Old Over the axle lift needs a fix

longjob · Post by **longjob** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 4:43 am

This is my first post. SJ413W. Made in Japan. 34" TSL Super Swamper Tires. It was an ex-Bangkok Show Car recovery vehicle in it's long distant past. It feels like a Iron Bed with no mattress as it bumps and grinds it's way around the local area. It has LPG dual fuel set up. Currently, it's cheap to run, 20p a litre here. Still..

The Front Suspension set up, looks like a leaf spring "saddles" are welded over the axles. "Spring seat" sits on the sadddles. Front Leaf Springs, five a side, sit above.

The top two look part of a shackle kit, newish. The shackles have a marking:"4WD 2000" The lower three leaves are much older. Pretty knackered. Maybe original jap ones. from 88?

The shocks Rancho RS 5000. They have no travel. They seem like they are bottomed out, rammed up tight inside. Nowhere to go. Rock hard ride.

I just wonder, if I put the spring seats under the axle would that effectively extend the shock piston away from the bottom of the shock, open the shock, give a little softer ride and reduce bouncing around like a basketball, when we drive over the limestone outcrops and jungle mud?

Would tires, 255 70 R15 LT (29" high) work on the rims?

Very interesting forum.

twiss · Post by **twiss** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 10:06 am

Just seems to me like your shocks aren't suitable for the amount of lift...

I would first try to get some shock spacers and see if they make any difference...

If they do, I would invest in some extended shock absorbers

Henry · Post by **Henry** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 10:12 am

Are the shocks fully compressed or fully open?

If fully compressed then the extensions will not help.

SPAO is the suspension set up you have, they will give you around 6" of lift, so putting it back to under the axle will drop that lift considerably!

Post by **ScottieJ** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 10:26 am

to the :S:cuk Could you post soem pics up so we can see your set up.

As Henry says, swapping back to spoa will lower your sj and mean you probably won't be able to fit the tyres.

I have a feeling I know whats happened, have they swapped the U-bolt plates to the top of the axle and are still using the shock mounts on them.

like you can just about see in this pic on the right.

If so then the easiest thing to do would be to make new lower shock mounts welded to the axle tube instead. thus opening up the shock.
like this

or for the front you can raise the upper shock mounts, these are ford shock towers

twiss · Post by **twiss** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 10:28 am

Henry makes a good point... I didn't read it properly and assumed the shocks were to short! Sorry lol

They must be bloody long shocks to be fully compressed with SPOA!!!

longjob · Post by **longjob** » Thu Aug 18, 2011 2:15 pm

I tried to upload 2 jpegs so here goes again. Yeah sorry I tried to put too large a jpeg so I will try again,

Post by **ScottieJ** » Thu Aug 18, 2011 2:32 pm

ah yes they have done what I thought.

You want to either raise the top shock mount or lower the bottom shock mount like in the pics i posted before. It will be a lot less work than swapping the vehicle back to spring under axle (spua)

longjob · Post by **longjob** » Thu Aug 18, 2011 3:00 pm

Henry wrote:Are the shocks fully compressed or fully open?

If fully compressed then the extensions will not help.

SPAO is the suspension set up you have, they will give you around 6" of lift, so putting it back to under the axle will drop that lift considerably!

Fully compressed. It looks like 7 inch drop if under the axle. The springs are 40mm. The back bumper is 80 cm from the deck.

longjob · Post by **longjob** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 4:46 am

More Pictures.

longjob · Post by **longjob** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 11:36 am

I'd like to just correct myself. The front shocks are sitting with 4 inches of rod showing over an overall length of 16 inches. From the spring seat shock mounting bolt, The rear shocks look to be 17 inches overall lengths currently. Will they extend to the desired extended degree with SPOA with the shock spring plate SHUA?