Highland Runner

Has anyone been following the thread on 4x4Wire about the ball joint spacer to lift the 2nd gens 1.5"? The guy that is making them is done with the prototype and is testing them now. Here is a picture of the finished product http://www.4x4wire.com/forums/showfl...&fpart=13&vc=1 .
Here is the product installed http://www.4x4wire.com/forums/showfl...&fpart=15&vc=1 .
Most likely $100 for the finished product.

Marc P

Interesting.....I dont know that I would pay $100. for the spacers, but I like the idea.

fooddude

so i guess its supposed to give you around an inch of lift in the front. I couldnt tell how much lift and what all it does with the 16 page thread.

Highland Runner

Basically it will give 1.5" lift without cranking the t-bars up. The spacer puts the whole spindle down 1.5" and increases travel by 1.5". It lets those that have cranked their bars to uncrank but retain lift. This lets you have a softer ride and more flex. Or you could keep your bars cranked, add the spacer, and lift up the front 1.5" more. I'm sure you could make these in different lengths for different lift.

Cebby

I think it is a great idea! CNC'd aluminum spacer like that is definitely worth $100. I guess that means I'll need coil spacers for the rear too??

And what length shocks to make the most of all this??

EDIT: Here's a pic of the unit...



Here it is installed...

sschaefer3

Ball joint spacers have been around for a very long time. In fact I had a set of 1" ones in my 1980 Datsun/Nissan. This allowed me to set the front end 2" higher and still have the tires alignable.

What they do is royaly screw up the suspension geometry so that all the ball joints, etc. wear out really quiclkly.

There was a Nissan dealer/place I don't remember that sold these back in the late 80's. I had mine made in 1986.

These ball joint spacers ARE NOT by anymeans the same thing as a 3rd or 4th Gen front spacer. Completely different.

FWIW, I would slap a Rancho front end only kit on an 86-95 and loosen up the stock t-bars or even better yet SAS it. That is so unbelivably easy on 86-95 vehicles.

sschaefer3

These spacers are a million times better than just "cranking up" the t-bars.

Don't get me wrong, they are great and all the Datsun/Nissan trucks were lifted just like this in the 80's. The only side effect, which will also happen if youo crank the t-bars, is the joints will wear.

100 bucks is a steal for those. 150-200 would still be fair with the longer stids, bolts.

Krash

Wow, lots of activity in the past couple days. I've been following it because I would love to be able to have my truck up another inch and a half with some spacers and shackles. He was talking about packaging, maybe someone should tell him about the free packing supplies from the u.s. postal service. There is a thread on it in the free stuff forum.

sschaefer3

As a matter of fact, the Rancho 3" kit upper arms are basically built with these spacers already in place. That is how the Rancho 3" kit works, ball joint spacers. The 4 " pro comp kit on the other hand just moves everything streight down. Stock upper a-arms and they cast upper spindle pieces.

Rancho uses the ball joint spaced upper a-arms and stock spindles.