• Advertisement

FINALLY GOT RAISED LEAFS INSTALLED!

For all suspension modifications

FINALLY GOT RAISED LEAFS INSTALLED!

Postby SamMu93 » Thu Oct 22, 2015 2:33 pm

It has been a long time coming for this mod to become a reality!
I decided to get my Mu raised with new leaf springs about 2/3 months ago, few issues along the way but today I got my new Dobinson raised leafs installed...
I had done a bunch of reading on the in's and outs of the results but now I come to the next step of sorting out the pogo like front suspension - the front had the torsion bars cranked up and ball joints flipped (not really flipped but you understand).
The rear is stiff and I assume that will soften within a short period of time.
The front will need some extra work done- It is 10mm lower than the rear and this means the rear can settle but also it means I have a few mm of travel in the front!
I have been told about 2 options to soften the front:
1: Install new heavy duty torsion bars ($500 pair quoted)
2: Install ball joint spaces (cheaper)

Currently the front is basically on the bump stop so my downward travel is virtually nill...!

I have been told that if I get the spacer installed, it will soften the front since the torsion can be unwound... is that true?

Now this is where you lot come in - what are your thoughts on the pros and cons of each option??
...$10 says Geeves will be the first to respond to this!
SamMu93
Isuzu Junior
 
Posts: 148
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2015 3:22 pm
Age: 29
Country: New Zealand
City: Wellington
Vehicle: 93 Isuzu Mu 2.8 TD
Rodeo 3" dump pipe off turbo
2.5" Exhaust to tip
Bighorn intercooler
Tweaked fuel pump
Boost tap (15psi)
Egt monitor installed
Rear: 2" lifted leaf springs
Front: Wound torsion bars, dropped front diff, flipped ball joints, cut upper bump stop

Re: FINALLY GOT RAISED LEAFS INSTALLED!

Postby SamMu93 » Thu Oct 22, 2015 2:40 pm

Some pics of the results
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
SamMu93
Isuzu Junior
 
Posts: 148
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2015 3:22 pm
Age: 29
Country: New Zealand
City: Wellington
Vehicle: 93 Isuzu Mu 2.8 TD
Rodeo 3" dump pipe off turbo
2.5" Exhaust to tip
Bighorn intercooler
Tweaked fuel pump
Boost tap (15psi)
Egt monitor installed
Rear: 2" lifted leaf springs
Front: Wound torsion bars, dropped front diff, flipped ball joints, cut upper bump stop

Re: FINALLY GOT RAISED LEAFS INSTALLED!

Postby isuzurob » Thu Oct 22, 2015 3:07 pm

They are tall leaves but at least you got it sorted, ball joint spacers work but will put alot more load on your cvs, you need to lower your front diff and fit smaller top bump stops on the top arms, i use 10-18mm bump stops, fitting heavier torsion bars will give it a harder ride and not flex as well if you are going to do serious 4x4ing
isuzurob
Global Moderator
 
Posts: 1775
Joined: Mon Jun 07, 2010 6:12 pm
Age: 25
Country: New Zealand
City: Taupo
Vehicle: 1990 Isuzu Bighorn 2.8t/d, 3" extended shackles, 2" body lift, 33" silverstone extreme tyres, Front+rear bars, winch with 40m dyneex rope, 21/2 inch exhaust, lokka's front+rear, custom turbo, emissions removed, injector pump modified and more

Re: FINALLY GOT RAISED LEAFS INSTALLED!

Postby SamMu93 » Thu Oct 22, 2015 3:15 pm

There goes $10...
How hard is it to lower the front diff?
So either I'll eat up CV's with spacers or it'll ride like a jack hammer with heavy duty torsions?
SamMu93
Isuzu Junior
 
Posts: 148
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2015 3:22 pm
Age: 29
Country: New Zealand
City: Wellington
Vehicle: 93 Isuzu Mu 2.8 TD
Rodeo 3" dump pipe off turbo
2.5" Exhaust to tip
Bighorn intercooler
Tweaked fuel pump
Boost tap (15psi)
Egt monitor installed
Rear: 2" lifted leaf springs
Front: Wound torsion bars, dropped front diff, flipped ball joints, cut upper bump stop

Re: FINALLY GOT RAISED LEAFS INSTALLED!

