daystar lift and handling report

[jacal]

I have recently modded with the daystar lift 2.5" F&R.

I had the job done for me, it just isn't the right timing for me to do this at home.

I have only been driving a few days with it, so this may be premature because I have so few kms, and have NOT done the alignment yet.

Overall, I am extremely pleased. I love the look, and it gives me very good ground clearance (on par with my previous ride). I have not tested the vehicle off road.

The ride is definately stiffer, but this is only marginal. It is completely liveable.

Handling is a different story. At "normal" speeds handling is slightly different, but overall just fine. In fact, turn in and the front end both feel slightly "tighter", which is great.

Unfortunately, at the other end of the performance envelope, handling has decreased. Intuitively, this makes sense (raise the center of gravity in a heavy suv = decrease performance). In a tight, high speed turn the truck becomes unstable and, as I decribe it, "floaty". You get the same sensation (at a lower speed) in many full size pickups and older domestic cars. Before the lift, I had not felt this floaty sensation, so either I hadn't pushed hard enough, or the vsc kicked in before "floaty" could occur. Before the lift I had cornered hard enough to cause oversteer, which the vsc promptly took care of.

The worst thing (for now) is that the front passenger tire (265/70r17 nokian vatiivas) is rubbing and gouging itself on a small protrusion on one of the steel arms. The driver side is fine, so I will take it back to the shop and ask them if this is their issue, or something that an alignment will fix.


J

 

[multipurpose]

Congrats on the lift. I am willing to bet that the issue of rubbing may be an alignment issue. Another thing to check might be your steering stops.

 

[MAC4Runner]

:iagree:

An alignment will clear it up.

 

[jacal]

Thanks for the feedback.

I'm not sure about the steering stops, but I do know that the daystar bump-stops were not used. The installer felt that the extra travel provided by those stops might cause the large tire to rub. He used the original toyota bump stops. Personally, I don't even know if a bump stop is a steering stop.

Thanks again for the alignment suggestion, I wasn't sure what was responsible for the problem at this point...the installer, or the lack of alignment.

I will post pics & measurements a little later in the week.


J

 

[multipurpose]

I am not sure what you mean by the bump stops allowing a extra travel, they are designed to prevent that. The bump stops are what keep you from bottoming out, and also would stop the tires from rubbing the body because they stop the axle from moving up. Steering stops are on the front end usually attached to the lower control arms. The steering stops are supposed to limit how far the front tires turn. Either way an alignment should be done after any lift to keep the tires form wearing funny if nothing else.

 

[jacal]

The daystar bump stops were different from the toyota bump stops, therefore allowing different articulation.

I had the alighnment done - much better! It really needed it, the whole front was funny. Hopefully this helps a little in overall handling as well.


J

 

[multipurpose]

Glad the alignment helped. I hope that you don't run in to trouble later on down the line because of the bumpstops. They don't change the articulation other than limiting how far the tire goes into the wheel well. They only keep you from jamming your larger tires into the sheetmetal. Whatever, hope you enjoy the lift.

 

[jacal]

According to the wrench that did the install, using the toyota spacers was to provide more protection from the tires rubbing because they don't allow as much articulation. So there are stops in place, just the originals, not the daystars.

I'm still nervous about the inner side of the front passenger tire rubbing that "arm". I need to put some sort of chalk or something to see if it is still rubbing. Last thing I need is damage to a brand new tire.


J

 

[Sac State]

According to the wrench that did the install, using the toyota spacers was to provide more protection from the tires rubbing because they don't allow as much articulation. So there are stops in place, just the originals, not the daystars.

I'm still nervous about the inner side of the front passenger tire rubbing that "arm". I need to put some sort of chalk or something to see if it is still rubbing. Last thing I need is damage to a brand new tire.


J

We don't want to hear anymore without pics!

 

[jacal]

Major UPDATE: Angles & Pics

Ok, if I recall high school, sin cos and tan were not my friends...however, I think approach and departure angles could be calculated with a lift kit. My measurements were crude...rear hitch, and front center of bumper where it starts to "curve". For lengths, I just stuck the tape measure under the tire w/o forcing it:

Post Spacer measurements:
Front driver 36

 

[jacal]

pics

 

[jacal]

side

 

[jacal]

front

 

[jacal]

the rub, and the bulb on the arm that might have done it?

 

[jacal]

the spacer itself

 

[jacal]

I have a handful more pics of just that suspention area, with view from the rear and then front (wheel cranked fully in both directions). Let me know if anything else is useful.

I realize now that the whole unit must move together, so I doubt that "nub" was able to rub so much higher on the tire. I hope the alignment has solved it.

Handling in faster corners has been significantly improved with the alignment. I I suspect the "float" is gone. Still, there has been a noticeable change in performance, and a definate degradation for more moderate handling routines. Still totally liveable.


j