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3" lift

Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 7:23 pm
by eddy 76
when fitting a three inch lift on a gq do I need to fit adjustable panhards, extended brake lines and castor correction some suspension shops say yes some are saying no I would llike to hear from someone who has done it and can tell me yes or no.

cheers eddy

Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 7:36 pm
by InSanE
search is your friend mate there are dozens of threads on that issue

Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 7:59 pm
by Stew77
I have a 70mm King spring / Koni combo & the only other mod is caster correction bushes & they make a big difference. I dont think the panhards are worth the extra $$$ for 3", I would spend the dosh on better shocks. Go the suspension & then decide.
Stew

Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 8:00 pm
by gqtrol
i have fitted a 3 inch to my gq and have done castor bushes 2 Degree and extened brake lines as far as changing arms 3 inch is limit before you must start changing things. I belive that the old rule of thumb for castor correction is for that every inch after the first inch you lift you must have 1 degree of correction I think i may be wrong. You can get away with out the brake lines and just undo the 12mm bolt that holds the brake line t-piece to the front and rear diff housing not safe but an option. And if you don't mind your car driving like a 60 series land cruiser forget the bushes so yes you can get away with just springs and shocks but put in the extra couple of hundred and do it right Glad to help
GQTROL

Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 8:16 pm
by ats4x4dotcom
slimline drop boxes give the correct castor, and keep correct arm angles for a 3" lift, so you can continue to use flexible factory or 80 series bushes in the arms, and 10mm max extra you would need for adj panhards on a 3" lift.

Stainless braided brake lines improve pedal feel, and are stronger than standard for snagging, and we would suggest these.

bushes

Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 7:03 pm
by jkv6
i know an 80 is not a nissan but my 80 has offset bushes in the panhard rod done at truck aline and it drives great mates gq 3 inch lift no panhard work done do the lift then get an alinement done they will tell you

if i sold lift kits and panhard rods i would tell you you need then
if i sold a lift kit BUT DID NOT sell panhards rods i would tell you you do not need them

mates gq factory brake lines 3 inch lift 2 inch body lift no probs

Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 7:10 pm
by KIWI
I run a 3" lift in a swb GQ, longer brake lines, standard panhards and castor bushes.

Will be going back to factory radius arm bushes.
I would rather put up with slightly lighter steering than lose more front end travel.

Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 3:48 pm
by nzdarin
I have 75mm spring but it gives more like 100mm of lift due to reduced weight. I have fitted extended braided brake lines as otherwise when jacked up the diffs would hang on the brake line. I have factory radius arm bushes and factory panhard rod in the front. Due to MWB mod the whole rear end is a little different so not really relevant. At 75 mm I wouldn't worry about castor plates and castor bushes restrict tralvel so much and last such a short time that I wouldn't put them near any vehicle. With either my 33x12.5 or 35x11.5 it is very controlable and doesn't noticeably wander.

Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 3:21 am
by Suspension Stuff
This is all depends a bit on whether you are getting longer shocks with your 3" lift and if it really is a 3 inch lift as some companies will pass off a 2.5 inch lift as a 3 inch lift.

Panhard Rods $200each
I wouldn't bother, save your money, but I can understand why it is recommended as all your bushes and your coils are pulled over to one side causing a bit more strain. Your tyres are more likely to scrub on one side. A greater possibility to cause a weakness (Sag) in your coils as more of the weight of the vehicle is on one side of the coil but still quite unlikely.

Extended Brake Lines
For $60 it is well worth it, new rear and old rear in front, but as others have said you could jimmy it up to work with your existing brake lines.

I would say yes for castor correction. $100 + Fitting.
There are different castor correction bushes on the market and I have driven on some shockers but there are some decent ones I can recommend.
Yes slim line drop boxes are a better solution but more expensive and visable and does get in the way, but hardly ever unless fitted to a shorty.

So upon my recommendations your full kit should cost $860 including shocks, coils, castor correction bushes, longer brake line and freight.

Shane

Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 9:11 am
by mudmav
4WD STUFF QUOTES

Yes slim line drop boxes are a better solution but more expensive and visable and does get in the way, but hardly ever unless fitted to a shorty.



Can you explain why the unless fitted 2 a shorty im not having ago at you mate i just want to know your reason for this as i was jsut about to fit some superior drop boxes to my shorty with 3 inch king springs, is their something i should know that i have not been told

Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 3:49 pm
by Jimbo
I was going to fit drop boxes to my GQ with a 4" lift but decided plates as they were $200 supplied and fitted and they look "more factory" than boxes.

One question....honestly how much better do drop boxes make the front end flex over plates???? I have plates and i ahve no complaints what so ever. It drives the same (steering wise) as it did at standard height and teh flex is the same.

Cheers

Jimmy

Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 5:02 pm
by Suspension Stuff
In a shorty the drop boxes are nearly in the middle of the chassis therefore reducing your rampover angle. In a LWB you rarely lose ramp over angle as you are more likely to hit the centre of your chassis than the drop boxes. I hope I have explained it clearly.

They are truer correction than plates and in fact plates give too much of a correction for a 3 inch lift, unless you get some specially made up and do some cutting.

Also in a shorty you will need either adjustable upper or lower trailing arms. I prefer lower because it keeps your bigger tyres away from your guards a tad and you can get some beefed lower arms as they get more exposed the higher you lift. There is never any guarantees you will get rid of all your vibes with a shorty. They are quite tempremental sometimes.



Jimbo plates might work for a 4 inch lift but not for a 3 inch lift. In fact your castor wouldn't be quite right still unless you did some cutting or you fitted a 5 inch lift. Even still the drop boxes would still be a better corection but a bugger because they do stand out for the cops to give you some attentionl.

Shane

Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 5:04 pm
by Jimbo
Nah its around 4 at the front