[GeckoXL7]

i would stick to 235 75 r16 if want to stay legal, or 225 75 R16 for no issues and extra height, its only a few mm over so won't be much of a issue.

When i get around to it ill put in castor bushes to push the rear of the front wheels out a little. Shouldn't rub at all then.

There is exactly a inch to spare on the rear door with the 235 70 R16 so that will allow a 31" tire max on rear door. or just drop the bumper a little

[GeckoXL7]

These would help if get stuck in a deep bog hole so don't have to climb out the window

[magnat]

um.. They would let the water in far worse lol !

So a 225/70/R16 should fit without rubbing ? Cause that sounds like the size I am after.
At the moment I have 215/70/R16's so I can afford to go up alittle.

[atari4x4]

GeckoXL7 wrote:

i blah blah blah want to stay legal

you still running spring spacers?

[GeckoXL7]

No havent for ages.

[henno]

magnat wrote:

So a 225/70/R16 should fit without rubbing ? Cause that sounds like the size I am after.

Yes.

Well, that is not entirely true. Depending on the tyre, there might be slight rubbing on the inside of the splash guard thinger under the front bar, but if you get under there with a set of pliers and bend the metal tab under there it will give you the room you need. It literally takes 2 minutes.

Bear in mind that your speedo will be out ~7% and your gearing will be taller, but that will happen with any tyre with a sidewall increase (unless you drop rim diameter, which you can't do easily on a GV).

[Sco-tie]

With the law these days pretty much no 4wder who actually uses it off road is legal.

[GeckoXL7]

Spacers are legal

Vehicle ride height can be increased by any combination of the following methods:relocating a leaf spring on the opposite of an axle to that of the vehicle manufacturerspacer blocks mounted above or below the coils spring or mounted between the top of the suspension strut and vehicle bodywedges or blocks located between the coils

[atari4x4]

i call bullshit on that... where did that even come from? you can't do a SPOA in SA end of story so as far as i'm concerned the rest of that is a load of bullshit.

FYI spacers are illegal.

[magnat]

Yes... So is body lift on Any Vehicle fitted with an Airbag.. Which sadly the XL-7 has 2 of.

Yes.. Spacers are definately a big no no..
Widening the track on any vehicle is a no-no without engineering Cert.

Its OK with the Speedo, GPS is pretty accurate..

[atari4x4]

https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/transport- ... dification

Quote:

Suspension modification
Lowering vehicle height

Acceptable 'eyebrow heights' (the measurement from the centre of the wheel vertically upward to the edge of the mudguard) or 'bump rubber clearance heights' (the clearance between the bump rubber and corresponding contact point) for most passenger vehicles can be found on the Passenger Car Track List for 1970 and later vehicles .

Other requirements for lowering a vehicle include:

either front or rear, the suspension travel must not be reduced by more than one third of that specified by the vehicle manufacturer
the vehicle must also retain 100mm ground clearance which is measured between any part of the vehicle and the ground
all measurements must be carried out with the vehicle on level ground in its normal operating but unladen state
coil springs must not be shortened by cutting, and no suspension component is to be subjected to heating
lowering blocks may be used on leaf spring suspensions provided they are manufactured from steel, aluminium, or metal and to be positively located to the axle spigot hole and the spring centre bolt. Note: the axle mounting 'U' bolts are not permitted to be below the lower rim height.

Raising vehicle height

The raising of a vehicle is not generally recommended due to the cornering and braking instability that may result. Often vehicles are raised because the owner wants to fit large wheels and tyres that would otherwise contact the mudguards. In these cases the wheels and tyres may themselves be unacceptable.

The body of a vehicle can be raised by up to 50 mm by fitting spacer blocks between the vehicle chassis and body at their mounting points.

The blocks must be manufactured from metal. It is important to note that a total lift of more than 50 mm requires prior approval in the form of a Statement of Requirements and a report from a MR426 Chartered Professional Engineer

In some cases the steering shaft may have to be extended and longer brake hoses fitted. If the original steering components are altered or replaced, an MR620 Application to Modify a Motor Vehicle will need to be submitted to Vehicle Standards.

A roadworthiness inspection will also be required.

The vehicle must not be raised by the use of extended or adjustable shackle plates.

Vehicle ride height can be increased by any combination of the following methods:

relocating a leaf spring on the opposite of an axle to that of the vehicle manufacturer
spacer blocks mounted above or below the coils spring or mounted between the top of the suspension strut and vehicle body
wedges or blocks located between the coils.

Auxiliary suspension devices

Auxiliary suspension devices may be fitted. Sway bars may be fitted to your vehicle. Sway Bars add roll stiffness at the front which may increase understeer, and additional roll stiffness at the rear may create an increase in oversteer that could lead to unpredictable handling.

Track rods/traction bars may be fitted to control rear spring 'wind-up' provided that they meet the minimum ground clearance requirements.

Strut braces may be fitted between suspension strut and spring mounting towers.
Adjustable coil-over suspension

Aftermarket adjustable coil-over suspension components are suspension units that incorporate an external thread on the main body and corresponding threaded spring saddle that allows the vehicle's suspension height to be varied.

