2" lift questions

[Darrman]

I dont know how ya'll got the new springs in without compression, I unbolted everything except the pivot nut and radius bushing nut, and there was no way you could have gotten it in. Me and my dad took turns standing on the hub to force it down enough, nothing, tried the ol pry bar, nothing. I finally went and rented the compressor and popped it right in.
Now that I think about it, I have poly bushings, I wonder if thats why I couldnt push it down enough?
I cant comment on handling yet, I am still on stock size a/ts

 

[Brandons]

Your driving a 92, chances are its a good time to replace the springs, and lift ones are half as much as stock.

My 94 was sagging a good 2" or more, so i saw 4" of lift when i did my 2" lift, and the handling improved. Did an SOA to get the back a bit higher than the front and get some more clearance from under the axle (i had 2 extra leafs on each side, so it created less clearance under the axle then help anything).

She doesnt handle great, but its so worth it for offroad .

I got them suckers in without removing the sway bar or radius arm bushing nut... the shocks are what stopped me so i had to take them off (meanwhile breaking both bolts for them).

 

[Jason94sport]

If it's not a daily driver like you say you will be ok with the 3.27's & 31's. I still run that. It's ok. Takes a little longer & eats gas to get to HW speeds, & looses a lot of power going up big hills, but it's not that bad. It's also not my daily driver so I can live with it. A gear swap(front & rear since your 4X4) will be over $700. Just not worth it.
As for HW ride, it's fine. Very stable up to past the 85 mark. It's still a SUV, so common sense needs to be displayed. Better ride then stock I think. I have the AAL's. My rear wasn't sagging cause I only had 80K miles on my 94 so when I did the 2" the rear is a little higher then the front now. Have a little rake, but I like the stance.

 

[Brandons]

Does the number of miles you have really make a difference on how much springs sag? Or is it how long that wieght of the vehicle has been applied to the springs?

 

[chakaD]

I would think driving would kill the springs quicker. All the dynamic forces applied from driving or just one static load from sitting.

 

[Brandons]

True.. but at the same time most 10+ years old vehicles (even low km) show some form of spring sag?

 

[92 green sport]

mine only has 86k and the rear springs aren't sagging at all.

Darrman, how does your truck look and ride with the 2" lift and stock size tires? I might have to do the same thing for a while.

 

[92 green sport]

I have two more questions:

What gears do you recommend with 31" tires. 3:73 or 4:10's (I don't plan on aggressive wheelin, just wantto emprove MPG and not burn out the clutch)? I forgot you would have to do both axle gears. Parts and labor would be around $800

To do the front gear set, would you have to take apart the front hub assembly?
Is there any company who makes speedo gears for different gear sets and mazda 5 spds.?

Do you have to let the new springs settle before doing an alignment?

 

[Darrman]

It rides great, I havent had any problems. I have not gone off road really yet, but I think that will be fine too. It rides good and firm now. These pics are old, but this is right after the lift and alignment. It looks ok till you look at it from the side, then the tires look small.

 

[92 green sport]

I think it looks good Bigger tires would look better but it looks real good as it is in the pics.

Was there anything else you had to buy in order to do the lift besides the springs and maybe shocks?

Did your gas mileage drop even though you didn't go with bigger tires yet?

 

[Brandons]

at 120k km my rear springs were sagging, and the front were about 2" lower... Perhaps this has to do with climate too? (120000km = 60000miles?).


Also i think if you had to regear, removing hubs would be the least of your problems...

 

[92 green sport]

What I was getting at is that in order to re gear the front axle, one would have to take the entire guts of the axle apart. It's just more work to do. Time=$

 

[Darrman]

Thanks, no change in milage, I average 16.5 city and 20-21 highway, thats with a custom intake and flowmaster catback. I have 3.55 gears, and I will probably get crap milage once the 31s are on.
Heres what I bought, Skyjacker coils, $130, Skyjacker Nitro shocks $140, with a $30 mail in, $110, Warrior shackles, $75, and Bushings and alignment, $120, roughly $500, I will spend another 500 on BFG A/Ts later on.

 

[92 green sport]

Great. Thanks for the info. Do you think that if you go with 3:73's or 4:10's with the 31" tires that you will get your gas mileage back?

 

[pughman]

i get 13 mpg. with the 31's and 3:08's , cant wate to get my new 3:73's in....

 

[92 green sport]

So the theory is that you will get better mileage once you go with a higher gear right?