VX Lowering plus wheel track width increase

[Bieredalsace]

I want to lower my '99 Ironman waaay down loooow and push the wheels out to be even with the lower cladding.
I know these are 2 very different mods but since they are meant to go together on my VX I thought I'd ask all at once. Thanks everyone!

[nocturnalVX]

I want to lower my '99 Ironman waaay down loooow...

:cryb:

[WormGod]

Best advice.... get a custom shop to do it. You may be able to get an inch out of it from your garage, but to go any lower than that, you will need some solid fabbing. Most likely looking at losing your transfer case too since that thing will get ripped off on every bump. This is the kind of stuff that made Chip Foose very rich in the first place.

Unfortunately, the VX was never designed with the mindset that it would/could be lowered, so there is little to no room for it (even lifting them takes a bit of brute force as most of the hi-risers here could tell ya). Simply the wrong vehicle, unless you have money to burn and want to tarnish 1 out of 4k gems. ;)

[Triathlete]

Also "widening" the stance will put your tires into your cladding when you turn!

[Chopper]

265s will even the tire face with the cladding....but it's not real drop friendly. You may get an inch or two

[Bieredalsace]

Thanks to all for your advice (Warnings) and suggestions!

[tom4bren]

Careful on pushing the wheels outboard. Mine has the 'offset from hell' (as quoted from certain other members). I've had interference issues at full lock & still haven't been able to install the NERF bars since the tires hit the brackets. I'm hoping to crank the front down another 1/2 inch since I dropped the diff to give me more clearance.

I know this is the opposite of what you're looking for but you'll end up with some of the same probs.

[WormGod]

You can get a wider wheel, just be ready to trim the cladding. Mine are 285/60 with a 0 offset and stick out about 1", about another 1/2" with the rubber on my Grapplers. BTW, I have no lift.

(my old 285/60 Yokos mounted on stock wheels)

http://www.wormgod.8m.com/Images/Ebony/vx_yokos.jpg


(my old 285/60 Yokos mounted on 18x8.5 - 0 wheels)

http://www.wormgod.8m.com/Images/Ebony/vx10.JPG

Like I said, I have the same wheels still but with meatier rubber on the Nittos, so cladding needed a bit more trim. Hope some visuals at least help you a bit better. :)

[Bieredalsace]

Tom4Bren....I'd love to see a pic of your "offset from hell". It might be just what I'm looking for.... Maybe!!!!
Thanks, Doug

[Bieredalsace]

WormGod.. Thanks for the pictures. It made the description very easy to visualize. What size are the Nitto's you have on there?
Take your lower picture and lower it by about 2 inches or so and that's the look I'm going for. Thanks again, Doug

[Bieredalsace]

Zeus..Thanks for all the technical advice. Sounds really complicated.
Plus I really don't want o cut the cladding at all.
Thanks again!

[tom4bren]

Bieredalsace,

http://www.pbase.com/tom4bren/080419_trip_to_shenandoah

These photos were taken during a recent trip to Luray. You can see how it compares to a couple of stock height VXs & one other lifted one.

Tom

[etlsport]

you can see it in action here..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPwfaxRAQi4

hey tom check it out.. you got a comment;Db; dont know if you have a youtube account or not.. i can reply to the poster for you if not

[LittleBeast]

Tom4Bren....I'd love to see a pic of your "offset from hell". It might be just what I'm looking for.... Maybe!!!!
Thanks, Doug

NNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!





















LOL ;)

[LittleBeast]

Zeus..Thanks for all the technical advice. Sounds really complicated.

The Vehicross is actually very easy to work on, especially in today's world of automobiles, don't sweat it, if you can dream it you can do it.


Plus I really don't want o cut the cladding at all.


Cutting the cladding is not that big of a deal and you can barely notice after you are done here is my thread where I did the cladding trim, no big deal at all:
http://www.vehicross.info/forums/showthread.php?t=13415&highlight=LittleBeast

[Triathlete]

And here is a link (http://www.vehicross.info/forums/showthread.php?t=13665&highlight=sliders+bumpers)to my cladding trim...don't fear the sawzall!:bwgy:

[tom4bren]

Eric,

Can't youtube at work. I'll try to get on line tonite.

Ryan,

PHHHTTT!!! (Soup Nazi says 'no brackets for you'). Just remember, whenever you are wallowing through the ruts - I'm floating over them.

[WormGod]

WormGod.. Thanks for the pictures. It made the description very easy to visualize. What size are the Nitto's you have on there?
Take your lower picture and lower it by about 2 inches or so and that's the look I'm going for. Thanks again, Doug

The Nittos are 285/60 as well, but the extra meat-tread gave me a bit more cladding rub than the Yokos (street tires).

I HIGHLY doubt you want to go that size and lose 2". If I were to lose 2", the wells would be sitting right on the tires, which simply means forget ever going anywhere, heh. You can kiss your wheel wells goodbye.

Simple solution.... get some lowering springs for the rear. You can probably go as low as you want there, given your axle doesn't marry your frame. And you will be looking at new shocks.

The front is gonna be tricky. New, shorter shocks there as well. Cranking your torsion is not gonna help if you want to go lower than about 1 1/2 - 2" cause you will never get it aligned right. I am quite sure you are looking at some custom work there.

Again, remember, the undercarriage is fragile and does have some guts that hang low, so the lower you go, the more at risk they are of becoming road debris.

Fact is, THIS (below), is not possible without some crazy work and a fat wallet....

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/515/41spyhunter.jpg

I would start with looking at some pics here of folks that have low profile tire/wheel packages. The VX has HUGE wheel wells so filling it up with steel and rubber but maintaining a low stance is not gonna be fun.

My overall advice: don't lower. Get some HUGE cladding fabbed that gives the impression that it is lowered. Trick the eye. ;)

http://vehi.world.coocan.jp/moon/moon3.jpg

[Bieredalsace]

Yup! Thats one real off-set from somewhere!Thanks fot the pictures.

[Bieredalsace]

Loved the ProtonVX going thru the water!

[Bieredalsace]

Thank you so much for the technical advice and the photos. That upper one is not what I had in mind. That Silver one is Awesome!!!
You mean all that is is cladding that has been "improved" to give the illusion of lowness? That is Beeautiful!!!
Thank you so much!

[LittleBeast]

Just remember, whenever you are wallowing through the ruts - I'm floating over them.

I would say you are more straddling them, lol...... or just simply going around them avoiding all the fun and mess..... "No fun for you!"

[tom4bren]

Eric,

That video was great. Any way that I could get a copy?

I loved the fact that it shows LittleBeast that a healthy offset is not just purdy but functional too.

[etlsport]

yea no problem.. i think its a pretty big file.. pm me your address and ill drop it in the mail on a disc along with all the raw footage from our trip and photos

[Vehi-Cross-Az]

I wish you lived closer
I know we could do it at my shop..
Im thinking about dropping mine a few
inches some Spring for for a few weeks
to get another look, take some pic etc..

[Bieredalsace]

The Vehicross is actually very easy to work on, especially in today's world of automobiles, don't sweat it, if you can dream it you can do it.



Cutting the cladding is not that big of a deal and you can barely notice after you are done here is my thread where I did the cladding trim, no big deal at all:
http://www.vehicross.info/forums/showthread.php?t=13415&highlight=LittleBeast

You did a really nice job on the wheels and cladding surgery.

[Bieredalsace]

Nice job on the sawz-all job!