HI Guys.
I'm Greg from Johannesburg, South Africa. I have had my 4500GX 80 since new in 1997. Best car I've ever owned. Never given me a days trouble and in daily use since then. Im probably at about 400 000km but my car is mechanically and cosmetically 9.5 /10.
However, The price of fuel has had me buy a Chev Utility runabout and I have relegated my tank for my twice monthly run to my weekend home at the lake where its light duties include 10km of corrugated sand roads to get there and launching my boat etc. It will also take my family on holiday to the seaside once or twice a year where it will also launch a boat or jetski.
I had a aluminium Bocar bullbar but my wife drive over a hatchback that made a u turn in front of her and the bullbar was bent up. It was replaced with a heavier steel ARB non winch bullbar.
The heavier bullbar seemed to pull the nose down a bit and at the same time I began to feel that the car was crashing into speedbumps and potholes instead of eating them for breakfast. Even from brand new the car was disappointingly shuddery and rattly on corrugated sand roads and I decided that if I was going to keep it to infinity I wanted to improve the still origional suspension.
I called a fitment centre asking after Ironman but was convinced to install EFC. I explained that a lift was not my goal but I would not mind a bit of lift if it was a consequence of fitting the new suspension. I was told that it would lift about 50mm or 2 inches. Having read about lifts here i felt that that was mild and would most likely have little negative consequences. So I went for it. I was not advised about any adverse issues including a possible need for caster correction.
As i approached the car in the parking lot on pick up day it seemed very high. It looked ok and I supposed that perhaps it had been saggy before especially with the bullbar and the big lift I was seeing included the return to factory height and then plus the 50mm.
The car tracked straight on the freeway with the steering a bit sensitive but as soon as I hit rough bumpy tar the car was all over the place. Lots of work to keep straight and very disconcerting. I even stopped to check if the wheel nuts were tight.
I persisted with this until the 500km check and complained. First I was told to go get my steering linkages etc checked out. Then eventually caster correction started coming up in the discussion. This was then done with apparently 3 degree bushes.
The car feels less sensitive on the freeway but I have not hit my bit of rough road yet to see how it will behave there.
The kit that was put in my car for everyday use with non winch bullbar and light to occasional medium loads in the back and with a mandate to improve pothole and corrugations damping ( not heavy 4x4 overland stuff), is as follows:
L/Cruiser 100GX 98+ sus-front 60kg 40mm
L/cruiser 100GX 98+ sus-rear 100KG 40mm
L/cruiser 79 07+ steering damper.
I questioned why 100 series but was told that they are the same kit as for the 80.
My wheel alignment with stock suspension before EFC:
Caster left 2'24' Right 2'24'
After EFC:
Caster left -2'42' Right -2.21 ( negative)
So I lost averagely 4'50' of caster. After my research this seemed excessive to what would have been expected for a 50mm lift.
The installed 3 degree bushes and this was the result
Caster left 0'04' Right 0'21'
So that gained averagely 2'.4'.
My issue is that its still way below the factory range of 2'.05' to 3'35'
To my mind I need another 2-3' of caster.
Can anyone say why they think I lost so much caster ?
Is the 100 kit the same as the 80 ?
Should I be chasing the factory caster specs after the suspension install ?
Does this look ( pic) like just a 50mm lift ? ( pic to follow)
What to do ?
I'm Greg from Johannesburg, South Africa. I have had my 4500GX 80 since new in 1997. Best car I've ever owned. Never given me a days trouble and in daily use since then. Im probably at about 400 000km but my car is mechanically and cosmetically 9.5 /10.
However, The price of fuel has had me buy a Chev Utility runabout and I have relegated my tank for my twice monthly run to my weekend home at the lake where its light duties include 10km of corrugated sand roads to get there and launching my boat etc. It will also take my family on holiday to the seaside once or twice a year where it will also launch a boat or jetski.
I had a aluminium Bocar bullbar but my wife drive over a hatchback that made a u turn in front of her and the bullbar was bent up. It was replaced with a heavier steel ARB non winch bullbar.
The heavier bullbar seemed to pull the nose down a bit and at the same time I began to feel that the car was crashing into speedbumps and potholes instead of eating them for breakfast. Even from brand new the car was disappointingly shuddery and rattly on corrugated sand roads and I decided that if I was going to keep it to infinity I wanted to improve the still origional suspension.
I called a fitment centre asking after Ironman but was convinced to install EFC. I explained that a lift was not my goal but I would not mind a bit of lift if it was a consequence of fitting the new suspension. I was told that it would lift about 50mm or 2 inches. Having read about lifts here i felt that that was mild and would most likely have little negative consequences. So I went for it. I was not advised about any adverse issues including a possible need for caster correction.
As i approached the car in the parking lot on pick up day it seemed very high. It looked ok and I supposed that perhaps it had been saggy before especially with the bullbar and the big lift I was seeing included the return to factory height and then plus the 50mm.
The car tracked straight on the freeway with the steering a bit sensitive but as soon as I hit rough bumpy tar the car was all over the place. Lots of work to keep straight and very disconcerting. I even stopped to check if the wheel nuts were tight.
I persisted with this until the 500km check and complained. First I was told to go get my steering linkages etc checked out. Then eventually caster correction started coming up in the discussion. This was then done with apparently 3 degree bushes.
The car feels less sensitive on the freeway but I have not hit my bit of rough road yet to see how it will behave there.
The kit that was put in my car for everyday use with non winch bullbar and light to occasional medium loads in the back and with a mandate to improve pothole and corrugations damping ( not heavy 4x4 overland stuff), is as follows:
L/Cruiser 100GX 98+ sus-front 60kg 40mm
L/cruiser 100GX 98+ sus-rear 100KG 40mm
L/cruiser 79 07+ steering damper.
I questioned why 100 series but was told that they are the same kit as for the 80.
My wheel alignment with stock suspension before EFC:
Caster left 2'24' Right 2'24'
After EFC:
Caster left -2'42' Right -2.21 ( negative)
So I lost averagely 4'50' of caster. After my research this seemed excessive to what would have been expected for a 50mm lift.
The installed 3 degree bushes and this was the result
Caster left 0'04' Right 0'21'
So that gained averagely 2'.4'.
My issue is that its still way below the factory range of 2'.05' to 3'35'
To my mind I need another 2-3' of caster.
Can anyone say why they think I lost so much caster ?
Is the 100 kit the same as the 80 ?
Should I be chasing the factory caster specs after the suspension install ?
Does this look ( pic) like just a 50mm lift ? ( pic to follow)
What to do ?
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Are you saying I have the wrong stuff in ? Is that why I have such heavy caster issues ?
