Thread: Legal body and wheel modifications

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

Apparently 245/70/16s fit without scraping.

I have had No scraping issues with mine even when I had to get back home from sharks bay on the bump stops because my SLS had crapped itself.

You are on the right track, if you are in NSW, get in touch with the 4wd association (4wdnow.com.au) and they will give the specs. They were on the panel that negotiated the standards with the RMS.
There are members of the HWP that make a living out of defecting 4wd's for various reasons, usually placement of driving lights as suspension mods are a little bit too technical for them most of the time.

Originally Posted by bgkdavis

I've just bought a 2" body lift kit for my disco 2 and have just found that there may be some confusion over the legal issues, unfortunately I've done a search on this forum for topics on this issue (and there are many) only to find the same confusion, and the matter isn't helped too much by there having been apparent changed in the laws.

As I currently understand it (from various articles and reading the VSB14)....

Lifts of up to 50mm are legal without engineer cert, the lift is measured at the roof line of the car

Tyre DIAMETER increases up to 50mm are legal without engineer cert (effectively making 31" the max size for a disco 2)

The optimum legal lift on a disco 2 would be 31" tyres with a 1" body or suspension lift

Doing both a body lift and max tyre size is not legal without engineer cert as it would total a 75mm lift

My plan of installing 33" tyres and a 50mm body lift is definately not legal without engineer cert.

How hard is it to get a lift modification certified?

Originally Posted by twr7cx

I believe he means safety air bags such as SRS not suspension spring type airbags like SLS. He is correct in that many states do not allow body lifts on SRS airbag fitted vehicles.

Can anyone point to any legal reference that says a lift is not allowed on an SRS fitted vehicle, particularly an australian wide or queensland document.

The only legal references ive found that restrict thte installation of body lifts in a vehicle in queensland refers to stability systems, which would indicate SLS not SRS.

to me this makes sense, banning lifts on SRS doesnt make sense since it effectively excludes any vehicle under 20 years old

Originally Posted by bgkdavis

Reading these forums I get the impression that there are a lot of people running round with tyres larger than 31", yet I can find no evidence that this is legal without engineering certification anywhere in Australia, so I can only conclude that

• you are getting these installations certified (unlikely)
• you don't know (quite probable)
• you just don't care (after all this is Australia)

So, my choices appear to be.....

1. Just use 31" tyres and forget the lift kit
2. since I've got the lift kit install it and use 31" tyres
3. since I've got the lift kit install it and use 33" tyres, when get stopped by police just plead ignorance, and hope I don't get screwed by insurance if I need to make a claim
4. since I've got the lift kit install it and use 33" tyres, and get it certified
5. 3+ when I have the car road worthy tested remember to put the 29" highway tyres on and tell the tester I just wanted a better view)

33" tires will NOT fit unless you dramatically reduce the upwards travel of your suspension. I strongly suggest you don't buy 33" tires. You'll regret it.
31" tires will keep you legal and fit with 50mm suspension lift. - LEGAL, EASY OPTION AND GOOD OFF ROAD.

I run 265 / 75 R16 (32" or technically 31.65") with 50mm suspension lift and they fit without rubbing, they are mounted to about 15mm offset steel rims (Wider) from Dynamic. I'm pretty sure the tyres would fit on standard rims too, but they may scrub the inside on full lock. Which is easy to fix, wind the bump stops out a bit.

Something to keep in mind, to maintain the same diff clearance of a Patrol or Landcruiser you can run about 1.5" smaller diameter tyres. So effectively running 31" tyres will give you about the same diff clearance as a Patrol or Landcruiser running 33" tyres. Knowing this suggests going to the extra effort to engineer body lifts and such a little redundant, you will be able to drive the same tracks with a legal car fitting 31" tires.

How do I know all this? I'm the president of a 4WD Club (who happens to own a Land rover, you could imagine the flack I used to cop before I was elected as president) and have witnessed this diff clearance with my own 2 eyes. The club has more Patrols and Cruisers than Land Rovers, Land Rovers have about 7" diffs and Patrols have 9" diffs.

Originally Posted by Jazzman

How do I know all this? I'm the president of a 4WD Club (who happens to own a Land rover, you could imagine the flack I used to cop before I was elected as president) and have witnessed this diff clearance with my own 2 eyes. The club has more Patrols and Cruisers than Land Rovers, Land Rovers have about 7" diffs and Patrols have 9" diffs.

With greatest respect to your elected position, without legal reference anything your saying is just opinion, and frankly when faced with a potentially rejected insurance claim I'd rather not be armed with opinion.

The problem I've come to realise is there are a lot of opinions, many conflicting, many coloured by differing state laws and differing interpretations, some of these opinions are advocated by apparently respected individuals or successful businesses, some think the laws include clauses that implicate SRS and others SLS but few of these opinions can actually point to a legal document, or an official interpretation of a legal document.

.... and this is the point I believe this topic is now at.... because of the continuing confusion, I feel its wisest to set aside opinions and look for documented fact, and it appears that whilst there are plenty with opinions there are scant few who can point to any references that support their opinions.

every post on this forum is an opinion.

your states vehicle regulations and modifications team is the only legal reference, and i suspect they dont post on forums.

which kind of makes this thread redundant

Originally Posted by Eevo

which kind of makes this thread redundant

in your opinion



to a point your correct, but you could argue that anything that's said or written is just opinion.... which is why when writing anything official its generally good practice to point to references, this is basic knowledge to anyone who has completed a university degree.

Now, I have pointed to my references, see my opening posts, and *in my opinion* those references whilst they conflict with each other don't make any reference or implied references to SRS airbags, but there are apparently a lot of opinions contrary to this, so, I ask for their references so we can make a balanced judgement.... I feel this is a reasonable request.

Originally Posted by bgkdavis

With greatest respect to your elected position, without legal reference anything your saying is just opinion, and frankly when faced with a potentially rejected insurance claim I'd rather not be armed with opinion.

The problem I've come to realise is there are a lot of opinions, many conflicting, many coloured by differing state laws and differing interpretations, some of these opinions are advocated by apparently respected individuals or successful businesses, some think the laws include clauses that implicate SRS and others SLS but few of these opinions can actually point to a legal document, or an official interpretation of a legal document.

.... and this is the point I believe this topic is now at.... because of the continuing confusion, I feel its wisest to set aside opinions and look for documented fact, and it appears that whilst there are plenty with opinions there are scant few who can point to any references that support their opinions.

Wise decision, you are very correct. I was referring to Victorian rules, and from paying a little closer attention I can see that is not where you are from. I've posted links to the legal document for Vic earlier in this thread. I was also referring to being involved in a 4wd club in reference to the diff clearance and what track terrain would be transversable comparative to other 4wd's, not intending to suggest I was an expert on legality. I wasn't very clear.

Good luck. It is a mine field.