Dirt road flier?

dogranch · Post by **dogranch** » Sat May 31, 2003 6:25 pm

OK, I've had my 2003 ZR5 for about a week now and other than the toolbox and KN filter I've done nothing. From a driving standpoint, I'm out in the country alot and, for some reason, in a hurry. Plenty of gravel roads around here.

I've never done any serious modifying before so I'm wondering what might be the best things to do with the suspension for this kind of driving.

Seems like I'd want to keep the center of gravity low and maybe get the weels a little farther apart for more turning stability.

Questions?

1. Would I need a lift? What kind?

2. Is it even possible to move the wheels farther apart. Will doing this make handling worse or MORE dangerous?

3. Wider wheels, tires?

4. Any other thoughts? remember keep it simple, You might have to spell it out for me.

Thanks,

tom

Post by **HenryJ** » Sat May 31, 2003 6:52 pm

What is our budget for these mods?

The aggregate?

We have lots of 3/4 minus fractured rock around here. Mostly crushed 4" to 8" round. Some fractured shale and basalt.

What part of the country?

Do you have a G80 locker and 3.73's?

Probably something along the lines of what Hobie has done or mine.

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Sat May 31, 2003 6:52 pm

For handling, think Corvette (or better yet, for dirt roads, "General Lee"

). In other words, low to the ground and wide track. A lift kit is going to make handling worse.

Conman · Post by **Conman** » Sat May 31, 2003 7:20 pm

dogranch wrote:OK, I've had my 2003 ZR5 for about a week now and other than the toolbox and KN filter I've done nothing. From a driving standpoint, I'm out in the country alot and, for some reason, in a hurry. Plenty of gravel roads around here.

I've never done any serious modifying before so I'm wondering what might be the best things to do with the suspension for this kind of driving.

Seems like I'd want to keep the center of gravity low and maybe get the weels a little farther apart for more turning stability.

Questions?

1. Would I need a lift? What kind?

2. Is it even possible to move the wheels farther apart. Will doing this make handling worse or MORE dangerous?

3. Wider wheels, tires?

4. Any other thoughts? remember keep it simple, You might have to spell it out for me.

Thanks,

tom

Wow, lots of new members now. I'm in the same boat that I want to start doing some mods now. I'm limiting myself to bolt on mods now. I don't like the low look of our crews, so I want to lift mine. I would love a suspension lift kit, but I'm not convinced with the quality of the kits let alone the durablity of the crew after a lift. So at this point I'm leaning more towards a Body Lift. What I might do first is get new wheels and tires and do a 1" T-bar crank in front and maybe do a shackle lift in the rear to get some lift. If the tires don't rub too bad and I like the increase in height enough, I'll leave it. If not, I'll add the BL after those things. There is a ZR5 Crew here that has 31" tires, 2" BL, and the 1-2" T-bar/Shackle lift, and it looks great.

At this point, I'm leaning towards the Axis Revolution Wheels 15x7.5 but the backspacing is 4.25 so it's 2.25" wider than stock(stock is 15x7 with 6" backspacing). I planning on a 30x9.5" tire only but wondering if it will still rub with a 1" t-bar crank still since the wheels will stick out much more than stock. The rear should be fine, but the front will be the issue. If it rubs alot, I'll probably get a BL then. The Tires I'm probably getting is the Bridgestone Dueller REVO AT tires. I have them on my Trooper and love them. An MT tire would make it really nice looking, but an AT tire is much more practical for my daily driver.

I'm also planning on the Rear sway bar from the ZQ8 S10(all bolt on). In the future, I would replace the shocks and probably go with a Bilstein. Since you plan on lots of dirt roads, I would def. recommend the full skidplate kit.

The only other suspension helper I'm planning on is the Hellwig 550 helper springs as I don't like I blind people when I carry my dirtbikes in the rear. These will help with pre-load so the rear does not sag as much when you load it up. Let us know what you plan on for your Crew!

Good Luck,

Con

dogranch · Post by **dogranch** » Sat May 31, 2003 8:15 pm

I'm in southern Indiana. Most of the gravel is just that. Not crushed stone. gravel.

No lift. Good. Budget? I don't know. It depends on the range of prices, really. Have to see what's available before I can determine a budget.

Yes on the lock and the 3.73.

Is it possible to get the wheels farhter apart? Do I want to do that? Wider tires?

Thanks in advance.

