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Dobinson Lift Installed

Discussion in 'Suspension' started by Roland, May 27, 2021.

  1. Aug 15, 2021 at 2:23 PM
    #61
    Roland

    Roland [OP] New Member

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    For 2.5" the coil seat on the IMS59-50700 shocks should be set at 213mm (8.38") from the middle of the strut bushing eye.
    Assemble the coil-over first, pay attention to the seat. Before you take the old coil-overs off, look at the orientation, make sure you put the new set the same way, left and right are set different on the 4R, look at the pigtail on the seat on the OEM's. Use an Allen ranch to tighten, if not the rod will spin, bushings need to be compressed tight.

    I would recommend if not sure how to install, to talk to Mike (exitoffroad.com). Below is a screenshot from his video (22) Dobinsons IMS Strut unboxing - How to set coil seat height - YouTube -

    The coil-over can be preinstalled by exitoffroad.com for I believe around $50 If your not familiar with doing this or do not have a coil compressor. In case you are going to a shop for the installation, and they are not familiar with Dobinsons install, advice them to look at this video. I locked the the rings myself on my preferred height and measured from the coil seat, like the picture shows. The devil is in the details, so, It's important to follow the instructions to the teeth.

    Btw. A good alignment is especially crucial.

    D-Coil-seat.jpg
     
    Last edited: Aug 15, 2021
    Crikeymike likes this.
  2. Aug 16, 2021 at 3:25 PM
    #62
    fffffff

    fffffff New Member

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    Have you taken Center Wheel to Fender measurements after? I had my coil over pre-installed by exitoffroad and am curious what your measurements look like compared to mine.

    I measured from Center of wheel to fender:
    Front: 22.6"
    Rear: 24.6"
     
  3. Aug 16, 2021 at 6:50 PM
    #63
    Roland

    Roland [OP] New Member

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    Yes, I did.
    Front: 23.5"
    Rear: 25.1"
     
  4. Sep 6, 2021 at 8:22 AM
    #64
    Evo03

    Evo03 New Member

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    Just got my lift installed last week. I'm very happy with it but wish I would have gone with 302 front springs. The 300 front springs gave me exactly 2 inches of front lift, but the 505 rears gave me 2.5" instead of the 1.5" advertised. I love the way it rides now, and the steering feel is a lot more stable/tighter than before. I may adjust the IMS struts to give it another .5" - .75" front lift. I was worried that more than 2" of front lift would look strange with stock size KO2's, but now I think it would be fine.
     
  5. Sep 6, 2021 at 10:47 AM
    #65
    Roland

    Roland [OP] New Member

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    Congrats, good to hear you're happy with the ride. Yes, you could adjust the F shocks to give you .5 -.75 more lift. Otherwise you could sell the 300 and go with 302's I know this would be an extra expense, nevertheless, to lift the front you need to disassemble the front.
     
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  6. Sep 6, 2021 at 12:32 PM
    #66
    Tuco S.

    Tuco S. New Member

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    https://rcagarage.com/shop/fabricat...MI_r-isYjr8gIVBwutBh0owwDOEAQYASABEgKM1_D_BwE

    I wouldn't buy new front coils. It'll be easier to order that spring compressor and just raise the coil seats yourself. If you add any weight (front bumper, winch etc) in the future, or if you need any more height adjustments later on, you'll have the tool for it.

    If you got your fronts pre-built by Dobinsons the coil seats were set to 8.4 inches (213 mm) to the center of the lower strut bolt. If you want to raise the front by 1/2", then raise the coil seat 1/4".
     
    Evo03[QUOTED] and Roland[OP] like this.
  7. Sep 6, 2021 at 2:34 PM
    #67
    Roland

    Roland [OP] New Member

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    Good advice, didn't think about that one, life is a learning experience. Be careful, clean the thread on the shocks very well.
     
    Last edited: Sep 30, 2021
    Tuco S.[QUOTED] and Evo03 like this.
  8. Sep 6, 2021 at 7:41 PM
    #68
    Evo03

    Evo03 New Member

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    If I go any higher in the front I'll probably get new UCA's and possibly a diff drop if advisable. The steering feels very tight and stable compared to when I drove it new from the dealer. But the caster is maxed out at 2.8 degrees. I'd hate to have much less than that.
     
  9. Sep 6, 2021 at 8:08 PM
    #69
    Roland

    Roland [OP] New Member

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    Hmm, my alignment is in spec with F 2.7 - R 1.7, I don't remember the exact caster #. I don't have aftermarket UCA's neither a diff-drop. I wonder if it has anything to do with the different coils I have.
     
  10. Sep 10, 2021 at 7:15 PM
    #70
    bed

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    I got a work up from Dob and they offered the C59-300 as the bigger lift coil, 3" in F. Wonder why you guys are seeing the opposite of that on your rigs????
     
  11. Sep 10, 2021 at 7:45 PM
    #71
    Roland

    Roland [OP] New Member

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    Eric,

    You should ask Mike from exitoffroad.com - Give him a call or shoot him an e-mail.

