[N.T.]

Hi guys, I was wondering what advice you can give me on manufacturers that do a 3-4'' leaf spring lift for the sierra. Im having trouble finding kits above 50mm.

Cheers.

[Red89]

Hills4x4

[Marko_SJ]

How strong your kidneys are is the main determinant of how high you can lift brah.

Seriously though, Just chuck in a body lift if ya don't wanna chop the guards and need to clear larger tyres.

[Chop]

Red89 wrote:

Hills4x4

Yep this is your guy

[tanshi]

9" grinder!

[Gwagensteve]

I'll bite.

A bit of searching around here will find that lots of people think that even 2" lift springs ride too stiffly.

The more lift height you try to get out of a spring that still fits in the same spot (as in mounts on the chassis) the stiffer it has to get.

Calmini make 3" leaves. From experience they are just terrible for ride and flex, but they definitely offer 3" of lift.

Calmini also team these 3" springs with a shackle reverse kit that adds another 2" of lift. This doesn't help anything at all from what I've experienced.

Removing a leaf or two from these overly stiff springs will improve the flex and ride, but then the car will sit lower than the 3" of lift advertised.

We might be able to offer some better advice if you tell us about your setup or what you were seeking to achieve with 3-4" springs.

Steve.

[Suttmann]

I have just been talked out of buying lifted springs by people on this site, spring lift will not give more clearance for the tires, it will only look this way when on flat ground. Also like some others have mentioned, it makes the ride terrible, do you have a narrow track zook? If you do your best bet is to keep it low to the ground.

[N.T.]

Sorry guys I should have add more info, the springs I want at 4'' but then 2-3 springs are coming out to make it a very long spring giving me a much more comfortable ride. We are going to relocate the spring mount brackets and fit a set of extended shackles. Just want to find 3-4'' to do the trick.

[Marko_SJ]

Could you use Calamari (calmini) 3" springs?

I have considered doing the same as what you are planning, keen to hear your results.

[N.T.]

I'll post up some pics of the set up once it's finished next week. The idea is we have (and we have them in now albeit redneck and temporary) a set of quick release coils springs from the rear of a zook combined with a long flat thin set of leaves. This will allow me to carry a small load to my camping spots or landcruiser park. Once there I unpack the zook of everything leaving it empty and light set up and set up camp. Then a quick highlift jack under each corner and undo a few wing nuts and the coils pull straight out in a matter of minutes leaving me with soft long flexy leaves for some fun stuff over the weekend. Whack em back in for the trip home.

[got_bar_work]

Hilux maybe

[just_cruizin]

Custom springs would be the go. Is this for just the rear or the front as well?

[tanshi]

CJ jeep springs would do the job.

[N.T.]

Front and rear. As far as CJ jeep springs are concerned are they roughly that 3-4'' longer and do they just bolt straight up??
Thnx for the info

[tanshi]

they are about 100-120mm longer.

no they wont bolt straight up you have to move the spring mounts

[Gwagensteve]

And 3-4" longer isn't the same as 3-4" taller.

Steve

[masterA]

Why not do a 3/4 eliptical?!

[Gwagensteve]

Good point. Any compressed spring rate you want for load carrying and ample droop.

[dank]

mazda808 wagon rears are about 150mm longer than most 50mm lifted springs. they are pretty soft spring. I had to beef up the pack with other leaves to achieve the ride height i wanted.

[N.T.]

Since I live near a jeep wreckers the CJ springs seem the go. From memory wasn't there a picture/design of setting up a 3/4 elliptical somewhere??
I just spent the day cutting and grinding and rustproofing the body where I was getting contact. It shouldn't rub anymore. The next is the longer leaves or eleptical and a front shackle reversal. Then in 3 months I have some cash coming in that should allow me to go nuts on this zook, well here's hoping anyway.

[Gwagensteve]

Why are you keen on a shackle reversal? They're not worth the effort in my opinion.

Steve.

[N.T.]

For comfort only Steve, I've been told it can make for a better ride on road.

[Gwagensteve]

Sucks offroad though. You'll also have increased brake dive and tyre clearance problems with the firewall. Not worth the improvement in ride. (Which isn't all that great)

Steve.

[stockman]

The last Sierra I bought had shackle reversal and OME springs withe extra leafs.
Worst suspension I've ever experienced, it was even worse than the King Springs and they were bone crunching shite.
From my experiences playing with suspension comfort (flex) and lift aren't achievable, it one or the other.

[N.T.]

If it will cause clearance issues I'll give it a miss I just found out I already have plenty of clearance issues atm with the wheels binding bad. Seems the Australian supplier for Calmini is closed down??? Only ones I can find that do a 3'' spring and their performance ones look like they should flatten right out and be fairly comfy. Anyone know where to find calmini springs in oz?? Thinking now the RUF with flatish 3'' springs will be the go.

[Gwagensteve]

TapTapTap- is this thing on? Calmini 3" springs are shithouse. As are ANY 3" springs for a sierra. The sierra suspension design can't allow them to work. Let it go and run your car lower.

Steve.

[alien]

Yeah, just do a SPOA =)

[Marko_SJ]

The guy is talking about modifying the packs and relocating spring mounts if necessary though.

Has anybody gotten a set of secondhand calmini leaves, junked the pack, except for the main leaf and then replaced the pack with stock leafs?

Using the calamari main leaf for length, to go with relocated (if necessary) mounts and longer shackles.

[N.T.]

Gwagensteve wrote:

TapTapTap- is this thing on? Calmini 3" springs are shithouse. As are ANY 3" springs for a sierra. The sierra suspension design can't allow them to work. Let it go and run your car lower.

Steve.

I could say the same thing Steve , PLZ explain to me the design differences of a calmini spring with leaves taken out to be flat and a OME 2'' spring with leaves taken out to be flat???? Plz explain to me then once both leaves are sitting flatter how the longer pack won't flex better and be more comfortable on road???? Sierra suspension design won't allow them to work??? Then holy shit calmini must make their leaf springs out of triangles and cupcakes.

[Gwagensteve]

Because of the additional, excessive camber on a Calmini spring to achieve 3" of lift, once you remove enough leaves to get the spring to work, there's inadequate spring rate to prevent terminal axle wrap and keep the axle in position. The springs will also be vulnerable to bending as there will be too much main leaf unsupported.

Sounds like you need to find this out for yourself though- go right ahead.

You'll find ultimately that chasing increased rear wheel travel is a whole lot of work that actually does very little for the capability of the car.

Steve.