NavRon
Member
I am not sure exactly which section I should be posting under because I have questions of legality as well as practical ones to comply with the law. I acknowledge that many of my questions may already have some type of answer within the forum but in trawling through hundreds of posts I find that answers may be somewhat dated or lacking specificity regarding what applies in one state versus another.
My 2013 Navara dual cab is standard apart from a steel bull bar and a canopy. I did not measure body height before fitting of those items therefore I do not know what body/suspension height is normal/standard.
I reside in NSW and emailed the RMS about 10 days ago, regarding clarification of a couple of matters, thus far without an answer.
The gospel for NSW can be found on.
http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/registration/downloads/vsi/vsi_dl1.html
Modifications being more specifically on.
http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/registration/downloads/vsi/vsi6.pdf
My budget does not allow immediate or radical modification. I am after a very minor lift but eventually adding to it with AT tyres when the road ones wear out. Total lift maybe 20 mm to 35 mm. At moment my wife steps over the sidesteps so I can lift the Nav a little bit and she use the sidesteps but not so high that she needs a stool to get in. My life is worth more than a lift. The much later tyre part of the lift will be approximately 13 mm by going to 285/65 or 265/70.
The specific section is number 12.
SUSPENSION
Item Modification
12 Altering vehicle ride height by more than one third of the manufacturer’s suspension
travel in the direction of the ride height change.
Examples requiring certification:
• Conversion from coil to leaf springs.
• Any modification to the suspension configuration.
• Fitting a suspension of a different design eg from a different make and model
(eg from coil springs to leaf springs).
• Fabrication of suspension mounting points.
Examples not requiring certification:
• Modification of suspension with components or parts which meet or exceed the
original vehicle manufacturer’s specifications.
• Fitting uprated roll (sway) bars, shock absorbers, springs, struts or manufacturer’s options for that particular year make and model.
I would like to go with a small spacer at the front and I know that many forum members use these; however, there is another reference to these items being illegal. I cannot see any problem with using these items in context of the above wording. Any solicitors out there who would care to give a professional opinion?
The front spacers that I have in mind.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/190916564042?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649
May be a quality kit with the 10-15 mm lift about right for the end plan, although the front may have already sagged with the steel bull bar, and it may go further when I install a 20kg to 25kg winch.
Other options are.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/161166066126?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649
35 mm lift (reduced by bulbar and winch)
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?
ViewItem&item=141146362830
This a replacement coil set with 50 mm lift, reduced by bullbar and winch.
Now for the rear. I favour extended shackles rather than blocks with extra long u-bolts.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=141146362830
Okay, the questions are the legality issue along with the practical issue of how to measure and comply with the legislation.
“Altering vehicle ride height by more than one third of the manufacturer’s suspension travel in the direction of the ride height change.”
I have not crawled under the Nav to physically inspect so in pure theory (before addition of the bull bar and canopy) I could have measured the distance between the part of the suspension where the bump stop hits and the upper bump stop itself. Surely this represents the ultimate degree of travel as designed by the manufacturer. Am I on the right track?
Last but not least, is the minor lift that I envisage going to cause mis-alignment of any components? The original (but shabby?) shocks should be able to travel that little bit further?
All comments greatly appreciated.
Ron
My 2013 Navara dual cab is standard apart from a steel bull bar and a canopy. I did not measure body height before fitting of those items therefore I do not know what body/suspension height is normal/standard.
I reside in NSW and emailed the RMS about 10 days ago, regarding clarification of a couple of matters, thus far without an answer.
The gospel for NSW can be found on.
http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/registration/downloads/vsi/vsi_dl1.html
Modifications being more specifically on.
http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/registration/downloads/vsi/vsi6.pdf
My budget does not allow immediate or radical modification. I am after a very minor lift but eventually adding to it with AT tyres when the road ones wear out. Total lift maybe 20 mm to 35 mm. At moment my wife steps over the sidesteps so I can lift the Nav a little bit and she use the sidesteps but not so high that she needs a stool to get in. My life is worth more than a lift. The much later tyre part of the lift will be approximately 13 mm by going to 285/65 or 265/70.
The specific section is number 12.
SUSPENSION
Item Modification
12 Altering vehicle ride height by more than one third of the manufacturer’s suspension
travel in the direction of the ride height change.
Examples requiring certification:
• Conversion from coil to leaf springs.
• Any modification to the suspension configuration.
• Fitting a suspension of a different design eg from a different make and model
(eg from coil springs to leaf springs).
• Fabrication of suspension mounting points.
Examples not requiring certification:
• Modification of suspension with components or parts which meet or exceed the
original vehicle manufacturer’s specifications.
• Fitting uprated roll (sway) bars, shock absorbers, springs, struts or manufacturer’s options for that particular year make and model.
I would like to go with a small spacer at the front and I know that many forum members use these; however, there is another reference to these items being illegal. I cannot see any problem with using these items in context of the above wording. Any solicitors out there who would care to give a professional opinion?
The front spacers that I have in mind.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/190916564042?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649
May be a quality kit with the 10-15 mm lift about right for the end plan, although the front may have already sagged with the steel bull bar, and it may go further when I install a 20kg to 25kg winch.
Other options are.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/161166066126?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649
35 mm lift (reduced by bulbar and winch)
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?
ViewItem&item=141146362830
This a replacement coil set with 50 mm lift, reduced by bullbar and winch.
Now for the rear. I favour extended shackles rather than blocks with extra long u-bolts.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=141146362830
Okay, the questions are the legality issue along with the practical issue of how to measure and comply with the legislation.
“Altering vehicle ride height by more than one third of the manufacturer’s suspension travel in the direction of the ride height change.”
I have not crawled under the Nav to physically inspect so in pure theory (before addition of the bull bar and canopy) I could have measured the distance between the part of the suspension where the bump stop hits and the upper bump stop itself. Surely this represents the ultimate degree of travel as designed by the manufacturer. Am I on the right track?
Last but not least, is the minor lift that I envisage going to cause mis-alignment of any components? The original (but shabby?) shocks should be able to travel that little bit further?
All comments greatly appreciated.
Ron
