Suspension lift question.

Hi all, I'm still very new here but been doing a lot of reading.
One thing I've noticed with regards to suspension lifts is confusing me.
Why do people use for example +2" springs but +5" dampers? My logical mind can't understand why it wouldn't be the same increase for both.....
Most of the time people seem to have not done a body lift so that doesn't seem to be a factor... I just can't think of a logical reason.

2" springs give a slightly better approach, break over and departure angle, as well as allowing the fitment of taller tyres which ten increases diff clearance.
5" shocks allow the axle to droop further increasing the chances of keeping a wheel on the ground instead of it just hanging in thin air. This droop allows the spring to dislocate from its seat though so you then need relocation cones or similar to guide the spring to seat back properly as the axle becomes loaded again.
All this extra movement also requires that you fit extended brake hoses and bump stops, as well as maybe corrected radius and trailing arms, funky wide angle props and adjustable pan hard rod to re centralise the front axle.
****ting about with suspension gets expensive to do it right!!

That's how I understand it anyway.

Even more baffling to me is why people buy a defender and then LOWER it and fit low profile tyres on massive wheels!
That really blows my mind! I ain't accepting short legs as an excuse either!!

Not that it's any of my business.
Each to their own.

Rich

Basically wot he said ^

Further downward axle travel, with re-location cones.

Ok, that kinda makes sense.
Essentially, springs improve upward wheel travel and shocks improve downward travel.
Is that kinda right?

Spot1 said:

Ok, that kinda makes sense.
Essentially, springs improve upward wheel travel and shocks improve downward travel.
Is that kinda right?

Click to expand...

Errm, not really!

Springs support the weight, and therefore the height of the vehicle above the axle. They are what separates the body from the undulations of the road/track, shocks control that movement.

+2 springs are usually very firm to give the lift over standard and can give a fairly rigid ride. Unless you want to fit huge tyres I really wouldn't bother, especially if in a fender which have incredible approach angles as standard.

The axle is restricted in how much it can freely move downwards by the length of the shock, so fitting plus 5" shocks will give more downward travel over standard.

I run standard height springs, with plus 2" shocks. The shocks are larger bore than standard so on normal driving give better damping before oil gets hot, and green laning allow a bit more movement, and out perform a stock set up. I do have to run relocation cones in the rear to relocate the spring, but this is fine! Hope that helps