Lifetimes have been measured in the pi h(9/2) (yrast) and pi i(13/2) (
excited) bands in the nuclei Ir-181 and (187)AU using the Recoil Dista
nce Method (RDM). The results clearly indicate that the pi i(13/2) ban
d exhibits an increased deformation over the pi h(9/2) band, in keepin
g with the premise that the delayed crossing in this band is due to en
hanced quadrupole deformation.