If fitting aftermarket or coil-over suspension components you must submit an MR620 Application to Modify a Motor Vehicle and a report from a MR 426 Chartered Professional Engineers

The report must specify and include the following points:

the measured suspension travel of both the original equipment manufacturer suspension arrangement and that of the aftermarket replacement
fitment of a rubber bump stop to limit travel to ensure there is clearance between the coils when the suspension is at full bump
incorporate a permanent locking device on the adjustment mechanism to prevent the adjusting of the suspension that results in the vehicle's ride height being less than that of the minimum legal height specified for that vehicle.

On receipt of an acceptable engineering report to Vehicle Standards, a Statement of Requirements will be sent to you detailing the modifications and any applicable conditions. The vehicle will also be required to pass a roadworthiness inspection.
Airbag suspension

Airbag suspension replaces the conventional coil or leaf springs with an airbag or an air strut. Each airbag or strut is connected to a valve to control the amount of air allowed into it which is activated by a compressor.

This pressurises the air, using compressed air as a spring. The purpose of airbag suspension is to provide a smooth ride quality, and in some cases, self-levelling.

If fitting airbag suspension you must submit an MR620 Application to Modify a Motor Vehicle and a report from a MR426 Chartered Professional Engineers

Airbag suspension is acceptable provided that:

the front and rear suspension is fitted with the original suspension bump rubbers in the original manufacturer's positions
the vehicle maintains a 100 mm minimum ground clearance at all times
if the airbag system fails and the air is vented, no part of the vehicle must fall below rim height
the airbag line pressure and vehicle height cannot be adjusted from within the cabin of the vehicle
there is no transfer of air between one side of the vehicle and the other - fore and aft movement is acceptable
the vehicle must be fitted with a front to rear automatic levelling device that does not incorporate a manual override - this value is to operate at all times when the vehicle is running, not just on engine crank
the system must incorporate a lock-out function that prevents the vehicle being moved or driven without the air spring being correctly inflated and the vehicle being at its normal ride height.

i'm guessing that's where you got it from... that's a typo, dare you to try getting SPOA or spring spaces past the regency inspectors.

[GeckoXL7]

https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/transport- ... dification

I wont recomend spacers they go soft and springs shift around.

[atari4x4]

so you can legally run a spoa or spring spacers, but they make no mention of lifted coil springs or lifted leafs?

[GeckoXL7]

Its screwed up in sa, thats all ill say on a open thread.

Spacers can be downright dangerous some of them yet allowed suposingly on the website but dont allow a safer increase in wheel diameter like the othere states.

Other startes are going the way if its a manufacturer apporved suspensison kit its allowed. Esp whem the car has esp.

[Chop]

I'm pretty sure that is stating ways in which a vehicle can be raised, not a way you can do it it legally. Because fitting springs on the opposing side of axle(spoa) is alot higher than the maximum height.

[atari4x4]

basically the way i see it is nothing is legal here, so why bother trying to comply when appearing to do the right thing seems to be enough these days.

should just build what you want & deal with the pending defect sticker if it ever happens... nothing worse than wishing you had bigger tyres cause you can't pick a line & your diff hits all the rocks.

[GeckoXL7]

Yeah thats why its screwed up people will read it and do it but its only legal if dont go over a total 50mm height increase..

Ive done up a engineering spread sheet for a xl7 took me alot of ringing around as no one even regency has the standard ride height, so really there is nothing to go by but the tire placard. I only been puled over for leaving my towball on after dropping of a trailer.
But going by the sheet its all legal

[atari4x4]

they have a listing for a 2.8l V6 5 door grand vitara from jun 2001-aug 2007

eyebrow height of 453mm & 433mm front & rear?
towing capacity of 700kg unbraked & 1850kg braked?

[Chop]

GeckoXL7 wrote:

Its screwed up in sa, thats all ill say on a open thread.

Spacers can be downright dangerous some of them yet allowed suposingly on the website but dont allow a safer increase in wheel diameter like the othere states.

Other startes are going the way if its a manufacturer apporved suspensison kit its allowed. Esp whem the car has esp.

Is this what you call spring spacers?

[atari4x4]

"they're spring seats"

[GeckoXL7]

they are spring cseats get it right chop haha. had removed them for a while but keep them in the car for when going off road. They are good keeping the king springs from moving around on the bottom with the Ultima shocks.

My Work sheet, about a years on off work. Enter stuff in the top, and tire sizes everything gets calculated even offset. With the 235 70 R16 measured actual height increase is only 6mm as the tire bags out, thats my argument so say double that its only 12mm diameter increase

[atari4x4]

FFS are you an accountant?

[GeckoXL7]

Computer Systems and Electronics engineer.

[Chop]

GeckoXL7 wrote:

they are spring cseats get it right chop haha.

Ah my mistake, from 1st page of your build thread.

GeckoXL7 wrote:

Two things going on tomorrow, lots of work this long weekend!

These are the universal spring spacers from http://www.amu.net.au/coil-spring-space ... pacer.html

The guys here send out extremly quick and are great priced! can also make up what you want as well.

I liked these as will mold over the bottom of the springs and top i can even paint them yellow to blend in with the springs



This is the drive space coupler I will be putting in, will act like a Spacer as no one has made spacers for the XL-7 yet, this will work perfectly.



and then also working on my transfer to work out why low range wont work and replacing rear shoes.

So next time i tackle this in two weeks it wouldnt be such a pain in the ass to get over as hopefully low range will work



By the way holding down the Low range and going over this, the xl-7 did it easy! not long after i did it heard over a CB a nissan navara's and landcruiser and a few guys saying they need to get the winch out to get over it! lol lol lol