ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: bentparts on March 12, 2007, 04:30:23 AM
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I recently completed the Hagen widening mods on my 95 Tracker, with a couple of additional mods, like homemade diff drop brackets which lower the front diff 1". Once I got the alignment squared away, test drives proved the handling benefits without a doubt. Tracks straighter, handles uneven ground more stable. Of course theres the added benefit of using only one type of cv now. Problem I noticed right off the bat though, the front springs are bowed out at a ridiculous rate, ( ) . Now imagine this with the spring base sitting in the control arm cup, the arms slanted down from the mounts due the the spacer lift. The inside of the springs, side closest to the diff, the coils are very close, and I actually bottomed one speeding over some very rough roads. I did have to add about a 1/2 " spacer to bring the front back up to previous level, and I'm pretty sure the xtra load isn't helping the spring situation. I have an Idea, dont laugh yet. I'm thinking I can cut out the spring cups from the control arms and re weld them back in at a better angle, say level with the suspension loaded. This would at least straighten out the bottom of the spring. Any opinions? Mr. Hagen ?
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ya mine are at a pretty good angle as well. with the calmini a-arms its not too bad though.
The only problem I would see with relocating the spring base is a slight increase in spring rate. maybe won't be enough to make a difference.
I like how mine tracks on the hiway now as well.
mine was a bitch getting the spacers in on top of the calmini springs. and my spring compressors will not work :(
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Actually, a modest increase in spring rate would be a good thing in my case. This whole business would be moot if Calmini didn't keep extending there back order date. It's been 4 weeks since I talked to them about a 3" kit, which was then on back order for 2 to 4 weeks, talked to them again today, " delays" are causing them to extend that another 4+ weeks. I've already made my own diff drop brackets and rear center link to diff spacer, might as well modify the control arms too and spend the money on some low range transfer case gears!
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Did you modify the exploder CV's and use those? Run into any other issues? pics? ;D
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I have an Idea, dont laugh yet. I'm thinking I can cut out the spring cups from the control arms and re weld them back in at a better angle, say level with the suspension loaded. This would at least straighten out the bottom of the spring. Any opinions? Mr. Hagen ?
Sounds like a good idea. Ive had no coil problems but It would probabally be better if you could modify the coil pocket. An OME 962 would be a good coil for the front of your application.
Mike
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I finished modifing the coil pockets last night, too tired to take photos. I did fit them up for a test and they look 100% better. I'll get them cleaned and painted and get photo's posted tonight. Thanks for the input guys. Also, workinprogress, did you mean "explorer" cv's, because I just thought you were trying to be funny!
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explorer lol
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Workinprogress, I'm still using stock CV's for now, although I'm sure if I beat 'em hard enough they 'll become " exploder" cv's! lol
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ok so if I understand this correctly, you can do the modifications to the rear control arm described on the hagen widening mod tech article, and if I choose to modify the explorer cv's, I can skip the second portion of the widening article that uses the 3 inner shafts and a spare cv, right?
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Hey Bentparts
Any chance we can see those pics of your modified coil spring pockets after the widening mod. Any other pics of the wideniong mod would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Jim
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Sorry guys, been tied up with some other home fixit projects. Now that they're finished I'll get photos.
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??? Well, I finally got some photos posted of the modified control arms, and the widening parts on my flickr site, but the damn site is acting up. I wasn't able to put all the photos of the widening in one "set" but you can still view the photos, just look for the ones titled " hagen widening" at www.flickr.com/photos/bentparts
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Excellent job and nice pics, can't wait to see the rest of them. I like the spacers as well can't comment enough on how well it looks. Thanks for the posting, this will help me alot with doing mine.
Regards
Jim
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That turned out pretty sweet. Nice fab skills. 8)
Mike
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Thanks Mike, coming from you that really means something!
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;) Thanks to you too Jimiweld, appreciate all the favorable comments! I should have everything completed by the weekend, and have updated photos of the TurboTracker and all the current mods on my site. I say current because as we all know, these things are always a work in progress! ;D
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Hey mike, I'm doing the same mod asswell on the control arms. I just got them back from the sandblaster. This week i'll see a friend , he has a plasma cutter and will do the cutting for me. I was looking at your foto's from moab and saw the foto's of my friends from Holland they were on trip. Some of the guys live almost next door. They took a few foto's of your car and were impressed by the work you did.
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It is a small world after all.