Suzuki Club UK

Hi guys, Just brought my SJ and i have just brought some new aligator tread tyres but want more height now, it is lifted 2-3" already but im not 100% sure which way (as i said im new to all this i usually concentrate on decking cars! lol), It has upgraded shocks all round, Just wondering the easiest ways to get maximum height?

Links and rough prices would help,

Thanks guys!

hi there and

How is your sj lifted already??

Thanks mate

Mate came round last night to have a look, Its lifted on shackles..

I'm pretty sure virtual lift is best, where you cut the arches back. Lift shackles are bad because they can bugger your springs.

If its lifted on shackles, this is the cheapest, most in efficient way to lift your sj (sorry )


Other options depending on what you want to do, and if you just want the tires to fit or you want clearance.


To get the tires to fit...

1. you can do the virtual lift like edd said, best to be a confident welder, as you will have to cut the body work around, arches bulk heads etc.

2. Body lift, quite simple can be home made out of box section or you can buy the kits http://www.bits4vits.co.uk/store/samura ... d_304.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Clearance....

1, Spring lifts, loads of different ways, some cheap some expensive. It usually pays to spend a bit extra. Cheap version is pretty much the add a leafs http://www.llama4x4.com/page5.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
(note he also does full spring packs)

or

http://www.bits4vits.co.uk/store/samura ... at_18.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

again not cheap but effective.

Other options can be to get springs from other companies ££££ or you can use YJ springs (see scotties thread but a lot of work) or bedford rascal rear springs put all round, but you will need to alter the front shackle.


The old option is SPOA Spring Perch Over Axle, which is when you take the standard set up with the springs under the axle and put them on top. Again you will need to be a confident welder, you will need new/uprated shocks, brake hoses, steering bar/ merc arm, prop spacers, possibly an anti wrap bar.

http://www.zukikrawlers.com/showthread.php?t=174" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


But my advice is get those shackles off ASAP as they will slowly lower your car from standard height


Henry

Thanks for all the advice guys, My tires fit fine there not to big, But i just want more clearance, Everyone wants abit more height!

Well i'm not a welder at all lol, I will have a talk with mate but i think the best option for me is the body lift, just because funds are low with a holiday approaching, Do you need much more lift then 2", Spring lift kits are mad money is it really worth that much?

2" body lift will give you a noticeable lift. but will give you no extra ground clearance, just clearance for the tires.

Ok thanks mate, I'll proberly go for that for now and then start saving for the more expensive parts! Cheers Henry

In my opinion, If you dont need the lift for bigger tyres then don't lift it, there aren't really any benifits! every bit of lift raises your centre of gravity making your vehicle less stable on side slopes. The only thing that really improves your vehicle offroad is raising the ground clearance under the axles and the only thing that does that is bigger tyres.

If your tyres fit without lift, then I would actually put it back onto standard shackles as the lift ones will actually make your approach and departure angles worse and cause you to get stuck more.

If your new tyres are too big for stock height then only lift it as much as it need for the tyres not to catch any body work. This is the only time a body lift is really of any benifit. If it was me personally I wouldn't bother with a bodylift unless you ever decide you want to end up running 32/33" tryes and dont want to cut the bodywork. for up to 31" tyres you should be able to just use 2" lift springs and re-drill the spring perches on the axle to move the axle 1" forwards. or just use 3" lift springs, that way you get a bit more clearance under the chassis than you would with a body lift.

And dont forget if you want 31-33" tyres you will need to lower the gearing to compensate for the larger tyres.

I run 33" tyres with my arches cut out and only actually have about 2/3" lift on the springs, my roof is under around 5ft 9/10" off the floor and I only have about 6" lift over a stock SJ

Here's a picture to highlight what I mean, MY sj is the blue one, I'm running the same size tyres as the white on but he has lifted his to clear the tyres and mine has had the arches cut to clear the tyres, I know which one I'd rather be in on a side slope but he does have a better chassis clearance (breakover angle) than me, In my experience though the lower chassis clearance has never really been an issue

No matter how much Scottie wants his slammed to the deck ( ) I have an argument that supports some lift!!!

Anti-gypsy barriers

You know, the long earth mounds they build to stop the gypsies/pikeys getting their caravans in...
I tried driving over one of them in Brighton, got stuck on the chassis with all 4 wheels off the ground

That's where you need a bit of lift.

I wouldn't say any more that 3" lift. I have about 2.5" lift at the minute... and some larger tyres and it's perfect

I will add that I don't have the skillz to do the arches...