ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Model Specific Suzuki Forum => Suzuki Grand Vitara, Vitara, Chevy Tracker (Gen. 2 Platform) 1999-2005 => Topic started by: greatwhite on March 27, 2007, 07:42:33 PM
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Hey fellow Zuki enthusiasts! I have a 99 GV 4x4, 5spd with 99,600 miles. I absolutely love this tough SUV. I have owned this vehicle for right |removethispart|@ 3 yrs now, with very little problems. I have replaced the timing tensioner(s) the nylon gears started to chatter and it was not going to heal itself. Performed that at approx 92 to 93 thousand miles. Also the front pump did not actuate the 4 wheel drive, and I had it replaced. (note, I wish I had known about this forum before hand and I could have saved some money). I have placed BFG AT's on all fours (225/70/16) on the stock GVit steel wheels. Also a Class III hitch for towing my ATV or my Coleman pop up camper. Now here's where my ?'s come in...
My factory shocks/struts are now needing replaced. I need to know of some options for a factory style replacements (KYB, Rancho, NAPA, etc) I have been thinking about the OME suspension lift , springs shocks struts. Other than the cost of this setup what other costs would I need to associate with this modification?
Next, I would like to de activate my DRL setup, any quick remedies for this?
Are there ANY floor mat options for these great little vehicles. I am kind of anal about keeping my vehicles clean and some nice floor protection would be nice.
I still have the factory automatic hubs, and would like to consider some manual hubs. Which ones to choose from?
I have the factory roof rack and would love a set of nice crossbars for it, and I really don't want to spend the money for new Thules' any suggestions or nice homebuilt ideas?
I would like to have a nice drivers side seat (OEM) if anybody has one or knows where I can get a nice leather set up like the Limited GV let me know.
Thanks!
GreatWhite (Stew)
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I have been thinking about the OME suspension lift , springs shocks struts. Other than the cost of this setup what other costs would I need to associate with this modification?
None
Next, I would like to de activate my DRL setup, any quick remedies for this?
Do a search on DRL; it's been covered.
I still have the factory automatic hubs, and would like to consider some manual hubs. Which ones to choose from?
I think you'll have the air-operated axle clutch, not auto hubs. Do a search; there lots been said about replacing it with a Sidekick front; then you can fit manual hubs. And read http://www.zukiworld.com/month_030104/feature_tsb_shiftontheflyremoval.htm (http://www.zukiworld.com/month_030104/feature_tsb_shiftontheflyremoval.htm)
Some people advocate keeping the air-operated clutch, but replacing the drive flanges with manual hubs, to reduce fuel consumption and wear. I'm not convinced the benefits are real.
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IanL,
Thanks for the reply. In reply to the lift topic. I guess I need to be more precise... do I need to do any modifications to the camber. (new camber bolts, or modify the existing holes, front end alignment, etc).
On the DRL search... I had no luck other than something that might work... I need actual findings not trial and error, but thanks for the tip.
Finally thanks for the opinion on the hubs.
greatwhite
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This thread gives the data for the DRL, and there's some useful stuff about the front drive, too:
http://bbs.zuwharrie.com/content?topic=55739.0 (http://bbs.zuwharrie.com/content?topic=55739.0)
If you do the OME lift without adding spacers, you don't have to worry about camber correction; it is correctly set up in the OME strut.
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As for the seat you may want to check with Koenig.
http://www.koenig-usa.com/seat.html
On their German website they offer an adapter for the Suzuki (Grand) Vitara 4-door and convertible (year 99 and newer).
http://www.koenig-sitze.de/details.php?id=606
The part number for the driver side is: SU 90 s
The part number for the passenger side is: SU 95 s
Price is 149 Euro for the adapter. Not sure how much they would charge in $US including shipping. Plus you have to add the costs for the seat.
But be aware the whole solution is not going to be cheap.
Recaro also makes good seats but as far as I know they do not offer adapters for the Tracker/Vitara from 99. Only for the older model.
I am 6'3" and have back problems and need a seat that is very comfortable with support at the right places.
I have a Scheelmann XXL seat mounted in my Tracker. Made by Greiner in Germany.
http://www.greiner-gmbh.de/e/scheelmann/vario.html
I originally ordered this 5 years ago from Germany for my Isuzu Trooper.
