Lift shackles, what's the maximum lift?

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Jay18
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Lift shackles, what's the maximum lift?

Post by Jay18 » Tue Nov 12, 2013 7:57 pm

I may need a small lift on my zuk to get these 31's on, I know a lot of you are going to say dont go there, but I'm told that if you only go a small lift they're okay..

So what's the highest amount of lift I can go with shackles and what will need to be extended?
Brake hoses?
Shocks?
Prop spacer?

I'd love to do a proper lift with lift springs but I really can't afford it..
2003 Grand Vitara 2.0 16v
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Re: Lift shackles, what's the maximum lift?

Post by Jordi » Tue Nov 12, 2013 8:28 pm

25/30 mm should be ok.
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Re: Lift shackles, what's the maximum lift?

Post by Anton » Tue Nov 12, 2013 8:29 pm

I once had extended shackles. You need extended brake hoses really. I think you can get away with standard shocks, but you won't have as much down travel. You don't generally need a prop spacer.

Extended shackles are the devil's work, though.

I got rid of mine (for all kind of reasons) and did an SPOA conversion. Now I wish I hadn't, and instead what I wish I'd done was gone for dropping both ends of the spring by the same amount (making a bolt-in mount for the rear of the spring that drops 2" at the same time as using a 2" drop shackle).

For SPOA (and if you drop both ends of the spring) then you're probably going to need longer hoses and shocks. Not sure prop spacers would be needed, but if you did get them, the smaller ones would probably work fine.

Lift shackles - dragons teeth as I used to call them - are the devil's work!
1985 SJ413VX (SJ50V) with SPOA, rear disc brakes, 31x10.5R15 Kaiman Malatesta tyres, an MOT and a lot left to do!

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Re: Lift shackles, what's the maximum lift?

Post by ScottieJ » Tue Nov 12, 2013 8:46 pm

Fit the tyres and go from there. You don't even know if you'll need them yet so not much point asking :lol:


with standard suspension I wouldn't fit shackles that are longer than 100mm eye to eye so 30mm longer than standard but that's only 15mm lift and I would fit them more for flex than lift. Shouldn't need brake lines for that and you'll need to lower the bumpstops 15mm.
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Re: Lift shackles, what's the maximum lift?

Post by waynesworld » Tue Nov 12, 2013 9:03 pm

Well yuo ask what is the highest you can go< answer, as high as you want aslomg as you are prepared to mod lines, props ect etc

As said, fit the tyres and rims, see how you go and DONT fit longer shackles. they will ,kill your leafs in time, end of.

Best to go with arch cutting with new archs made, see `DIY arch ` thread, or 2inch body lift, cheap and easy for both.

wolly :D

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Re: Lift shackles, what's the maximum lift?

Post by Jay18 » Tue Nov 12, 2013 9:31 pm

Cheers guys, I know everyone hates lift shackles lol, but like you say best to fit them and g from there, just want to view my options just invade I do need to do any lift, it's definite that the axle will need to go foreward so I'm definitely doing that, I was told that the steering bars collide with each other though?

I'll see how far I can get with moving the axle and a big hammer and angle grinder...
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Re: Lift shackles, what's the maximum lift?

Post by ScottieJ » Tue Nov 12, 2013 9:35 pm

As long as you don't move the axle more than 25mm forwards then the steering will be fine, who was that? Why would I advise to do something if it was going to cause an issue :lol:
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Re: Lift shackles, what's the maximum lift?

Post by Jay18 » Wed Nov 13, 2013 12:30 pm

Would I need to tell insurance about this? It counts as a mod doesn't it?

I've bashed the seams back on the bulkhead and trimmed a bit off the bumper mount so I'm really hoping they're going to go on without any problems..
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Re: Lift shackles, what's the maximum lift?

Post by Jordi » Wed Nov 13, 2013 3:02 pm

I would say advise insurance as it's quite major work and noticeably not standard.
1988 Samurai - Truck Cab & Tray Back - 1.6 8v & HIF44 - Snorkel - Stack Exhaust - PAS, YJs & 33s - Trussed, Gusseted & Pumpkin Capped Axles - 4.3 R&Ps - 4.16 T/Box - Rear Air Locker - Full Float Back Axle & Discs - RCV Front Shafts - X-Eng Handbrake - Custom Fuel Tank

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Re: Lift shackles, what's the maximum lift?

Post by Jay18 » Wed Nov 13, 2013 3:53 pm

Think I'm going to eye away with not moving the axle, got them on the zuk now and they clear the bulkhead by 1/4 of an inch with the seem flattened, need to make new bumper mounts to bolt to the chassis and cut off the bumper mounts where everyone else has seem to do..

Will be busy tomorrow..
2003 Grand Vitara 2.0 16v
16x7 Black 8 spokes
Nexen road tyres
32mm spacers
Kenwood Double Din Head Unit
Hidden CB radio
Cruise Control
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