Susp. Lift Vs. Body lift
- Thread starter tnagaway
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I've thought about doing a body lift myself, but just made some extended shackles for free instead. I don't really know what your plans are for the rig but heres my opinion on body vs. suspension lifts.
A body lift is just larger body mounts and longer bolts. The ride will stay the same and its a very cheap lift. Its kind of a pain in the ass getting to some of the mounts, but its still easier than installing a suspension lift. You will be able to clear a little bigger tires, probably no bigger than 33s with just a body lift. You will run into problems trying to go more than 2-3 inches with a body lift. A shackle lift may be an easier/cheaper choice for the same amount of height. And that 2-3 inches is only compared to how you sit now. A 4 inch suspension lift is more like 5 over where you probably sit now.
A suspension lift on the other hand would cost alot more but is more of a "real" lift. It will ride much better than your 20 year old worn leaf springs (if you get a good kit like old man emu) but theres more parts and labor involved obviously. You will need new leaf springs and shocks. Theres alot more options like greasable spring pins, extendable shackles, shackle reversal, hell even coil suspension. If you want more than 4 inches of lift tho you should just do a spring over axle conversion. Just search the forums for soa, you'll find alot.
A body lift is just larger body mounts and longer bolts. The ride will stay the same and its a very cheap lift. Its kind of a pain in the ass getting to some of the mounts, but its still easier than installing a suspension lift. You will be able to clear a little bigger tires, probably no bigger than 33s with just a body lift. You will run into problems trying to go more than 2-3 inches with a body lift. A shackle lift may be an easier/cheaper choice for the same amount of height. And that 2-3 inches is only compared to how you sit now. A 4 inch suspension lift is more like 5 over where you probably sit now.
A suspension lift on the other hand would cost alot more but is more of a "real" lift. It will ride much better than your 20 year old worn leaf springs (if you get a good kit like old man emu) but theres more parts and labor involved obviously. You will need new leaf springs and shocks. Theres alot more options like greasable spring pins, extendable shackles, shackle reversal, hell even coil suspension. If you want more than 4 inches of lift tho you should just do a spring over axle conversion. Just search the forums for soa, you'll find alot.
in most cases a body lift does nothing other than allow the installation of larger tires. while a suspension lift replaces worn out(when used on 20+yr old trucks) parts(springs&bushings) and allows the larger tires to be used.
if you're going to lift a truck, that has no lift, go with a suspenion lift first.
there's no good reason to go body lift first.
if you're going to lift a truck, that has no lift, go with a suspenion lift first.
there's no good reason to go body lift first.
tnagaway said:
In addition to the responses above, too big a body lift puts a lot of strain on the bolts. Flex between frame/body could shear them. Pretty good agreement that 1-2" can be safe, but that more than 3" and you are in risky territory. 1-2" and you only have to modify the fan shroud. Over 2" and you'll have to modify brake lines, shift linkages, etc.
If a cheap lift is what you want to do, just use add-a-leaves. (long ones). There are lots of posts on here about doing this, and it improves handling. It's harder than a body lift, but the results will be much better.
all depends what you want to do. I started with a 2" homemade body lift because iwanted larger tires and could/t afford the suspension lift. Then got the money together for the ome lift and extended shackles and now looking for a soa. Just cant seem to get it tall enough. But body lifts are easy for a 2" some boat roller and some grade 8 hardware, a little mod to fan shroud and for brakelines i just pulled the bracket off the frame for the time being and hell i still am running it like that with no probs. hope it helped
Bryon
Bryon
brian said:
Disagree.
I did a body lift first, in conjuction with some shackles. Why? It allowed me to run 33X12.50s without a costly lift kit. FJ60s sit low on the frame as it is so I thought the 1in lift I did would be perfect.
And the money I saved on the lift? Went to 4.56s gears and a locker. A lifted 60 with 3.70 gears and open diffs running 33in tires is not as good as a less lifted 60 with the same tires but lower gears and traction aid.
Plus, when I do a spring lift the extra clearence well allow me to run 35s and still stay spring under (depending on what springs I finally choose).
How long have you had your cruiser?
I would say research on here some and wheel it in stock form for a year or more. (Save your $ during this time.)
Then decide what you need/want. I think most people including myself look at BL negatively if you have no Suspension lift at all. In my opinion as well as reading on here it is for as stated above. To clear larger tires after you have done the Suspension and want to clear larger tires. Another reason to do the suspension was also stated above. All of your bushings are probably shot and it is possible that your springs are shot. (Or even falling appart. I didnt realize my stock springs were in such bad shape. As I didnt have much sag at all. But when I pulled my rear springs both sides fell appart and/ or were cracked/broken.)
