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97 Vitara Lift

Tech Talk for Suzuki owners.

Moderators: lay80n, sierrajim

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Posts: 37
Joined: Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:28 pm
Location: Woronora, NSW

97 Vitara Lift

Post by firestick »

Ok so the missus is getting jealous of how much work i do on the patrol and then having to sit back and watch when i go play purely cause she cant. So being the tool i am said "ok bub...ill find out how much we can lift it"

So...ive been reading the vit bible and through it would ask the important questions (i know they are mostly there...but i like confirming things)

2" Body Lift and 2" Suspension Lift is the way to go? (i have some skills to do this kinda stuff my self but they are limited)

Who's the best with decent value in the vit range of suspension and body kits? (OME, Tough Dog etc etc)

With this lift what parts am i going to need and what should i also think about getting (yes i know...shocks, springs, the vit itself but you get what i mean)

Any other useful hints you can give me would also be tops. Im attempting to do the lift on the cheap as she wants other stuff as well (snorkel, spotties and decent bar the list goes on)
Posts: 189
Joined: Sun May 18, 2008 11:41 am
Location: Anywhere

Post by lockdup »

hey mate,

I got 2" suspension lift, OME to the vit. 4 springs and rear shocks for $800 fitted. Then got 30mm coil spacers all round for $120. I works great and flexes well.
2" body lift you can get from "just cruzin" off the forum for roughly $220.

That would be high enough or 31" tyres.
Chuck in a locker and she will be leaving your patrol behind.

lol, Good luck mate
5.12, 34" SUPERSWAMPER, REAR AIR LOCKED
Posts: 1889
Joined: Mon Sep 20, 2004 10:23 pm
Location: Brisbane

Post by just cruizin' »

That price for the Body lift and spring spacers is spot on. And I also agree, go the OME coils and shocks.
;)
Posts: 736
Joined: Sun Jan 30, 2005 2:32 pm
Location: brisbane

Post by gumtree »

by what u have in your signature id put money on the patrol but yes do all that and she will be very happy with the car. only add a locker if uz will really use it, and i mean lifting wheels in big ruts. go good tyres first.
1993 LWB vitara, Front & Rear alloy bars, towbar, spotties, UHF.
Posts: 37
Joined: Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:28 pm
Location: Woronora, NSW

Post by firestick »

Yeah, we weren't gonna go as all out as a locker. But bigger tyres are on the list
Posts: 37
Joined: Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:28 pm
Location: Woronora, NSW

Post by firestick »

The boss has a question...she wishes to know if you have any major problems with steering angles with this type of a lift or does that happen with greater lifts.

She has heard of problems with CV's and steering problems with these models when you lift them.

Also would an upgraded steering damper be necessary.
Nissan Patrol GUII 3L TD Grenade - Snorkel, 35" MT MTZ's, 240 Blitzes, Duel Batteries and a 2" Touch Dog Lift
Posts: 19
Joined: Mon Mar 31, 2008 6:14 pm
Location: brisbane

Post by tails83 »

this is how i did mine so i thought i share the info, this is in a LWB so the commo shocks work well and not to hard.

the rear of mine is set up to flex relly well with no dramas.
dobson lifted springs $100 (cost price thru a mate),
20mm spring spacer $50 from bruce,
VP commodore gas shocks $13 from a wreckers but brand new(give about 7in more travel, no i'm not having any problems with this and not to hard either).
60mm of lift with 235/75/15 tyres. works perfect and cost me $163 for the rear

front i just did a strut mount flip which cost $13 in nuts, bolts and washers with 30mm spring spacers that cost $50 from bruce(i have a bull bar which wieghs it down a bit so maybe using 25mm spacers would be better if you don't have a bull bar).
$63 for a 60mm lift that is perfect and doesn't require diff drop brakets or camber bolts.

all up $226, just need to shop around, worst case it could be done for about $320 with brand new bits.

also i reckon you could fit 30in tyres like this and will easily keep up with a sierra with a 60mm lift and same size tyres. i reccommend removing or just undoing your front sway bar to allow the front end to move a bit more independantly.

also this is just how mine is set up, negitive feed back not required, positive is fine.



THIS IS WHAT I WROTE ON AUS ZOOKERS.
Posts: 223
Joined: Sat Sep 27, 2003 5:10 pm
Location: NW Sydney, NSW

Post by Impulsive »

Mine's a '97 SWB hard top and has:

- Allsprings "standard duty" 65mm lifted springs all around (made 1mm thicker to accomodate the lift, but give standard-like ride, not rock hard like Kings are. No coil spacers

- Rancho "5-speed" adjustable shocks (but only cause I had them laying around, and I have to leave them on setting no.1 anyway or my teeth fall out, and they're not even false!). I would have been happy to use the Cressida ones as per the bible if I didn't have these, which are intended for a Jeep

- Home made A-frame spacer (as per Vitara Bible)

- Flipped strut spacers on the front - standard shocks

- 35mm body lift (doesn't need any mods - standard studs, etc. Any higher and you'll need custom female bolts, etc, and gear/transfer levers will be a pain in the butt)

- Have had 31's on it, but I now run 235's, which I find much more user friendly, especially as I haven't changed ratios.

