another Vitara lift question...

[SiKiD_01]

i have a 89 SWB vitara which has 31"s running on f100 wheels, std 15X8. also has 1" coil spacers, other than that, its pure stock, (apart fron all the guard bashing and cutting to fit the wheels and tyres)

o.k, i'd like to get basically more off-road ability.

question: i read people talking about fitting LWB coils in the SWB. Has anyone actually done this yet? the issue here is that the spring rates will create conflicts with flexibility and ride quality. And along with this, i'll definately need longer shocks up back, and its said that HQ holden shocks do they job a lot cheaper than other options.

i've flipped the tops of the front struts, and it really hasn't made much difference, due to the highly restrictive anti-roll/sway bar up front. otherwise, with the s/bar disconnected, it has approx another inch in droop. so the front end is pretty much useless, unless you spend big $$$.

i know for bigger tyres, and sometimes more room to flex, i can "simply" do a body lift. i can't find anyone up here to help me out, and i dont have all the confidence to do it myself, even though there are threads here which help a lot.

so the main question is about the LWB coils, either from the estate, GV, and on the wild side, the XL7. any info on this is great.

the reason why i'm so cheap about this? is cos i'm a student, with never enough $$$ and its just my "bush pig", which will never become a contestant in a beauty pagent.

thanks again.

[Impulsive]

Howdy,

No doubt Suzuki Viagra will have a chat to you, but here's what I know...

I was gonna put in Gemini springs before I agreed to buy Viagra's Kingies off him. They measure up similarly to the Vitara ones, even in terms of the coil thickness, etc, so there shouldn't be any loss in ride quality...and they measure out about 2in longer

The GV ones will make the ride heavier, particularly in a soft-top, for the reason/s you already gave... the difference in weight between the two vehicles.

I believe Viagra has tried Datsun Sunny and 180B springs as well, but the Sunny ones were a bit soft, even in a stripped out S/T car. Have a look for his thread in the members section.

It's probably really a matter of going around the wrecking yard and doing some measuring with vernier calipers (you can buy plastic ones for only a couple of bux at the hardware store)

I might throw the Gemini (front) ones in the rear of mine just to see how they come up, before I throw the Kingies in if you like. I'll let you know what the result is.

Using springs from the wreckers is a cheap way to do it, because they'll only charge you a few dollars for the springs. Just either get advice first, or choose carefully, or it could add up...

Changing the rear springs is only about a 20 minute job when you get used to it. I jack the whole of the rear of the car up and throw chassis stands under it, release the bottom of the shocks from the diff, and just stick a foot on each end of the diff and the spring basically falls out.

The front can be a struggle, but still do-able on your own, but you'll need a set of camber pins and a wheel alignment when you change the height at the front

Good luck with it, and I'm sure you'll find that you'll have more advice than you need before long. As I mentioned, do a quick search in the members section before you take your wallet to the wrecking yard...

Regards,

Adam

[SiKiD_01]

thanks adam,

you mention the gemini springs... are these front or back?
as we all know, the front and rear springs on the vitara are of different length, and so i thought because the GV has all the same design and stuff, that they would be able to pop straight in, but once again, its the spring rate that i'm not too keen on.

so i take it that the gemini springs, (frnt or back???) go in the rear of the vitara, but what about the front?

i've already installed 1" coil spaces, so i know what the process of installing and removing springs are. the fronts always a head ache!

i'd like to know more info on this from anyone out there, who has knowledge or experience. as the vitara has a sweet rear end, it'd be rude of us not to beef it up for max flex, as the front end only points you in the direction you need to go.

also, just one other thing, since installing the coil spacers, the outside front tyre at full lock either way sort of gets pushed around, rather than rolling around. other words, heaps of positive camber on outside tyre while turning. is this due to the spacers/ height increase? or bad alignment. its been aligned, and checked for toe as well. whats the go?
steering bits all look straight and solid.

thanks, Steve

[Impulsive]

Hi Steve,

As I mentioned, you need camber pins when you lift them. That will become evident when you go to get it aligned after the lift, and it will bring the front camber back in again so that problem you mentioned will disappear.

