Offroad-Express

Ok so ive got a 1991 landrcuiser and noticed that the leaf springs run under the axle like so



so can i shift them around so the leaf springs are on top of the axle?
That would give me some pretty good lift.
Thanks guys.

Search the forums for SOA conversions. SOA = Spring over axle.

And welcome to the forums

Yep you can its called a SOA (spring over axle) but its usually not a recomended mod as you'll end up lifting your truck about 8 inches and have a top heavy unstable truck that flops onto its side easily, you'd be much better off looking at a coil conversion to give you better axle clearance, stick some 80 series stuff under there

Hmmmmmmm ill have a look into a coil conversion then whats it involve?

You Get That wrote:Hmmmmmmm ill have a look into a coil conversion then whats it involve?

1. $$$$$$$$$
2. 80 series diffs axle housings, suspension and control arms
3. 80 series brake booster
4. modified driveshafts
5. certification

If your going to modify your suspension you might as well do it properly

Sadam_Husain wrote:Yep you can its called a SOA (spring over axle) but its usually not a recomended mod as you'll end up lifting your truck about 8 inches and have a top heavy unstable truck that flops onto its side easily, you'd be much better off looking at a coil conversion to give you better axle clearance, stick some 80 series stuff under there

X2

Cheers Richard

oooo looks hard/costly what about getting some new leafsprings how much lift could i get from them?

You Get That wrote:oooo looks hard/costly what about getting some new leafsprings how much lift could i get from them?

It is the cheaper option.

The downside is that lift springs have more arch therefore don't flex as well and you still have the spring hangers at the front running into everything and causing trouble.

Cheer Richard

Sadam_Husain wrote:Yep you can its called a SOA (spring over axle) but its usually not a recomended mod as you'll end up lifting your truck about 8 inches and have a top heavy unstable truck that flops onto its side easily, you'd be much better off looking at a coil conversion to give you better axle clearance, stick some 80 series stuff under there

Wash your mouth out Marty

I've done a SOA conversion in my 70 series MWB and i wouldn't say its any tippier than a cruiser with a body lift or lifted springs. Although the leaf springs in mine sit quite flat. I have to say that its a mod well worth doing as far as improving diff clearance etc. Probably cost you $1000-1500 bucks depending on how much you can do yourself. High steer arms would be the single most expensive bit $700ish?? After that its extended brake lines etc. Would recommend fitting a track bar/traction bar to pervent the rear diff from rotating. The front driveshaft needs to be altered for length. Theres bound to be other stuff

....

http://www.4wdbits.co.nz/ProductDetails ... ductID=599

http://www.4wdbits.co.nz/ProductDetails ... ductID=600

I found these would they work?
what else will i need? like break lines?

What are you really trying to achieve? Lifted springs won't stop you dragging the diffs. The only thing to stop that would be bigger tyres. You will need more room to fit bigger tyres, but a bit of guard trimming should be all that's needed to fit 33in tyres. If you want bigger, then you should consider SOA (my opinion), although agressive guard trimming may be enough. You're looking at spending $1500 on springs, plus about $700 for longer shocks, plus say $150 for extended brake lines... And you'll still have the same ground clearance under the diff/axle housing. That would buy a new set of 35in Simex / Silverstone tyres and a set of flares to cover the guard trimming, and possibly enough left for a set of deep-dish rims (or get the centres flipped) to widen the wheel track for better stability. Then you gain a couple of inches height where you need it - under the diffs.

Ok so if i get a 80mm lift kit it will stop my truck from bellying but the diffs will still be the same distance to the ground so i would put some bigger tires on it and because of the 80mm lift kit i could get some decent tires on it.

Or do a SOA mod but would i need any extras for a SOA mod apart from break cables?

You Get That wrote:Ok so if i get a 80mm lift kit it will stop my truck from bellying but the diffs will still be the same distance to the ground so i would put some bigger tires on it and because of the 80mm lift kit i could get some decent tires on it.

Or do a SOA mod but would i need any extras for a SOA mod apart from break cables?

