LR3 Lift Kit
1. I don't know what you're talking about with your description of what will put you on bumpstops but I think you're inaccurate. I used very primitive early-adapter versions of modified rods and NEVER was put on bumpstops. I stopped paying attention to what mod-rod products are on the market anymore but I'd venture a guess that any of them would do the job.
2. Your statement only validates the superiority of just having an IIDTool in the truck and calling it good. No modified rods needed.
2. Your statement only validates the superiority of just having an IIDTool in the truck and calling it good. No modified rods needed.
I have seen it happen, so it is not inaccurate. We were out with a local guy who purchased rods that were not from us or Johnson Rods. On the street he was fine, but once it started bouncing around off-road, he had trouble. The bushing was too large and it kept causing his height sensor to freak out and kept throwing an error code and shutting the truck down onto the bumps. Not good when you're running 33s. After some time, we finally decided to try and swap out the rods and all the problems disappeared.
There is no question that an IID tool is a great devise to have if you want to spend the extra money and program the settings. However, many owners don't want that option and just want a simple and cost effective way to raise the height of their vehicle without get into technical programming. Johnson Rods has been providing an excellent lift product for the last five years that has proven to be very successful. They are widely used around the world by thousands of customers. In fact, many Land Rover dealers buy directly for their customers or use them on their demo vehicles at trade shows. An IID tool is certainly another option, but most people choose to use Johnson Rods rather than to invest in more expensive programming equipment. For those who prefer the IID programming tool more power to them. What works for you is what works best. Just get out there and have fun! That's what Johnson Rods are for.
You guys are true pioneers and the community appreciates what you've done with the development of the lift rods. Thank you
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LR Forum Vendor
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 653
Likes: 110
When considering Johnson Rods vs the IID tool, a factor to consider is the wheel camber. With the Johnson Rods install full time, an alignment will correct the wheel camber and allow the tire to travel flat over the terrain thereby improving traction and performance. With an IID computer lift done at the trail, the tires will travel on their outside edge decreasing performance and adding stress to the out edge to the tire which is not good. So choose which way works best for you, but my recommendation is to have the Johnson Rods full time with an alignment and proper camber to improve performance and reduce stress on the wheel and tire. Notice how my tire rides flat with the Johnson Rods in the picture blow. This is the optimal way to set up the vehicle for off road use.
My question is this, very simple. If there is a suspension failure, with whatever you have, or more specifically Johnson Rods (no pun intended) what will happen.
If you have tall tires, will you be dead in the water. It seems like the rods, simply fool the vehicle into thinking it is lower than it is, so mechanically, it could still drop, am I right?
The IID tool, will absolutely be worse.
If you have tall tires, will you be dead in the water. It seems like the rods, simply fool the vehicle into thinking it is lower than it is, so mechanically, it could still drop, am I right?
The IID tool, will absolutely be worse.
Camel Trophy
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,244
Likes: 482
From: North of Seattle
Erik, per your description the OE rods would also be susceptible to bump-stop failures due to bending or jostling...not following your story very well. If the height sensor freaks out, you normally get "out-of-range" faults which put you at normal height, not bump stops. Perhaps there was something else going on when you witnessed the aforementioned incident.
I've been on bumpstops ONCE, and that was when my air shock crapped out. I have 32" tires and had to re-up my EAS with the IIDTool and then pull fuses.
As for the rest of this discussion, it's a bit asinine. Rod-mods and the IIDTool accomplish the same kind of lift (tricking the EAS) but one model does it mechanically and the other, electronically. The resulting potential for issues is the same.
I've been on bumpstops ONCE, and that was when my air shock crapped out. I have 32" tires and had to re-up my EAS with the IIDTool and then pull fuses.
As for the rest of this discussion, it's a bit asinine. Rod-mods and the IIDTool accomplish the same kind of lift (tricking the EAS) but one model does it mechanically and the other, electronically. The resulting potential for issues is the same.
Last edited by houm_wa; May 18, 2015 at 03:58 PM.
Recovery Vehicle
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 831
Likes: 146
From: Herndon, VA
I think there are a lot of misconceptions out there on this subject. While the IID tool and the lift rods may be very similar and accomplish the same thing, the IID tool actually has the advantage in any type of emergency situation that doesn't involve a catastrophic leak/rupture. This is because the lift rods still rely on the rods (themselves), the height sensors, wiring and computer to function correctly. If any one of these components is not functioning within parameters you will get an error. Now, I can't recall off the top of my head which errors will send you to the bump stops vs. which will send you to normal height, but this is not an issue with the IID tool.
In an emergency situation (as long as there is no catastrophic failure - e.g. rupture of an air bag), you can use the IID tool to enter the suspension "build mode" and inflate the air bags regardless of any errors that you may get and regardless of whether the car wants to sink to the bump stops. As long as you don't "re-enable EAS" after entering this build mode, then suspension will continue to hold the height that you sent it at regardless of what the electronics are telling the car to do.
I hope this makes sense.
In an emergency situation (as long as there is no catastrophic failure - e.g. rupture of an air bag), you can use the IID tool to enter the suspension "build mode" and inflate the air bags regardless of any errors that you may get and regardless of whether the car wants to sink to the bump stops. As long as you don't "re-enable EAS" after entering this build mode, then suspension will continue to hold the height that you sent it at regardless of what the electronics are telling the car to do.
I hope this makes sense.
Bad Brake Light switch should do the trick.... What you say makes perfect sense. The important point being to test your system on the bump stops after you have fitted your tires... I am all for the lift rods and own some.
Camel Trophy
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,244
Likes: 482
From: North of Seattle
Agree with cmb...as usual.
Brake Switch takes you to Access Height, not quite bump stops...but re-booting the vehicle clears that condition, then you pull fuses. The most poignant thing that cmb states is that with the IIDTool you can always get back up (barring an air line or compressor failure) and then pull the fuses so that the EAS doesn't do something to let itself down.
Nothing wrong with having both (I have rod-mods in a shoe box somewhere; I was an early-adapter) but once I got my perfectly-calibrated "saved setting" on my IIDTool, what was the point of ever using the stupid rod-mod ever again?
There wasn't one!
A phantom stick coming in and perfectly severing one of the rods? Seriously? That's crazy...and that's when you pull out your spare rod and slap it in. They are like $4.
Brake Switch takes you to Access Height, not quite bump stops...but re-booting the vehicle clears that condition, then you pull fuses. The most poignant thing that cmb states is that with the IIDTool you can always get back up (barring an air line or compressor failure) and then pull the fuses so that the EAS doesn't do something to let itself down.
Nothing wrong with having both (I have rod-mods in a shoe box somewhere; I was an early-adapter) but once I got my perfectly-calibrated "saved setting" on my IIDTool, what was the point of ever using the stupid rod-mod ever again?
There wasn't one!
A phantom stick coming in and perfectly severing one of the rods? Seriously? That's crazy...and that's when you pull out your spare rod and slap it in. They are like $4.