[Ashley Nair]

Hello friends,pleeeeeeeeeease help me.The case is: I own a 1999 model 2wd Mahindra Marshal DI-perfectly maintained and in excellent condition.Now, I want to make the front wheels to come out of the fenders, the main purpose being to improve the looks of the vehicle and if possible, to better the handling(which is horrible, to say the least).I know that I can do this by using wheel spacers, but consider it only as a second option since it is heard that spacers tell heavily upon the wheel bearings.Besides, to my knowledge, spacers are not available in Kerala.
Marshals from 2000 have an extended front wheelbase.My questons are:
1.How can I extend the front wheel base of my vehicle other than by using spacers?
2.Can I use the front axle of the Mahindra pik-up?If so, will there be problems with the tyre rad ends? What modifications are to be made? What will be the approximate cost of such modifications?
3.If spacers are employed ,will there be an increase or reduction of turning radius? And is it really bad for the bearings?
4.Can any one suggest where spacers would be available in Kerala and cost per piece?
Pleaserelieve a tormented soul from suffering by answering!

[DesertKing]

Originally Posted by Ashley Nair

Hello friends,pleeeeeeeeeease help me.The case is: I own a 1999 model 2wd Mahindra Marshal DI-perfectly maintained and in excellent condition.Now, I want to make the front wheels to come out of the fenders, the main purpose being to improve the looks of the vehicle and if possible, to better the handling(which is horrible, to say the least).I know that I can do this by using wheel spacers, but consider it only as a second option since it is heard that spacers tell heavily upon the wheel bearings.Besides, to my knowledge, spacers are not available in Kerala.

Marshals from 2000 have an extended front wheelbase.My questons are:
1.How can I extend the front wheel base of my vehicle other than by using spacers?
2.Can I use the front axle of the Mahindra pik-up?If so, will there be problems with the tyre rad ends? What modifications are to be made? What will be the approximate cost of such modifications?
3.If spacers are employed ,will there be an increase or reduction of turning radius? And is it really bad for the bearings?
4.Can any one suggest where spacers would be available in Kerala and cost per piece?

Pleaserelieve a tormented soul from suffering by answering!

1. You can go for opting front disks, will increase the track by aprox 2 inch.
2. you can use different rims which has more nagative offset. Like by putting Gypsy rim, you track will be increased by another 2 inch, if you want more, an expert man can change the position of the PCD plate but this require very good hands and generally not advisable.
If you can efford, you can think about alloy wheel which has got even more nagative offset

[Salikt]

Hi,

Best option is that replace the current differential with Mahindra FC Van's differential. I think you can get a set (front & back) from used markert for aprox. 10K. This is the best method and it will not make any negative impact on wheels/bearings, suspention setup, etc...

As per my opinion spacers more than 1" is not good at all

tks/sadiq

[Ashley Nair]

Thank you, King of the desert! jokes apart, I have seen your machine in 4x4 forum and I must congratulate you for your work on the 540.
Well, unfortunately, I have already changed the 5 rims (including that of spare tyre)to that of an FJ minibus and at present I cannot afford to go for another set(though I would like to).So I will stick to spacers and will get a set of gypsy rims or discs,when my purse gets heavier.
Please tell me whether turning radius will increase or decrease by the increase of wheel base.

[Thank you Sadiq bhai!I have already changed the 5 rims to that of an FJ Minibus.And it may be noted that post 2000 Marshals have only their front wheel base extended and M&M has left the rear differential untouched.Are you absolutely sure that the front axle set up of FJ will suit a Marshall without heavy modifications?

[4x4addict]

To be honest Ashley, these kind of modifcations are not worth the effort. Go with a -tive offset alloys rather than wasting money in changing out the front diff.

[DesertKing]

Originally Posted by Ashley Nair

Please tell me whether turning radius will increase or decrease by the increase of wheel base.

Let me correct you here that you are not going to change the wheel base but by widening your tyres you are actually going to change the 'track'. My understanding says that it will decrease the runing radius if you will have the machanic reset it (I do not know the right technical term but there are some setting in the steering whihc the machanic can do. When you fit the fat tyre on the same rim, the machanic has to readjust it so the tyre does not touch the chasis and in your case, it has to be done vice versa).

PS :: I have gone through some modification which were not adviced by the experts in bigining but I used common sence and focused more on to fix the issue of the draw backs adviced. There were risk involved but I went through. If you want you can have these spacers built for at your in your town or I can request my machanic friend to buy one set in his next visit to Delhi. You have to decide what you want to do. The other option is just have a look of your rim and see if the ceter plate can be shifted inwards (you must have a nice machanic to do this job). New year.. new thoughts.... Carry on...

[Salikt]

Originally Posted by Ashley Nair

[Thank you Sadiq bhai!I have already changed the 5 rims to that of an FJ Minibus.And it may be noted that post 2000 Marshals have only their front wheel base extended and M&M has left the rear differential untouched.Are you absolutely sure that the front axle set up of FJ will suit a Marshall without heavy modifications?

Hi Ashley,

I had the same question which you have, during last year when I was working on my CJ3B. I was planning for a wide track to looks like a Wrangler model. (I droped my project in the middle and gifted the jeep to my brother)

After some discussions about this with our respected jeep guru, Mr. UBS Sir, he told me the best options is replacement with a FC Van differential. I think it has got 2.5" more legth than a MM540 differential (from both sides).

Please check and verify with some experts like Arka. If am not wrong, I think he has done some FC differential change on some CJs and MM540.

Hi Arka can you please add your inputs here.

tks/sadiq

[Ashley Nair]

[King, thanks for correcting me.By wheel base, I did mean 'track' but came to think of it only after sending my post.I have found a workshop at Alappuzha, my hometown,which specialises in modifications for lunatics and they have agreed to make a pair for me.But I will keep your suggestion in mind before going for them.Now let me seek your advice in another matter:
Both front dampers of my Jeep are in good working condition.My mechanic says that the leaf springs are also set in the correct angle.The bushes of the leafsprings are also new. Still the Jeep violently shudders ,especially the front portion, when going through an uneven patch of road or through gutters.Infact, I feel that no shock absorption is happening and the gutter on the road is directly transmitted to the driver.What can be the reason?

[ilangop]

Dear Ashley Nair,
Before getting into such changes it would be nice to go through the following links
Ackermann steering geometry - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ; Camber angle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A suspension and steering system for a vehicle is designed on considering the above parameters under conditions suitable for the payload ranges and the applicable drive terrain conditions.
A modification as you said would improve the aesthetics, but there are all the chances that you would experience a change in the steering feel. In worst cases it could increase your steering effort. So I would advice you to clarify this with persons who have already undertaking such modifications in their vehicles. If possible try for a test drive in any vehicle (be it a Maruti 800, or an SUV), to have a feel of the change in steering effort, and the wheel self alignment after a turn.