The Gemini springs I was going to try on the rear of the Vitara are from the front of the Gemini. Ride quality is my main concern as well, as my wife may be using the car during the week a lot to get to work.

I haven't really looked into the front yet, but as far as I could see they measure up about the same in terms of overall spring width and coil thickness, however, as you mentioned, the length is different to the back. I'll let ya know when I have any success there. Hopefully someone else will have advice for us in that regard.

But then, you could always get out the angle grinder and make up your own fully sick springs!!

As I said before, I'll just be throwing the Kingies in anyway, but it will be fun to experiment with other ones to see what fits, and what ride quality you get out of them. I should be OK as mine is a hard-top JLX, and therefore a bit heavier than a soft top, particularly JX, because of the electric doodas and A/C, etc...

Regards,

Adam

[Beastmavster]

Most of the improvement suspensionwise in the vitara is the back... there's only so much you can do with the front due to the IFS, and mine is still pretty similar to yours.

At the back you can use some pretty long springs (I actually have mine wired in as they aren't long enough for the shocks, hence the need for even longer springs than the kings), and with a locker or LSD in the back you can go a heck of a lot of places, just cos it's so easy to get at least one rear tyre down. With the locker that's often all you need.

Body lift in small amounts (an inch or less) is pretty pi55 easy, and I have made and posted soem threads on this topic b4. However it does nothing but give you room for bigger rubber which you already have.

Without a doubt a locker and gearing are the next spots to go. With either you won't believe the difference.

[Dick]

The ole Vitara lift story eh ! been there done that !
I have a 4 door 97 Vit which is lifted about 90mm with springs from ALLSPRINGS in Sydney, this is after trying all sorts of other options.. Kings, OME etc. They make great springs are are good to deal with. Mine are quite soft but still take a load. (good rate). You can get HEAPS more in the rear as Mr Viagra says (seen his in action ! cool) I have tried some old shocks 630mm long in the rear and with these in the springs just hung in there. I have OME struts which are 40 mm longer and inverted mounts. Thats about it for the front otherwise you will have CV issues. Also in the rear if you go more than 50mm , you will need a spacer for the Diff to A Arm. This allows it to drop right down and not bind in the joint.
I also have an 89 shorty Vit and have stuck my 97 springs in that. It lifts about 40mm but is limited of course by shocks. The rate is quite form but ok.. I will run them for awhile until I start MODIFYING it severely !
have fun..
rgds

Dick

[Impulsive]

Hmmm... VERY interested in the A-arm spacer for the rear...

Any pics?

* Heads out to the garage to invent an A-arm spacer *

Cheers,

Adam

[Beastmavster]

You can get HEAPS more in the rear as Mr Viagra says (seen his in action ! cool)

Missed a good show at Ormeau last night Dick. Still havent doent eh A arm spacer or the extended brakelines..... too busy rigging rocklights. Ahhh well always next week

I have tried some old shocks 630mm long in the rear and with these in the springs just hung in there.

Remember this is for a much later model V6 LWB Vitara. They have different suspension arrangements. You will really be pushing your luck with 3" lift on an early Vitara front.

[Dick]

Hmmm... VERY interested in the A-arm spacer for the rear...

Any pics?

* Heads out to the garage to invent an A-arm spacer *

Cheers,

Adam

Yes, its not hard and is the only way to get "proper" droop !

I think I have pics at work, will check and send..

I made mine from 75x75 box section with 4 of 25x25 box section used as "crush" tubes inside. All welded in.. and of course high tensile longer bolts..

[Dick]

You can get HEAPS more in the rear as Mr Viagra says (seen his in action ! cool)

Missed a good show at Ormeau last night Dick. Still havent doent eh A arm spacer or the extended brakelines..... too busy rigging rocklights. Ahhh well always next week
I bet I did !! bugger...

I have tried some old shocks 630mm long in the rear and with these in the springs just hung in there.

Remember this is for a much later model V6 LWB Vitara. They have different suspension arrangements. You will really be pushing your luck with 3" lift on an early Vitara front.

Sounded like a good one !! tryin to download the vid files...
Yeah good point, best check how far the CV can go then work backwards eh..