Postby geeves » Thu Oct 22, 2015 5:36 pm

Try low profile bump stops first. Up travel is really more useful on road as off road the low speeds allow the suspension to drop on the high side rather than push up the low. At high speeds the wheel gets pushed up.
I have seen a nice urathane button at hut city auto parts that should bolt straight in
Avoid lots of power when turning and the cvs should be ok. I do still have a couple of spares here you can have.
Lowering diff. There are a couple of posts here about cutting the mounts and rewelding to be lower but that requires very good welding skills. You can also put 20mm spacers on top of the mounts to get a useful drop.
Only missed your bet by a couple of hours
Sanding your knuckles before starting work can help. That way you cant skin them
User avatar
geeves
Site Admin
 
Posts: 8962
Joined: Sun May 10, 2009 1:36 pm
Location: Rangiora
Age: 63
Country: NZ
City: Rangiora
Vehicle: 94 bighorn 4jg2
2013 Subaru XV

Re: FINALLY GOT RAISED LEAFS INSTALLED!

Postby SamMu93 » Thu Oct 22, 2015 6:45 pm

Mint, I'll grab those low profile bump stops if they are up for grabs!
I want it to be softer, or should I say, it NEEDS to be softer in the front. With that in mind should I go for a ball joint spacer, low profile upper bump stop and unwind torsions a tad??

Dont really want to loose the front height but its not much use if it doesnt articulate and rides like shit round town!

Cheers!
SamMu93
Isuzu Junior
 
Posts: 148
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2015 3:22 pm
Age: 29
Country: New Zealand
City: Wellington
Vehicle: 93 Isuzu Mu 2.8 TD
Rodeo 3" dump pipe off turbo
2.5" Exhaust to tip
Bighorn intercooler
Tweaked fuel pump
Boost tap (15psi)
Egt monitor installed
Rear: 2" lifted leaf springs
Front: Wound torsion bars, dropped front diff, flipped ball joints, cut upper bump stop

Re: FINALLY GOT RAISED LEAFS INSTALLED!

Postby geeves » Fri Oct 23, 2015 2:19 pm

I didnt have the bump stoips Id just seen them for sale but not expensive
If its still no good after the bump stops done you might have to space the uppper ball joint but that will mean doing the wheel alignment again. If you make a spacer copy the mount on the ball joint but it should be tapered
Sanding your knuckles before starting work can help. That way you cant skin them
User avatar
geeves
Site Admin
 
Posts: 8962
Joined: Sun May 10, 2009 1:36 pm
Location: Rangiora
Age: 63
Country: NZ
City: Rangiora
Vehicle: 94 bighorn 4jg2
2013 Subaru XV

Re: FINALLY GOT RAISED LEAFS INSTALLED!

Postby isuzurob » Fri Oct 23, 2015 5:03 pm

my trucks have just over 50mm lift in the front with cut factory bump stops (they are cheap) if you make ball joint spacers try find some old ball joints and just cut them they make 10mm spacers, it will ride much better with bump stops cut or new ones fitted, just watch your cvs when off road
isuzurob
Global Moderator
 
Posts: 1775
Joined: Mon Jun 07, 2010 6:12 pm
Age: 25
Country: New Zealand
City: Taupo
Vehicle: 1990 Isuzu Bighorn 2.8t/d, 3" extended shackles, 2" body lift, 33" silverstone extreme tyres, Front+rear bars, winch with 40m dyneex rope, 21/2 inch exhaust, lokka's front+rear, custom turbo, emissions removed, injector pump modified and more

Re: FINALLY GOT RAISED LEAFS INSTALLED!

Postby geeves » Fri Oct 23, 2015 6:55 pm

I will try and have a look tomorrow to see how many spare cvs I have. I kepts aquireing them but never broke one (some of them are pretty worn though
Sanding your knuckles before starting work can help. That way you cant skin them
User avatar
geeves
Site Admin
 
Posts: 8962
Joined: Sun May 10, 2009 1:36 pm
Location: Rangiora
Age: 63
Country: NZ
City: Rangiora
Vehicle: 94 bighorn 4jg2
2013 Subaru XV

Re: FINALLY GOT RAISED LEAFS INSTALLED!

Postby SamMu93 » Fri Oct 23, 2015 8:19 pm

Oh my mistake Geeves, thought you were talking about the upper bump stop.
So it sounds like if I start by cutting the bump stops before I look at any ball joint spacers!

Quite surprised that cutting the bump stops will soften the front? Or it doesnt soften it, it will give you some more drop down travel??
Im guessing the only way to actually soften the front is to unwind the torsions?

