Can I get away without caster correction...

[jlbuk]

...with a small 1.5" lift ?

Got some belton +1.5" front springs on their way. Will get some 2.5" for the rear, and I'm happy

removing the arms seems like a bit of a pain, and most bushes I've seen are designed for 2.5" to 3" of lift, so may be over corrected....

What's better for the vehicle, over or under correction ? I'm thinking if the steering feels OK with the 1.5", then I'll leave it alone....?

TIA - JB

 

[jamisobe]

I vote yes. No problem.

 

[AuburnFJsexy]

You should be alright...I am running an Ironman lift and I have not put the castor corrections in mine either. I eventually will, but it is not on the top of my list right now. I also dont drive mine every day.

-Nick

 

[PACNW96]

I assume Landtank will be on the scene soon, but even with my OME low lift springs (1" lift) the steering is light and I am out of caster spec at 1* (spec is 2*-4*). If I remember correctly caster changes 1.74* for every inch of lift so you will be loosing 2.61* degrees of caster with 1.5" of lift. Depending where your rig is at currently will determine how much you need them, but most likely they will be recommended here.

IMHO the best thing to do is get your caster checked after the lift and see where your at to determine what form of caster correction you need to get into spec.

 

[Lka1988]

I've got 2.5-3" of lift in front, no caster correction.

No funky driveshaft vibes or anything, just the shake of unbalanced tires.

 

[e9999]

yes, likely. Not ideal of course but certainly possible. Just be careful.

 

[desmocruiser]

Depends where your caster starts before the lift, each truck seems to be different. Have the caster measured before installing the lift. If it is high enough 4* or so then you may be able to stay in the acceptable range after the lift.

 

[CreeperSleeper]

Personally, I ran J's with no castor correction and it never bothered me. I put 2" spacers in the front and now it does... Castor correction is in my future. For you, I wouldn't hesitate to run it without castor correction.

 

[Riad]

Personally, I ran J's with no castor correction and it never bothered me. I put 2" spacers in the front and now it does... Castor correction is in my future. For you, I wouldn't hesitate to run it without castor correction.

Was it a daily driver? If yes, then you are a brave

 

[ba450]

I have a set of 2" spacers in front and 2" springs in rear. I have no issues...

 

[tblume]

1.5 in the front and 2.5 out back? man, your stinkbug will be epic.

I'm sitting on 2.5 front and 3 in back with OME mediums only, light loads and no bumper yet. steering is light and a little twitchy if it's really windy out but not bad. not a DD but I do weekend roadtrips and some wheeling. Planning on 1.5 front spacers soon, will be getting caster corrected then for sure.

you should be fine, that kind of lift may only get you back to stock height up front in reality

 

[landtank]

you'll be low on caster and in good driving conditions you probably won't notice it much but in bad cinditions like snow and slush it could get problematic. When these trucks get corrected properly the driving experience is totally different and the truck will be less tiresome especially on long drives. With all the solutions out there and the ease in which to install them I really don't understand why people are so reluctant to use them.

 

[peepers]

not to mention a panic stop. when i had no correction and had to get HARD on the brakes at highway speed the truck was virtually uncontrollable. same test on an empty road after the correction and it tracked straight.

so like many others have said, the safest route is to correct it.

 

[jlbuk]

Thanks for all the info.. sounds like measuring it and taking it from there is the way to go !

Stinkbug, yeah, I love that look... plus it makes sense as the truck can get quite loaded, rather go from high to level, than level to low...

Rick, it's a real PITA over here to get the kind of work done that you guys take for granted in the US, even something as simple as pressing in some new bushes will give me a headache. Funnily enough, it's actually a much better situation in Zambia in this regard than the UK !

 

[CreeperSleeper]

Was it a daily driver? If yes, then you are a brave

It was... It's not anymore, but it will be again. (Crap, I just confused myself...)

 

[sprocket3]

not to mention a panic stop. when i had no correction and had to get HARD on the brakes at highway speed the truck was virtually uncontrollable. same test on an empty road after the correction and it tracked straight.

so like many others have said, the safest route is to correct it.

I agree with this. I have a 2.5" lift and have not corrected yet. Under hard braking it can be be hard to keep in line. It will pull me into the other lane even. It's one of those things that may be fine for years and years, or could cause a bad wreck the first time you hit the brakes hard.

 

[ralphy1997]

you'll be low on caster and in good driving conditions you probably won't notice it much but in bad cinditions like snow and slush it could get problematic. When these trucks get corrected properly the driving experience is totally different and the truck will be less tiresome especially on long drives. With all the solutions out there and the ease in which to install them I really don't understand why people are so reluctant to use them.

Do you have a link to some of these "solutions"? I think I have this problem but no idea where to start to fix it. My LX came with OME shocks and springs and it sits higher than a normal cruiser. When I brake I get some fade to the right and the steering is squirrely--I thought it might be a problem with the steering mechanics but this thread sounds like it describes my problems perfectly. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Leroy]

i'd do the springs and see how it drives and if there are vibes... but in the end i'd consider some OME bushings or Slee or F.O.R. bushings. you'll find the car handles so much better and you may not really realize the difference 'til you do it.