So whats wrong with a couple of spacers on a lift kit then?

I am a little surprised at the views?
I thought i was setting myself up for some flak!
But it seems it has surprised some that there is no need for springs just simple spacers.

I guess he was right. I know he has been in the game many years and has worked on hundreds of them so who was i to doubt. Only 2 inch though as he said very clearly

It depends on the terrain. Sometimes the extra ground clearance from a suspension lift alone, ie using spacers, is necessary but grip is okay so the extra benefit of articulation isn't that important, if one or other wheel is in the air then the other axle is on the ground and can provide enough traction. If its slippery, then you need all the articulation you can get, so that all 4 wheels are on the ground and power is divided evenly between the wheels.

If you have an LSD or locking rear diff, then articulation isn't so important since power can still be transmissed with the "wheels in the air" scenario. Note how eg Pajero typically has an LSD, crap front suspension articulation yet seems to keep up with Discos at times.

At the end of the day, good suspension travel is a real benefit because it allows you to keep contact with the ground more evenly, generally get better traction, so not need to "take a run up" at tricky patches quite so much, which often has the disadvantage of bouncing the wheels into the air, or making keeping the accurate driving line you intend, difficult/impossible. But some people just want the vehicle higher, maybe for looks or maybe for clearing obstacles etc, and cope quite okay without the potential extra articulation too.

He's got a point ;O)

Think I'm right in saying though, you wont loose any articulation compared to standard.

Thin_trucker said:

He's got a point ;O)

Think I'm right in saying though, you wont loose any articulation compared to standard.

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well the OP wants 2 inch spacers with standard shocks - so YES you will lose 2 inches of droop travel

on the down side yes but the up side's got 2" extra hasn't it? so surely the axle can go to the same angle as if it was standard - might be wrong of course.

ya dont gain nuffing or lose nuffing just the appearence of a 2" lift

Thin_trucker said:

on the down side yes but the up side's got 2" extra hasn't it? so surely the axle can go to the same angle as if it was standard - might be wrong of course.

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well only as much as the spring can compress - but you dont want upward travel, as the whole point of a lift is to fit bigger tyres so you dont want them to hit the arches

Come to think of it, I think v8 may be right:

At first I thought "you loose 2" drop one side but gain 2" that the axle can lift on the other"

BUT, I think the spring will "bottom out" as it's no longer than standard, I don't think you'd lose 2" but I think we've just worked out why springs are better than spacers - which may be the answer to the o.p.

edit; Sorry v8, thought I'd deleted that bit - I agree with what you're saying.

Only other thing of course is, you might not intend to fit bigger tyres - the o.p just wants to clear the ground better, especially with the tow bar which is why I lifted mine originally but I cut it, hacked the front bumper and removed the side steps which had more of an effect.

Thin_trucker said:

Only other thing of course is, you might not intend to fit bigger tyres - the o.p just wants to clear the ground better, especially with the tow bar which is why I lifted mine originally but I cut it, hacked the front bumper and removed the side steps which had more of an effect.

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you wont gain in height from the axles with the lift kit/ spacers your need to fit bigger tyres to lift them higher off the ground

Thin_trucker said:

Only other thing of course is, you might not intend to fit bigger tyres - the o.p just wants to clear the ground better, especially with the tow bar which is why I lifted mine originally but I cut it, hacked the front bumper and removed the side steps which had more of an effect.

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if you want ground clearance you have to fit bigger tyres, chances are its the axles that get bogged down, if its the tow bar you could just get a detachable one like i suggested a few pages back:doh:

V8_Disco said:

if you want ground clearance you have to fit bigger tyres, chances are its the axles that get bogged down, if its the tow bar you could just get a detachable one like i suggested a few pages back:doh:

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I might bare that in mind . It's not for fashion just sensible when trying to track down a lossed Falcon using satallite navigation connected by a transmitter. The height , just two inches and a good light set up to spot the bird from the road even by lighting up the field in the dark. As many know birds roost up at night so vision just getting there is paramount too.

But instead of having to set foot from the road to follow the signal the confidence of just having that 2 inch could be the differece of a 3 mile hike or maybe even nothing if i get lucky.

Bars said:

I might bare that in mind . It's not for fashion just sensible when trying to track down a lossed Falcon using satallite navigation connected by a transmitter. The height , just two inches and a good light set up to spot the bird from the road even by lighting up the field in the dark. As many know birds roost up at night so vision just getting there is paramount too.

But instead of having to set foot from the road to follow the signal the confidence of just having that 2 inch could be the differece of a 3 mile hike or maybe even nothing if i get lucky.

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Where are you driving to "track down the lost Falcon"??? On roads and byways, or across farmland?

paul_c said:

Where are you driving to "track down the lost Falcon"??? On roads and byways, or across farmland?

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It could be anyway but if it is near a road then you have got very lucky indeed. Could be anywhere from a cow shed in the middle of a farm or in a ditch in the middle of a field 5 miles away from any main or b road!