Cheers for all your comments guys.
SamMu93
Isuzu Junior
 
Posts: 148
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2015 3:22 pm
Age: 29
Country: New Zealand
City: Wellington
Vehicle: 93 Isuzu Mu 2.8 TD
Rodeo 3" dump pipe off turbo
2.5" Exhaust to tip
Bighorn intercooler
Tweaked fuel pump
Boost tap (15psi)
Egt monitor installed
Rear: 2" lifted leaf springs
Front: Wound torsion bars, dropped front diff, flipped ball joints, cut upper bump stop

Re: FINALLY GOT RAISED LEAFS INSTALLED!

Postby turnturn » Fri Oct 23, 2015 9:10 pm

I would've thought that the "spring rate" of a torsion bar wouldn't change with ride height?

I think that the firmness comes from the bump stops starting to work/touch.
User avatar
turnturn
Global Moderator
 
Posts: 950
Joined: Wed May 13, 2009 4:26 pm
Age: 57
Country: New Zealand
City: Dunedin
Vehicle: 1992 Isuzu Mu 2.8 Manual (UCS55)
Snorkle, Intercooled
1993 Isuzu Mu 2.8 Manual (UCS55)
Spare Parts/Donor
1994 Isuzu Mu 3.1 Manual (UCS69)
Snorkle, Intercooled
1996 Isuzu Mu 3.1 Manual (UCS69)
Completely Standard

Re: FINALLY GOT RAISED LEAFS INSTALLED!

Postby geeves » Sat Oct 24, 2015 5:45 am

Because the suspension is at limit you are already on the bump stop so you feel everything. Cutting the bump stop in half will give about 4 times the travel of the bit you cut off due to the fulcrum effect.
Sanding your knuckles before starting work can help. That way you cant skin them
User avatar
geeves
Site Admin
 
Posts: 8962
Joined: Sun May 10, 2009 1:36 pm
Location: Rangiora
Age: 63
Country: NZ
City: Rangiora
Vehicle: 94 bighorn 4jg2
2013 Subaru XV

Re: FINALLY GOT RAISED LEAFS INSTALLED!

Postby SamMu93 » Sat Oct 24, 2015 6:20 am

Great stuff, today Ill try to remove the bump stops to cut em'!
Will be interesting to see the results
SamMu93
Isuzu Junior
 
Posts: 148
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2015 3:22 pm
Age: 29
Country: New Zealand
City: Wellington
Vehicle: 93 Isuzu Mu 2.8 TD
Rodeo 3" dump pipe off turbo
2.5" Exhaust to tip
Bighorn intercooler
Tweaked fuel pump
Boost tap (15psi)
Egt monitor installed
Rear: 2" lifted leaf springs
Front: Wound torsion bars, dropped front diff, flipped ball joints, cut upper bump stop

Re: FINALLY GOT RAISED LEAFS INSTALLED!

Postby SamMu93 » Sat Oct 24, 2015 10:02 am

Pretty sure the drivers side torsion bar has been wound up much more than the passanger- got the passanger side bump stop out easily- drove the truck up on a ramp- just passanger side which pushed the passanger wheel upward thus allowing me to get the bump stop out...
However, the same process on the drivers side did nothing. With the truck on the ramp (drivers side front wheel) it stays hard against the upper bump stop...
SamMu93
Isuzu Junior
 
Posts: 148
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2015 3:22 pm
Age: 29
Country: New Zealand
City: Wellington
Vehicle: 93 Isuzu Mu 2.8 TD
Rodeo 3" dump pipe off turbo
2.5" Exhaust to tip
Bighorn intercooler
Tweaked fuel pump
Boost tap (15psi)
Egt monitor installed
Rear: 2" lifted leaf springs
Front: Wound torsion bars, dropped front diff, flipped ball joints, cut upper bump stop

Re: FINALLY GOT RAISED LEAFS INSTALLED!

Postby isuzurob » Sat Oct 24, 2015 10:59 am

Also take the front sway bar completely off and throw it away, or store in the shed if your that way inclined while you are under there
isuzurob
Global Moderator
 
Posts: 1775
Joined: Mon Jun 07, 2010 6:12 pm
Age: 25
Country: New Zealand
City: Taupo
Vehicle: 1990 Isuzu Bighorn 2.8t/d, 3" extended shackles, 2" body lift, 33" silverstone extreme tyres, Front+rear bars, winch with 40m dyneex rope, 21/2 inch exhaust, lokka's front+rear, custom turbo, emissions removed, injector pump modified and more

Re: FINALLY GOT RAISED LEAFS INSTALLED!

