Lift options

[navistar]

I want to lift her one of two ways.

Questions:

What, if any, difference is there between a 2-inch lift using the Independent4X spacers vs a higher lift (around 2.5 inches) with 912 coils, all other things on the front suspension being equal? Is there any difference in handling, stability, etc.

What about appearance? Does anyone have side view pics of these lifts with 16-inch wheels, that's what I'll have on her?

[JoFotoz]

Does anyone have side view pics of these lifts with 16-inch wheels, that's what I'll have on her?

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Its a 3 inch calmini lift ...but in reality about 2.75.
(I'm not suggesting you go calmini...it was in the parts box I got when I purchased her!)
16 inch rims...33x11.50 tires
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jo

[tom4bren]

You can see my lift in my gallery (last time I tried to post a pic in the thread, Zeus ragged me about the failure so I'm not trying it again).

From what the PO told me it's a 3" Calmini lift on the rear but just the torsion adjustment in the front. The tires are 33x12.50's on some unknown rim with offset from he11. He did some minor fender trimming too.

[JHarris1385]

Im a fan of the 912....look in my gallery for pics of the lift. If you have any questions just pm me if you want.....

[CrnCnn]

Here is mine the day I put in the lift.


And here it is after a few months. This is a good height comparison. Large lift(ASCINDER), no lift(NFPGASMASK), and typical lift(ME).

[bigkoala1]

my lift next to stock height

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/sh...04/ppuser/2697



with 16" comp pro wheels ans 31" dueller m/t's

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/sh...42/ppuser/2697

[etlsport]

im not positive how our springs work but i know they are meant to give faster and then slower... or maybe slower then faster.. i forget which anyway they dont compress at a constant rate so adding 2 inch spacers will give you some lift.. but might not give you a full 2 inches

[navistar]

Thanks for all the input. I'm going with the OME 912 coils, the ball joint flip with spacers and torsion bar crank then Rancho 9000xl's.

Question:

Does anyone have any experience with the Calmini heavy duty anti-sway bars? They're over $300.00 (front and back with bushings) or would just using poly bushings on the stock bars be just as good?

Where can I get the best deals on the 912, etc?

Thanks

[Triathlete]

Rocky Road off road has had the best prices. They are not the fastest though, but many on the board have ordered trouble free from them. Thy have also taken an interest in the VX and started fabbing stuff (rock sliders) for us.
As far as the sway bars, I have been running the stock bars with my lift with no problems.

[CoastieCosta567]

i got 919's and they gave me a full 4 inches, but with the stock shocks, lowered it to 3 inches and thats not including the 33's i have on, witch tires will give you even more lift. my pictures are the ones with the red mud flaps, and the one you can see right now, is all a stock lift, nothing lift added to it.

[Triathlete]

Your shocks have nothing to do with lift. If the shocks have caused your lift to go from 4 to 3 inches then at ride hight your shocks are fully extended and suching your springs down...not a good situation! You should change your shocks for the appropriate length.

[navistar]

Well.

Then I'll just keep the stock bars and get poly bushings. All things considered. Thanks all.

[ZEUS]

Good choice Navi, my understanding is that the Calmini lift kit was designed for the Trooper and since the VX is based of that platform the pieces simply fit... however the Calmini sways are not as thick (stiff) as the stock VX sways, they are only thicker than the Trooper's. Trooper owners would be better equipped if they swapped in VX sways versus the Calmini option. That's how I understand it anyway. A lot of people get the low-profile bump stops to allow for more front end down travel but since the Ranchos don't provide the needed down travel for the VX, the bumpers would be a waste. Again... to my understanding. I measured only a 1/2" extra travel after installing the low profile snubbers.

[navistar]

Getting more technical...

With the 912s I'll get a 2.5 to 3 inch lift on the rear. With that amount of lift doesn't that shift the rear end geometry out of whack?

It seems to me that it would shift the rear axle to the left (driver side) because of increased pressure on the rear suspension lateral rod?

Wouldn't it cause the axle to nose down slightly putting because of increased pressure on the rear suspension upper center link?

It makes me thing that after the new coils are installed both of these rods/links should be remeasured and lengthened at a machine shop to restore the axle back into the original/correct/aligned geometry.

What do you all think?

[Ldub]

I have 919's & a 1" spacer, I don't think the 919's give much more lift, but they do carry a load better. (I have a LOT of weight in the back, enough tools & spares to get home in the event of 85-90% of what commonly goes wrong "out there".)
Yes the axle geometry changes somewhat, with the most noticable difference being that the rear tires are closer to the front of the fender well. I haven't noticed them being off center, but when I hit large bumps at highway speed, I notice a little sideways deflection as the suspension compresses. Fortunately I'm a good steerer.
www.independent4x.com offers adjustable HD lower links that could compensate a bit, but you also have driveshaft overlap to consider.
They also sell an adjustable upper center link for Troopers, but I don't know if it will fit the VX.
A call to Matt will answer all your Q's.
Most here have installed 912's & cranked the torsion bars & lived happily ever after.