Offroad-Express

I have a SWB Safari Lined up, its been fairly well used and abused, BIG front and rear bars,rear guard chop but current owner lowered it to stock height.anyway need to know what Ill need to lift it and fit say 35"/36"tahs? I realise the usual springs and shocks but do I need drop boxes? adjustable panhards?
also had a wobble coming through the wheel under deacceleration at about 60km on test drive? anything I should worry about? any help much appreciated...

juz wrote:I have a SWB Safari Lined up, its been fairly well used and abused, BIG front and rear bars,rear guard chop but current owner lowered it to stock height.anyway need to know what Ill need to lift it and fit say 35"/36"tahs? I realise the usual springs and shocks but do I need drop boxes? adjustable panhards?
also had a wobble coming through the wheel under deacceleration at about 60km on test drive? anything I should worry about? any help much appreciated...

the wobble will be the panard rod bushes dieing

i lifted my lwb 2 1/2 inches with suspension and 2 inch body lift

if you use stock radius arms get some 20mm i think spacers made up to move the axle forward
caster bushes
adjustable panards yeah only if you want to keep the body looking square to the wheels i didnt worry about it haha

the thing a lot of people dont think about is if you move your diff over lots to line it up with the body at ride hight, when it bottoms out it will miss the bumpstops

Thanks, I remember reading somethng about safari steering wobble but couldnt remember were or what it was, I would like to try and avoid body lift if possible, have read they prone to cracing/ripping mounts but definatly after atleast 75mm suspension lift id say.
Can ya just buy the spacers to push axle forward?
what about rear gearbox spacers? just soooo much shit available for these things Im not sure whats needed and whats just extras..

juz wrote:Thanks, I remember reading somethng about safari steering wobble but couldnt remember were or what it was, I would like to try and avoid body lift if possible, have read they prone to cracing/ripping mounts but definatly after atleast 75mm suspension lift id say.
Can ya just buy the spacers to push axle forward?
what about rear gearbox spacers? just soooo much shit available for these things Im not sure whats needed and whats just extras..

i never had any issues with my body lift

as for gearbox spacers some say yes they are a must others say no so go figure. with a swb im picking yes something to do with driveshaft vibrations
im not sure about the radius arm spacers as i machined some up at work and fitted them
im sure whoever you buy your lift from should be able to source you some

hope that helps abit

you'll be wanting the stronger lower rear arms as well if not already done, these being a bit longer means you dont need the gearbox spacers i belive? could be wrong

Just done this. bought truck with a 50mm body lift,stock springs & shocks. had 35s on already, rears were rubbing on guards so I put in 2" suspension lift, still rubbing a bit so added 30mm spacers under the springs & cut & panelbet guards a little more. Haven't bothered with caster correction bushes up front, I've got 10mm plate to lower gearbox but managed to snap a bolt off when trying to fit it so didn't put them in.no adjustable panhards either.
No problems with vibration, trucks drives fine.
I suggest you do your lift then see if you need to do all the other mods, every SWB seems to be different.

traxion for a EFS 75mm lift $1700

http://www.traxion.co.nz/default.asp

juz wrote:Thanks, I remember reading somethng about safari steering wobble but couldnt remember were or what it was, I would like to try and avoid body lift if possible, have read they prone to cracing/ripping mounts but definatly after atleast 75mm suspension lift id say.
Can ya just buy the spacers to push axle forward?
what about rear gearbox spacers? just soooo much shit available for these things Im not sure whats needed and whats just extras..

Great choice Juz , you selling the Navara? I have 75mm lwb springs and 25mm body lift with 35s, in a swb and on full flex they are rubbing quite bad on the inner gards on full flex, So will be cutting inner gards soon cause I would'nt want to lift it any more. I had 20mm gearbox spacers and had driveline shudder, put longer stronger rear radius arms in then could remove gear box spacers drives very smooth now. I have'nt moved front radius arms yet, just using caster correction bushes. Will wait till can afford super flex arms. Good luck with new truck, I am sure she will serve you well.

You can buy radius arm spacers, helps in fitting 35" tyres. I put them in plus castor correction. I gets speed wobble at 65-70km, have replaced all pahard bushes, it has come down to small play in king pins, going to put kit through shortly. Gearbox spacers or longer trailing arms: as long as the driveshaft keeps the right angles to each other it won't matter really. But gearbox spacers drop the gearbox=getting stuck on shit. I'm going to take mine out and fit longer trailing arms.
Al

Honestly, Give the guys at 4wdbits a call tomorrow. They helped me a hell of a lot with my lift kit and they answered a ton of different questions.

They fit alot of lifts into alot of safari's so know what works and what doesnt.

Thanks for all the info guys!

mudtroll wrote:I suggest you do your lift then see if you need to do all the other mods, every SWB seems to be different.

This seems to be the case I think.everybody has differnet ideas,thats why I never asked about brands of springs/shocks cos Ive seen what sorta arguments that starts! haha. Wod love to find a low top patrol to ute chop but cant justify paying 8-12g and chopping it.
What yas think about this? probly be sold by time I get the $$$ from my sale.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=257134793&permanent=0

The problem is that each manufacturer has a number of different springs to cater for the different loads a vehicle may carry. For example you may have 2 different pairs of front 3" lift springs availalable- one for a stock car- and one for a vehicle with ARB bar and heavy winch. Fairly often you can be sold a 3" spring when you only asked for 2" because the seller knows that with your vehicles weight its gonna compress/sag more than usual.

4WD bits helped me with my truck as without them i was totally lost- they were able to tell me exactly what i needed. Pretty soon however im going to have to go back and see if i can swap some stuff around

-Nathan

juz wrote:I have a SWB Safari Lined up, its been fairly well used and abused, BIG front and rear bars,rear guard chop but current owner lowered it to stock height.anyway need to know what Ill need to lift it and fit say 35"/36"tahs? I realise the usual springs and shocks but do I need drop boxes? adjustable panhards?
also had a wobble coming through the wheel under deacceleration at about 60km on test drive? anything I should worry about? any help much appreciated...

To fit 35" tyres you need 100mm of combined suspension and body lift. So 50mm springs and shocks (plus maybe a gear box packer if unlucky) and a 50mm body lift. Take of factory flares and mudflaps and you'll fit 35.5" Simex. This I gaurantee as I have done it.
Radius arm spacers will give a little more clearance but aren't really necassary at 50mm of lift.
Drop boxes are for 75mm or more of lift.
Panhard rods aren't needed and longer rear arms help but aren't really worth the money.

My advice is get an OME or EFS 50mm kit and get the lightest duty one that will suit the load you carry. That will keep it softer and better offroad.

If you really want it to handle better then there is a mod to the front shock tower that will allow longer shocks. Depends how far you want to go.

However, do you want the truck to look cool and have a big lift or do you just want bigger tyres and better performance? The two are opposites.

Cheers, Its only going to be used Offroad so clearance and flex is what Im realy after