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Spacer kit
Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 4:12 pm
by Gina
Hi Guys, i have a question that I hope someone can answer. I heard somewhere of a spacer kit that is placed above the coils to give I presume a body lift and it does not affect the warranty. Does anyone know of this and where can it be found? We need to do something to the suspension (already have airlifts) but we want to do Mabua next year and we will most probably need to take a roofrack for extra diesel, water and spare tyre. Are these spacers worth it? Is it safe? Or would it be better to change to OME coils and shocks?
Thanks

Re: Spacer kit
Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 6:26 pm
by michacoetzee
I had a 50 mm lift kit installed at Safari 4x4 centre in Menlyn (Pta) At that time my Gen 3 LWB 3.2 GLS had about 80,000 Km on the clock
This was done in a few hours
It did not have an effect on the motorplan as the suspension was not changed.
It did not change the driveability of the vehicle. It is still fitted and I will most defenately not have it removed.
An Air kit was fitted soon afterwards which improved towing stability and prevented sagging.
Now after 120,000 Km I have ADDED the OME shocks and coils front and rear(Keeping the lift kit)
I am still very satisfied with the lift kit (At that stage costing about 5K)
Greetings
Micha
(Look at photo in Introduce yourself...."New in 4x4" That was just with lift kit and air cushions)
Micha
Re: Spacer kit
Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 10:18 pm
by arnijr
Just to clarify the terms, that would be a suspension lift. A body lift would lift the body off the frame and is impossible on gen 3 and newer, since they do not have a separate frame.
Re: Spacer kit
Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 2:06 am
by HBannink
I would rather go for the OME kit as it vastly improves handling and does give you a lift as well. It would be a great benefit when towing as you can get a harder set for this purpose. I have compared my gen 2 with ome to a blister fender standard and even though he had diff lock I out performed him due to better articulation.
Re: Spacer kit
Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 9:36 am
by jaco_n
I have OME installed and got about 50mm lift out of it on my Gen3. I would like to get some additional lift it was possible at all?
Re: Spacer kit
Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 3:19 pm
by Gina
Thank you for your answers. Next question is why would a suspension lift not influence maintenance plan and warranty, but a complete suspension upgrade with OME will? This is a consideration because there is still a year of warranty and four years of maintenance plan left, and I would not like to be stuck without a maintenance plan on this vehicle.
I also think that OME suspension is the answer (had it on two Land Cruisers) but I dont want that high top heavy feel and a hard ride. This vehicle is unfortunately at this stage a kerb crawler spending about 90% in the city so I want it to be as comfortable as possible.
Re: Spacer kit
Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 12:22 pm
by Gerrit Loubser
arnijr wrote:A body lift would lift the body off the frame and is impossible on gen 3 and newer, since they do not have a separate frame.
True, but because the front and rear suspension systems are attached to subframes it is possible to insert spacers in between these and the body. This works almost like a body lift in the sense that the suspension remains as originally designed in terms of the amount of bump and rebound travel available and in terms of spring rates.
As far as I know there is no aftermarket suspension system that increases wheel travel on the Gen 3. Wheel travel is limited by the bump stops and by the extended length of the shocks and the aftermarket shocks don't have longer open lengths than the standard ones. In fact, the aftermarket suspensions reduce flex, because the stiffer springs that create lift also mean that the vehicle becomes more prone to lifting wheels when cross axled.