50mm Suspension Lift.

[T]

Hi I've got an 89 swb safari and I want to do a 50mm sus lift but I'm getting to many conflicting comments as to what bushes etc may or may not need changing to compensate the 50mm lift. My understanding is that a 50mm is a common lift and there is very little if any other adjustments need doing , am I right or wrong , a bit of advice from genuine safari owner/s would be great. I have already fitted a pto winch and custom made my own front and rear bumpers , have sorted a 40mm body lift , snorkel etc so I think I have a fairly good understanding of my vehicle but I need the right info for my sus lift.

[DaveM]

Cant see you would have any problems with a 2" lift.
You may need to put spacers under your gearbox to get rid of driveline vibrations, but with a small lift like that, that should be about it.

Got any pics of your front bar? Need ideas for when I get mine made.

Oh, and welcome aboard, another member with great taste in vehicles

[Dak]

50mm is a good amount, I'm biased but I'd go for an OME kit. You won't need to change anything else but you MAY have to lower the rear gearbox crossmember about 10mm to stop any driveline vibration. Some need it, some don't.

Cheers, Jeff.

[T]

Thankx guys. I thought there was not alot to it but I was told by the mechanic that does my WOF that I would have to change the front stablisers arm bushes to off set bushes, adjust brakes, wheel alignment etc. I think he may have just been trying to gain a bit of extra cash out of me.....maybe not knowing what he was talking about? Dave M I will send you some photos when I figure out how to. Also if there is anyone out there who has a workshop manual for a Safari is there any chance I could get a copy? I have found they are like hens teeth.

[DaveM]

The Manuals are always on Trade Me for sale, they just don't cover the 24v electrics, winch etc, and at $60 odd, it would be cheaper than photo copying (I have one though if you need certain pages copied)
Some people do go for castor bushes with a 2" lift, but you lose wheel travel due to the limited flex the bushes have.
I had a wheel alignment done after my lift, and the brake bias valve on the back diff needed a new bracket made to get it sitting where it should.

If its easier, just email a pic when you get the chance

spongebobsquarepants@xtra.co.nz


Dave

[mudchuka]

welcome fellow safari owner, i have vx landcruiser springs in my swb giving it about 75mm lift, i have put gearbox spacers in and thats all. it gets a small amount of vibration when empty going down a hill. with a total lift of 100mm you can run 35" tyres no problem.

does it have a front swaybar? if it has take it off, get more flex.

[MudBum]

Hi T,
gave my shorty a 60mm Sus lift with EFS Shocks and Cobra springs from Bellamy & East in ChCh. Cost $820 in for 4x Shocks,4x Springs and a Steering Dampner..
Put in 12mm Spacers under the gearbox but have not noticed much in the way of driveline vib.
Easy as to do,took us about 3 1/2 hrs all up.
I have a manual too, i got it from Repco $45
Money well spent for me already..

[4WDbits]

Choose the springs that best suit what you want to do, articulation versus load carrying etc etc.
If there is any drive line vibration, get it sorted sooner rather than later. A manual SWB might not have any drive line vibration at 50mm lift, auto almost certainly will.
Keep the standard shocks up front, or some a little longer as droop will be limited by the front radius arm bushes anyway.

[Kent]

Also any chance once you get the photo thing sorted, that you could post some pics of your back bar, and anyone wlse with a custom back bar, would really appreciate it if you did the same. (Looking for Inspiration)

[coxsy]

if you have a supercheap auto parts down there they should have one got mine there $ 36.00

[T]

Thanks guys will be back in touch once springs are in .
Question though, today I took my winch and bullbar off to do a few adjustments and the wagon jumped up 25mm this would mean I will have to get springs to cope with weight as well as a 50mm lift yes/no.
Cheers T

[Dak]

Yes, definatly, I had to go to the next rating up on my front OME springs when I went from the standard winch setup to an ARB bar and 8274 winch.

Cheers, Jeff.