Outer Limits 4x4 Board

hi

Just a thought i had, i would love to modify a GV or Xl7 to coilover front and back and that said i am a zook nut so i was also thinking of useing a rear vit/GV/Xl7 diff in the front!!

any thoughts !!??

Yes, this is possible. A few of us in the club here in vic have spent a lot of time scratching our heads over this one.

However, it will take fairly deep pockets and might not end up working out that well in a Vitara, but that might depend on how you do it and where you assess the weak point to be.

I will be putting together some over width suzuki based diffs, and the finished width will pretty much match vitara. however, these are for sierras and I think their strength will be adequate, but I don't think they will be ideal for a vitara if the plan was to make the most of the coilovers and run some tyre.

We will be using WT sierra knuckles and hubs, Trailtough doubletough CV's and longside axle, with a 100mm over length shortside.

We are building them with sierra rear centres, but the spline is the same so a vitara rear would work too (and there is at least one guy chasing one set up like this, (eh mugginsmoo ) Obviously, there is a lot of fab in these, as the housings are extensively modified, knuckle and spindle strength may become marginal and tie rod and drag link will be custom.

for our light sierras, we think this will be fine, but for a vitara/grand? peronally, I don't think it would be strong enough to make use of the coilovers/speed potential of a stable car like a vitara. In any case, the rear will be marginal once built anyway.

If the knuckles/spindles are a problem, use a vit centre and something like spidertrax/reid racing/solid axle industries outers, although then the custom axleshafts required will be $$$$$

Personally, I'd go GQ or 80 series front/IFS (best current) hilux rear.

I love suzuki parts (and building suzuki based cars) too, but think there are limits.

I know that celia and eugene barry played with a sierra pased front diff in their comp car but it was marginal and they ended up going 'lux/liteace hybrid (from memory)

Steve.

is it possible to get this kind of set up road legal??

You will have to talk to an engineer in QLD. the first hurdle will be height, links SAS etc, then wheelbearings, brake size.

It will be a major hassle in QLD.

It's easier for us A)because we're in Vic, and b) because a sierra is so light and small to start with, we can build strong easy. Engineering structural parts like knuckles from a lighter car into a heavier one (sierra knuckles into a vitara) is going to be a no no.

Talk to an engineer. I think suzuki parts might not be viable for what you are trying to do.

Steve.

Steve and I have tossed this idea around and I concur with him that trying to use Suzuki stuff in the front especially on a GV/XL-7 would not give a desirable outcome for the cost and effort. You are getter to go with a Nissan or Toyota solution and shave the diffs where you can. It will probably end up being less of a headache, cheaper, stronger and easier to engineer.

ill help with a little of the cost ,,i have a rear diff without the centre that anyone can have but you will have to pay the frieght

if you used the vitara rear you also get the 5.12 diff gears (how much are 5.12 gears for hilux diffs)

flyinwall wrote:if you used the vitara rear you also get the 5.12 diff gears (how much are 5.12 gears for hilux diffs)

Cheaper than a pair of double tough CV's, heaps of custom fab, a custom shortside axle, solid pinion spacer, new tierod etcetcetcetc... and heaps cheaper than a two truck hole when a knuckle busts.

Knuckle strength is a major issue IMHO, along with no viable alternative if TT doubletoughs fail. ITs a lot to ask of architecture designed around a 850kg car. (sierra knuckles) if you want to go to dana style outers, then the $$$$ will get out of control.

I'm not anti vitara based diffs - hell I am building them, but I just don't think they are viable for that application.

Steve.