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2” lift?? Atrai

Discussion in 'Microvans' started by beachbug21, Jan 25, 2021.

  1. beachbug21

    beachbug21 New Member

    Hey guys! I’m buying a 1996 Daihatsu Atrai 4x4 and was wondering if anyone has done a 2” lift to it? Any kits or full custom work? Thanks!
     
  2. Jigs-n-fixtures

    Jigs-n-fixtures Well-Known Member

    The front should be strait forward as the front suspension is shared with the Hijet. The rear is distinct to the vans, and may be a bit difficult, and you won’t find any kits to do it. You’ll have to do quite a bit of one off work to get it right.

    Your probably going to have to do most of the work yourself. I’f recommend that before you start, you get a copy of Fredrick Puhn”s book, “How to Make Your Car Handle”, it is probably the best primer on suspension design written. Not too much math, but a lot of common sense approach to working on and tuning the suspension, and how it works.
     
  3. beachbug21

    beachbug21 New Member

    Okay that’s what I was kinda figuring to happen. I found a parts source that may be able to help out, I just got to get the van first...I’m excited and just want to find out all I can! It’s come if from Japan so I have to figure out all of that.
     
  4. srmoose

    srmoose New Member

    I have been looking into the same, I have redone the suspension on an Atrai, but I have not done a lift as of yet.
    I have a 1995 Atrai and Jigs is correct about the front. As for the rear, I have been looking at some spacers for the Terios but so far have only found 40mm lifts. I would like the 2" (50mm) if I can make sure the rear works out and is the right size. The other option I have thought of are some sort of universal spacers. Is your parts source for the front or both? The work should is fairly easy once the right parts for the rear can be found / made.
     
  5. beachbug21

    beachbug21 New Member

    I texted the number on this ad: https://outerbanks.craigslist.org/snd/d/4x4-japanese-mini-truck-utv-side-by/7265010276.html

    I told him what I had and he said they make a 2” camber lift for the Atrai. I wasn’t sure what my rear suspension was so he said hold off till it gets there in case he needs to send me extra parts. The one I bought is still in Japan.The kit was $199 I think. I’d reach out to him and tell him what you have and see if it works. Let me know what he says!

     
  6. srmoose

    srmoose New Member

    Hi, I am familiar with them, they are out of TX. The main issues I see with the rear, would be the coils and either longer shocks or a shackle to extend them.
    I have a lot of projects going on so the lift has not been a priority. But it does seem like it will be fairly easy, the camber and castor should remain in the rear with extended shocks. Here is what it looks like, sorry I could not get shock better. BTW congrats on new Atrai! Atrai shock.jpg Atrai shock 2.jpg
     
  7. Jigs-n-fixtures

    Jigs-n-fixtures Well-Known Member

    My recollection is that the suspension on the Atrai, is a solid axle on a pair of links, supported on springs, with a Panhard rod to locate it side to side. The pictures, as near as I can see, bear this out.

    If I’m right, you would need to lengthen the Panhard rod, to keep the axle centered under the truck if you lift the rear with stronger springs.

    If I were doing it I would look into building a four link suspension, or possibly even going hog wild and going to six links.
     
  8. beachbug21

    beachbug21 New Member

    Wow that’s more involved then I thought, hopefully they have a kit
     
  9. srmoose

    srmoose New Member

  10. beachbug21

    beachbug21 New Member

    I went through goldstarparts.com with Steve and he helped me out, the front is easy because it shares the same as the Hijet, but for the rear I am doing springs that are 2” longer and then I took the shocks down to Napa and then were able to measure them out and got me shocks that are roughly 2” longer. The springs come in tomorrow and then I have to work all weekend so hopefully next weekend I can do it. I don’t see anything I would have to modify beyond the longer springs and shocks for the rear but I can let you know how it goes.
     
  11. Jigs-n-fixtures

    Jigs-n-fixtures Well-Known Member

    That may put too much of an angle on the pinion shaft and eat u-joints. You should probably unbolt the axle and rotate it.
     
    Limestone likes this.
  12. beachbug21

    beachbug21 New Member

    Well the lift kit is installed, the back was pretty easy, the front was kind of a pain but not to bad. All my photos are 8 mb so I don’t know how to load them. But the back was easy, the shocks came from NAPA and the coils were measured out by Steve from goldstarparts which is where the front lift kit came from. Spring compressors are a must and I got the tool from autozone.
     
  13. Postal

    Postal New Member

    Beachbug, you mentioned a ‘Steve’ at Goldstar helped you with the rear springs. Is that correct? When the 2” kit they sent me would not work on my ‘94 Atrai due to the rear axle issue, they simply said ‘sorry, go ahead and return it.’ Giving up is not an option. I have upgraded wheels and tires ready to go.
     
  14. Postal

    Postal New Member

    Received a follow up call from Steve (Gold Star Parts) and he agreed the above mentioned set up of the Napa 94008 shocks along with the Hyperco 18SN-300 springs should work for my '94 Atrai 2WD since the HiJet van versions do not have a rear leaf spring design. I am ordering the parts today and will update once everything is all put in place. He also offered to take back the non-useable rear parts for a partial refund and update their site for future HiJet Atrai owners. So far I am pleased with the assistance from Steve and GSP.
    Regarding the above comments of possibly rotating the axle to avoid stressing the u-joint and the lengthening of the Panhard rod, I checked with a couple suspension / lift shops and they felt that a 2" lift should not require either of the above changes. However, they did point out that since the size of all components is smaller than most vehicles they deal with (midsize and large pickups), the changes in angles could be more dramatic. Furthermore, rotating an axle can sometimes be an involved process due to the potential remounting of shock brackets and other suspension and brake components. Again, once I have all the new components in place I will update the thread.
     
  15. Russell Beddes

    Russell Beddes New Member

    beachbug21 and Postal, any updates on this? I guess everything worked since beachbug21 updated his signature with the parts and no one has continued the thread. Any hiccups you guys ran into?
     
  16. Postal

    Postal New Member

    The NAPA shocks and Hyperco springs were a perfect solution. No special tools needed. Top bolt for each shock was a little difficult to reach but nothing a little patience couldn’t overcome. Now to find the KYB struts for the front.
     
  17. Russell Beddes

    Russell Beddes New Member

    Thank you. Did your axle stay centered or did you have to adjust the panhard link length?
     
  18. Postal

    Postal New Member

    Nothing needed to be done to the Panhard part.
     
  19. beachbug21

    beachbug21 New Member

    About a year later and zero issues. The setup worked well and the van lives in a place that 4wd so I use it all the time. The setup I used had been good and the Cv axles look good and the suspension is solid, and it gets worked out here driving on the beach. If anyone has any questions let me know!
     

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