Ground clearance

Submitted: Monday, Jun 23, 2003 at 17:30
ThreadID: 5607 Views:2154 Replies:4 FollowUps:6
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G'day,
Ihave a 94 Pajero Turbo diesel with 31x10.5x15 tyres. What can I do to increase ground clearance? I have currently got 220mm at the rear diff.
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Reply By: Member - Bob - Monday, Jun 23, 2003 at 19:29

Monday, Jun 23, 2003 at 19:29
Rod, whatever you do it will change your gearing. You might buy a couple of millimetres by getting a higher profile tyre (say 75 section), or a few more with 16 inch wheels. But will it make that much of an improvement? The Paj is a great touring car, but not much of a rock crawler. The original clearance is fine for driving all over this fair continent.
AnswerID: 23309

Follow Up By: Rod F - Monday, Jun 23, 2003 at 19:38

Monday, Jun 23, 2003 at 19:38
Thanks Bob,
I'm very happy with her, but I'm getting inspired by Woodpecker & Tuff Truck vid's. Is there anything I can do to increase wheel travel - front and rear?
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FollowupID: 15491

Reply By: desert - Monday, Jun 23, 2003 at 19:42

Monday, Jun 23, 2003 at 19:42
That little engine is not going to be happy turning any bigger tyre than what you already have. Unfortunately, you are stuck between a rock and a hard place with that torsion bar front end, which does not let you do anything to lift the front up.
Winding up the adjusters only makes it lose wheel droop and buggers the camber settings and then it handles like a dog. You have a little bit more to play with down the back end, but then you end up with the car have a rake like a funny-car dragster. Can you cut your losses and get into something cheap like a GQ Patrol for around 13 to 15 grand?
AnswerID: 23314

Follow Up By: Rod F - Monday, Jun 23, 2003 at 19:45

Monday, Jun 23, 2003 at 19:45
Unfortunately not desert,
I'm with her for a couple of years yet.
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Follow Up By: desert - Monday, Jun 23, 2003 at 19:56

Monday, Jun 23, 2003 at 19:56
Comiserations.
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Follow Up By: dixie - Monday, Jun 23, 2003 at 22:46

Monday, Jun 23, 2003 at 22:46
Desert try this site as you will find much more imformation about what you can do with your Pajero : http://www.pajeroclub.com.au/forum/
as there is alot you can do if it is done properly but as the guys tell you its not a rock climber as in Patrol/Landcrusers but you can go most places with a bit of work.
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FollowupID: 15509

Follow Up By: Suzuki Viagra - Thursday, Jun 26, 2003 at 00:51

Thursday, Jun 26, 2003 at 00:51
Bs it wont be happy turning those wheels. I running 30"s instead of 26"s with no issues, and you have a far bigger engine and far more powerful one than I do.

If you wanno go to 33"s fine, any higher power may be an issue. However, you'll need body lift rather than suspension lift - you can lift Torsion bar fronts but the downside is to gain height you lose travel which is not good. For you - body lift is the only option.

Remember 31" to 33" is only 1" more ground clearance - it also only needs 1" more body lift IF your guards are wide enough for the 33"S under suspension and steering travel.

hence you may end up with 1" or 2" more clearance - depending on if your diffs or another component is your lowest point.

remember, you'll need to change your driving style accordingly - both due to the powersapping traits of the bigger rubber, your gearing will be higher, and also cos your speedo will now read lower.

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FollowupID: 15726

Reply By: Derek - Monday, Jun 23, 2003 at 20:22

Monday, Jun 23, 2003 at 20:22
Rod. I went through this dilema with my L300 (different engine but same everything else). By fitting the larger diameter tyres you will lessen your acceleration, put your speedo and odeometer out, use more fuel and place a strain on your engine in the lower rev' range. The most serious set back is that your braking efficiency will be reduced. The larger the tyre you choose, the worse your braking will be regardless of what ANYONE tries to tell you!!!!!!! If you screw up the front torsion bars you will increase your front ground clearance which will put you steering geometry out but worst of all, you run the risk of having the front drive axles pull out of the diff when the suspension drops and smash the end out of the Birfield joint when the suspension compresses (I know, it happened to me a few times until I accepted the situation and put the suspension back to where it was. The L300 was the most versatile 4wd I've ever owned, but due to its limited off-road ability I had to do what someone above said and trade to a more capable car. Hope this helps.
AnswerID: 23319

Reply By: Truckster (Vic) - Tuesday, Jun 24, 2003 at 12:55

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2003 at 12:55
"... I'm getting inspired by Woodpecker & Tuff Truck vid's. Is there anything I can do to increase wheel travel - front and rear? "

As you see in Outback Challange, Woodpecker and Tufftruck there are No paj's.. thats cause they are hard to modify to the ordinary person (cause of cost), so your chasing your tail a little to start with.

Check the Mitz section of outerlimits (www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modules/phpBB2/), Bitsamissin there has a very nice Paj with 33s and lockers, could be what your after, but its all $$ and lots and LOTS of. Lockers $1000 an end, lift and engineers $2000+ (engineers certification is required for lots of mods these days, check with your local authority and speak to engineer first, to see what he will want)..

EG if you want something like this
http://members.austarmetro.com.au/~frankyz/hnzn0011.jpg
dont expect change from $3-4000.

As others have said, larger tires change the gearing, and changing gearing is not cheap, EG can be $1000 per diff.

Changing suspension to increase travel, is possible, but again its not as easy as a coil sprung car.

There is one in July Aus 4wd monthly that may get your attention too.
AnswerID: 23362

Follow Up By: Suzuki Viagra - Thursday, Jun 26, 2003 at 01:05

Thursday, Jun 26, 2003 at 01:05
Yeah that Paj's not bad. Go the 33"s and be happy. You should get diffs cheaper than that.

Suspension travel isn't be all and end all - in some circumstances one locker is worth heaps more than loads of suspension travel, but not in other situations.

I have modified my front to the limits of common sense (and maybe beyond) and still have room to play with rears. Now I have 3 1/2" suspension dropout front, and about 9-10" rear dropout (with up to 18" readily available). You can have heaps of rear dropout too, just not much front dropout due to the Paj's design. Rear is more important than front - about 70% of drive comes from rear in most circumstances due to weight transfer (except in steep downhills where traction on brakes is more the problem, particularly fronts).

You work around it, either by changing approach lines/speeds/angles, or selling up and buying an "ex-tuff truck".

With the Paj you have extra wheelbase on me, and I'm sure if you see what even my Vitara can do from INSIDE the cabin, you may wanna rethink how much you wanna emulate tuff-truck.

I've had people screaming, crying and almost crapping themselves in my passenger seat and still not rollled it........ Please remember tuff truck is a motorsport "show" like V8 Supercars or Formula One and such has no relationship to anyone who has to pay normal parts prices to repair their daily driver.

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FollowupID: 15727

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