently.

There is only thing to consider really - is it a progressive rated spring? and most are, just ask anyway.

I know i said only one thing to consider, but anyway; think about your ride comfort, payload wieght, etc. what sort of driving are you doing

A good cheap setup would be soft progressive pedders springs and hard shockers. This will give you the flex and allow your springs to compress but also give you enough stiffness in the shocker to stop you bouncing all the way down the road or track. This is why many comp trucks run twin shockers up front - soft springs

I personally prefer a stiffer ride and dont compromise height when loaded, so i have quite hard springs - its all good, handles some pretty full on punishment and great artic - the chiropractor likes it too, though. its unforgiving on your back and throws you around a lot in deep ruts

I bought my 96 gq with cash just before Xmas and because I don't do credit for depreciating assets anymore I am only just getting back in the black after the purchase so between buying and today I have been working hard trying to upgrade the old girl with a limited budget.

For my modest 2 inch lift I went with King springs front and rear and dobinson shocks, the dobinsons do an ok job of keeping the springs under control but they are a fairly harsh shock overall.

If you don't know the rate of the spring you are buying you are totally in the dark, one set marketed as HD can be another's medium duty or anything really there is no standard only MARKETING , from memory GQ LWB have 190lb springs standard give or take a bit front to back, I fitted 250lb to the front and progressive/two stage 240/310s to the rear, on the rear this is just enough rate to handle a full tank of fuel.

Anyway if you shop around you will find king springs for $130 a pair and Dobinsons for $110-$120 each.

IMO fit your springs first, springs to suit a 2 inch lift will allow the standard shocks to be used on road and soft offroad then work toward changing out the shocks later. Lifts over 2 inch start to get insanely expensive.

cheers fnq

spacers will shit themselves eventually, and its a bodge job.

Just save up for a few more weeks, and do the job properly and get springs.

Dont get ironman... have heard and seen 1st hand bad reports.

speak to 4WD Stuff about EFS, gives good discounts to O/L members.

GQ Bear wrote:For general touring and 4wheelin dont stress about it, a springs a spring, a shock is a shock. many are made at the same place and just packaged differently.

There is only thing to consider really - is it a progressive rated spring? and most are, just ask anyway.

I know i said only one thing to consider, but anyway; think about your ride comfort, payload wieght, etc. what sort of driving are you doing

A good cheap setup would be soft progressive pedders springs and hard shockers. This will give you the flex and allow your springs to compress but also give you enough stiffness in the shocker to stop you bouncing all the way down the road or track. This is why many comp trucks run twin shockers up front - soft springs

I personally prefer a stiffer ride and dont compromise height when loaded, so i have quite hard springs - its all good, handles some pretty full on punishment and great artic - the chiropractor likes it too, though. its unforgiving on your back and throws you around a lot in deep ruts

wrong....sorry

Many springs are made in the same place......to different specs to suit weights, shocks etc

spring controls the hieght og the car (simply) and the shock controls the spring.

Springs and shocks should be matched to ensure a good ride but for most more importantly the longevity of the springs and shocks.

Depending on the weight of the vehicle and the duty the set up will vary greatly.

We do a 50mm lift package with springs and shcoks for $800. cost for similar will vary from a low quality set up for as little as $650ish to well over $1000.00 for a big shock

+dj_hansen+ wrote:Dont get ironman... have heard and seen 1st hand bad reports.

what have you seen? or heard.?

Spacers are not a good idea for a couple of reasons.
1. Springs will bind before the bump stops contact Fully and springs will get damaged.
1. Shiocks will top out unless longer ones fitted. This either buggers the shocks or lifts wheels.

Bazzle

just to get a bit off topic what about getting springs reset was thinking of useing eather spring spaces or having my springs reset what are the bad point's of doing this i have a gq coil cab with a sagged 5" efs kit under it thanks

PigDog wrote:just to get a bit off topic what about getting springs reset was thinking of useing eather spring spaces or having my springs reset what are the bad point's of doing this i have a gq coil cab with a sagged 5" efs kit under it thanks

springs arent that expensive to replace are they?

bogged wrote:

+dj_hansen+ wrote:Dont get ironman... have heard and seen 1st hand bad reports.

what have you seen? or heard.?

I recently got ironman coils and they are excellent...
What stories did you hear? Probably the same type of things that happen to every brand of coil

bazzle wrote:Spacers are not a good idea for a couple of reasons.
1. Springs will bind before the bump stops contact Fully and springs will get damaged.
1. Shiocks will top out unless longer ones fitted. This either buggers the shocks or lifts wheels.

Bazzle

This can also be said about just putting taller springs in aswell

jeep97tj wrote:

bazzle wrote:Spacers are not a good idea for a couple of reasons.
1. Springs will bind before the bump stops contact Fully and springs will get damaged.
1. Shiocks will top out unless longer ones fitted. This either buggers the shocks or lifts wheels.

Bazzle

This can also be said about just putting taller springs in aswell

if it wound correctly and where required bump stops extended this wont happen

HI i was wondering if anyone has 2 30mm coil spacer to suit a gu??

Thanks for your thoughts everyone.... some interesting discussions forming here...


I think I will wait until I can afford a 2" lift kit.

hando