GV front strut travel

[Rotazuk]

Hi
Does anyone know if the front strut of the grand vitara is similar to the vitara , in that there is 40~50mm of unused compression ?

Can I fit strut spacers to stock susp to get a bit more drop , looking at dropping the diff a tad to match also . This would give me more wheel travel without any lift , not wanted at this stage .

Thanks
Chris

[cj]

They use the same strut but I haven't heard of anyone who has actually checked to see what, if any unused travel is available on a GV. Just remove the spring and then check to see for yourself as at least that way you'll know exactly how big a strut spacer may be required.

[Mugwui]

If your going to go to the trouble of pulling your springs out and put in strut spacers (which does give you more travel) then while your at it, I would highly recommend some 30mm coil spacers as well, if it is a LWB.
Not sure what size you would need for a SWB.

[cj]

If your going to go to the trouble of pulling your springs out and put in strut spacers (which does give you more travel)

Are you referring to more travel or more droop? They are not the same thing. Have you actually measured this?

[joeblow]

If your going to go to the trouble of pulling your springs out and put in strut spacers (which does give you more travel) then while your at it, I would highly recommend some 30mm coil spacers as well, if it is a LWB.
Not sure what size you would need for a SWB.

f@#k!....30mm spacers....that equates to 60mm of lift!

[Mugwui]

Incorrect, it only gives you 30mm of lift. Strut extentions only give you more drop, not lift. The coil spacers give you the lift. I know this because I did this to my own GV 3 weeks ago. Then add a 2" suspension lift, and a 2" body lift and as an overall lift you gain 4" (100mm).

[cj]

Incorrect, it only gives you 30mm of lift. Strut extentions only give you more drop, not lift. The coil spacers give you the lift. I know this because I did this to my own GV 3 weeks ago. Then add a 2" suspension lift, and a 2" body lift and as an overall lift you gain 4" (100mm).

30mm coil spacers in the back will give you 30mm of lift but 30mm of coil spacers in the front will give you about 50mm of lift due to the geometry of the IFS. Also, Joe never said that strut extensions would give you lift he was referring to the coil spacers. Slow down and read.

Now you have said strut spacers only give droop but earlier you said they give more travel. As I said before droop and travel are NOT the same thing. Yes, your strut spacers will have given you more droop BUT the original question was not just about droop but travel. More travel can be gained on a Vit with strut spacers and/or a strut mount flip due to an unused amount of travel available in the front strut on full compression. I have yet to see any figures that relate to a GV which is what Rotazuk was asking about. If you had measured the travel of your strut and then checked it on the car at full compression and droop without the spring present you would be able to see if there was an improvement in travel or not.

[joeblow]

i've never touched a vitara in my life .......







ta cj

[Mugwui]

Incorrect, it only gives you 30mm of lift. Strut extentions only give you more drop, not lift. The coil spacers give you the lift. I know this because I did this to my own GV 3 weeks ago. Then add a 2" suspension lift, and a 2" body lift and as an overall lift you gain 4" (100mm).

30mm coil spacers in the back will give you 30mm of lift but 30mm of coil spacers in the front will give you about 50mm of lift due to the geometry of the IFS. Also, Joe never said that strut extensions would give you lift he was referring to the coil spacers. Slow down and read.

Now you have said strut spacers only give droop but earlier you said they give more travel. As I said before droop and travel are NOT the same thing. Yes, your strut spacers will have given you more droop BUT the original question was not just about droop but travel. More travel can be gained on a Vit with strut spacers and/or a strut mount flip due to an unused amount of travel available in the front strut on full compression. I have yet to see any figures that relate to a GV which is what Rotazuk was asking about. If you had measured the travel of your strut and then checked it on the car at full compression and droop without the spring present you would be able to see if there was an improvement in travel or not.

Firsty, your wrong about the coil spacers giving you 50mm in the front as I said, I did this to my own 3 weeks ago (LWB), it only gives 30mm. I took measurements etc and have seen it for myself, not just talking shit and sprouting off about something I know nothing about like most people on here when it comes to GV's. When I first started asking questions on this forum about how to go about it (lift) I was given all the wrong info and it cost me a lot more than it should have due to people that know nothing about GV's. Accually doing it trumps anything else you may have heard or have been told. Oh and dont take your measurements from your wheel arches as that will also give you the incorrect measurement.

Secondly, Joe has stated that he has never toched a Vit so that includes GV's, So as knowledgeable as he his, if he doesn't accually know about a GV the he shouldn't comment...IT COSTS OTHER PEOPLE MONEY...