I did all of this at home using jacks & basic tools. Surprised myself how quickly I did the body lift. The yukkiest part was modding the rear bumper bracket to lift it, but spacers such as skateboard wheels and longer bolts work really well.

Best of luck
1998 Vitara Hard Top 2.0 EFI
65mm springs (by Allsprings)
35mm body lift
Rancho RS9000's
235's on 15in alloys
Flipped strut mounts
Posts: 127
Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2007 7:30 pm
Location: central coast

Post by saffrett »

get some v6 gv front springs and some spacers for the front and some td gemini springs and spacers for the rear.
get some 2in diff drop spacers for the front and some 75mm strut spacers
use xl7 struts as the vit ones are to soft
make a 65mm spacer for the rear ball joint
get some commo shocks and press in your 12mm crush tube in the bottom because they are 10mm
need longer break line
need 13mm tail shaft spacer for rear
all that and you should have with the right spacers 4-5in lift no body
45mm rear bump stop spacer and you can fit 31 on the back
the front i will have to right back when i work it out today
my -13 offset rims are making my 31 it on the fire wall
also get a cast iron front diff out of a v6 gv
1990 lwb vit
4 in lift
winch,lockers,gears, 31's
Posts: 19
Joined: Mon Mar 31, 2008 6:14 pm
Location: brisbane

Post by tails83 »

saffrett wrote:make a 65mm spacer for the rear ball joint
get some commo shocks and press in your 12mm crush tube in the bottom because they are 10mm
hey, did you make the spacer or get it made, i don't have the tools to make it, what is yours made of.

also just use 10mm bolts, i just used the ones from the commodore i took the shocks out of.

other than that i love your style, good quality and cheap. there was no way i was paying $1300 or what ever i was quoted from arb for 40mm lift when for $230 i got 60mm and is just as good as any other me thinks.
Last edited by tails83 on Tue Jan 06, 2009 7:09 am, edited 1 time in total.
Posts: 48
Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2008 10:29 pm
Location: Northside

Post by vit94 »

Hope you cut and paste your posts tails , because i think there getting longer. Have to agree, your Vit looks fine.
Posts: 137
Joined: Sat Dec 15, 2007 4:29 pm
Location: newy

Post by wardy1 »

iv got a vitara with 3 inch suspension and 2in body on 30s stock gearing and i bust a CV driving into my driveway lol delicate little things they are.
Dont forget with a body lift you may need to bend your gear stick in some cases you can just take the boot off and put it on upside down Also with a body lift you may need a spacer for your steering rod.
Posts: 19
Joined: Mon Mar 31, 2008 6:14 pm
Location: brisbane

Post by tails83 »

vit94 wrote:Hope you cut and paste your posts tails , because i think there getting longer. Have to agree, your Vit looks fine.
all cut and paste lol, take to long to write it all out on each forum lol
Posts: 7345
Joined: Wed Jun 02, 2004 3:29 pm
Location: Melbourne

Post by Gwagensteve »

wardy1 wrote:iv got a vitara with 3 inch suspension and 2in body on 30s stock gearing and i bust a CV driving into my driveway lol delicate little things they are.
Dont forget with a body lift you may need to bend your gear stick in some cases you can just take the boot off and put it on upside down Also with a body lift you may need a spacer for your steering rod.
They're not generally that delicate - I've seen them take a fair amount of abuse. sure yours wasn't already worn/damaged?

Steve.
[quote="greg"] some say he is a man without happy dreams, or that he sees silver linings on clouds and wonders why they are not platinum... all we know, is he's called the stevie.[/quote]
Posts: 137
Joined: Sat Dec 15, 2007 4:29 pm
Location: newy

Post by wardy1 »

Gwagensteve wrote:
wardy1 wrote:iv got a vitara with 3 inch suspension and 2in body on 30s stock gearing and i bust a CV driving into my driveway lol delicate little things they are.
Dont forget with a body lift you may need to bend your gear stick in some cases you can just take the boot off and put it on upside down Also with a body lift you may need a spacer for your steering rod.
They're not generally that delicate - I've seen them take a fair amount of abuse. sure yours wasn't already worn/damaged?

Steve.
every cv i have broke had a damaged boot so they probaly were already damaged. anyway its more the lower control arms you have to be more careful they are just so dam low lol.
Posts: 27
Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2003 7:18 am
Location: Brisbane

Post by Rob_macca67 »

saffrett wrote:use xl7 struts as the vit ones are to soft
make a 65mm spacer for the rear ball joint
get some commo shocks and press in your 12mm crush tube in the bottom because they are 10mm
need longer break line
need 13mm tail shaft spacer for rear
I'm using Dobinson xl7 coils in the the rear (free length: 395mm) - works well...

Whats the story with the 13mm tail shaft spacer?? Why do u need that :?:

cheers..
rob
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