GV - Calmini lift kit or Rocky Road (New Idea)

[bendev]

hey everyone,
what do i do?
I need to lift my 2002, 2-Door Grand Vitara but which kit do I go for?
Do I use the Calmini kit and a 2" body lift?

http://www.puresuzuki.com/2.5%20Lift.htm



or do I go with Rocky Road Outfitters
and there 4.5" lift/body kit.

http://www.rocky-road.com/rocksteady.html



Has anyone used either and what do you think is better?
Calmini, in there kit, give you free wheeling hubs for the front, will I need them if I go with the Rocky Road Outfitters Kit?

With the Rocky Road Outfitters kit does it have a bumper relocation kit?

Come on guys, who can help? Which is better?

Or who can tell me where to go and get this information?

Thanks
ilija

[mmhey]

what size tyres you want to run? 4.5 inch body lift sound scary.

[cj]

IMHO don't get the Calmini body lift as they don't use solid spacers.

You can get the OME kit that Rocky Road use from any ARB Dealer. If you want to still add coil spacers then get a hold of Bruce on the NBS4x4 forum as he makes them.

Having had Calmini on my Vits and seen a kit on a Club Members GV I'm not that impressed but they do have a place if you are prepared to tweak them.

[Gwagensteve]

I think you'll find the RR kit contains a 2" BL, the balance being from suspension lift.

Steve.

[TheOtherLeft]

Liam from BBM has a lifted GV shorty. I think it's 4 or 6" with both suspension and body lift.

What's better is that it's all engineered even with the airbags.

I've seen it a few times and looks impressive, even though it still on runs 225/75R16.

[MUD-PIGSIERRA]

As said the Calmini kit uses box section for the body lift which is not cool, IMHO I think body lifts on Vitara's aren't that great unless you got a work shop at your disposal or are a good metal worker, things like fitting a bar up that matches up with the body gear sticks and other little things. The Calmini suspension lift is okay but I think the front struts are cheap and nasty and the springs are probably a little harsh for the front. I havent heard much or had anything to do with the rocky road kit, but have fitted up the Calmini kit with a good mate and its a good kit and good instructions but I still think it could be better enhanced say with OME Struts and custom King springs on the front.

You haven't posted what you plan on running in tire size but in most cases anything more than a 31" tire your going to need to start doing body work unless your limiting suspension travel which defeats the purpose of suspension lifts really...?

Just as a example and out wheeling on the weekend SiKid a member on here has a awesome setup with OME suspension lift and he is running 31" MTR's with no scrub, all he needs is a rear air locker and it goes most places I take my Sierra, yet its very drivable on the road and doesn't stick out like dogs balls.

Im sure he wont mind me posting a pic of his rig....

[bendev]

hey guys thanks heaps for the posts.
I'm thinking of running 225/75-16 maybe 245/75-16.
I've found another place that makes lift kits, I've e-mailed them but no response yet.

http://www.zukination.com/suspension.htm

Still now clear answer on what to do.
thanks again and don't be scared to post pictures in my post. the more info. and pictures i believe the better.
thanks again
ilija

[just cruizin']

Have you looked here

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/phpBB2/ftopic139324.php

[SiKiD_01]

looks like you've already got your mind set on a 'kit' from the states.

is there a reason for this?

calmini would be my preference bar the BL. i am not a fan at all of BL, as i used to run a 3" in my previous vitara.

how much do you want to lift your GV, and how big of tyres do you want to run?

are you not interested in supporting local businesses?

free wheeling hubs are good, as the auto hubs aren't as strong. will also save you some fuel too.

"still no clear answer as to what you should do?" what do you want to do? calmini have a good kit, but if you run with anything else, you will need to adjust and cater for all your camber issues and also what of the ball joints in the suspension. as far as i know, the rear of the GV's run a 5 link. so what about the panhard bar?

i have full OME in my current vit, and on road is extremely good, and off road, i am only held back due to lack of lockers.

[bendev]

looks like you've already got your mind set on a 'kit' from the states.

is there a reason for this?

how much do you want to lift your GV, and how big of tyres do you want to run?

are you not interested in supporting local businesses?

The Idea of getting a kit is that it's all been tried and tested? or am i wrong?

I want to run Kumho KL71 245/75-16 which work out to be around 30.6" high.
or
do i just got for the 225/75-16's
(see picture below)
if so what size lift do I need for what tyre combo. I'll be using the standard alloy rims if that helps.

As for supporting local businesses, why is it that I can buy OME cheaper in the USA than i can in Australia, aren't they made in Australia?

My Question is how high can I lift my GV without suffering cv bind issues, can I run an OME 30mm lift kit and then use 50mm spring spacer?

I really need to lift this GV of mine but I just can't make my mind up on how.

Thanks again guys.

[fordy1]

you should be fine with a 60mm to run the 245/75/16

this one only has a 35mm lift with that size tyre but no inner plastic guard as the tyres removed them

[cj]

Fordy1 don't forget that the XL-7 has more clearance in the rear wheelwell than GV's.

[bendev]

After reading reports about the Calmini rough ride and cheap shocks I decided against getting them and as for rocky road I didn't like it as it was mostly a body lift more than anything else, so I went out and purchased some +30mm OME springs and shocks, but what do i get next? I was thinking of getting the front diff drop brackets, 50mm rear spring spacers and 30mm front spring spacers. I was going to use rear shock spacers and panhard rod extension bracket.

