245's on widetrack Vit

[stinky_wes]

Quick question.

Would 245/70R16's (just under 30") sit under a widetrack (1998) SWB vitara with only a 40mm suspension lift, or a 50mm body lift?

(sorry for asking a well covered question but couldn't find anyinfo for the widetrack model)

[Gwagensteve]

I vote BL - I think that will give you the best solution.


Cj - get your head out from under that sierra and answer a vit question

Steve.

[cj]

It is going to be a little trial and error as not too many have played with the widetrack Vit's. I had 235/70R16's on 7" rims with a 15P offset on a stock widetrack with no issues.....just and 225/75R16's just rub. The tread on the 235/70R16's was just covered by the flares. If you are fitting the 245's to stock rims then they should also just be covered by the flares. The bodylift should allow them to fit without issue but in reality it could possibly be achieved with just 25mm but as I said it will be a little trial and error. As the suspension lift does not alter the body in relation to the bumpstops on full compression it may allow some rubbing but you could look at using the 20mm bumpstop spacers that ARB sell for the Old Man Emu XL-7 suspension and that may solve any rubbing issues.

[rodw]

Stinky

Can't see you will have much problems. I have a standard 1600 Vit which had 16" x 6" factroy rims on it and has 205 R16's on it when I got it with stock susp. Your 245's are only 15mm bigger. I think either a body lift (from Just Cruizin on this forum) or the suspension lift (just) would clear them. I'd go the susp lift first. Really easy to put in and if that does not work, I'd add the BL with the money you saved on the install. Worst case, if they rub because of the 40mm wider tyre, it'll be on the back of the front wheel well when turning and you'd probably get away with removing the plastic guard liner until you get the BL done.

CJ thanks for the info on the bumpstop spacers, somewhere on the forums, I got an ARB part number FK28 for a front bump stop spacer kit. That sounds like what you are talking about. I'll be dropping in on ARB this morning to ask about them as I'm about to space my diffs and struts down and was a bit worried about bottoming out with my setup.

[cj]

Yes, it's FK28. It comes as a pair so if you want to do both the front and the back you will need two sets. It's around $25 a set (I think).

[rodw]

Cj thanks, if that's all they are worth, I'll order them today

Sonds like a funny way to package a kit though, who does one side?

[cj]

I believe that they are required for the front of the XL-7 but they just so happen to fit the rear as well

[rodw]

Thanks cj. Ordered two sets this morning, ARB list price $26 but got them for $23 each.

[murcod]

I believe that they are required for the front of the XL-7 but they just so happen to fit the rear as well

Yes, ARB quoted some bump stop spacers when I was pricing their kit for my XL-7. They're for the front, my guess is to stop their longer shocks from bottoming out?

[rodw]

Their catalog said mandatory on newer model, but optional on the older model. Sorry can't remember the years. It could also be becasue the regulations say you can't alter the suspension travel by more than 1/3 of stock, so a suspension lift might break this rule without the bump stops installed. ARB kits are designed to stay legal, that's why they only do a 30mm lift kit for the Vitara. It seems If you want more lift from OME stuff, you need play around with parts from kits made for other models, but they really don't like it and puff and pant about voiding warranty if you use a part that is not designed for your car. Well that's what they told me a while ago.