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I did drive a 63 with Thor springs - not bad overall, but it did settle on hard takeoff more then I'd like and it exagerated the torque steer, and leaned more then I'd like in turns.... if it was a dedicated adventure rig I'd probably be more okay with it.... but I've got a built 80 series for that on 35's... for someone who's looking to improve ride quality and perhaps even handling widening the track / tire size and if needing just a bit more lift, spacers seems a better route.... and cheaper without getting into the slide of new lines, control arms, caster shims, driveshafts etc...
Seems so strange why AMG would continue to use a set up that drove so poorly on road when aftermarket shock manufacturers can improve the ride?
I wont ever take mine offroad so fast on road driving is what Im looking to improve, not so worried about it being a bit hard but really hope I can reduce body roll in corners
Im not a fan of the Fox shocks for one reason. The hose is too short to properly place the reservoir away from the exhaust. I had to bend my fender well out. I wish I would have got the Kings.
Seems so strange why AMG would continue to use a set up that drove so poorly on road when aftermarket shock manufacturers can improve the ride?
I wont ever take mine offroad so fast on road driving is what Im looking to improve, not so worried about it being a bit hard but really hope I can reduce body roll in corners
Widening the stance ( spacers or different offset rims) and wider tires will help cornering - combine that with a more dynamically valved shock and adjustment options and it's pretty impressive what she'll do... I've built multiple offroad adventure and expo rigs, prior to this was a sc'ed 200 series Landcruiser with a Baja / Icon stage 6 14" long travel kit.... a bit different and crazy to build, but the G is 90 % of the ride and composure onroad... offroad is a different story.
BTW - I do agree with Mike on the Fox's but they worked with a bit of adjsutment..... I'd do Kings perhaps if I did it again..... wish Icon would build a set but Dylan didn't seem interested, even offered to drop my truck for beta development for a few weeks this summer.....
Hi, new to the forum. Just bought a 2013 G63. I've been doing some research on mods to get it more into an off-road configuration It's all stock right now. By off road I mean deer hunting in Tennessee and maybe some Colorado/Arizona trails, nothing too "technical." I was thinking maybe a 30mm spacer lift and then getting a new set of whees and some A/T tires. Would love to hear your recommendations on suspension, tire and exhaust. Thanks!
I'm happy with my setup after a trip to OR and back and some time on Moab and Telluride trails..... it'll go anywhere with lockers that you dare to.... but rocks and brush cause concern more then in my other rigs.. Fox's and 40mm spacers fit the 305 AT2's with no rubbing. and going to a wider stance improved handling substantially along with the Fox's. Wife didn't like it much at first but loves it now.... the downside of the 63's is it really requires a 20" rim to clear the calipers unless you get a unique rim.... Forgestar has done an 18" in 18x 11 that supposedly cleared by 3-4mm , but I didn't want to go that wide nor was it avail in the pattern I wanted. for Exhaust - I love the Akra on my C63 but at 9k..... the MBHP is likely my choice given it has turn downs vs. the exposed tips.... or I may have my local shop fab a setup out of some Burns stainless cans and downturned tips... I like the tone they tend to have - similar to the Akra in it's deep exotic rumble...
I really love your setup. I'm thinking about doing the Fox 2.0 shocks with a modest 30mm spring spacer. I'm planning on 285/45 R22 Toyo open country AT2. I'm worried about the spring spacers. Are they bad for springs and shocks? Will they do harm to the suspension geometry and other stuffs like the diff, the transmission and so on? Used to have a heavily modded Tundra and other truck drivers just hate the spacer lift.
I love the fox's - best thing I've done to the truck.... I'm only running a 40mm spacer but fit a 35" for a few weeks without issue other then minor rubbing on fender liner - the 305's are wider by far and have no rubbing with the wider offset.
spacers IMHO keep the spring rates needed for the 600hp mass, but the spacer just allows for a bit of extra clearance - without any of the issues of camber, driveshaft vibration, rear end alignment / track offset etc....
22's seem streetable only.....is your rig a 63 ? if so the wider tires may be worth considering even if you need to use a spacer on stock rims...
