85 Lift Kit Questions

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May 15, 2007 | 08:12 PM
  #1  
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/79-85...30034757QQrdZ1 With this lift kit that I may buy will I need High Steer or new steering shafts and a longer torque rod?
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May 15, 2007 | 08:57 PM
  #2  
With a three inch lift, you shouldn't need to change to cross-over steering. I think the two systems (suspension and steering) can be mildly modified independently of each other. I put a 3" lift on my 85 and didn't need to modify my steering at all.

Of course my objective for the runner was better served with cross-over steering, so I did it while everything was torn down. For the record, if you go cross-over, you will not need, nor will you be able to install, the torque rod. The torque rod will intersect the drag link as it crosses over to the passenger side trunnion bearing cap.

When I had my axle out and on a work space, I should have cut the torque rod mounting tower off; Woulda, coulda, shoulda...

To install the IFS steering gear box with the various frame reinforcing plates available, you'll need to cut the torque rod mounts at the frame and grind the welds flush with the plane of the frame rail. This is a less resistant exercise if one cuts the mounting bracket as close to the frame rail as possible so as not to have 1/4" of weld to grind for an hour.....don't ask how I know.

Edit: If you do not go with X-over steering, the most you would need is an adjustable drop drag link to compensate for the modified geometry or angle that a lift would apply to the stock drag link. As luck would have it, I know where you could get one cheap , though I'm not sure for only a three Inch lift, it's necessary except for the 'neato' factor; which is a considerable incentive IMHO
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May 15, 2007 | 09:21 PM
  #3  
The hysteer steering will help with bigger tires and bring up the steering above the springs outta the rocks.
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May 16, 2007 | 05:18 AM
  #4  
The biggest I'm going with is 33's
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May 16, 2007 | 06:13 AM
  #5  
I'm putting 33's under mine for now. One thing I did was to put 2" longer shackles on mine. This also gives some lift. I think the amount of lift is calculated by subtracting the stock length of shackle from the new shackle length and dividing that difference by two. So if the factory shackle is 6" long and the new shackle is 8", the difference would be 2". Divide 2 in half and you will have the amount of lift the 8" shackles will provide. That is how I understand it.

I'm saying that because when I mention I'm putting 33's under mine, I'd hate to have you choose the same without full knowledge of what I've done...
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May 16, 2007 | 07:09 AM
  #6  
I ran an adjustable draglink and torque rod with the 3.5" lift on my '85:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/4R_suspension.shtml
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