The UAZ 469 is in demand among motorists due to its high cross-country performance and low cost of spare parts. Some owners perform a body and suspension lift on the UAZ 469. This allows you to increase the distance from components and assemblies to the road surface. You can lift the UAZ 469 in two ways - increase the distance between the body and frame or make changes to the suspension design.
Body bodice and suspension of UAZ 469
Photo 1: Lifted UAZ 469 (source: Yandex.Pictures)
UAZ 469 body lift
This model of the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant is made on a solid frame. It consists of two metal channels connected to each other by transverse jumpers. The model body is attached to the frame along the perimeter with 12 bolts. To reduce vibration transmitted from the chassis and power unit, elastic cushions are installed between the body and frame.
A body lift involves installing spacers between the body and frame. Their height is selected individually, based on the personal preferences of the car owner. To carry out modernization, you can contact specialists or do all the work yourself.
REFERENCE: Some motorists increase the distance between the body and frame of the car by moving the mounting brackets.
Lift kit for UAZ 469
It is possible to install ready-made body lift kits. The lift kit for the UAZ 49 is a set of spacers, washers, nuts and extended bolts. The inserts are made of high-strength material that is resistant to mechanical stress and vibration.
Photo 2: Lift kit for UAZ 469 (source: Yandex.Pictures)
Installing the finished kit is not difficult. A person with minimal technical knowledge can perform the work. Installation is carried out in the following sequence:
- The car is installed on an inspection hole or overpass. To prevent the car from rolling spontaneously, it is necessary to place anti-roll devices under the wheels.
- The radiator mounting rods are dismantled.
- The nuts securing the body to the frame are unscrewed. At this stage, the bolts are left in their seats. This prevents the holes from shifting when the body is separated from the frame.
- Using a hydraulic or screw jack, the body is raised and lowered alternately from the front, rear and sides.
- The body mounting bolts are removed from their seats. Inserts are installed into the resulting opening and secured with extended bolts from the lift kit.
- Press the body to the frame with nuts.
It is important to consider that ready-made kits are not a replacement for standard elastic pillows. The inserts are made of durable material. To avoid the transfer of vibration from the chassis and power plant to the UAZ body, it is necessary to install elastic elements together with the kit parts.
Body lift
The UAZ loaf body lift is carried out using spacers that are located between the car frame and its body.
When choosing specific spacers, please note that aluminum spacers are the most suitable for the price-quality ratio. They are durable and provide rigid attachment of the body to the frame, and are also available on the market in a fairly wide range. Note: The vast majority of spacers that are produced by foreign companies are perfect for the UAZ 452. When installing spacers, the owner of the loaf will in any case have to cut the arches and wings. After this is done, it is recommended to install side mudguards that will protect the glass from dirt. There are various types of spacers, thanks to some of which the UAZ loaf frame moves away from the body by a distance of up to 80 mm. And in combination with large wheels, this increases ground clearance by as much as 15 cm.
Do-it-yourself UAZ 469 body lift
You can increase the distance between the body and frame by using available materials yourself. The UAZ 469 elevator on your own will not require serious financial investments. For modernization, it is necessary to select inserts made of durable material. Polyamide rods work well. You only need to cut 12 pieces of the same height. The material is highly durable and easy to process. The length of the rod is selected based on the planned height of the inserts.
When purchasing, you should consider not only the height of each spacer, but also the width of the cut. Some motorists use hockey pucks instead of inserts. They are made of durable material and fit well in diameter to the mounting brackets. For a tangible lift, install 2 washers for each mounting bolt.
Do-it-yourself body lift UAZ 469 is performed in the same sequence as when installing the finished kit. Before installation, you need to prepare some parts:
- Spacers. Hockey pucks or other durable materials can be used. The height of the inserts is selected individually, based on the personal preferences of the owner. It is necessary to drill holes in the spacers with a diameter that matches the bolts.
- Washers. Steel products are used. They prevent the bolt head from falling through the mounting bracket.
- Bolts. A body lift using homemade inserts will require the installation of longer bolts. In order to correctly calculate their size, it is necessary to sum up the length of the standard bolt and spacer.
- Nuts.
IMPORTANT: The body lift does not increase the vehicle's ground clearance. The location of the front and rear bumpers remains the same. In most cases, a body lift is carried out to increase the distance between the hub and the wheel arch. This modernization makes it possible to install larger wheels on the UAZ 469, which has a positive effect on the vehicle’s cross-country ability.
When the body is raised, the gear shift lever and the accelerator pedal rods change their location. As a result, the power plant operates at high speeds, and there is no possibility of engaging reverse gear.