I love the fox's - best thing I've done to the truck.... I'm only running a 40mm spacer but fit a 35" for a few weeks without issue other then minor rubbing on fender liner - the 305's are wider by far and have no rubbing with the wider offset.
spacers IMHO keep the spring rates needed for the 600hp mass, but the spacer just allows for a bit of extra clearance - without any of the issues of camber, driveshaft vibration, rear end alignment / track offset etc....
22's seem streetable only.....is your rig a 63 ? if so the wider tires may be worth considering even if you need to use a spacer on stock rims...
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Yeah I have a 63. So maybe 305 tires with 15mm wheel spacers?
I'd agree... Fox Performance shocks here with Thor springs, and BFG KO2s in 305/65R18's. Using the old G55 AMG OEM rims that are 9.5 inches wide with an et of 50, along with 50mm wheel spacers. I'm going to try and move up to 325/65s and BFG KM3s this summer.
Worked well so far on Moab (Fins 'n Things and White Rim) trails and in the Telluride/Silverton area, hoping to get back in Colorado this summer to do the Alpine Loop.
Last edited by Limey Hooligan; Mar 7, 2020 at 09:59 AM.
Are you guys installing spacers because you are running larger wheels and tires or because it's a requirement of the Fox install with the external reservoir? Also, does anyone have any links with the install instructions for shock swaps? Ordered the Bilstein B4 as I will not be off-roading at all, but contemplating sending back if it is really worth the extra money. Thanks in advance!
I'd agree... Fox Performance shocks here with Thor springs, and BFG KO2s in 305/65R18's. Using the old G55 AMG OEM rims that are 9.5 inches wide with an et of 50, along with 50mm wheel spacers. I'm going to try and move up to 325/65s and BFG KM3s this summer.
Worked well so far on Moab (Fins 'n Things and White Rim) trails and in the Telluride/Silverton area, hoping to get back in Colorado this summer to do the Alpine Loop.
With that spacer, do you have anything to help with caster issues on your G? How does the ride feel after installing the spacer? I'm planning to do a 30mm spacer in the next couple weeks.
The truck still tracks straight and I have no issues with shimmying or steering feel (if you think the G has any to begin with... ha). The one effect of big wheel spacers is a reduced braking effectiveness, but since these aren't sports cars I don't really notice it. That may also have been offset with braided brake lines that help maintain brake fluid pressure. I also got a heavier duty front panhard rod installed for lifted Gs, and that may help as well. No real issues here! I've been on a long road trip out to AZ and UT back to TX, cruising at high speed on the freeway for several hours a day.
The truck still tracks straight and I have no issues with shimmying or steering feel (if you think the G has any to begin with... ha). The one effect of big wheel spacers is a reduced braking effectiveness, but since these aren't sports cars I don't really notice it. That may also have been offset with braided brake lines that help maintain brake fluid pressure. I also got a heavier duty front panhard rod installed for lifted Gs, and that may help as well. No real issues here! I've been on a long road trip out to AZ and UT back to TX, cruising at high speed on the freeway for several hours a day.
Thanks for the reply! Do you have the link for that panhard rod?
Just to be clear, this thread talks about 2 different types of spacers: spring (lift) spacers and wheel (wider track) spacers. Sometimes the cross-talk can get confusing.
Last edited by Limey Hooligan; Mar 13, 2020 at 06:49 PM.
Yes, I assume so, I can't comment since I had the thicker panhard rod installed with the lift. So no experience with the lift without it....
In fact, I went to the GfG website and noticed that they offer the heavy duty panhard now for the rear axle, that's new. Just ordered that one too - can't hurt to have the heavy duty stuff on the truck when offroading...
I'll take some pics and post them up, comparing stock rod to the heavy duty rod.
Last edited by Limey Hooligan; Mar 14, 2020 at 12:47 PM.
I used my G63 with 4 adult passengers for the first time since I got it today and noticed it was less jumpy and more settled in the road so I guess the extra weight on the chassis helped it especially over the rear axle thats without a sway bar.
Thicker rods reducing roll would be a nice easy upgrade, so is it really that simple
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