Tom

Post by **HenryJ** » Sat May 31, 2003 8:48 pm

Ok, I'd invest in some of the 3M protective film, first. You haven't had long enough to damage the paint too much yet.

Then move the shocks to the top of the list. Check out all of the threads by a search of "shocks"

Wider is better on the track, but not the tires. The narrower tires will handle better on the gravel roads. Less "hydro plane". Go for a tread pattern that is a little wider than the rocks , so you aren't picking them up so bad. I'd check the Revo, (I have a friend here who "raves" about them), for an agressive tire give the Goodyear MTR's a close look. (They have been doing really well on the company rigs that I have installed them. )

I'd try to get as much sidewall as possible to help cushion the rough spots.

Probably should get the tires , sell the stock ones and mount the new tires. Then turn the wheel and see how much less rear spacing you can get away with.

I would suggest being happy with the stock wheels and get as much tire as you can to aid the ground clearance.

If you don't already know the wheel wells are rather small and rubbing can be an issue even with a lift.

The skid plate package would indeed be a good investment.

Personally if I were doing it , I'd do exactly what I did to mine including the body lift with the addition of an add-a-leaf spring for the rear.

Summary:

Protective film

T-bar crank

Alignment

Shocks

Body lift?

Tires

Rear spacers

Skid plates

Add-a-leaf

Check out some of the Baja racers, Dakar rally rigs, and Pre runners for ideas

24digger · Post by **24digger** » Sat May 31, 2003 9:19 pm

henryj's not kidding about the shocks, I changed mine today, I can't believe their not gas shocks. their very weak even compaired to the shocks I put on with 30K miles on them.

MikeyZR5 · Post by **MikeyZR5** » Sat May 31, 2003 10:04 pm

How would you know if you have a G80 locker and 3.73 gears...sorry guys...I am so ignorant on these things.

a2b · Post by **a2b** » Sat May 31, 2003 10:44 pm

mickey, your g-80 code will have that code written in your glove compartment. look for it their.

also, if you want better handling, lifting it will only make it worse.

yes you can make your track wider which will make it take turns better. if you get some after market rims, get some with 4 to 5" of back spacing. that will push them out big time.

then, since you are on gravel roads, you need some tough tires that dont get punctured.

i definlety recommend the good year mtr's......not mt's....mtr's!

dont get an all terrain tire. they pick up rocks like crazy.

and if you do get some wheels, then your tires will have to be 28"......which i am not sure if you can get some good year mtr's.... they might only come in 30's....

if you want to put 30's on, you have to keep stock size rims and put the body lift on. cuz you will rub the top of your fender with 30's when your bouncing down a dirt road.

and get some shocks now. the ones on your truck are trashed. they are good for nothing pieces of crap. yes, straight off the lot, they suck.

spacers for the rear will help too... check the mod page for spacer info

and put in a rear sway bar, that will help

MikeyZR5 · Post by **MikeyZR5** » Sat May 31, 2003 10:57 pm

Thanks for that info...A2B....that is some good information...

dhawke · Post by **dhawke** » Sun Jun 01, 2003 5:42 am

There are actually tires designed for running in gravel.

I did a very quick search...and it looks like a lot of the rally guys are running Yokahama gravel tires.

I did see a Nissan crewcab running the Dakar this/last(?) year. It was sweet. I have yet to see one running Baja. If anyone has a pic of a full-blown prerunner crewcab, I'd love to see it.

Post by **HenryJ** » Sun Jun 01, 2003 5:58 am

Yokohama A035 (Gravel tire)

My Yokohama Geolandar M/T'sdo really well also (but ,I have yet to find where they don't do well)

P.S. Incase you don't know the Goodyear MTR stands for Maximum Traction Reinforced. They use the new patented Dura wall "puncture proof" technology and have two extra sidewall plys.

a2b · Post by **a2b** » Sun Jun 01, 2003 11:28 pm

yes, a reinforced sidewall is great!!!!

i was on a trail with someone who had pro comp at's. they cut their side wall on this little rock. the side wall was so thin. cheap tire IMO

dhawke · Post by **dhawke** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 9:49 am

Cripes!! Get a load of the siping on that tire!!

I'm no tire engineer, but it looks like all of those little pockets on each of the lugs would trap water and hydroplane like a mother in the rain. Just my very uneducated opinion....

Someone get Colin McRae on the phone...let's ask him!!!

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Dirt road flier?

Dirt road flier?

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