Aussie authorities approve body lift up to 50mm
From http://www.motoring.com.au/lift-kits...o-more-101023/
25 Jan 2016
Australian authorities approve body lift up to 50mm after independent testing shows stability control is unaffected
Independent testing initiated by the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) has found that a 50mm suspension or body lift does not affect electronic stability control (ESC) operation, leading to the abolishment for the requirement of an engineer’s approval for such a modification.
The AAAA, in a process that took two years, has gained government acceptance at both federal and state/territory level for modifications made under the owner certified section of the National Code of Practice covering alterations to a vehicle height.
This led to an update of Section LS of Vehicle Standards Bulletin 14 (VSB14) Version 2.1 on 1 November 2015. In the update, Clause 2.6 was amended for basic modifications on suspension alterations. Clause 2.6 pertains to modifications of vehicles equipped with ESC meeting certain set requirements. This change now permits vehicles to be raised by no more than 50mm, either by suspension modification or a body lift, without requiring testing.
Vehicles with a ride height raised by more than 50mm must still be certified by an engineer to ensure stability has not been affected.
AAAA adopted the same test used by vehicle manufacturers and major component suppliers to simulate vehicle dynamics for the development and testing of new chassis system components, engines, power trains, drivelines, suspension and vehicle electronic control systems.
The tests were conducted with Australian aftermarket 50mm suspension kits on a LandCruiser 200, Jeep Wrangler and Ford Ranger. The LandCruiser and Wrangler were tested in the USA due to cost efficiencies and the US having equipment more appropriate for those models.
AAAA Executive Director Stuart Charity said that “To learn how these issues were being addressed in other countries, we engaged with a range of international experts. Among them was the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) in the USA, which has established a vehicle dynamics program led by their Vehicle Technology Vice President, John Waraniak, who was invited to Australia in 2014 to present to the Australian regulators.
“AAAA then negotiated with the regulators on the range of different vehicle types to be included in the test program. With a path forward identified, local aftermarket businesses contributed $120,000 to fund the testing program with the balance of the cost of the testing provided by the AAAA,” said Charity.
According to the AAAA, in most cases, the performance of the modified was in the same range as the standard version.
The AAAA also says that in some extreme instances the modified vehicles were actually more compliant with ADR 35 requirements than the base vehicles. As expected, the ESC systems on the raised vehicles engaged slightly earlier or more often and used slightly more brake pressure than the base models – due to their higher centre of gravity.
“However, in all cases the measurements recorded were well within the normal operating capabilities of the vehicles’ ESC systems and ADR 35 requirements,” Charity added.
