[Jetstar]

Hey all, first and foremost thank you to all for providing such a wealth of zook knowledge.

6 months ago I followed a compulsive urge that was in complete polarity to my 15 years of driving sports cars and sold my WRX and bought a 2013 Jimny. Initially intentions was to keep completely stock however after many nights trawling the auszookers build threads it became apparent this was not going to be the case. So I have to thank / blame you all for that...

To date a number of minor mods completed:
- Stereo head unit and 4 new speakers
- Roof racks and basket
- 2mtr awning
- Kings rims and AT tyres (stock size 205/70/R15)
- Rear seats out, flat floor in
- Protection guards (transfer, control arms, rear shock mounts)

After much review I decided the suspension required updating to improve handling when loaded up and went with the Pro comp 50mm lift from Jimny bits. Armed with ambition, az build threads and a whole lot of ignorance I attempted to install this myself.

Before:


Standard spring and shock comparison (a bit more significant than 50mm):


After (stock size tyres don't really fill the rim anymore):



Banana springs (making contact with bump stop tower):


One the lift was in and triple checked all springs installed in the right locations (2 short ones in rear & longest front driver side) turns our the lift was around 75mm, 25 greater than advertised. A month after instal has only settled down to 70 greater than stock which was somewhat concerning as I hand't factored on all the optional items which become necessary when lifting greater than 50mm (caster correction arms / bushes, brake lines, shock relocation brackets, adjustable pan hards). I currently have banana springs, vague steering and un-centred diffs. Has anyone else had this problem with the JB 50mm procomp kits? Do they continue to settle and if so what do I do in the mean time?

Cheers all, appreciate your feedback.

[Jezza86]

how much longer are the shocks at full extension? they may limit travel enough to save the break lines.
id give russ at JB a email and ask him for some ideas. might be worth taking some mesurements at the door handle for comparisons sake,
the jb springs have a much higher spring rate then the stock ones i have found.


the other option is get longer breaklines and remove your front sway bar for more front end movement.
P.S. your draglink is ultra clean?

[jake84]

id put the old ones back in until you can come up with a fix sorry cannot help i have pro comp and with 4 inch lift
all was changed not just springs and shocks

[Anfo]

I fitted the same coils to mine and found that It was well over 50mm...I just ordered extended brake lines, adjustable panhards and caster bushes and now it's fine.........the caster bushes should fix the bow in the front coils too

[Jetstar]

Cheers guys,

I will follow your advise and email JB regarding the spring lengths providing greater than 50mm lift. I suppose I have no alternative than to add brake lines, caster bushes and adjustable panhards. A tad disappointing as a 'basic' lift has just doubled in cost. However if my Jimny evolves anything like some of you guys builds then I am sure it will be a solid foundation to build from.

Jeza - shiny drag link = bling right? Nah, its a new car only 8k on the clock and most off road to date being beach, gravel and sand tracks. Waiting on Perth to provide some rain to get it muddy.

Another question. If I install shock relocation brackets on the rear (to take the angle pressure off the bushes) it will increase the rear shock length and articulation by an inch or so. Has anyone had issues with the springs falling out as a result? Again I didn't want to have to install spring retainers but I also don't want to have to try and reinstall a spring out on the track.

Thanks again all.

[jake84]

Anfo wrote:

I fitted the same coils to mine and found that It was well over 50mm...I just ordered extended brake lines, adjustable panhards and caster bushes and now it's fine.........the caster bushes should fix the bow in the front coils too

the caster bushes should fix the bow in the front coils 'they most certainly will i had a bow and the wobbels so i replaced the caster bushes that came with the kit with tuff dog ones and fixed my death wobbels and the bow

[Skippy]

Email Russ, he is very helpful, I was sent 3 front shock and 1 rear and he sent me another rear shock free of charge and said not to worry about sending back the extra front one.

With the shock relocators, yes it will extend your travel that extra inch or so.

[Jezza86]

personally i recommend the Tough Dog panhards, they are a lot heavier, thicker gauge, and the locking mechanism had finer tolerances with the adjustment. in saying that, the rear JB panhard i am still using and thats fine, i think the front one only had a minor manufacturing defect that made it too loose.
i have the 3" shocks, and shock repositioners, with the 75mm springs. in the rear the bushes and standard arms limit the flex not the shock so the spring dosent dislocate, but it does get very light in its holder and can be moved by hand. theres not much in it so another car with the same setup or older bushes and you might dislocate it. easy fix is to install spring locators.

[Dan85]

hey mate. is it possible to get a pic of how you mounted the awning? I have the same roof basket and the fitting kit that came with my awning wont work that well with the basket.

[Jetstar]

Hey Dan,
Sorry can't get you a photo at this point as both basket and awning brackets are off at pressent. But the awning 'L' brackets fit under the basket just fine. I have suzuki factory racks with a curve so gave just enough room for both bracket and basket to be secured sufficiently.

I attached the brackets With some 25 x 3 flat bar, cut and drilled to match the long side of the bracket with bolts "sandwiching" the factory rail groves.

Hope this is of some help.

Cheers

[Dan85]

yeah cool thanks mate ill give it a go next weekend.

[Ridin]

Jetstar wrote:

Cheers guys,

I will follow your advise and email JB regarding the spring lengths providing greater than 50mm lift. I suppose I have no alternative than to add brake lines, caster bushes and adjustable panhards. A tad disappointing as a 'basic' lift has just doubled in cost. However if my Jimny evolves anything like some of you guys builds then I am sure it will be a solid foundation to build from.

Jeza - shiny drag link = bling right? Nah, its a new car only 8k on the clock and most off road to date being beach, gravel and sand tracks. Waiting on Perth to provide some rain to get it muddy.

Another question. If I install shock relocation brackets on the rear (to take the angle pressure off the bushes) it will increase the rear shock length and articulation by an inch or so. Has anyone had issues with the springs falling out as a result? Again I didn't want to have to install spring retainers but I also don't want to have to try and reinstall a spring out on the track.

Thanks again all.

Hi mate, what did you end up doing about your lift issues?
I was looking at going down this path myself, but not if I'm up for the same problems you've had.

[Jetstar]

Hey Ridin,

Yea I went the whole way; caster bushes, brake lines, rear shock brackets and tough dog pan hards. Made a big difference off road and fully loaded but as a daily drive way to rough pitchy ride. My spine has never been the same since! I am actually considering parting out and going back to stock suspension if you're interested.

But all credit to the guys at jimny bits, after my enquiry Rus was very helpful. So even though I was not overly happy with the outcome I would still strongly recommend JB's as a supplier.

[Ridin]

Thanks for the feedback. If you're considering going back to stock suspension I think i'll look at other options myself.