Now after my truck was totaled last year I kept the seat and put in the Tracker. I just got a new adapter from Greiner. They also make one for this car.
But it is not a cheap solution. Base seat (no leather, non electric) and adapter are around $1500. Also depending on exchange rate, shipping, customs....
Unfortunately there is no company in the US that offers aftermarket seats for tall persons.
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This thread gives the data for the DRL, and there's some useful stuff about the front drive, too:
[url]http://bbs.zuwharrie.com/content?topic=55739.0[/url] ([url]http://bbs.zuwharrie.com/content?topic=55739.0[/url])
If you do the OME lift without adding spacers, you don't have to worry about camber correction; it is correctly set up in the OME strut.
Thanks for the useful info, this will be a great help! Any other suggestions from anyone?
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TexTracker,
Thanks for the nice replacement seats for the GVIT. I am looking for an actual factory OEM seat. In cloth, or if someone has the upper end Limited factory seats they want to part with.
greatwhite
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I am looking for an actual factory OEM seat.
See...
http://www.zukiworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=16343.0
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Novadon,
Thanks for the link to your seats for sale. Mine has about the same amount of wear as the one you have for sale (Down on lower back where the foam moves away and the bar starts to wear through). I would like to find the Limited leather ones and do the swap as you did but that is getting tough to find.
Greatwhite
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I hear ya'! I was hoping your's were worn elsewhere, and you needed the rears or front bottoms..
I found a set of leather's in Fl off e-bay. $350 front and rear.
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Stewey!
Try here... :)
http://car-part.com/
Here's a partial list radiused out from the Wheeling WV Zip code (I'm not sure where in W.V you are).
I guess you could fine tune your search to "leather" only as well.
Year
Part
Model Description Part
Grade Stock# US
Price Dealer Info Dist
mile
1999
Seat, Front
Suzuki Vitara GR,4DR,SUV- Cloth,*PairOnly* A 9605 $250 Reitman Auto Parts USA-KY(Melbourne) Request_Quote 1-800-221-3993 Request_Insurance_Quote
*NEW*Live Chat 210
2000
Seat, Front
Suzuki Vitara GRY,MS,CLO, NICE SET 4376P $200 Cockrells Auto Parts USA-KY(Mt.-Sterling) E-mail 1-800-633-2441 224
2000
Seat, Front
Suzuki Vitara -GrandVit: Gry/Clth,Buckts,4dr `99-01?' 020124 $200 M and M Service and Salvage Yard Inc. USA-VA(Ruckersville) Request_Quote 1-800-533-4099 Request_Insurance_Quote 175
1999
Seat, Front
Suzuki Vitara GRAND,GRY,BUC,CLO,4 DR A E51382 $200 Evans Motor Sales, Inc. USA-WV(Ghent) E-mail 1-800-477-4998 171
2000
Seat, Front
Suzuki Vitara cloth man base pair A K098P $150 East Coast Auto Source USA-VA(Thaxton) Request_Quote 1-800-869-0655 Request_Insurance_Quote
*NEW*Live Chat 194
1999
Seat, Front
Suzuki Vitara GRY- CLOTH,MAN,LH A Y830P $150 Brooks Auto Sales, Inc. - PRP, PRP-MA USA-VA(Oilville) Request_Quote 1-800-552-6783 Request_Insurance_Quote 224
1999
Seat, Front
Suzuki Vitara GRY- CLOTH,MAN,RH A Y830P $150 Brooks Auto Sales, Inc. - PRP, PRP-MA USA-VA(Oilville) Request_Quote 1-800-552-6783 Request_Insurance_Quote 224
2000
Seat, Front
Suzuki Vitara 4DR,4X4,SUV,GRA,BUCK ,CL,MAN,RT-LT A 040194 $150 Bairds Auto Parts, Inc. USA-KY(Fairdale) E-mail 1-800-828-1075 306
1999
Seat, Front
Suzuki Vitara GRY,BUC,CLO A 2D9049 $150 Williams and Tucker Auto Parts Inc. USA-KY(Sulphur-Well) Request_Quote 1-800-545-0687 Request_Insurance_Quote
*NEW*Live Chat 341
2000
Seat, Front
Suzuki Vitara 3K9662 $150 Williams and Tucker Auto Parts Inc. USA-KY(Sulphur-Well) Request_Quote 1-800-545-0687 Request_Insurance_Quote
*NEW*Live Chat 341
1999
Seat, Front
Suzuki Vitara -RH/Frt,Gry/Cloth `99up?' 990366 $150 M and M Service and Salvage Yard Inc. USA-VA(Ruckersville) Request_Quote 1-800-533-4099 Request_Insurance_Quote
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novadon,
Suzuki Vitara GRAND,GRY,BUC,CLO,4 DR A E51382 $200 Evans Motor Sales, Inc. USA-WV(Ghent) E-mail 1-800-477-4998 171
Awesome link! This one is approx. 7 miles up the road from me. I am around Beckley 25801.
