2" suspension lift or 2" body lift.

[don simon]

Current stock suspension is due to be thrown out as it is well past its sell by, use by and throw out by dates and I have a decision to make.
After Salisbury I think that a bit of extra height could be in order and I need to decide how I achieve that.

Either option is going to lift the centre of gravity which is something to be aware of with the RTT, but Pro Comp shocker are reportedly quite stiff and should help calm the wallowing around.

I've done a bit of reading around and seen the advantages/disadvantages and am probably non the wiser.

Body lift and stock suspension? Minimal changes.
Pro comp 2" suspension lift? Associated changes.
Both?

More importantly why?

How has your lifted truck changed in performance/behaviour (on and off road)?

 

[jims-terrano]

Not lifted at all but my 3 litre was very bouncy and wallowed badly. Changed front shocks for Monroe Rough Country. Has really tightened the front end up significantly. Might help you.

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

I did a cheap suspension lift to start with, just winding up the torsion bars, and fitting spring lifters to the back, and liked the way it drove on road. Off road, it was no better, as it still had the same shocks.

I then did the Body lift, which I liked for so many reasons, not only does it make working on the car so much easier, but as I still have the side steps on, it did not make a lot of difference off road. I did not find the drive any different really

Finally, I went for uprated springs, and longer shocks, and I have to say, that was the best mod, the car corners so much nicer, tows a dream, and is as competent off road as I will ever need.

 

[Mr K]

Change the suspension first absolutely no question.

I'm sure you said the suspension was already shot anyway, so the body lift will just make it a bit higher but still ride crap.

Get good quality suspension and go from there. Spec the springs for your weight.

On the other hand, if you can afford the suspension you can get the blocks for the body lift at the same time as they are not expensive and do the lot at the same time for maximum smiles.

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

I think if you can only do one of them, then as said, the Suspensions lift is the better overall mod and most practical for off road, and I think it is a lot easier than the body lift, since it's just 4 shocks, 2 springs, and a wind up of the torsion bars (maybe a re-index), plus a bit of relocation of the hand brake cables. Can all be done easily in a day.

The body lift seems easy at first, but needs a bit of prep work to get penetration oil on the bolts/nuts, especially the ones behind the front seats as while the others have plastic covers allowing you to get to the top, the middle ones need a small hole drilling in the floor pan to get to them, I also drilled a small hole in the side of the rear chassis to body mounting, so I could liberally spray oil in there as well. Then there is all the messing around removing and then re-welding the bumper hangers, and in my case, I had to modify the transfer box lever as it hit the body work when you tried to put in 4L. It actually took me 2 weeks of regularly spraying the bolts before I started, and then 3 days to finish the actual lift, as a lot of bits took longer than expected.

Personally, having Suz's unmodified T2, and my body and suspension lifted one, and us both driving either car, we have agreed that mine actually feels nicer cornering and towing than hers, so I would not worry too much about the handling, taking the antiroll bars off was the "one mod too far" for my tastes, as then the car wallowed all over the place, and I put them back on.

My next mod, soon, is to make the use of the extra space under the wheel arches, and put bigger diameter tyres on, as my BFG AT's are coming up to 36K miles, and are down at about 4mm tread, so I want new boots in time for the winter. I had only just fitted new tyres when I did the mods, so did not want to waste them, but I think the car will look a lot better with the wheels taking up a bit more of the wheel arch space.

 

[don simon]

Thanks for the input.
It looks like the autumn project is well and truly sorted.
Suspension lift it is.
if shocks need replacing anyway, I'll just suck it up and look at Pro comp or Trail Master from jimnybits.
You tipped the balance Clive, there's nothing better than first hand experience. :thumbs

 

[makeitfit]

Hmmm, here's a thing, in principle I disagree.
The 1st option should normally be a body lift. It IS dead easy and does keep your CofG relatively low.
It allows you to put bigger tyres on and that after all is what gets you out of the holes.
Now in your case it's different as your suspension is goosed already. So as said above do both.

 

[jims-terrano]

Sounds like you’ll be having fun, be interesting to see the results mate. Are you doing the work, I know you struggle for working space.

 

[don simon]

Sounds like you’ll be having fun, be interesting to see the results mate. Are you doing the work, I know you struggle for working space.

I'll have a look and a bash at it myself, What could possibly go wrong?
Now that we've got residents' parking there's less public traffic around here and neighbours should be fine, it's still in the public road and I can't have cables running from house to car and stuff like that. Recent oil change dumped a bit of oil on the freshly asphalted surface, so the car's staying put for a bit.