Thread: Small Lift

I kept my SLS and happy I did. Got a workshop in lilydale to do it for 1200 including dampener and obviously get the luxury of SLS still. They use a metal spacer between the airbags and chassis and there wasn't a need to extend abs or brake lines when the air bags were used.

So far so good after about a year and love the option to raise the rear end.

As expected springs are more accessible and thus cheaper if in the outback and somehow break a spring. D2 airbags however are/would be expensive if one were to puncture or the air compressor broke down. However most people are prepared for this with an extra air bag and the ability to manually pump it up.

All in all, just do whatever is most suitable for what you want. Towing=keep SLS; lots of 4x4ing = springs.

EDIT: 2 inch lift.

I don't have ACE but as far as I know it will work well with a 50mm lift.

Lots of manufacturers for good springs. I went with King and very happy.

Not sure why trevor thinks springs better than SLS for 4X4. I'm very happy with SLS off road. Again you maintain your clearance even with a full load and full fuel and can get an extra 4cm lift when in a tight spot seems win win to me.
You just need a set of spacers for the air bag and little spacers for the hight sensors. You can get kits. Depending on the kit you get and length of spacer for the height sensors you can get from 30 to 50 mm lift ( in addition to the 40 mm off road setting on SLS)

Next you will need extended length shock absorbers. I have terra firma. They are just a little on the harsh side but not too bad. Plenty of posts on this topic.
Next you need to adjust your brake and ABS lines particularly the rear. Spacer Kits usually come with a bracket to reposition the rear brake lines. You can usually wriggle a bit more length in the ABS but on one side this was just too tight when I did it so had to find an extension lead for one side. (sold in a pack of 4) The front standard shock absorbers will manage probably 30 mm lift but any more and you need extended length to get use of your lift.

Check out the posts on this topic all you need to know is on this site.

Dobinson's do a Std +20mm coil for the D2. I have them on mine D2 (ACE no SLS, chopped TJM bar and dual batteries) and they have brought the front up to the top of the stock hub to wheel arch height range.

Prior to fitting the bar, the hub to arch height was right at the bottom of the standard range (49cm). That dropped to 48cm with the bar, and since fitting the Dobinsons is now sitting at 51cm.

You don't need extended shocks at this level of "lift", obviously.

The spring are firmer than stock but seem to be pretty much spot on when travelling loaded on outback roads.

cheers
Paul

That's what I was told about when deciding between springs or bags. It wasn't a matter of performance as opposed to simplicity. I do believe that a set of springs would be easier to source anywhere as opposed to air bags for the d2.

Just my 2 cents; I seem to agree with my installer. SLS would seem to work with towing better but springs would be the more "efficient" choice, to put it that way, if you happened to break down 4x4ing and needed a replacement. I love my SLS and was annoyed that I may of had to rid the SLS for a lift so was ecstatic when I found the kit.

FWIW I had king springs in the front before I had to upgrade due to the winch and can't say a bad word about them.

Originally Posted by trevor

That's what I was told about when deciding between springs or bags. It wasn't a matter of performance as opposed to simplicity. I do believe that a set of springs would be easier to source anywhere as opposed to air bags for the d2.

Just my 2 cents; I seem to agree with my installer. SLS would seem to work with towing better but springs would be the more "efficient" choice, to put it that way, if you happened to break down 4x4ing and needed a replacement. I love my SLS and was annoyed that I may of had to rid the SLS for a lift so was ecstatic when I found the kit.

FWIW I had king springs in the front before I had to upgrade due to the winch and can't say a bad word about them.

The ease of replacement thing is all in favour of air springs.

With the air springs, they can be easily packed into the back when deflated so you can carry a spare. Tools required? One spanner and something to remove the top retaining clips.

Try doing that with coil springs.

I challenge your spring fitter to name any rural town that will have a D2 rear coil spring on the shelf. You are going to find that if you need a replacement the coil spring will have to be shipped from the nearest capital city. Once you do that there is no advantage over ordering an air spring.

cheers
Paul

Originally Posted by OffTrack

Dobinson's do a Std +20mm coil for the D2. I have them on mine D2 (ACE no SLS, chopped TJM bar and dual batteries) and they have brought the front up to the top of the stock hub to wheel arch height range.

Prior to fitting the bar, the hub to arch height was right at the bottom of the standard range (49cm). That dropped to 48cm with the bar, and since fitting the Dobinsons is now sitting at 51cm.

You don't need extended shocks at this level of "lift", obviously.

The spring are firmer than stock but seem to be pretty much spot on when travelling loaded on outback roads.

cheers
Paul

Thanks for posting up the specs Paul. Does Rave have them? It sounds like precisely the sort of lift I need with my LPG, TJM bar, racks etc. I already have Dobinson springs, but they are about 80,000k old now. My rear springs are original (11 years old...with heaps of towing) and the front are 7 years old - LR replaced them under and just outside warranty because I had a set of the batch that failed on the front causing the bump stops to 'bump' regularly. Which shocks do you have?

Cheers

It's listed in the general data section of RAVE under suspension. The front spec is 500mm +/-15mm, rear with coils is 483 +/-15mm, air is 473mm +/-15mm measure from the centre of the hub to the underside of the wheel arch (not the liner).

The d2 was looking like it had been lowered prior fitting the new springs and was chewing the front bump stops.

The rears weren't too bad but tended to wallow when the back was loaded with camping gear. The new springs have been a big improvement in that respect.

I've fitted a set of std height Koni Heavy Tracks which seem to be pretty good so far. I've done about 3000k of country/outback driving over the past couple of weeks, and no complaints so far.

Cheers
Paul

I am not afraid of going bush with SLS.
I used to work on tourist coaches in the 70's with air suspension.
Far more reliable than leaf springs.

Towing & touring are the main uses.

Who makes good SLS spacers?