Another suspension lift thread... (SA zook owners help me!)

[Campster123]

Hey all,

picked up a 91 tin top sierra on the weekend. The car's in pretty solid nick but other than bull bar, roof racks and cd player its pretty much stock.

I've got about $2000 to play with to get it performing nicer off road (although after a quick burst earlier this week she performed suprisingly well for stock).

I'm looking to do the typical 2inch suspension lift + 31inch tyre combo (aswell as, money pending, snorkel + perhaps extractors).

Problem is the few places I've called so far about the suspension lifts are damn expensive in comparison to what I've seen posted. I was expecting to pay up to $1100/1200 fitted for the suspension kit but it looks like I may be dreaming.

ARB quoted me $1500 fitted for the OME kit ($1200 parts) and TJM quoted me $1500 for parts only (!) for thier XGS kit.

Do any SA members have any reccomendations of who to check out and/or who stocks good performing but perhaps slightly cheaper kits?

Thanks,

Adam

Oh and is the 2inch suspension lift enough for 31's? Or would I be looking at a 2inch body lift aswell? If so where can I get that done?

[crispy]

doing it yourself saves a bit of coin...if you have any mechanical know how...as it isnt overly difficult
where abouts in sa are ya?

[Campster123]

Yeh I've got a bit of average knowledge. I've got a few mates though who pretty much do all the work to their cars themselves (including raising, engine swaps and more) so I could get them to help me. Only problem is time is a bit of a factor as theres a trip im planning to head on in a couple of weeks and if theres one thing my mates aren't, its fast...

And I'm in St Georges (Burnside area)

[lay80n]

Dont discount 2nd hand gear too. if you were closer i have a set of 2 inch springs just sitting round from when i SPUA with 31's ages ago. 2Nd hand stuff is okay if you are gettin good gear, and the $$ are good too.
Layto....

[Campster123]

Yeh I wouldn't mind going 2nd hand - less I have to invest into this car the better!

Out of interest where would you guys reccomend for finding 2nd hand suzuki parts? or 4wd parts in general?

[lay80n]

Yeh I wouldn't mind going 2nd hand - less I have to invest into this car the better!

Out of interest where would you guys reccomend for finding 2nd hand suzuki parts? or 4wd parts in general?

Here for starters, there seems to always be zook parts going for good prices. E-bay always has stuff too, but beware of dodgy stuff. I saw a roll cage the other day, owner claimed it was great, except when the pipe was bent it was also crushed and the welds looked like the boogers i picked out of my nose last time i had the flu!

Layto....

[Campster123]

Yeh I wouldn't mind going 2nd hand - less I have to invest into this car the better!

Out of interest where would you guys reccomend for finding 2nd hand suzuki parts? or 4wd parts in general?

Here for starters, there seems to always be zook parts going for good prices. E-bay always has stuff too, but beware of dodgy stuff. I saw a roll cage the other day, owner claimed it was great, except when the pipe was bent it was also crushed and the welds looked like the boogers i picked out of my nose last time i had the flu!

Layto....

Lol, so it was quality then?

[gecko270]

Have you checked out http://www.suzisport.com/shop/

Under performance parts - sierra/samurai 1.3, they have a 50mm leaf lift kit for $795. I've brought from them before and they are pretty quick with delivery. Don't mind their stuff either. Derek is pretty good too. You might be able to ask him to exclude the shock (which are not so good) and get a set from pedders. Should be a better ride.

[Campster123]

Hmmm, what about if I went those leafs + bushes then OME shocks? (or are the pedder ones better? what pedder ones would be suitable?)

Sorry about all the questions guys, really wanna get this right!

[Gwagensteve]

Campster, go the OME kit.

If you pay $795 for suzisport springs, you will need to add about $540 for OME shocks + bushes. thats 1315 parts only, about $1400 with bushes, no fitting.

No saving there.

I don't really rate pedders shocks.

Steve.

[CHOPS1]

Hi campster, whatever you do dont get anything from 4wdsystems! i learnt the hard way. Go the ome stuff, its the better stuff around.
Not to sur if the shocks will be long enough, from what people say on here. the ome shocks can restrict down travel, i have commodore shocks in the front and hilux rear, but had to lengthen bumpstops to stop the shocks from bottoming out.

Chop

[Gwagensteve]

I am not an ARB employee, but I can assure you that the OME shocks are as long as you can run without bumpstop spacers. They do seem to short when you see the droop that is in the springs, but the shock mounts (and other design issues) are the limit here.

Steve.

[Eff]

I managed to get a full 2 inch efs setup with shocks bushes u bolts etc brand new for $750 (unfitted). It did help that I knew the guy who sold me the bits but im sure you could find something around for a similar price.

[Campster123]

Well Adelaide Off Road have just quoted me $1330 fitted for the full OME kit. ~$1000 (a bit over) for parts. Is this starting to sound a bit more reasonable?

On a side note my clutch started to totally give way on the freeway last nite :( So no car for Adam till at least Monday (I'm getting a total service and check done aswell as the new clutch). Out of interest, if I went a heavy duty clutch would it be to frustrating for off road work?

Also, anyone know of any second hand 4wd tyre places in Adelaide which have a decent range in (probably looking for AT, or maybe some MT's with decent onroad durability)? The Used Tyre Mart (apparently specialising in 4wd tyres...) had no second hand 4wd tyres in. Their Centipedes were $170/wheel I think new.

[CHOPS1]

Try lonsdale, there are a few used tyre places in there!

Chop

[Watto]

Hmmm, what about if I went those leafs + bushes then OME shocks? (or are the pedder ones better? what pedder ones would be suitable?)

Avoid the Pedders Shocks, I am in the middle of getting my vitara lifted 2" through Pedders. Originally they fitted mine with Pedders gear, I now have Kingsprings and am going back a third time for OME struts/springs in the front as they still haven't lifted the front!. Avoid Pedders, did I mention that OME struts are cheaper than Pedders??? I know you have leaf but just letting ya know my experiences with Pedders.

[Gutless]

Hmmm, what about if I went those leafs + bushes then OME shocks? (or are the pedder ones better? what pedder ones would be suitable?)

Avoid the Pedders Shocks, I am in the middle of getting my vitara lifted 2" through Pedders. Originally they fitted mine with Pedders gear, I now have Kingsprings and am going back a third time for OME struts/springs in the front as they still haven't lifted the front!. Avoid Pedders, did I mention that OME struts are cheaper than Pedders??? I know you have leaf but just letting ya know my experiences with Pedders.

pedders are hacks. Avoid them no matter what type of vehicle you drive.

[Boopa]

Hmmm, what about if I went those leafs + bushes then OME shocks? (or are the pedder ones better? what pedder ones would be suitable?)

Avoid the Pedders Shocks, I am in the middle of getting my vitara lifted 2" through Pedders. Originally they fitted mine with Pedders gear, I now have Kingsprings and am going back a third time for OME struts/springs in the front as they still haven't lifted the front!. Avoid Pedders, did I mention that OME struts are cheaper than Pedders??? I know you have leaf but just letting ya know my experiences with Pedders.

pedders are hacks. Avoid them no matter what type of vehicle you drive.

ditto....used them once and never again

[flavze]

i got qouted around $980 for ome dakar gear for a full 2 inch lift kit from a 4wd joint in Mt Barker. That seemed pretty much book price.

[Campster123]

Was that fitted? I work in Mt Barker so getting it done there is no problem?

[super zook]

where are you planning to wheel? Doing it yourself requires being able to undo a nut and putting it back on, by the way dont do the bolts and nuts up tight until its on the ground as the bushes might bind and twist. Thats if you do it yourself