Stiff steering after 2" body lift

Hi

As a result of doing a body lift I have a stiff steering. Despite the fact i took the bolts out of the steering. My mate said to put smaller diameter bolts in. But even without any bolts at all its still stiff. It moves on all the splines. Anybody know what it is?

Cheers

John

I take it you're on about the steering column? And you're mate has told you to use smaller bolts on something for which you're life will depend If I were you I'd find some new mates. basically you have attempted to make a solid metal bar stretch by 2" and changed all the angles of leverage that were preset at the factory and you can't understand why it is now difficult to turn the column :doh: Perhaps you should have got someone who knew what he was doing to carry out the mods. Or are you another Gresham??

Also what were you aiming to achieve with a 2" bodylift?? it won't give you an extra millimetre of ground clearance and unless you're planning to put +35" tyres on is a complete waste of time.

My 31" tires which I'm swapping over from my previous vehicle won't fit otherwise. I am also doing a wheel arch chop. The steering rod was totally free to move on the splines so i have not stretched it by 2". It did not cause me issues on the last vehicle. And as far as whether a body lift does anything - I beg to differ. It does not give you anything apart from being able to fit bigger tires which I am. Its better that a suspension lift that cocks everything up including your castor angles. As for whether I'm qualified - I think the fact I am a mechanic with far too many years under my belt too mention and I work in a 4x4 garage for the last 4 years should answer that.

discopinky said:

I think the fact I am a mechanic with far too many years under my belt too mention and I work in a 4x4 garage for the last 4 years should answer that.

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It answers that you appear to know little of which you speak. You sau a mate told you to use smaller bolts, and then boast your mechanical credentials .. on steering!!

Yet another feckwit, it seems.

PS .. I run BFG AT 31 x 10.5 R15's without a body lift. I ought to cut the valance, but cba .. just bends it a little.

Obviously I'm a ****wit then. I'll shut off and crawl back under my rock. But it takes one to know one as the cuts on the treads of your tires show that you know very little either. I never used the bolts because that would be stupid! Hence I asked the question.

discopinky said:

Obviously I'm a ****wit then. I'll shut off and crawl back under my rock. But it takes one to know one as the cuts on the treads of your tires show that you know very little either. I never used the bolts because that would be stupid! Hence I asked the question.

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No, you are not necessarily a ****wit.
You should never worry about asking a question on ere, no matter how stupid it may or may not seem.
Body lifts are ok, but it is no good expecting things to 'stretch to fit' or in your case with the steering column.
Redhand is right insofar as saying that by messing with the security of the steering column you are messing with your life or the life of others.
By removing ANY bolt from the steering, you are making it insecure because those bolts are there for a purpose.
As a qualified mechanic I'm afraid you should know better.
Sorry to sound patronising, but don't forget the tragic event where those kids died in the river - allegedly due to a poorly maintained vehicle.

what you need is an early type steering link (the bit with the ujs) it has enough movement to allow the lift i found this out when doing the lift on a disco 1 bobtail (on 35s)

discopinky said:

Obviously I'm a ****wit then. I'll shut off and crawl back under my rock. But it takes one to know one as the cuts on the treads of your tires show that you know very little either.

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What cuts are they then?

... and I never professed to kno wbetter ... indeed I pointed out where I went wrong!

Yes, you're a ****wit.

G-man said:

what you need is an early type steering link (the bit with the ujs) it has enough movement to allow the lift i found this out when doing the lift on a disco 1 bobtail (on 35s)

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Thanks G-man that's the answer I'm looking for. I'll put a 200 shaft on it tomorrow I have several of them lying around.

Paul D said:

What cuts are they then?

... and I never professed to kno wbetter ... indeed I pointed out where I went wrong!

Yes, you're a ****wit.

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My mate chewed up one of his brand new Cooper st 235/85 tires on his first outing because it fouled the wheel arch at the back and he has a body lift but only did a camel chop because he was told he would get away with it.

If you have not fouled the arches you just ain't trying hard enough!

Sorry I was in a foul mood earlier!

Its sorted. I took the steering linkage off and it was still stiff so I hammered the end and it freed off. Must have just been the wheel itself binding against the switch shroud.

Heheh, makes two of us .. in a bad mood I mean ..

All mine's done is bend each side, so it looks a bit crap, but the tyres are fine ..
Been running same size tyres for last three sets and never had any problems.

:love::tea::hug::letter-033::lvheart-119::lvgay-lovers-148::lvlove-160:
all friends together !!!

Feck off ..

where do you guys get your bodylifts from
i was thinking of using 2inch scaffy bar like my bros vitara

??