Thirdly, Rotazuk doesn't give a rats arse about vit's so why even bring them up. And yes you are right, I did say travel when I should have said droop, my mistake...Now back to the original question, NO, you will not gain more travel with strut extentions on your oringinal genuine zuk struts, only droop. I have tried this too on a LWB, SWB may be different.

In conclusion, if you've never worked on, touched, play with or lifed a GV
KEEP YOUR ADVICE AND YOUR COMMENTS TO YOURSELF, as I said earlier IT COSTS OTHER PEOPLE MONEY. GV's are not VIT's.

If there are any moderators out there, you need to start up a Grand Vitara designated forum within the Suzuki area. Just like the real Forum Sites.

[schmik]

So... if you get more droop, do you lose compression?
If you get extra droop (down travel) and still the same compression(up travel) isn't that more travel.

And, please don't yell at me. I own a GV and plan on lifting it.

It's friday dudes! Only 6hrs till beer o'clock. Chill.

mike

[joeblow]

Incorrect, it only gives you 30mm of lift. Strut extentions only give you more drop, not lift. The coil spacers give you the lift. I know this because I did this to my own GV 3 weeks ago. Then add a 2" suspension lift, and a 2" body lift and as an overall lift you gain 4" (100mm).

30mm coil spacers in the back will give you 30mm of lift but 30mm of coil spacers in the front will give you about 50mm of lift due to the geometry of the IFS. Also, Joe never said that strut extensions would give you lift he was referring to the coil spacers. Slow down and read.

Now you have said strut spacers only give droop but earlier you said they give more travel. As I said before droop and travel are NOT the same thing. Yes, your strut spacers will have given you more droop BUT the original question was not just about droop but travel. More travel can be gained on a Vit with strut spacers and/or a strut mount flip due to an unused amount of travel available in the front strut on full compression. I have yet to see any figures that relate to a GV which is what Rotazuk was asking about. If you had measured the travel of your strut and then checked it on the car at full compression and droop without the spring present you would be able to see if there was an improvement in travel or not.

Firsty, your wrong about the coil spacers giving you 50mm in the front as I said, I did this to my own 3 weeks ago (LWB), it only gives 30mm. I took measurements etc and have seen it for myself, not just talking shit and sprouting off about something I know nothing about like most people on here when it comes to GV's. When I first started asking questions on this forum about how to go about it (lift) I was given all the wrong info and it cost me a lot more than it should have due to people that know nothing about GV's. Accually doing it trumps anything else you may have heard or have been told. Oh and dont take your measurements from your wheel arches as that will also give you the incorrect measurement.

Secondly, Joe has stated that he has never toched a Vit so that includes GV's, So as knowledgeable as he his, if he doesn't accually know about a GV the he shouldn't comment...IT COSTS OTHER PEOPLE MONEY...

Thirdly, Rotazuk doesn't give a rats arse about vit's so why even bring them up. And yes you are right, I did say travel when I should have said droop, my mistake...Now back to the original question, NO, you will not gain more travel with strut extentions on your oringinal genuine zuk struts, only droop. I have tried this too on a LWB, SWB may be different.

In conclusion, if you've never worked on, touched, play with or lifed a GV
KEEP YOUR ADVICE AND YOUR COMMENTS TO YOURSELF, as I said earlier IT COSTS OTHER PEOPLE MONEY. GV's are not VIT's.

If there are any moderators out there, you need to start up a Grand Vitara designated forum within the Suzuki area. Just like the real Forum Sites.

UM.....i was being sarcastic...i have played with bucket loads of vitaras of all models. the front end of a vit works almost to a 2 to 1 ratio, that is eg 20mm of spring lift or spacer lift will give you almost double at the wheel. i don't know where you are taking your measurements from but they should always be taken from bottom edge of rim to top edge of wheel arch ( THIS IS INDUSTRY STANDARD). so settle down.

[grimbo]

If there are any moderators out there, you need to start up a Grand Vitara designated forum within the Suzuki area. Just like the real Forum Sites.

you really need to learn how to play nicely with the other kids.

Come on a bag the forum as not being a real site isn't a good start.

Mouthing off at people again not a good idea.

Obviously doing no research on here another one

Posting for sale items in other peoples threads not good either.

[Mugwui]

Joe,

That's where I was taking my measurements from until I did some further research to find out that from factory the GV sits higher in the front than in the rear. So unless the Info I have been given by Suzuki is wrong, then the industry standard does not apply to GV's.
I am willing to be corrected but you would expect the specs direct from the manufacturer to be correct.

