Year of change
soooo awkward
Why the hell do manufacturers make life so damn difficult.
Another great link thanks.
I'll get the tape measure out tomorrow and see what I have.
I can't afford tyres for a while but I wanted to get the biggest width and height I could on standard rims.
Saddle's in the way
I think the biggest tire you can get under there is a 215/70R16
Cheers.
I have a paltry completely odd set of 215 65 16 on at this time. If I go to 215 70/16 I get half 0.4" lift. A 225 70 will give me 0.7" lift. I'll check the side and top clearance ASAP and see what will squeeze in there allowing for tread depth loss for wear. There seems to be about a thumb's thickness of clearance side and top but I will measure to check.
same but different
Hi Bob Oz , this is my first post on this site and I ( like everyone else it seems ) am still slightly in the land of confusion , when it comes to suspension mods , lifts etc.. by the way I have a '99 Io 5 door unmodded
Anyway , my biggest question is .....IF I install the above-mentioned KYB struts with 25mm extra clearance and then put a set of 225/70/16 All Terrain tyres on
DO I NEED TO INSTALL DIFFERENT SPRINGS IN THE REAR END TO COMPENSATE FOR THE STRUT HIEGHT DIFFERENCE ???
Such as Mazda Astina springs etc.. I'm going to keep the original springs in the Front End ..
This question alone is going to save a lot of coin $$$ yaaay
And HeliJohn I have the same shitty ,mismatched set of soccer-mum tyres on my io as well.. and don't they suck dogs balls ..can't wait to get rid of 'em !
love the site guys and will soon be posting pics of my little weapon..
Cheers :)
strut and spring
I might reply to this one, Bob will add if I forget something.
First, please read this http://pajerio.com/forum/kingspring-and-kyb-mix
In Australia, probably oversea as well but I haven't check by myself, we have two type of strut, and two type of spring to match. One strut have a lower spring plate around 25 mm lower than the other. One spring is around 25 mm higher than the other. The only proper way to check the strut is to measure (info on that in the link above). Proper way because they may have been swapped in the past without you knowing. The strut that have the plate in the way to stop us fitting 225/75/16 have the longer spring. Fitting that spring to the strut with the higher plate will give you 25 mm lift.
I know it is a bit confusing, welcome to the forum! While this spring plate moved, the total length of both strut are the same, this is why we have two different spring. Mitsubishi moved the spring plate up 25 mm and removed 25 mm of spring to keep the same height.
So, if you have the strut with the lower spring plate, replace them the the strut with the higher spring plate and keep your spring, you will end up with around 25 mm lift. So yes you will have to lift the rear of your io as well to match your new front lift, with Astina spring or other. Please note that the Astina spring give a bit more than 25 mm lift, around 40 mm.
Bob have the strut with the higher plate, the spring from the lower spring plate, the Astina at the rear, and an extra spacer at the top of his strut to match the lift of the rear. Bob will confirm....
I have the higher spring plate, with the matching spring (shorter one), Astina spring at the back, so my front is only lifted with a home made spacer (47 mm) to match my rear lift
I hope this help, still confusing....ask:) and read a bit more but careful as some early post can be even more confusing as it took us a while to work out what happen with the suspension.
Happy io
Welcome
And HeliJohn I have the same shitty ,mismatched set of soccer-mum tyres on my io as well.. and don't they suck dogs balls ..can't wait to get rid of 'em !
love the site guys and will soon be posting pics of my little weapon..
Cheers :)
Hiya and welcome.
It is nice to see new members as info on these motors (mine is called Shogun pinin here in the UK) is hard to find so pooling ideas pays off.
I have the shorter strut (I am forgetting already but I think it is the 24.5cm one) so it means I have the longer spring. So if I were to get the longer strut and use my longer spring then the front would be lifted. Apparently to raise the rear by the same amount you just need to fit spacers. I am unlikely to do this yet because I am working like a slave trying to put right the years of neglect which IMHO is the direct result of the vehicle being owned by women! This means I am unlikely to get tyres for a good while. Also everything is so seized with rust/rot that is it a struggle to get the old stuff off.
Also I see that the existing rim/tyre combo is right at the edge of the bodywork. Now I would love to go to 235/60/16 but it will mean there is some tread showing when viewed from above especially if I use a greater offset wheel. In the UK the regulations state that the tread must be covered when viewed from above vertically. Furthermore, with my Jimny ownership it has come to light that with regard to EU regulations it seems that there has to be no more than a small maximum clerance tyre to bodywork. If you look at some of the 2014 vehicles you may start to see how the arch hugs the tyre.
Sooooooo, realistically, unless I do an arch mod to extend the arches out sideways any nice wide rim/tyre combination might be out of the question. The end result is I might have to get 215/70/16s for it.
Also, it is only a 6" wheel. I am not used to narrow rims - 7" being the norm and 8" being my favourite.
struts
yes - if you run the old longer springs in the new higher struts you will lift the front approx 30mm, depending on spring age and sag you will end up with the front sitting level or slightly (15mm) higher than the back.
..well this is what happened to my 2002 SWB when i installed old long springs in the front.
