hi all im doing a 3" lift . need help

hi all iv had my jimny about 13 weeks now and think its the dogs balls i go off roading all the time but keep banging axels on rocks so its time to jack her up 3". iv got some new rims with 255/70r/15 tyres will these rub on anything when its got the 3" kit on or will i need to trim things. and is there anything eles i need to no about fiting lift kits

Not wishing to rain on your parade but some things to watch out for:

3" lift.
Your road insurance won't like it, you must tell them it is lifted and pay extra (if lucky).
The steering angles change as the front axle rolls forwards when it goes down, which is why you have to fit correction bushes, or cranked lower arms.
The propshaft joints wear much quicker.

Bigger tyres.

You really need lower gears for off roading, look to fitting a rocklobster.

Good luck with the mods, but it isn't just a case of longer springs (or spacers) and shock absorbers if you want to keep it on the road. There are plenty of lifted Jimnys about, and they perform well off road.

thanx for that info are things the same with 2" lift.

Hmm I might be considering this at some point..
How much would the average lift cost over all? - inc extra parts (stated above).
Ta !

I'm afraid I don't know specifics about the Jimny, as I've just converted after 3 LandRovers and a RangeRover.
I'm sure that someone will be along to help.

BTW I think bigger enough tyres to make a difference with ground clearance need some cutting of the wheelarches, even with a lift.

Hi there,

You will get insured but at what cost I'm not sure as I don't know how old you are. There was a previous link on Insurance companies so look that up and see all the companies we are using.

It makes no difference to them if it's 3 inches or 2 inches.

Get a proper lift kit from a well known Suzuki specialist who will give you good after sales support - KAP, Rhinoray, ORA for example. See their websites for pricing on springs and shock absorbers to match the springs.

You are best advised to correct the castor angle at least in the front wheels which will have gone out of kilter due to the lift. I have not though and I am happy with my truck. Some people say that the steering doesn't self centre without it and other horror stories - mine is fine, the steering is a bit lighter on road but nothing I don't get used to within a few seconds of being in it.

Your tyres are quite wide and not something I would have chosen. I don;t know if they will fit well at all. I would have gone for either 235/75/15, 215/80/15 or go to 16 inch with 205/80/16 on Grand Vitara wheels. Mud Terrains are really needed off road too.

The Jimny gearing is a bit steep for bigger tyres, so I am getting a Rocklobster transfer box which is lower in high by a small amount and very low in low box. I have got by with the standard transfer box for a while though, so don't let this worry you yet - all in good time.

I have run 215/80/15 MT's and now run 205/80/16 MT's and have run both with standard bodywork with no rubbing and a 3 inch lift but with not very aggressive tread patterns. Colways and Khumho KL71's.

Once lifted you may wish to remove your anti roll bar at the front to give more articulation - but be warned - you must drive it sensibly on the road or you will have a big accident - they are not very good handlers on road when lifted.

Hope all this helps.

Kirkynut

Frank Pickles insurance gets cheaper the more mods you ahve

You describe your problem as being the axle hitting the ground.

Lifting the suspension, either a 2" or 3" lift doesn't change the height of the axle from the ground, it changes the distance between the axle and the chassis.

Therefore, as other people have said, you will need larger tyres/wheels. Standard tyres are about 28 inches in diameter. FOr every inch in diameter larger you go with tyres you only get 0.5 inch lift!. So going from 28 inch to 31 inch tyres gives you 3 inches of extra tyre but only 1.5 inches of lift. And 31 inch tyres on a Jimny is a pretty big modification. You would need a 3" lift to get them under the wheel arches, a bit of tin bashing and arch cutting to stop them rubbing and a Rocklobster style transfer box to turn them. The Rocklobster box will need a new mounting kit and possibly replacemnet propshafts and an electronc converter for the speedo.

So its financially a very slippery slope and a lot of work!.

There are a number of specialist insurers out there dealing with modified vehicles. I am with Sureterm, however a lot of these type of insurers assume its not your daily driving vehicle and therefore only does a very limited mileage.

Martin

Well said Martin ...

To summarise - thats a LOT OF CASH just to get your axle up by 1.5inches!!

I have upped to a 3" Spring Lift, i was lucky as i already had a Rob Storr 6:1 SJ Transfer box (from my old SJ413) ... so only needed propshaft kit (from Rob Storr) for the Jimny, (armoury), and 4xES3000's (from engineering@ntlworld.com - i think they trade as JimnyBits (??), and I got the ex-Rgino Ray Lifted springs from a bloke on Difflock.

Oh,and larger Rims (GV's at 16"), larger Tyres ...

Is it worth it -- YES, YES, YES ...

hi mlines very good info im 25 years old and drive a vauxhall astra to when i can drag myself out of jimny its loads more fun to drive makes me . im thinking about 2 " lift now pro comp are these good and then 235/75/15 tyres ? my jimnys auto as i lost the use in my right arm 3 years ago i was on a motorbike and a woman pulled out on me. i find it very easy to drive on or off road so whats it going to be like with these mods?????? thanx

Well there is some good news for you then. With an Auto Jimny you might get away without modifying the transfer box. Auto Jimnys have lower ratios in the differentials and the torque converter action of the Autobox and lack of a clutch means that it should turn the wheels even though they are bigger.

Therefore I think you will get away with a 2" lift and 235/75/15 tyres. Mine has those size tyres and there is a bit of rubbing but I think my Pro-comp lift has sagged a bit (nothing to do with my weight, of course).

Would love to have had an auto, just going to have to change my clutch (again!)

Martin

yer she pulls off very well its a y reg 1328cc . id dint think them big tyres iv got would fit but they were only £80 and there fitted on sj rims. iv bin taking it offroading at monsal head and stanage moor. how ofton do u have to put a new cluch in ur jimny?