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Dobinsons lift issues

Discussion in 'Suspension' started by Mwhres145, Dec 4, 2022.

  1. Dec 4, 2022 at 4:13 PM
    #1
    Mwhres145

    Mwhres145 [OP] New Member

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    So just bought a new dobinsons MRA lift and RCI skids. Installed myself (skids haven’t come in yet). And my lift height and lean isn’t adding up for what I did. Any help is appreciated……

    I installed 302 springs and A574 front struts ( 325 rear springs and A701 rear struts also) with the only added weight of RCI full skids and sliders and an objective lift high of about 2.25 inches.
    I also installed a 1/4 inch strut top spacer on the driver side for lean (at the time of order didn’t realize the shafts were threaded but I didn’t ask for a lean correction)
    I currently don’t have the skids installed and here are my lift height results in inches:
    Driver front. 3 6/16 Passenger front. 3 11/16
    Driver rear. 2 10/16 Passenger rear. 2 15/16

    Pre lift I had about 1/2 inch lean to driver side and now have close to an inch?

    Were the front struts side specific? Also having trouble understanding an increase in lean with the 1/4 strut top spacer installed on driver side?
    Not sure what to think other than maybe the coil seats are too high and we’re pre adjusted for lean. But even if I added a spacer to the shorter strut seat why do I have an increase in lean?
     
  2. Dec 4, 2022 at 5:26 PM
    #2
    hossler1788

    hossler1788 Turtle

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    Maybe try swapping sides on the front. If you just installed it and took measurements, drive it for a few hundred miles before alignment(if you can). It'll settle
     
  3. Dec 4, 2022 at 5:56 PM
    #3
    Mwhres145

    Mwhres145 [OP] New Member

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    About 150 miles on it now just got the alignment probably around the 50 mark. Tried lossening the UCA bolts and retightening just in case they were tightened too much at full droop (during install) and preventing articulation. Jumped on it a bunch but didn’t budge the lean at all.
     
  4. Dec 4, 2022 at 6:06 PM
    #4
    hossler1788

    hossler1788 Turtle

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    Try reaching out to whoever you bought the lift from. Dobs has a great name and excellent customer service.

    If its driving good, I'd see if it settles any over the next few hundred miles.
     
  5. Dec 5, 2022 at 8:42 AM
    #5
    iamincrediboy

    iamincrediboy New Member

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    OP @Crikeymike is the man to ask about Dobinsons. Even if you didnt buy from his he's probably the most knowledgeable of all of us for their real world execution.
     
    hossler1788 likes this.
  6. Dec 5, 2022 at 10:59 AM
    #6
    nimby

    nimby in the drink

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    Do you have KDSS?

    How many threads do you have showing on your drivers side front shock vs your passenger side?

    Are both the lower coil perches that the coils sit on in the same orientation?

    Are both coils clocked correctly both at the top and bottom?
     
  7. Dec 5, 2022 at 11:09 AM
    #7
    Mwhres145

    Mwhres145 [OP] New Member

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    UPDATE:
    Driver front strut coil seat height approx 217mm with the coil not properly seated (1/4 inch gap)
    Passenger front strut coil seat height approx 219.

    According to dobinson’s they should be set at 213mm.

    Spoke with the vendor (exit off road) and they stated there could also be variances on the coils. I did verify that I have to correct struts and coils.

    Also no KDSS and I did have a 1/4 inch strut top spacer on driver side. And I’m at stock weight other than sliders.
     
  8. Dec 5, 2022 at 11:57 AM
    #8
    hossler1788

    hossler1788 Turtle

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    Get that coil seated, take a measurement of both struts again and put the taller one of the driverside.
     
  9. Dec 5, 2022 at 5:32 PM
    #9
    Mwhres145

    Mwhres145 [OP] New Member

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    Does anyone know a brand of spring compressors that work on dob’s or most aftermarket coilovers? The common Maddox rentals wouldn’t fit inbetween the coils and I couldn’t budge the two nuts with my spanners at all.
     
  10. Dec 6, 2022 at 9:28 AM
    #10
    iamincrediboy

    iamincrediboy New Member

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    Something like this work? Listing literally has pictures of Dobinsons coils in the reviews
    https://www.amazon.com/2pc-Spring-Compressor-Tool-Rugged/dp/B08464LYQD
     
  11. Dec 6, 2022 at 10:12 AM
    #11
    Mwhres145

    Mwhres145 [OP] New Member

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  12. Dec 6, 2022 at 10:17 AM
    #12
    Mwhres145

    Mwhres145 [OP] New Member

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    So I did switch the coils sides with the taller one on the driver side and still using 1/4 spacer and now I’m at half inch lean and still high. Gonna get the cool seats set to 213 per the manufacturer and see what happens. Also don’t currently have the front swaybar installed due to damaged frame threads ( appt for a repair soon). exit off road said that could be playing into the excessive lean. Gonna see what happens after I get the sway bar back on and coils reseated.

    I did count the turns in the rear coils and they do match. Rear sway bar looks good and even.
     
  13. Dec 6, 2022 at 3:07 PM
    #13
    hossler1788

    hossler1788 Turtle

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    Maybe when you lower the seats down to 213mm keep the drivers side higher and ditch the .25" shim if you can..

    How's it handle without the front sway bar? Lol
     
    nimby likes this.
  14. Dec 6, 2022 at 4:30 PM
    #14
    Mwhres145

    Mwhres145 [OP] New Member

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    If the sway bar is the culprit to the lean I might. It actually isn’t bad, I just increased the low speed compression by two settings and it already feels stiffer than stock. Just went off road for the first time and holy sh*t, it’s night and day difference over the OME’s on my Tacoma. I feel like I could tell a difference in the articulation, more with the sway bar off. Might keep it off depending on how everything goes.
     
  15. Dec 7, 2022 at 5:34 AM
    #15
    iamincrediboy

    iamincrediboy New Member

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    To your point, my sway bar threads were also damaged before I bought my runner so taking it on and off used to be a huge pain. Finally a couple years ago I was doing other suspension work and the threads stripped, so I left it off... Havent looked back since. On and off road I dont have it, and somehow I honestly think its a better drive without. Is it technically a safety hazard? Maybe. But I cannot deny I somehow feel better connected to the road or terrain now that I can actually feel every sway of the whole rig. Food for thought :cheers:
     
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  16. Dec 7, 2022 at 6:20 AM
    #16
    Mwhres145

    Mwhres145 [OP] New Member

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    I definitely like it better with it off. Especially since I can just adjust the low speed compression to compensate. Just trying to chase down the culprit to the excessive lean and if it’s the sway bar I will probably just keep DS coil seat high and move on.
     
    iamincrediboy[QUOTED] likes this.

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