I actually have dealt with the owner, Wayne before and he's a fair guy. I will keep an eye for some leather ones as well.
By the way, how close are you to Folly Beach? Me, wife and kids have been coming down there for a couple of years now, and really like it. You have a very nice city!
Stew
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I LOVE that link too. It's the best junk yard site I've seen, search engine wise.
There are a couple of seat sets near me as well. Found this link AFTER I located the seats I got off e-bay. I can't complain though, as they are sweet, and my son in Fl checked them out and snatched them up for me. I just picked them up at his place during an X-Mas visit. :)
BTW, 99' and 2000' seats are the same for sure. The ones I got were out of a front end wrecked, 60K, 2000' GV Limited and bolt right in / look like 99's. You MAY be able to go up a year or two more, not sure.
I live in Summerville and my work / shop is in North Charleston, maybe 30 miles from Folly Beach. Been here 25 years and enjoy it to the point that I ain't movin' again. ;)
Shoot me a PM when you are down this way again. You're welcome to stop by the shop and shoot the breeze a while. :D
Don
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Don,
Thanks for the information on the seats, and the links to the car parts. Very useful. I appreciate the invite and phone number to your shop. I will look you up and talk Zuki when I back there in the Charleston area. BTW I sent you a PM with my location and phone number, if you are around my part of the world. Have a good one.
greatwhite
stew
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You can fit manual hubs right now. All you have are drive flanges at the ends of the axleshafts now to keep them spinning. Fitting manual hubs just means less stuff spinning in 2wd. If you want to completely replace the front air diff assembly you have to get 96+ Sidekick/Tracker parts that have the 26 spline axles.
I used 89-98 Sidekick/Tracker manual hubs from Aisin (OEM) and Warn on our '03 GV. If you can find a used set of the Aisins that are in good shape they'll bolt right on. I was in a pinch later and needed a replacement set ASAP so I got some Warn hubs for our '03 GV and they also went right on. I like that the Aisins are more compact and therefore hopefully a bit less of a target offroad but I did like the Warn's large dial (easy for the wife to use), positive lock of the dial, and the big o-ring seal around the base of the hub's body. I've read that the Aisins are stronger but have never seen or heard actual proof of that. Both at least looked and felt like substantial pieces of engineering. :P
For the price of the various different aftermarket hubs, and experiences of friends with other brands, I'd say get Warns if you don't get Aisins. Never been impressed with Mile Marker, Superwinch, etc.
We got some rubber floormats somewhere...don't really remember...that have sort of a "cup" shape to them so that any sort of water or mud on your feet stays on the floormats. You'd literally have to have an inch or more of water sloshing around in them before they went over the sides.
Look on the web and on eBay for a company called LKQ. They're a big nationwide vehicle dismantling company. About two years ago I got some nice seats out of an Explorer Sport for my Ranger from them on Ebay. I think I paid $250 delivered...the local yards wanted more than that for ONE seat...in a Ranger that had been sitting with the windows open for who knew how long...
As far as I can tell any Vitara, GV, XL7, Tracker seat should fit 99-06 unless they changed the floorpans or mounts for some stupid reason. www.Car-part.com there should show you which years interchange.