- I could not tell they were in this bad of shape until I started really pulling the springs to put on the new lift springs.
Hope this might helps some. I am not totally against BL's as I may run one when I see how I like my current set-up. (Then decide if I need the little extra room for 35's or not.
I would say research on here some and wheel it in stock form for a year or more. (Save your $ during this time.)
Then decide what you need/want. I think most people including myself look at BL negatively if you have no Suspension lift at all. In my opinion as well as reading on here it is for as stated above. To clear larger tires after you have done the Suspension and want to clear larger tires. Another reason to do the suspension was also stated above. All of your bushings are probably shot and it is possible that your springs are shot. (Or even falling appart. I didnt realize my stock springs were in such bad shape. As I didnt have much sag at all. But when I pulled my rear springs both sides fell appart and/ or were cracked/broken.)
- I could not tell they were in this bad of shape until I started really pulling the springs to put on the new lift springs.
Hope this might helps some. I am not totally against BL's as I may run one when I see how I like my current set-up. (Then decide if I need the little extra room for 35's or not.
body lift ...raises center of gravity which is a con
bandy rooster said:
All lifts raise the center of gravity. But with a body lift the engine and drivetrain are actually lower then if you did a suspension lift, so I would think the center of gravity would be a bit lower with a body lift (2in suspension lift vs. 2in body lift) because the majority of weight of the vehicle would still be in the original position (or slightly higher because of the taller tires).
BL definately has less effect on center of gravity than a suspension lift. the body lift also has more predictable height-- some "2.5" lifts are more or less than 2.5", whereas a 1" body lift will raise your fender exactly 1" over where it is now.
Don't have a body lift, so I can't say anything more, but as a first mod... I would say that it wouldn't rank high in most people's list.
Don't have a body lift, so I can't say anything more, but as a first mod... I would say that it wouldn't rank high in most people's list.
My advice .. never go with more than 2" BL in your Land Cruiser .. comes to be a big pain with steering and radiator. So I don't believe in BL but are a good cheap option to raise your truc .. big tires and look.
with suspension more expensive you can get more flex and comfort.
with suspension more expensive you can get more flex and comfort.
Im curious...What all is involved in doing an SOA. Looking at it, it would seem that you could just reverse the springs and mounts and youd be pretty much done except for steering components and brake lines. Am I way off base in this assumption?!
Why would you want to keep a spring under and go with OME's kit aside from replacing old parts? My spring under lines up with the bottom of my pumpkin...SOA would seem to be BETTER for clearance issues.
Sorry if this is a stupid question, but I really am really deficient on this subject.
Id like to get a bit more lift than the 2.5 shackels I have, so Im glad this thread came up.
Chicago
Why would you want to keep a spring under and go with OME's kit aside from replacing old parts? My spring under lines up with the bottom of my pumpkin...SOA would seem to be BETTER for clearance issues.
Sorry if this is a stupid question, but I really am really deficient on this subject.
Id like to get a bit more lift than the 2.5 shackels I have, so Im glad this thread came up.
Chicago
tell you the truth I just went into the marine store and looked around and they had ones that were fairly tight to the bolt. I mean there was a little slack not as tight as the old pucks but stilll no where near sloppy enough to worry about. and needless to say i did the body lift a little more than 2 years ago and no probs whatso ever.
later
Bryon
later
Bryon
chicago said:Im curious...What all is involved in doing an SOA. Looking at it, it would seem that you could just reverse the springs and mounts and youd be pretty much done except for steering components and brake lines. Am I way off base in this assumption?!
Chicago
the work it's self is easy.
the difficulty comes in the details.
hit the 40 section and do a search.
Hey Brian,
Thanks for the tip...This sight AMAZES me with the amount of info on here.
I never thought to go to the other forums....I just figured that I have a 60 series wagon and thats where I needed to be.
HOLY CRAP thats a LOT of info.
Chicago
Thanks for the tip...This sight AMAZES me with the amount of info on here.
I never thought to go to the other forums....I just figured that I have a 60 series wagon and thats where I needed to be.
HOLY CRAP thats a LOT of info.
Chicago
chicago said:Hey Brian,
Thanks for the tip...This sight AMAZES me with the amount of info on here.
I never thought to go to the other forums....I just figured that I have a 60 series wagon and thats where I needed to be.
HOLY CRAP thats a LOT of info.
Chicago
read all that you can about caster and ackerman angle. before go with SO conversion.