Do i need to use front strut/shock spacers?
Do i need to get any brake line extensions?
Do i need to get a prop shaft spacer? (for the rear diff)
Do i have to do anything special apart from use camber bolts to fix up the front camber?

I'm planing on getting 225/75-16 Kumho KL-71 (see below) and was just wondering if I'm doing anything wrong?

The OME stuff isn't getting fitted untill I figure out what to do with the rest of it. There fore I can't get the bigger tyres, which in turn means I can't take the GV out too far. I'm hanging to take it out for a drive. anyway.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again.

[cj]

How high are you trying to lift it? It's not like you're fitting big rubber with 225/75R16's.

[bendev]

Well if I could get away with 3" to 3 1/2" suspension lift that would be good.
I just don't want the tyres rubbing when I hit bumps and stuff.

[TheOtherLeft]

Mate,
I have a 2002 shorty GV. It has a standard OME 35mm lift. I run 225/75R16 Firestone Firehawks. It rubs ever so slightly at the bottom of the front wheel arch, ie the tyre wears away the dirt but no plastic, and this is only at full lock. There was no need for any other modifications - diff drop, camber adjustment etc.

If it's only 225/75R16 you want to run then you don't need any more lift then that.

I've also changed to manual hubs and 5.12 diffs as I also put in a rear locker.

I'm not sure why people have obsessions with big lifts if they only go moderate tyre size increases.

[bendev]

from what i'm reading, if i go 245/75-16 I have to cut plastics and all sorts of stuff.

[cj]

from what i'm reading, if i go 245/75-16 I have to cut plastics and all sorts of stuff.

There is a bit of a difference to running 225/75R16's and 245/75R16's. You need to decide just what it is that you are going to run and then modify accordingly. You gearing is going to suffer a bit with 245/75R16's.

[bendev]

There is a bit of a difference to running 225/75R16's and 245/75R16's.

Kumho 245/75-16 are 30.6" high
Kumho 225/75-16 are 29.5

Is there that much of a difference for the extra inch?

[TheOtherLeft]

There is a bit of a difference to running 225/75R16's and 245/75R16's.

Kumho 245/75-16 are 30.6" high
Kumho 225/75-16 are 29.5

Is there that much of a difference for the extra inch?

29's rub a little, 30's rub more. Simple as that. If I ran 30's then I would be rubbing all over the place and would need to cut plastic, possibly metal also.

Agree with cj on the gearing also, it was noticeably on the 29's with standard gearing (8% speedo difference). It was really noticeable going up hills as I had to floor it most times to even try maintaining speed. So going to 30's will make hills unbearable.

[suzukiboy]

Is the Grand Vitara different under the guards......? I run 30" MTR's on my 1995 Vitara with Calminin 3" lift and I get no rubbing at all.

[cj]

Is the Grand Vitara different under the guards......? I run 30" MTR's on my 1995 Vitara with Calminin 3" lift and I get no rubbing at all.

Yes and 245/75R16's are basically a slightly narrower 31"

[Huggy]

you can cut the plastic without it effecting the way it looks from the outside


(little tyres were only on the front as i hadent got an alignment )

[fordy1]

not sure on the 2door but the above mentioned XL7 felt good while driving it, as far as gearing goes.

[TheOtherLeft]

you can cut the plastic without it effecting the way it looks from the outside


(little tyres were only on the front as i hadent got an alignment )

Geez the tyres on the back look awefully close to the bottom of the guards. Do you get any rubbing?


For some reason the front where the bullbar joins looks out of place. I know why it's there but it just looks wrong.

[Huggy]

the reason it was out of place i smacked something and bent the bullbar .There was no rubbing on the back or front

[Toecutta]

I would go the Calmini stuff, I played around with just coils before, but kept breaking CVs so I then put in the Calmini kit. With the arms and drop brackets for the front diff my CV's held up alot longer.

I ran 255/70R16 and a 1 inch body lift, all that was needed was a little trim of the plastics, but you didn't notice it had been done. If you go for a bigger body lift you will have dramas with both the front and rear bars.

PS 255/70R16 is the biggest tyre that will fit the space for the spare, 245/75R16 won't fit
My 2c

[dearot]

I would go the Calmini stuff, I played around with just coils before, but kept breaking CVs so I then put in the Calmini kit. With the arms and drop brackets for the front diff my CV's held up alot longer.

I ran 255/70R16 and a 1 inch body lift, all that was needed was a little trim of the plastics, but you didn't notice it had been done. If you go for a bigger body lift you will have dramas with both the front and rear bars.

PS 255/70R16 is the biggest tyre that will fit the space for the spare, 245/75R16 won't fit
My 2c

How is the ride?? I heard that Calmini is very stiff n bumpy.

[Rotazuk]

Don't mean to thread jack but wondering the same question about the calmini kit . All I want is ~29 tyre so the 2.5 would be fine by the look of it . Also I have a diesel GV so wondering if the slightly stiff calmini stuff would be good in this case ?

Any feed back from anyone with it on how stiff it was ?

Chris

[suzukiboy]

I have had the 3" Calmini in my 2 door Vit for years, it is a hard ride but not too bad, done 70 000 klms with it installed and it is still fun to drive.