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AJMBLAZER,
Thanks for the reply! Thanks for the research and the field testing on the hubs. One more question about the hubs. Having the factory "shift on the fly" hubs rather than the Aisin or Warn manual hubs, I have heard that it can cause premature leaks around the axle flanges, any truth to that? Also with the factory Aisin hubs, are they any other special parts or accessories needed for the change over?
If you can think of the brand of floor mats or where you had purchased them let me know. I need something with some sort of a "lip" or "cup" position to catch nasty stuff.
If it wasn't for the pep of the 2.5L in the Grand Vitara I would've went with a Sidekick 4dr for the sole purpose of the aftermarket availability and less to go wrong. I pull a utility trailer with my ATV sometimes and I pull my Coleman pop up camper and gear alot. I felt it would be too much for the four cylinder to take. Feedback?
Thanks!
greatwhite
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AJMBLAZER,
Thanks for the reply! Thanks for the research and the field testing on the hubs. One more question about the hubs. Having the factory "shift on the fly" hubs rather than the Aisin or Warn manual hubs, I have heard that it can cause premature leaks around the axle flanges, any truth to that?
Ummm....not sure exactly what you are talking about...I have heard of the air pumps and their components failing...nothing hub related though. The factory drive flanges are simply solid chunks of steel, not auto hubs or anything like previous generations or other vehicles. The front axle engagement is done down by the third member/diff.
Manual hubs do the same thing as the drive flanges when locked but being able to put them in the free position means less stuff spinning and wearing down unnecessarily most of the time.
Also with the factory Aisin hubs, are they any other special parts or accessories needed for the change over?
Make sure you get the six conical washers per side that are required on the Aisin hubs. They're a bitch to find, not cheap, and completely necessary.
If you can think of the brand of floor mats or where you had purchased them let me know. I need something with some sort of a "lip" or "cup" position to catch nasty stuff.
No clue on the brand anymore. The name tags actually fell off a year or so ago. Check the usual automotive accessory places online, someone has to have them.
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If you can think of the brand of floor mats or where you had purchased them let me know. I need something with some sort of a "lip" or "cup" position to catch nasty stuff.
Weathertech makes the rubber style of which you seek, including one for the cargo area. ;)
http://www.weathertech.com/
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Weathertech's are just conventional floor mats with ridges. The ones I've got actually have a "wall" around their edge that's at least an inch high.
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AJMBLAZER,
Thanks for the reply! Thanks for the research and the field testing on the hubs. One more question about the hubs. Having the factory "shift on the fly" hubs rather than the Aisin or Warn manual hubs, I have heard that it can cause premature leaks around the axle flanges, any truth to that? Also with the factory Aisin hubs, are they any other special parts or accessories needed for the change over?
Thanks!
greatwhite
With the stock drive flanges, the front axles are always spinning, even when in 2wd. This does cause premature wear of the seals on the output shafts of the front diff, and they can start leaking. I have a slight leak of my right seal. Having manual hubs reduces this wear, as axles are only spinning when the hubs are locked.
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If you can think of the brand of floor mats or where you had purchased them let me know. I need something with some sort of a "lip" or "cup" position to catch nasty stuff.
Weathertech makes the rubber style of which you seek, including one for the cargo area. ;)
[url]http://www.weathertech.com/[/url]
Thanks, Don! I have looked everywhere for some floormats like this. There was a company that made custom mats for all kinds of applications, but Vitaras, Trackers and Sidekicks were not an option. Thanks again!
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AJMBLAZER,
Thanks for the reply! Thanks for the research and the field testing on the hubs. One more question about the hubs. Having the factory "shift on the fly" hubs rather than the Aisin or Warn manual hubs, I have heard that it can cause premature leaks around the axle flanges, any truth to that? Also with the factory Aisin hubs, are they any other special parts or accessories needed for the change over?
Thanks!
greatwhite
With the stock drive flanges, the front axles are always spinning, even when in 2wd. This does cause premature wear of the seals on the output shafts of the front diff, and they can start leaking. I have a slight leak of my right seal. Having manual hubs reduces this wear, as axles are only spinning when the hubs are locked.
aceluck,
Thanks, I just wanted to confirm the "hunch" I had once before. Mine is leaking at the same place.