Postby SamMu93 » Sat Oct 24, 2015 12:59 pm

Sway bar removed!

Unwound the drivers torsion 2turns anticlockwise... its still fully rock solid, ill upload a pic to show the front drivers side on a ramp...
Took it out after one bump stop has been cut and sway bar removed. It feels slightly better, but still like a pogo stick. Need to get that drivers side bump stop cut!
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
SamMu93
Isuzu Junior
 
Posts: 148
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2015 3:22 pm
Age: 29
Country: New Zealand
City: Wellington
Vehicle: 93 Isuzu Mu 2.8 TD
Rodeo 3" dump pipe off turbo
2.5" Exhaust to tip
Bighorn intercooler
Tweaked fuel pump
Boost tap (15psi)
Egt monitor installed
Rear: 2" lifted leaf springs
Front: Wound torsion bars, dropped front diff, flipped ball joints, cut upper bump stop

Re: FINALLY GOT RAISED LEAFS INSTALLED!

Postby geeves » Sat Oct 24, 2015 1:12 pm

Do some measurements and it should make sense Set the drivers side to match the passenger. You should never adjust the suspension hight with the swaybar attached as it fights the springs so you car might be level but the springs set very differently.
Also once you have got it sitting well get a wheel alignment done including camber and caster. When I lifted the bighorn the tyres would get too hot to touch just between here and Tawa because the alignment was so far out. It also handled like a canoe in a hurricane.
Sanding your knuckles before starting work can help. That way you cant skin them
User avatar
geeves
Site Admin
 
Posts: 8962
Joined: Sun May 10, 2009 1:36 pm
Location: Rangiora
Age: 63
Country: NZ
City: Rangiora
Vehicle: 94 bighorn 4jg2
2013 Subaru XV

Re: FINALLY GOT RAISED LEAFS INSTALLED!

Postby SamMu93 » Sat Oct 24, 2015 3:21 pm

Finally got that bump stop out- had to unwind the drivers torsion by 4turns...
Went for a drive- found a flat area and measured the front height- 605mm on the drivers side and 585mm on the passanger... Thats after 4turns unwinding the drivers torsion!
SamMu93
Isuzu Junior
 
Posts: 148
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2015 3:22 pm
Age: 29
Country: New Zealand
City: Wellington
Vehicle: 93 Isuzu Mu 2.8 TD
Rodeo 3" dump pipe off turbo
2.5" Exhaust to tip
Bighorn intercooler
Tweaked fuel pump
Boost tap (15psi)
Egt monitor installed
Rear: 2" lifted leaf springs
Front: Wound torsion bars, dropped front diff, flipped ball joints, cut upper bump stop

Re: FINALLY GOT RAISED LEAFS INSTALLED!

Postby geeves » Sat Oct 24, 2015 4:16 pm

Whats your rear height?
Riding better?
Sanding your knuckles before starting work can help. That way you cant skin them
User avatar
geeves
Site Admin
 
Posts: 8962
Joined: Sun May 10, 2009 1:36 pm
Location: Rangiora
Age: 63
Country: NZ
City: Rangiora
Vehicle: 94 bighorn 4jg2
2013 Subaru XV

Re: FINALLY GOT RAISED LEAFS INSTALLED!

Postby SamMu93 » Sat Oct 24, 2015 4:52 pm

555mm rr, 580mm rl- thats most likely my driveway which is not flat. I didnt measure the rear when I stopped on the flat eariler today.

It is definitly better, but Ill have to take you for a ride. I think its pretty average still. The back can flex but is very stiff. Front needs to be lowered- canoe in a hurricane.
SamMu93
Isuzu Junior
 
Posts: 148
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2015 3:22 pm
Age: 29
Country: New Zealand
City: Wellington
Vehicle: 93 Isuzu Mu 2.8 TD
Rodeo 3" dump pipe off turbo
2.5" Exhaust to tip
Bighorn intercooler
Tweaked fuel pump
Boost tap (15psi)
Egt monitor installed
Rear: 2" lifted leaf springs
Front: Wound torsion bars, dropped front diff, flipped ball joints, cut upper bump stop

Next

Return to Suspension

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 7 guests