new to the canty 4wd scene

[mattbanks111]

new to the canterbury 4wd scene some good tracks in the area? possible advice on suspension upgrades for my surf. have a 97 3ltr td surf

[ClassicCruiserSpares]

Hey mate welcome aboard, you should put your location in your profile which will help with later posts.

[albundy]

Gidday mate, plenty to do around here and the westcoast is just over the hill. Rick down at 4wd accessories does quite alot of suspension upgrades to surfs, some extreme, some not so extreme. Give him a call on 3651909.
Al

[mike]

Welcome, nice wagon. If you want to turn it into a very capable tourer do the following (which ive done for the last 4 or so years without breakage on a trip apart from a steering idler which is easy to carry a spare)

Step 1, 2 inch spring lift in the rear, 35-40mm torsion windup in the front.

Step 2, By at least a front locker from www.rocky-road.com and a rear if you can afford it. (makes surfs very very capable and makes up for ifs in front)

Step 3, run 32" to 33" tires.

Step 4, take off bumpers and running boards and get some bars and sliders made.

Then you are left with an awesome truck that doesnt need a solid axle swap as everyone on here will try and get you to do. The reality of it is with these modifications you will get as far if not further than most solid axle vehicles, in comfort and in style

my 2c from someone that runs this configuration

[rokhound]

Welcome aboard.
I agree with everything mike said with exception to winding the torsion bars, mainly because you have a kzn185 surf, and the configuration is slightly different to the earlier units. You can buy new struts and springs for these from Autolign that lift the front 50mm.

And on earlier surfs I would rather see ball joint spacers than winding up torsion bars. It keeps the ride nicer and actually gives slightly more flex as the torsions are not stressed out.