[joeblow]

whether it sits higher in the front or back has no relevence to the measuring procedure when doing a lift. you measure your vehicle when stock with the way i mentioned at all four corners, then after the lift you do the same measurements with the same wheels you had before- simple. this way will give you how much overall lift you gained from standard, and if its high in the front or back thats called rake angle. so i would suggest you do your research on how aftermarket companies measure vehicles, particularly with spring heights and rates, and also how an inependant front end reacts to lift and you might learn a thing or two. oh and manufacturers would tend to give you specs on bumpstop clearances, which is different and they sit IN the coils. you want measurements from the extreme outer i.e wheel, especially on ifs.

[Mugwui]

If there are any moderators out there, you need to start up a Grand Vitara designated forum within the Suzuki area. Just like the real Forum Sites.

you really need to learn how to play nicely with the other kids.

Come on a bag the forum as not being a real site isn't a good start.

Mouthing off at people again not a good idea.

Obviously doing no research on here another one

Posting for sale items in other peoples threads not good either.

Grimbo, Who pulled your chain!!!!
You clearly haven't done any of you own research or read any other posts. The reason I baddeg this site is because all the info I got was wrong, which has cost me a packet, so I went to other sites and what do know, I get the correct advice with none of this bull shit. No need to worry thought, after todays little episode I'm done with this one. I dont know what it it about the majority of poster on here but it seems to be all about chest thumping, and incorect advice. DONE WITH IT.

[grimbo]

no chain pulling just some helpful advice on how to get along on this site

If this little episode sends you away I'd suggest you may want to stay away form the internet lots of nasty people just waiting to pounce.

But anyway I'd say you should stay as you have some good tech on the GVs and obviously as you have found it is desperately needed.

[fordy1]

LOL this great!!


but to mention i supplied 30mm lifted coils for the front of a 2004 GV LWB and a 10mm coil spacer and the funny thing is it went up 50mm!!

I have also supplied 35mm spacers for the front of an XL7 and it went up 60mm so if you fitted 30mm spacers to the front and got only 30mm i would love to see some pics

( not taking the piss just a GV driver and GV store owner with thirst for knowledge )

[Mugwui]

LOL this great!!


but to mention i supplied 30mm lifted coils for the front of a 2004 GV LWB and a 10mm coil spacer and the funny thing is it went up 50mm!!

I have also supplied 35mm spacers for the front of an XL7 and it went up 60mm so if you fitted 30mm spacers to the front and got only 30mm i would love to see some pics

( not taking the piss just a GV driver and GV store owner with thirst for knowledge )

Fordy1,

I will take some picks for you, just have to give me a couple of week as it is sitting a bit abnormal at the moment as I have taken out the stut extender from the front to have some more made for a mate but when I put them back in, no probs. But yes, 30mm spacers front and rear, 2" B/L, 2" S/L and 50mm Strut & Shock extentions total of 4" lift (100mm)
I was told to put 30mm front 10mm rear, so I did. No good.

[Mugwui]

no chain pulling just some helpful advice on how to get along on this site

If this little episode sends you away I'd suggest you may want to stay away form the internet lots of nasty people just waiting to pounce.

But anyway I'd say you should stay as you have some good tech on the GVs and obviously as you have found it is desperately needed.

It's not just this little episode, it's every time you get on here. wrong advise is costly, and what you read and hear is not always right.
accually doing it doesn't lie.

[fordy1]

Ok umm whats a 2" S/L ???

[Mugwui]

Suspension Lift.

[Mugwui]

Suspension Lift.

[fordy1]

So do you have aftermaket springs struts and shocks plus spacers for a 4inch lift or just 2inch springs and spacers plus the 2 inch body lift?

at the moment i have been playing around with the rear to have a 4 inch lift ( 105mm ) with long shocks,35mm lifted springs and 70mm spring spacer and if i lower the tranfer case i think 5 inches would be fine!! but the wife has to drive it

ps i am waiting for the 3inch coils to get here to remove most of the spacers

[Mugwui]

Yes, the whole lot. After market Springs, Struts, shocks, 30mm Coil spacers front and rear, 50mm extentions front and rear + a 2" body lift.
An overall lift in all 4 corners of 4" (100mm) Level. You dont need a drive shaft spacer but you do need steering link extenders, longer diff breather, and I'm still debating as to wether I need to extend the brake lines, Jury is still out on that one. I am yet to put tyres on it, I am still researching sizes and how much I will need to cut out of the guards, which doesn't bother me as it is a toy, not a daily driver.

[cj]

I don't mind if you stay away

Vits and GV's are not exactly the same but they have a lot of similarities that are applicable including using the same strut. This you would know if you have really done any reasearch. Yes, I have been involved with GV's too but have not taken any measurements with respect to front strut travel hence my comments.

