Quick lift question

[Dannomanno]

I have seen a couple people that have put 2" blocks on the front struts in the older ea81 models( mine is an 83) and then just crankin the big bolt under the seat. Is this option a good idea if you still daily drive your rig? Or would it put to much strain on the axle?

[BEECHBM69]

I have seen a couple people that have put 2" blocks on the front struts in the older ea81 models( mine is an 83) and then just crankin the big bolt under the seat. Is this option a good idea if you still daily drive your rig? Or would it put to much strain on the axle?

 

The consensus is it will eat axles like candy. It has been discussed numerous times.

 

Dan

[Gloyale]

I've got "1-1/2 blocks on the front of my 84 EA81 4wd Sedan, and it does fine.* But 2" would be pushin it.

 

It is really just a weekend cruiser though. I wouldn't advise this type lift for a DD/wheeler.

 

I just did it for a little more height under the front end. I never liked the severe EA81 rake.

 

I leave the factory adjusters cranked down, front and rear, unless I know for sure I'll need the clearance. I have cranked it up a few times but then you do here clicking for sure.

 

But it's mostly around town, down the highway driver. But occasionally does see's some dirt or sand roads.

 

I don't really "wheel" it much, it's got stock size road tires, a 3at and a Hitachi carb. Not much power to stress the axles.

 

I think if you are gonna go bigger tires and really wheel it, you'll want to go no more than an inch over stock. So if you do 2" blocks on top, put a 1" spacer on the subframe. (you can probably get away without doing the radius rod plates with just 1")

 

Strut/Crossmember

 

2"/1"

or

3"/2"

 

 

Personally though, My real lifted EA81 (84 wag, HighGuys 6") is equal height blocks on everything.

[Uberoo]

2" lift on EA81's is supposed to eat front axles like candy.When mine was like that I blew three axles in about 6 months of bashing the heck out of it offroad.

OEM left axle-clicking after mudding,blew up on drive home

aftermarket left axle-left factory with out enough grease in DOJ

OEM right axle- blew up mudding

 

then I installed EA82 front suspension under it,I haven't blown an axle yet but there isn't a lot of time on it.

 

So put that 2" block in there.If you notice it going through axles "like candy" then correct it somehow.Yea I blew up 3 axles in a short time span but I really don't consider them failures due to the lift itself.The lift may have been a contributing factor but it was mostly due to 30 year old axles.

[3eyedwagon]

2" lift on EA81's is supposed to eat front axles like candy.When mine was like that I blew three axles in about 6 months of bashing the heck out of it offroad.

OEM left axle-clicking after mudding,blew up on drive home

aftermarket left axle-left factory with out enough grease in DOJ

OEM right axle- blew up mudding

 

then I installed EA82 front suspension under it,I haven't blown an axle yet but there isn't a lot of time on it.

 

So put that 2" block in there.If you notice it going through axles "like candy" then correct it somehow.Yea I blew up 3 axles in a short time span but I really don't consider them failures due to the lift itself.The lift may have been a contributing factor but it was mostly due to 30 year old axles.[/quote]

 

 

Dude, your ending statement contradicts your entire previous statement. There is no doubt that running these axles at a higher angle than originally intended will wear them out exponentially faster. They aren't designed to run at such angles. Plain, and simple. It will "work", but as proven, not for long. Capability, reliability, driveability. PICK TWO. The OEM axles had survived a previous 30 years until being run at harsher angles. I would consider the change in the control group as being the cause, not a "contributing factor". Without that change, they probably would have survived another 10 years.

[Dannomanno]

So I should do the entire front end? struts engine trany? I want as little as possible, just enought to level it out.

[Markus56]

Honestly, if you are looking for a daily driver, then DONT LIFT IT. all you will do is create problems

[Yo'J]

But if you want to lift it and have the least problems, do a full body lift, as technically, everything stays the same just dropped down a bit further. No shortcuts there though. I dd my ea81 wagon w/ 2" lift and 235 70 r14s, it just needs regular work like they all do and its easier to change the oil now.

Edited May 23, 2010 by Yo'J