Lift kit???

[Mpack]

Hello everybody,
Has anyone used a nylon cutting board atop the front struts for a lift? If so for how long and how is it holding up?
Thanks

[dlb]

Simon84 did, way back when. I think that was in his orange "pumpkin" tercel, which he eventually retired due to rust, but believe the old cutting board lift held up the whole time with no problems.

[Esaus]

What is a "cutting board" lift? Have you acutally cut off pieces of a plastic cutting board to lift the car? do you place it atop the struts? What about the rear?

[dlb]

Yes, you basically just cut up a nylon cutting board to make spacers that go between the top of the strut mount and the body of the car. You have to replace the bolts in the strut mount with longer ones. I only ever heard of people doing this on the front struts, I don't think it's possible to use the same approach on the rear axle.

[Phatcat]

I’ve seen many people modify hockey pucks to do body lifts and spacers for numerous applications with success. Body lifts, diff drops, spacer, all of it. And trust me, as a younger man I tried every approach to assaulting the integrity of Hockey pucks, they’re tough customers. They can be cut and drilled, but they are up the the challenge of thousands of pounds and many many years of abuse.

[Phatcat]

I’ve also been wondering about an alternative to suspension. I want to install the MA700’s in the rear, but not sure I want to lift the front at all. So the question is whether or not a guy can run the air shocks in the rear without any front lift. Is the tolerance of the rear air shocks able to let the car sit very close to stock? It’d be nice to have the option for heavy loads. I may ultimately put in a front spacer, but if I do, it won’t be more than 0.5-1.25”, or so.

[Esaus]

How does a lift with a cutting board spacer affect the longevity of driveshafts and such? I have replaced both in the front and would like to keep them for a while =)

[dlb]

How does a lift with a cutting board spacer affect the longevity of driveshafts and such? I have replaced both in the front and would like to keep them for a while =)

It depends on the height of the lift and the condition of the axles. Some members here have done lifts without also spacing the engine cross member and transmission mounts and had no problems, while others who have done the same have had problems with wearing out axles quickly. To me, it makes sense to also space the engine cross member and transmission mounts down the same amount as the lift in order to keep the angle of the axles as close to stock as possible.

[Esaus]

Yes I thought about it and came to the same conclusion to spacer out the members. You could do the same with the propellershaft middle bearing.

Are there longer bolts available? Or can you use the stock ones ?

[NWMO]

Esaus,

I’ve got 1.5”-2” lift in the front with really no issues. The ball joints and half-shafts get a little more work, but It’s not been a problem. 80k miles on the presumed original passenger half-shaft and 60k miles on the replaced driver’s side half shaft.

Chris

[Esaus]

Esaus,

I’ve got 1.5”-2” lift in the front with really no issues. The ball joints and half-shafts get a little more work, but It’s not been a problem. 80k miles on the presumed original passenger half-shaft and 60k miles on the replaced driver’s side half shaft.

Chris

Did you stack cutting boards or have you used another means of lifting the car? I saw someone used stronger springs and air shocks in the rear to lift the car 2".

[Mattel]

You can use Monroe MA700s on the rear as an air shock. I kept the original springs on as it is firm enough as the Monroes take some of the weight. The beauty of them is that they are air adjustable to take more weight and add height when you need it and let them down when on the road to normal height. About 4" of adjustability

[NWMO]

Esaus,

I used 1st gen Nissan Pathfinder springs in the rear and the Moog 81043 on stock front struts. It rides more like a truck which doesn’t bother me, but might some.

Chris

[Esaus]

You can use Monroe MA700s on the rear as an air shock. I kept the original springs on as it is firm enough as the Monroes take some of the weight. The beauty of them is that they are air adjustable to take more weight and add height when you need it and let them down when on the road to normal height. About 4" of adjustability

That might come in handy. Noticed when i loaded the car with rocks for my driveway. Even with 250 - 300 kg the car rode very low hehe

[Esaus]

Esaus,

I used 1st gen Nissan Pathfinder springs in the rear and the Moog 81043 on stock front struts. It rides more like a truck which doesn’t bother me, but might some.

Chris

Ill look into what im going to do at a later date. I have a few projects that need doing. Getting a lifted car right now isnt a priority =) Might be closer to summer however.