Outer Limits 4x4 Board

I am living in Canada and have a suzuki sidekick 4 door ( 4 cyl)(vitaria in Australia) that I have bought a 3 inch body kift and 1 inch coil spring spacer. So I have 4 inches of lift. Anyone try this? or have any comments on the 4 door. I want to set this up more for camping than hard core rock crawling. Any one hae expierance in the bush with a stock or lifted 4 door?
Thanks

Have a look at Whitvits' Vitara:

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... hp?t=48591

with a 3" BL and 1" coil spacer, you should be able to run 30"-31" tyres fairly easily.

have a look through the Vitara Bible, there are heaps of info on improving the vitara suspension, more so the rear suspension. the rear is where all the flexibilty will come from, and you will benefit a lot from upgrading the rear shocks to some better and longer ones.

also most all the SWB info can relate also to the LWB. so have a look through the Bible, and see if that will answer any questions.

I have a SWB Vitara, and i also dont do a lot of rock crawling, if any at all, because of where i live (we have no rocks here, just mud) but i have been happy with my vit on 31"s, 3" BL, and 3" Suspension lift. 31"s will be the limit before major mods, and custom work.

and last of all, Welcome to Outerlimits. Good luck.
Steve

Welcome aboard.

There's plenty of LWB Vitaras running similar setups to what you have.

The LWB places greater strain on axles and CV's due to greater weight but otherwise it's all mostly the same stuff as the SWB.

From memory LWB face slightly more issues for rear wheel clearance - ie they need slightly more lift to get the same clearance as a SWB to the front of the rear wheel arch.


With the 3" body lift I would expect that you should be ok for 31"s with a little rubbing.

Hi,

I have done the spacer lift but not the body lift. You may have some issues to resolve in the body left with a few hoses and you may have to consider the radiator. (It mounts to the body and the engine to the chassis).

After the spacers are installed you will need to have a wheel alignment and you will need "camber bolts" as you will have major alignment problems.

As SiKiD said, Check out Whitvit as he has done what you are contemplating.

Cheers

Clive

In the SWB the radiator mounts to the chassis.... i'd be suprised if it mounts to the body in the LWB...

you may have probs with the front LHS brake line with a 3" lift mine is tight with 2" i think calmini supply a new hose with their lift??. Radiator doesnt fit to the body but be aware of other interferences such as the catalytic converter being forced into the aircon reservoir (may have to relocate slightly. Chech the fuel tank filler for enough length also.

I think your intended purpose for the rig is sensible. to modify it to be of rock hopping toughness is uneconomical (although it can be done) If you spent most of your time in the rocks you probally would have a sierra (samuai) its all horses for courses..

rhinoguy wrote:I am living in Canada and have a suzuki sidekick 4 door ( 4 cyl)(vitaria in Australia) that I have bought a 3 inch body kift and 1 inch coil spring spacer. So I have 4 inches of lift. Anyone try this? or have any comments on the 4 door. I want to set this up more for camping than hard core rock crawling. Any one hae expierance in the bush with a stock or lifted 4 door?
Thanks

I've done a 3" bodylift on my 2 door, Heres what I had to change.

1) LHS front brake line needs to be removed at the innner gaurd and remounted 3" lowwer, no big deal you just need a drill bit around 16mm(5/8").

2) Both gear shifters need lenghting, cut them and add 3" sleave, then weld em up.

3) Steering shaft I didn't need to change but I have read where others have had to lenghten theres.

4) I had to replace one of the flexable Brake hoses that are below the Brake boster ( theres two that go from the body to Chassis) One is long enought and can be used again and the other one is just a bit too short.

5) Fuel filler needs to be extened or you can do a tank lift which will also stop your tank getting the crap beatten out of it.

6) If your is a 16v model you will need to change the cast alloy air intake pipe mount abit just to make it line up with the air box again.