Here in Kano we have rough roads and Mrs B often scrapes the front plastic bumper, a little raise in the ride height would be welcome, I suspect you people in the US can buy slightly longer springs to do the job properly, here in 'the middle of the back of beyond' no way, anybody done this and knows how much longer the springs would be give a 1" lift, so I can look other springs to improvise?
Thanks in advance
John
raise ride height
Re: raise ride height
You may want to check this site for strut spacers: https://autodvc.com/en/cars/toyota/matrix/ii/minivan
The spacers are available in 3 different heights for the front and the back of the Vibe.
These go on top of the struts to raise the car up. Because you are not messing around with the springs, ride quality will remain the same. I have not used these in a Vibe but 4x4 pickups use them and they work. I have replaced the struts in my Vibe with strut assemblies, hoping that the new springs would increase the ride height, and it did by about 3/16". Do not go that route if you are looking at raising it 1".
The spacers are available in 3 different heights for the front and the back of the Vibe.
These go on top of the struts to raise the car up. Because you are not messing around with the springs, ride quality will remain the same. I have not used these in a Vibe but 4x4 pickups use them and they work. I have replaced the struts in my Vibe with strut assemblies, hoping that the new springs would increase the ride height, and it did by about 3/16". Do not go that route if you are looking at raising it 1".
Re: raise ride height
Hi Jolt, many thanks for that link, I will take some measurements from the top mount and try to work out the thickness needed for a 1" lift, them make spacers here, I'm surprised they are made in Moscow and exported.
John
John
Re: raise ride height
Hi All,
Having looked all the suppliers for Vibe/Matrix lift kits, none from USA or European countries, only Russia, I did not want to put US$ into Mr. Putin's pocket, Bulgaria, Ukraine and I think the other was UAE, so I have bought Aluminum plate and a pair of rear top spring mounts from a breaker, as I did not want to disable Mrs B car just to get measurements to make spacers, next will be cutting the shape out, boring and drilling the plates to size, as I have no chance to find longer bolts with a straight knurl to press in like the originals I am thinking to make 16mm diameter sleaves with M10 internal thread, that can be screwed onto the existing bolts inside the 300mm thick spacers, allowing me to use a bolt in place of the original nuts to fit the assembly back into position,
I was surprised to find the rear mounts have 2 pressed in bolts and 1 free bolt, that appear to be different sizes for right and left-hand sides, the L/h is drilled M10 clearance and the R/H drilled 14mm clearance, I will have to remove the R/H trim to find out why?
John
Having looked all the suppliers for Vibe/Matrix lift kits, none from USA or European countries, only Russia, I did not want to put US$ into Mr. Putin's pocket, Bulgaria, Ukraine and I think the other was UAE, so I have bought Aluminum plate and a pair of rear top spring mounts from a breaker, as I did not want to disable Mrs B car just to get measurements to make spacers, next will be cutting the shape out, boring and drilling the plates to size, as I have no chance to find longer bolts with a straight knurl to press in like the originals I am thinking to make 16mm diameter sleaves with M10 internal thread, that can be screwed onto the existing bolts inside the 300mm thick spacers, allowing me to use a bolt in place of the original nuts to fit the assembly back into position,
I was surprised to find the rear mounts have 2 pressed in bolts and 1 free bolt, that appear to be different sizes for right and left-hand sides, the L/h is drilled M10 clearance and the R/H drilled 14mm clearance, I will have to remove the R/H trim to find out why?
John