Ride height?

[Reblazek]

I have a 3" Calmini suspension lift kit with 33" tires How much angle can there be on the front CV axles? Does anyone have height measurements?
I broke my passenger side cv, this summer and have had problem after problem, after replacing them. Vibration you name it. I have a 3" body lift as well. 4wheels parts serviced it. It's now sitting low and I'm not happy at all with the time n money spent to turn this into a nice rig. Any specs, measurements to follow for setting my ride height. I live in Calgary Alberta n feel lost as to where to go to get help.

 

[MichaelS75]

The ride height doesn't necessarily correlate to cv angles. The upper bumpstop gap is what you should be looking at. You need to have AT LEAST a .5" bumpstop gap to get a good alignment and keep the cv angles as flat as possible. Another thing you can do is install drop bushings for your front diff, which would help.

 

[Reblazek]

Are the the 4x4parts .com drop bushings any good.?

 

[KBC]

I did them about a month and a half ago at the same time I put a Lokka in. The hardest part was getting the old bushings out. Even though it's only a 3/8" drop, the angle of my CVs looks much better. I have the 4x4parts.com 3" lift.

There's a good write up on how to put them in here;
http://xterranation.org/showthread....-(Front-Lokka-and-Diff-Drop-Bushings-Install)

 

[Cruecible]

I've read a few people state that the difference in angle gained with the drop bushings is almost negligible given the process of removing the old ones and installing the new ones. The body lift, aside from you having a 3", has no effect that I know of on the CV's, but could affect other things.

The suspension lift obviously has everything to do with the CV angles. Like MichaelS75 said, there is a possibility that you or 4Wheel Parts over cranked the torsion bars which created an undue amount of stress and incorrect angle on your CV's causing them to break.

When you say sitting low, what do you mean exactly? If what you are going for is maximum height and you are annoyed at it not being as high as you think it should, that's probably your problem right there. It sounds like you told 4Wheel Parts to make it as high as possible, or that's what they understood when you took it to them which then they probably cranked your torsion bars too much, to make you (the customer) happy. If you can really spot the difference in height being that much lower by having your torsion bars set properly and keeping your CV angles in the correct tolerances, then you have a really good eye. Otherwise, chalk up the 1" or so you'll lose in the front as a safe loss or get the diff drop bushings.

 

[TJTJ]

The diff drop is a relatively small drop, but, the change in ANGLE is enough to really increase survivability. I did a drop with my 3" SL, and have yet to break a CV...and I had many 100's of thousands of miles on them (Over 450,000k).

So, it doesn't look like much, so it fools people...but, it works.


The CV's tend to be MOST stressed when your wheel is at full lock AND at full droop AND under power...so, depending on your wheeling style and terrain, you may simply be hard on them. (IE: You're on the gas at full lock with one tire in a rut, and BANG.)


As mentioned, measure the UPPER bumpstop gap at your UCA: You want 1/2 - 3/4" there.


The X is supposed to have the nose ~ 1.5" Lower than the Butt. It handles and gets better mpg like that. Raising the front too high, in of itself, increases the odds that you WILL be at full droop off road...as, on an IFS, lift is simply trading down travel for uptravel. (IE: You essentially pre-droop the suspension to GET an increase in ride height.)

 

[robcarync]

The differential drops down 3/8". That is defined by the bushing hole being off centered. That is 100% true. The angle is relieved based on the trigonometry...Rise over run...slope of the axle based on the length and change in height. It does help.

My complaint was that it was a complete and utter pain to remove the differential, hack out the old bushings, install the new ones, and put the diff back up. The worst part was trying to make sure the new bushings were lined up perfectly so the bolts will go through them. Since the new bushings are off centered, they all 4 have to be perfectly aligned. It was a nightmare. I would never recommend doing this mod.

What would I do if you were concerned about the CV angle? Lower you front lift 3/8". Easier, faster, cheaper, and it will also help you stay in the green on your front end alignment specs.

I will also confirm...over lifting will cause problems. Alignment, CV issues, etc. It is too tempting to go for maximum lift but you will cause problems.