In my opinion tires are the most important (and therefore first) mod that you should look at.

Before anyone could really recommend what to do you need to think about the following:
Is this truck your daily driver/shiney that only goes offroad occasionally - or is it a dedicated bush basher?
What sort of 4x4ing do you do/want to do? Rock crawling, trials, mud bogs, or just the occasional bush track?
What is your budget? As the best answer is also usually the most expensive,

I would recommend joining a club and seeing what set up others have and how you like them. Also a good idea to drive your truck abit first and figure out exactly what you are trying to achieve.

For a cheap first mod my money would be on extended shackles (for lift and flex and real cheap) plus some bigger and more aggressive mud tires. Good starting point to move on from. Just my 2c

SOA would involve a fair bit of welding and fabrication - so cost depends on your skills - it will cost a bit if you have to pay someone else to do it. Track-bar (or anti-wrap bar - stops the axle twisting the springs under power) may not be necessary since you haven't got huge horsepower - but without it you risk breaking a pinion or universal in the driveshaft. You may get away with adding an extra leaf to the spring pack to stiffen it up. With welding skills, you could re-position your shock mounts to save the cost of new ones. You will need a high-steer set-up so the steering and tie-rod runs above the springs ($700?), extended brake lines, and certification ($350?) It will lift the truck about 6in, which has a significant effect on stability, so ideally you want to widen the wheel track a bit as well. That's why some people like to use 80 series (or even 60 series) axle housings, but you can increase the wheel offset by getting custom rims, or by getting the centres cut out, flipped, and re-welded so they sit wider. That can cost around $30-50 per rim. Or wheel spacers at around $300 per pair. Harder on wheel bearings, but heaps more stable... Talk to your local certifier before you start so you know what he requires.

I haven't done it myself, so there may be a few other things as well. I decided to make room on mine by cutting bits away rather than lifting the truck. Cheaper and much more stable.

Having said all that - I fully agree with the previous comment.

Ok , first things first

have you wheeled before or are you fairly novice at all of this

if you are just getting into 4wding, the my suggestion is to get out there and do it forst

get used to your truck and work out what you may or may not need after you've learnt a bit about how it works and the places you wish to take it


too many folks throw thier chequebook at their 4wds before really learning how to drive them or even how to 4wd

my 2c


and as MNC said, tyres are the best investment to begin with, but you can only go so big with them

if you are in welly, there a guys who may lend you 35s or similar so you can see if they fit

depending how high you go you may need to have a double cardinal joint on your front driveshaft,longer brake lines,high steer,longer shocks etc its well worth doing,i rolled my soa cruiser and have now built another
i also chopped 75ml out of my x member and rebuilt it where the shaft come down
its a getting used to it thing,mine is now a ute with no dash or nothing so not much weight up top and i find it fine i am however in the process of fitting an 80 series diff in the rear and a 60 series in the front for width and im running 50ml spacers

they are tippy but its alot of fun

skid wrote:Ok , first things first

have you wheeled before or are you fairly novice at all of this

if you are just getting into 4wding, the my suggestion is to get out there and do it first

get used to your truck and work out what you may or may not need after you've learnt a bit about how it works and the places you wish to take it


too many folks throw their cheque book at their 4wds before really learning how to drive them or even how to 4wd

my 2c


and as MNC said, tyres are the best investment to begin with, but you can only go so big with them

THIS IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU WILL GET!!!!!! Listen to it. Then you can plan on your mods.

Hahaha cool guys ive done a bit of off roading and been in soe bogs and stuff like that. Theres a little track up the back of my place. But i think i may keep the cruiser as it is it has some big tires on it all ready and it gos anywhere i want it to go.

I converted my mwb landcruiser in 2000 'two spring over it had a 13bt and 35s when ok .and side angles better than you think raised the steering' handling on road ok .....and on the down side front drive sharft in a bit of angle start virbrating at sixty km and when you get bogged real bad and you winching out the front axle pulles back on the spring shackels .