'Lane Change' for 4 inch / 100mm lift

How did it go, and how hard is it to pass the test?

Well, I guess on a positive side the vehicle passed and didn’t roll over – so it’s all good now!

It is a gruelling test on the vehicles suspension and tyres, there is absolutely no doubt about that.

If the modifications are not done properly with new gear and not driven by a designated CAMS licensed driver, I have absolutely no doubt that a lane change test with a poorly fitted suspension and an average Joe blow driver – will most definitely fail.

There would be 4wd vehicles sold new on the Australian market that would fail this lane change test.

I’ve been 4wding for the most part of two and a half decades and I never heard a set of 285 mudders complain so much as they did last Friday when being tested for the lane change – just incredible.

There are several reasons I lifted the vehicle 100mm – 4inch’s, I’m just glad it manage to pass and the risky business is all over.

Having said all of the above, the engineer and driver were extremely thorough on the day too, they left nothing to chance.

Froggy,
What actually happens during the test,can you give us a run down. I expect it's something like a slalom swerve test thru witches hats or similar at speed?

Regards
Greg

just curious about this "lane change test" are you saying that they violently slew your truck from one side of the road to the other at high speeds in WA ?
who is responsible if the driver stacks it ?
This sounds crazy for just a lift & totally unnecessary
most hi luxes & Suzuki sierras would fail this in stock form.

Someone needs to say to them in a legal sense "I will if you will" if they have any standard vehicles in the WA Transport Authority that have any mods to test.

If their standard vehicles cannot pass the test then the test needs to be redesigned so that a standard vehicle will pass it, THEN applied to everyone else with lifts/tyres/etc.

Or someone needs to put their own ass on the line for everyone else and submit their stock standard vehicle to the test. The dilemma for the Govt would be to take ALL those vehicles off the road (deemed as "unroadworthy" by design), or to design the test more fairly.

The only way of getting through to them would be to prove their test is unfair and unreasonable, not to try to prove you vehicle will pass it.

All righty folks, looks like we've got some if, buts and maybe's here... hopefully I can help explain a few things here.

Here goes...

1. The vehicle changes lanes 3 times
2. Total speed of the last lane change is 110kph
3. Distance of change would be 40 meters apart and the vehicle changes twice into 3 lines of cones
4. The cones are positioned relative to the width of the vehicle and there is not much room between them.
4. Sand bags can be used but not necessary - the rules keep changing on that one.
5. Cams Licensed driver recommended by the engineer
6. Vehicle still has to go over the pits after the lane change
7. Tyres bigger then the manufactures size - vehicle has to to a break and hand break test to a specific distance.

Do you have butterflies in your stomach seeing your pride and joy come around the back straight lining up at 110kph? ABSOLUTLEY

8. Race car driver covers their own insurance.
9. no one covers the insurance for your vehicle - if it rolls and ends up a right off, then the owner of the vehicle pays... very risky business indeed.
10. Your speedo is checked thoroughly before lane change takes place.

I hope that stays in WA. buggerd if i would let some yahoo (cams licence or not )play silly buggers with my truck.
I am thinking of moveing back to WA soon i think i will leave my toyo rego,ed in QLD as i have a 4" lift as well.
Would you know if a interstate vehicle that has allready been approved & plated still has to do this test ?

Froggy

I'm lost why did you get the test done?

If you payed someone else to the test and it passed, that wont make it pass when you drive it will it?

funny thing you needing the 4" lift seeing how you can get bogged and have to get pulled at by two Chinese woman in a bog standard Troopy (or was that just good training) LOL...

Richard

I live in Perth and used to drive The Kwinana Freeway ever day when they werre digging it up to put the Mandurah Railway in.

These "swerve" tests are very similar to the daily "coning off" of various lanes for the construction traffic. At those points the speed limit was reduced by the police to 80kmh and 60 kmh.

There is no way that a normal driver would drive and swerve at that speed of 110kmh with such a tight lane configuration. 40 metres is nothing. I would even attempt that type of manouvere in a Posrche let alone a hulking great 4WD. It's not normal driving is it? It's extreme.

I don't think I'd even swerve at 110kmh. The road is not a race track. Use some sense and drive accordingly. Swerving at speed is the cause of most rollovers. Just hit the brakes, ride it out and pray. You'll at least be in with a chance. Gawd, can you imagine the carnage of 110 kmh rollover??

Hence the test is invalid on that basis alone. Any vehicle can be rolled when it's abused. Even a Mini - I did years ago at Oulton Park. The owner wasn't too impressed as I was his race mechanic at the time!!

Nah, we're being screwed again.

BTW- if they wreck, they should pay.

Screwed again, again

Bilbo

i dont think my old diesel would get up to 110kph what then???