*note: just confirming for you that the struts are the same length and same travel, only difference is that the spring prch is welded on 25mm higher and they run a 25mm shorter spring on the later io's to keep the same overall clearance
you can then either space the back with landcruiser FRONT coil spring spacers or fit some FRONT mazda astina coils, you will end up with the rear sitting higher unloaded but likely level when loaded.
i would do the KYB 33405 strut upgrade as the first modification you do - you can DIY as long as you have some spring compressors.
pick up some second hand 225/75-16 or 205 R 16 (205/80-16) mud tyres etc to have a play with.
Buzz Lightyear
yes - if you run the old longer springs in the new higher struts you will lift the front approx 30mm, depending on spring age and sag you will end up with the front sitting level or slightly (15mm) higher than the back.
..well this is what happened to my 2002 SWB when i installed old long springs in the front.
*note: just confirming for you that the struts are the same length and same travel, only difference is that the spring prch is welded on 25mm higher and they run a 25mm shorter spring on the later io's to keep the same overall clearance
you can then either space the back with landcruiser FRONT coil spring spacers or fit some FRONT mazda astina coils, you will end up with the rear sitting higher unloaded but likely level when loaded.
i would do the KYB 33405 strut upgrade as the first modification you do - you can DIY as long as you have some spring compressors.
pick up some second hand 225/75-16 or 205 R 16 (205/80-16) mud tyres etc to have a play with.
I so want to do this but I am light years away from it.
excellent !
G'Day crew , massive thank you's to everyone posting..As usual the info is 2nd to none and responded to super quick :)
I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with the last post and keep original springs , upgrade the front strut , whack a set of Mickey T's on her and see what happens..
I've measured my clearance unloaded from front & rear hub centres to the bottom of the guard
AND FRONT = 235 mm REAR = 270 mm so I'm guessing it will look pretty straight BUT when I load up the rear it will probably be 15 - 20 mm lower
sounds about right anyway...Well chaps , once again I am in awe of all your help , Helijohn , mate , you'll get there , as long as you've made a start .
PS..I get 2nd hand Mickey Thompson 225/70/16 's for $40 - $60 a tyre with 55-70 % tread from a bloke in Ballina , North NSW , if you are in the area and want some CHEAP 2nd hand tyres let us know.
.
G'Day crew , massive thank you's to everyone posting..As usual the info is 2nd to none and responded to super quick :)
I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with the last post and keep original springs , upgrade the front strut , whack a set of Mickey T's on her and see what happens..
I've measured my clearance unloaded from front & rear hub centres to the bottom of the guard
AND FRONT = 235 mm REAR = 270 mm so I'm guessing it will look pretty straight BUT when I load up the rear it will probably be 15 - 20 mm lower
sounds about right anyway...Well chaps , once again I am in awe of all your help , Helijohn , mate , you'll get there , as long as you've made a start .
PS..I get 2nd hand Mickey Thompson 225/70/16 's for $40 - $60 a tyre with 55-70 % tread from a bloke in Ballina , North NSW , if you are in the area and want some CHEAP 2nd hand tyres let us know.
Thanks, you are close to Bob....do you have a special smaller io ?
....235 mm from the center to the hub to the bottom of the guard.....??? Maybe the top section of the rim to the guard ??
Maybe go straight to the 225/75....good tyres will make a big difference in 4x4, I should write "BIG" :)
Fiberglasser by trade.....that could be practical, very practical.
Happy io
FUCK YES
PS..I get 2nd hand Mickey Thompson 225/70/16 's for $40 - $60 a tyre with 55-70 % tread from a bloke in Ballina , North NSW , if you are in the area and want some CHEAP 2nd hand tyres let us know.
er, yes I would be very muchly keen - live just north over the border...
Tyres 4 Bob
G'Day Bob ,
ok , here's the lowdown , the bloke in question services a shitload of mining fleet vehicles , so it's first in first served and quite a few people in the area know this guy..I've been chasing a full set but a lot of people only want a spare or trailer tyres etc ..Basically you have to be Johnny on the spot BUT he does have some excellent tyres for the price..My brother got a matching rear set of Bridgestone Duelers A/T's 245/75/15 and they were nearly 70% tread for $100..
I'm just waiting until I get the suspension sorted before I get tyres , however I would be willing to give him my number and chase tyres for you as well..
If you want to come and do the pickup that's fine with me..By the way how far over the border are we talking , I grew up in Kingscliff so I know the area very well.
Cheers Bob and have a good weekend mate.
north of the border
I'm up on Tamborine Mountain, northern gold coast but am in tweed heads often.
I'm just chasing some 225 75 16's used and as aggressive a tread as possible :)
by the way - burliegh heads wreckers quoted me $35 for a pair of astina front coils about 6 months ago, cheap rear lift if you are after it
Syndicate
Depends on the country
in australia the changeover seemed to be around 2000.
In Europe they seem to have stuck with the old style low struts.
Check this thread for how to measure yours and see what you have.
http://pajerio.com/forum/strut-data
The new style struts are all we can get in Australia.
Size is not important; it's how you use it that matters!