As Joe said, measure from the lip of the rim to the top of the arch or even from the centre of the hub to the top of the arch as that is the spec supplied to DOTARS for compliance and therefore you can look that up and get an accurate comparison to stock height which is not necessarily where you started.

You obviously are suffering from some poor advice and no, not all advice here or on any other forum is always correct but take responsibility for how you spend your money and don't blame others because you listened to the wrong people

Also, just because somebody says that a certain spring will give 'x' amount of lift in a brochure etc. that does not necessarily make it so and I have experienced this too.

If you have an IFS front in your GV that allows a 30mm spacer to only lift it by 30mm then you have a truly unique GV

But yes, 30mm spacers front and rear, 2" B/L, 2" S/L and 50mm Strut & Shock extentions total of 4" lift (100mm)
I was told to put 30mm front 10mm rear, so I did. No good.

It appears that you are saying that you have a 2" suspension lift and 30mm spacers all around but only got a 50mm lift from all of that. How about writing exactly what you have and measuring the distance from the centre of the hub to the top of the wheel arch opening so that we can see exactly how much lift you actually have.

Also, I also wouldn't be listening to anyone who told you to put 30mm spacers in the front and 10mm in the rear either.

[cj]

Thanks Bendev,
With your 32mm spacers all round, did it sit level or did you have to adjust other stuff, as I have been told I should be putting in 15mm front and 30mm rear, this is on my 99 GV LWB but looking at your pics, yours looks just fine to me, also did you or have you found all of the other parts to be nessecary eg: diff drop bracket,panhard rod adjuster, camber bolts, front and rear drive shaft spacers, front shock/strut spacers, rear shock spacers, REAR AXLE HEIM JOINT ARTICULATION 2" SPACER BLOCK, etc etc. I would like to no as I am just about to start the lift on mine and I dont want to spend the dollars on things I'm not going to need.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

All GV sit a little down in the front end so by using same size spacers in both front and back I got the chase to sit level. Diff drop brackets help minimize drive shaft angle, panhard rod adjuster helps center the rear diff after the lift and well you need camber bolts to correct camber. If your using standard front strut / shocks you will need spacers but if your going for after market OME or alike you don't need them for the front but you do need them for the rear to compensate for the extra stretch. Lastly you will need the rear tail shaft spacer as it pulls out way too far from the transfer case. You can see this in my photos earlier in this thread.

Just who on this forum told you to use 30mm in the front and 10mm in the rear?

[Moph]

not all advice here or on any other forum is always correct but take responsibility for how you spend your money and don't blame others because you listened to the wrong people

Definitely. The way I see it, if you're asking for advice on a forum there's 3 options:

1) You are mechanically minded, can critically analyse the suggestions people make, determine possible side-effects and problems on your particular vehicle, decide on a course of action and follow through to obtain a solution that is the duck's guts for your car.

2) You have 'average' mechanical understanding and are looking for general suggestions as to how to upgrade your vehicle. Because you are not capable of thinking through all the implications of each mod, you use this information to choose some upgrades which you then have performed by professionals, or you find someone with a similar vehicle that has performed the mods your thinking about and talk to them in depth about their approach before modding your own. If you decide to deviate from their approach then you're moving into Class 1 territory.

3) You enjoy driving your vehicle but don't understand all the ins and outs of what happens beneath the floor. You look to the Web to find general suggestions as to how to upgrade your vehicle. You take everything with a large dose of salt because you can't foresee the implications of each mod on your vehicle, and seek professional advice before doing any mods. In fact, in many cases you should probably be getting your mods done by those professionals.

I vary between Class 2 and Class 3. I no way am I close to Class 1. If I decide to do a mod for which I don't have the ability to foresee side-effects and problems, why the hell would I get grumpy about those whose advice I followed?

Know your limits and stick with them. All good

Or stretch your limits but don't blame others if you make the odd mistake and it costs.

[grimbo]

I don't mind if you stay away .

I'm just trying out the new Grumpo 2.1 upgrade package

[cj]

So... if you get more droop, do you lose compression?
If you get extra droop (down travel) and still the same compression(up travel) isn't that more travel.

That is the question Rotazuk was asking and yes, you are correct in that if you can gain more droop and still retain the existing compression you have achieved more travel.

You may also find that if you have fitted larger tyres you need to limit compression by using bumpstop spacers so that the tyre won't foul or you could fit a bodylift or even do some trimming or maybe even a combination of these options.

If you go chasing too much droop and it is possible you will start to have real problems with your CV's which is where diff drop brackets come in to the equation.

Of course if you lift it too much you will also experience camber issues which may require the use of adjustable camber bolts to fix the issue.