    C59-300 – Stock front end, 1.75-2.0″ lift
    C59-302 - Stock front end, 2.5″ lift with adjustable shocks IMS59-50700 up to 3.5"
     
  12. Sep 10, 2021 at 8:29 PM
    #72
    Tuco S.

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    The 314 coils are supposed to give you 3" (stock weight) front lift but I got closer to 4" actual height. Fortunately my truck has KDSS so I had the option to lower them below the 213mm preset. If you're going the IMS route I would get either the 300 or 302 coils. You can adjust up or down with KDSS, but can only adjust up without KDSS.

    It seems to be pretty common that Dobinsons coils give 1/2" to 1" more actual lift than advertised just fyi.
     
  13. Sep 11, 2021 at 10:38 AM
    #73
    bed

    bed New Member

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    Hey Roland, I did get that from Mike. He listed the 302 for 2.5F and the 300 for 3F? is this a typo or am i missing something?
     
  14. Sep 11, 2021 at 10:40 AM
    #74
    bed

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    Hey Tuco, I dont have the KDDS on mine, but good to know. Just trying to get the front coils sorted out if I go that way. STill not sure and looking at Bilstein and Toytec as other options. Tx
     
  15. Sep 11, 2021 at 11:07 AM
    #75
    Roland

    Roland [OP] New Member

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    Eric,

    Let me ask you are you planning on F IMS59-50700 shocks and R IMS59-50705?
     
  16. Sep 11, 2021 at 8:00 PM
    #76
    bed

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    Hey, yes that's what I was looking at and what Mike suggested, but confused on the springs that he sent over with the builds. One for 2.5/1.5 and another for 3/2
     
  17. Sep 11, 2021 at 8:04 PM
    #77
    Roland

    Roland [OP] New Member

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  18. Sep 11, 2021 at 8:25 PM
    #78
    bed

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    Yep I was reading that as well so must be a typo on Mikes end. Appreciate the confirmation on that.
     
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  19. Sep 11, 2021 at 8:34 PM
    #79
    Roland

    Roland [OP] New Member

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    The most important fact I can tell you, that I'm very pleased with this set-up. Drives awesome on/off-road.
     
  20. Sep 14, 2021 at 9:31 AM
    #80
    Crikeymike

    Crikeymike Exit Offroad, Dobinsons Specialist Vendor

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    A 2" coil on an adjustable height strut can lift 2" to 3". That must be where you're confused?

    The IMS59-50574 is used for 3" lifts, and with the C59-300 and the coil seat set to the right height, they give 3" of lift.
     
  21. Sep 15, 2021 at 3:20 PM
    #81
    fffffff

    fffffff New Member

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    Hey Mike,

    If I had my mounts and struts assembled by exit offroad are the struts set to 0"? Paired with a C59-302 I should expect 2.5" lift in the front?

    If I wanted to get another inch up front what would be the easiest way to do that after the fact since I've had everything installed for several weeks now?
     
  22. Sep 15, 2021 at 4:18 PM
    #82
    Roland

    Roland [OP] New Member

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    https://rcagarage.com/shop/fabricat...MI_r-isYjr8gIVBwutBh0owwDOEAQYASABEgKM1_D_BwE

    You could purchase a spring compressor and just raise the coil seats yourself. You will need to clean the shocks well to relock the rings.

    If you got your fronts pre-built by Dobinsons the coil seats were set to 8.4 inches (213 mm) to the center of the lower strut bolt. If you want to raise the front by 1/2", then raise the coil seat 1/4" etc.

    Someone mentioned this solution here on the Forum.
     
  23. Sep 16, 2021 at 5:38 AM
    #83
    Crikeymike

    Crikeymike Exit Offroad, Dobinsons Specialist Vendor

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    Unless we discussed it before the order was placed, then the coil seat height is set to the standard height so that only the coils do the lifting (no added preload)

    This explains all the adjustment:
    https://youtu.be/Npfx40VD3kM
     
  24. Sep 16, 2021 at 10:31 AM
    #84
    fffffff

    fffffff New Member

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    Thanks for the clarification @Crikeymike and @Roland , I would assume an alignment would need to take place again if I were to add some height by adjusting the front strut and rear shock?
     
  25. Sep 16, 2021 at 10:43 AM
    #85
    Roland

    Roland [OP] New Member

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    How are you going to give more height on the rear shocks?
     
  26. Sep 16, 2021 at 11:00 AM
    #86
    fffffff

    fffffff New Member

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    Looking at the build sheet on exit offroad it listed IMS59-50705 (0-3"), at a glance I took that to mean the same as the front struts that you could adjust for additional height. But looking again now I think I understood that incorrectly and the rear shocks are not adjustable?
     
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  27. Sep 16, 2021 at 11:27 AM
    #87
    Crikeymike

    Crikeymike Exit Offroad, Dobinsons Specialist Vendor

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    Yes that's right. Anytime you adjust the front height you need to get a new alignment
     
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