Can anyone confirm that a 1.5" lift will not adversely affect steering/centering

Hi,

From hours of reading in the past week I think I have established the following in terms of lifts and the steering effects:

3" lift needs castor correction - no question
2" lift doesn't 'need' castor correction to be safe but steering self-centering ability may be affected or lost unless castor correction added
1.5" lift - not much data I can find...

So, can anyone confirm that a small 1.5" lift (spacers) will NOT affect steering self-centering ability at all?

Thanks.

PS: I 'might' end up doing 1" front and 1.5" rear to get the mild lift I want initially, the big higher to allow for heavy loads on occasion - any issues with this?

Any spring based lift (including spring spacers) will affect the steering. Up to 2" lift is usable, most people will be happy. Above this definitely needs some compensation

Any body spacer based lift will not affect steering as nothing in the chassis/steering has changed. Make sure you get a body lift kit that includes a steering column extension and some way of adjusting bumper height.

Some more information is here www.bigjimny.com/mediawiki/index.php/Lifting_the_vehicle

martin

Thanks again Martin, all noted and that link was helpful.

Can I ask then, based on your knowledge and experience how a basic (and common I believe) 1.5" spacer lift will handle - will the steering suddenly be very vague and/or not self centre or will it not be too great a change? In particular I don't want to lose self centering. Basically, will this rote leave the jimmy 'pleasantly driveable' on a daily basis as well as give my some more arch room (for the bigger tyres I have on). If you know what I mean?

FYI this will be/might be only an interim measure for me - possible then considering a new 2" shocks and springs (and castor correction) lift kit later in the year *IF* I feel I need it after driving the farm tracks, fields and woodland I do for fishing in remote locations. But if I do fine with the 1.5" I may just stick with it, although if I decide to venture onto more challenging terrain to play I'll be more inclined to go down the full lift kit route - time will tell.

Thanks
Anthony

2" lift on mine without any other adjustments. If anything the steering feels a little lighter but
that is only very slight. Also I have aggressive mud tyres so that has probly changed the feel also.

I can confirm, as a seller, and from my own practical experience, that a 1.5" spring spacer lift does not affect handling or self-centering...

I started with one of my own (I am Bits4Vits) spring spacer kits on my own Jimny, went to a 2" (trailmaster) longer spring lift and had to fit castor correction bushes, and now have a 4" suspension lift fitted, which I fight with from time-to-time to eradicate that that is known as the DEATH WOBBLE, or, in it's last incarnation my co-driver and navigator (Alan) referred to as the "Zombie Wobble" as it was well beyond that is known as the death wobble... :evil:

During some years, Suzuki in Brasil sold Jimny versions with 50mm of body lift (mine included) and I will neve heard about self centering problems.

regards