The problem can be solved by boring the gear lever hatch and replacing the accelerator rods with products of a suitable length. Some car owners install the upper pedal unit instead of the lower one.
Suspension lift UAZ 469
A suspension lift for the UAZ 469 is possible. Modernization involves increasing the distance between the frame and axles of the vehicle. Tuning allows you to install wheels with a diameter larger than the standard one and increase the vehicle's cross-country ability. When performing a suspension lift, it should be taken into account that significant changes in the design can worsen the controllability and stability of the UAZ.
When upgrading, it is necessary to take into account that the power unit, gearbox and transfer case are raised along with the frame. This creates a significant difference between the flanges of the steering wheel and the front and rear axles. If the permissible values are exceeded, the cardan shaft crosspieces will be subject to increased load and will quickly fail.
Photo 3: Spacers for lifting the suspension (source: Yandex.Pictures)
UAZ suspension lift
And now I’ll talk a little about the UAZ suspension lift. It has both pros and cons, like any off-road tuning. I would say that the main advantages of lifting the suspension on the UAZ are the improvement of the geometric cross-country ability of the UAZ, due to the fact that the wheels remain in place, and everything else rises up, except for the axles, of course. Frame, body, components - after the suspension lift, all this will come into contact with the surface of the earth, or even with a stump innocently sticking out in the woods, much later than in an unlifted state. And this is quite logical.
How to lift a UAZ 469 by changing the suspension design (options)
There are several methods for changing the suspension design. All of them are aimed at increasing the distance between the frame and the axles. The modernization method is selected based on the owner’s personal preferences.
Extended spring earrings
For the elevator, spring earrings from the Gazelle are installed on the UAZ 469 car. They are longer and will increase the distance between the frame and the axles. You can use products from other vehicles. When choosing spring earrings, you should not opt for products with excess length. A very large distance between the spring eye and the mounting bracket will negatively affect the stability of the car.
To ensure that the earrings of one eye do not move relative to each other, they must be firmly fastened together. You can connect them using a bolt, after installing a metal tube between the earrings. A piece of pipe is necessary to prevent deformation of the earring during screeding.
Installing the axle spacer
The front and rear axles of the UAZ 469 are attached to the spring with stepladders. A spacer is provided between the spring and the surface of the axle housing. To avoid longitudinal displacement of the spring when the car is moving, the insert is equipped with a spike connection.
To increase the distance between the spring and the bridge, install a thicker insert. It will not be possible to achieve a noticeable lift from replacing the spacer. Using this method will allow you to raise the car by 2 - 3 cm.
IMPORTANT: When selecting a spacer, you should take into account the length of the stepladders securing the spring to the bridge.
Spring preload
Some car owners install springs on the car for the UAZ 469 elevator. They are mounted between the bridge and the frame. The installation of springs is aimed at lifting and giving the suspension softness when driving off-road. For installation, make homemade ones or purchase ready-made brackets. They are mounted on the frame and axle of the car. Welding is used for installation.
Replacing shock absorbers
If changes are made to the suspension design, the shock absorbers will need to be replaced. Standard travel after the elevator will not be enough. The choice of manufacturer is made based on the personal preferences of the car owner. Shock absorbers with valve adjustment work well. Their design allows you to set the required suspension rigidity.
Replacing springs
For the UAZ 469 elevator, some motorists replace the springs. Select a product with a larger number of sheets than on a standard spring. Replacement is carried out in the following sequence:
- The car is lifted and the frame is placed on supports. The spring in this position is without load.
- Unscrew the stepladders of one of the springs. To facilitate the procedure, you should first lubricate the threads of the stepladders with a specialized compound.
- Unscrew the bolts securing the spring to the brackets mounted on the frame.
- Remove the spring.
- Installing a new product. Assembly is carried out in reverse order.
When replacing springs with products with a large number of sheets, their thickness must be taken into account. Installation of springs with increased thickness requires the installation of long stepladders.
Photo 5: Lifted UAZ 469. Photo No. 2 (source: Yandex.Pictures)
Raising the car due to changes in the suspension
There are various ways to lift a car, one or another is chosen depending on the expected result. If the body needs to be raised not too high, it is enough to slightly upgrade the suspension:
- install an additional leaf in the spring;
- replace the springs with more powerful ones;
- remake the fastening elements of the springs to an extended version.
To carry out more serious lifting, usually about 30 mm, various design modifications are used.
- Installing a spacer between the middle part of the spring and the fulcrum on the rear or front axle. This is not difficult to do, and the result will be quite good. You may additionally need to purchase longer mounting ladders.
- Another possibility to increase ground clearance is to install a spacer for the mounting clamps themselves.
These methods are distinguished by the ease of their implementation, and the availability of the necessary parts can also be noted.
