ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: Z71Edge on July 14, 2008, 06:42:00 AM
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Hey guys, Im kinda new to this whole Zuki/Tracker scene. I've always loved Sami's/Sidekicks/Trackers and loved there ability. However, most of the ones I see are always done up and are sitting pretty tall. I want to make my 93 Tracker VERY trail capable, while still maintaining decent on-road ability. Any and all suggestions are appreciated.
So here is my plan...2" Coil Spacers, 2" BL, New Shocks, 30x9.50's on 15x7's. With this setup, how trail capable will it be? I have several friends with Jeeps (two TJ's, and one XJ) all riding on 33's. I just wanna be able to show them up with my little tracker that will be riding on 30's :P
Also, my buddy has his stock XJ front coils sitting around...I thought I read something somewhere that you can use these on Trackers/Sidekicks for more lift. Is this true? if so, how much lift is gained?
Thanks guys for all your help!
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If $$ aren't an issue, word on the street is....ARB. Otherwise, in addition to your current plans, put in lunchbox lockers (at least at the rear) and skids and you'll be hanging tough.
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I use mine Tracker a daily commuter so I hear ya. I did a 1.5" lift all Old Man Emu with Firestone Destination AT tires. I run with some Jeeps with similar 33" setups and I love making them look bad. I still get 25mpg but I did put in a K&N air filter and my exhast is 2.5" from the cat back. With all that said, short of crawling this little truck has never let me down and it is still a gret commuter. If you do commute new stero/speakers is a must. Those really suck from the factory.
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Also, my buddy has his stock XJ front coils sitting around...I thought I read something somewhere that you can use these on Trackers/Sidekicks for more lift. Is this true?
Lift? Yes.
Flex? No.
Skip the free springs.
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A rear locker, a 1" or 1.5" spacer lift from Jeff1997, some good tires and rocker protection and you can go some amazing places. My Dad's tracker followed us all around without suffering any body damage and only had to be pulled twice. Throw a winch on there and you will be able to go through any trail. Some bumpers and skid plates and you should be able to do so without fear of damage. Unless you get silly.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pcZ7GKxivQ
(http://lh5.ggpht.com/CrawlersNW/SFReaqJSiuI/AAAAAAAABN8/aAchRZv_U-0/CIMG2491.JPG?imgmax=640)
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I'll second that. With a 1.5" or 2" spacer lift, a 2" body lift, some 30 or 31" tires, a locker, and t-case crawler gears these trucks will go darn near anywhere! Seriously. The only real thing that holds it back is the lack of ground clearance under the frame...probably not that bad on a 2 door, but it can get in the way on my 4 door.
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jeff spacers, a minor body lift, and i just experienced the improved capability of a rear lunch box.
the locker is great on the trail, but odd on the highway. worth it though.
i'm running bigger tires, so gearing could be better- i would like to be able to run 2wd low range just to better my road capability. poor thing has no poop on hills(hwy. esp.).
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1.5" coil spacers in front and 2" coil spacers rear. 2" body lift and 31's. It will go anywhere the little motor will take it ::)
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Go with 1.5" spacers, at least on the front. That was enough fun for me, 2" spacers might get you cussing the project. I got mine from Jeff1997 off ebay and he's good to deal with. I also did a 2" body lift and have 235 75 15's mounted on the stock wheels. I won't be rock crawling just forest service roads, and a 2 door with such a short wheel base and the lift I have should get me anywhere I care to go.
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I spent a summer in Lake City Colorado guiding fly fishing trips and cooking in a restaurant there... in my off time, I spent some serious time on the Alpine loop trail and exploring back country and high country lakes. My 4 door sidekick bone stock got me everywhere I needed to go, including the trails the jeep rental places prohibited. I found it very capable. I did Cinnamon Pass and Engineers Pass about a dozen times and at the end of the summer, that thing was not even out of alignment. Coming down one of the passes trying to outrun a hailstorm, I had it off the ground on the trail terraces several times. It was wild... I am still amazed. After college, my dad used the 95 sidekick as a daily commuter for 9 years. It now has 185K miles on it and is still going strong (after a JB Weld fix on the lower pulley bolt). I just put on Jeff's spacers and am getting ready for the RR body lift. All in, I will have 4 inches of lift. I can't wait to get out on the trail.... I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
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My 92 Tracker has a 2" spacer from Jeff1997 up front, 30-9.50 tires, and a locker in back. ALSO replaced the rock panels with 2x4x1/8" rectangle tubing. If you are going off road, these are awesome, and worth the time.
I use it daily around Skagit Valley, and trying to follow DRONE637.
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Awesome! Thanks guys for all your help and inputs. Sounds like my plan should be ok. Now, is there any downfalls (other than CV Angles/BJ stress, etc.) on going with a 2" Spacer over a 1.5"? Which would be better?
Does anybody have a link handy for the "strut mount flip"? I already know to get Continental rears, but how about the fronts? Just curious because I noticed the other day that all my shocks are leaking oil slightly so I might as well replace them with some cheaper ones for now
I keep tossing up whether I want to run 31's or 30's...I have 235's on the stock wheels now...the power isn't that bad at all and im still getting 27 mpg (got 272 miles out of 10 gallons...). I'd like to step up to just 30's on some Rock Krawler steelies, but the more I look, that size in ALOT of tires is hard to find...And when I do find them, they are just about the same price as 31's. Plus, I like how the 31's look with this setup...looks more beefy to me :P
So how much power/mpg is lost with 31's and stock gears? Im not quite sure what gears I have (thinking the 5:12's? its a 5 spd if that matters...) I just want it to be fun yet a nice DD for the next couple years while I finish college...after college is done, I plan on turning this into my trail rig by running a TT Slayer kit, yota axles, winch, 33's, etc...I can't wait 8)
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as far as the strut flip, i would consider Jeff1997's strut spacers... they give you a little more down than the flip... also, he gives you all the hardware you need.
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re: spacers
if you put 2" spacers in the rear, put 1 1/2" in the front. unless you have some real heavy stuff out front, that combo keeps the truck level. i tried 2" - cut 1/2" off.(jeff said that would happen........, just had to see for myself, i guess).
i did a spaced strut flip, but want to try his strut spacers.
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Just bumping this up to address my question about going 30's or 31's with my tracker.
Also, when I decide to go with the spacers and BL, would a 15x7 w/ 2.75" backspacing be ideal? I THINK this will work, but Im not positive. And where is the cheapest place to get these?
Thanks guys!
*EDIT* sorry but I forgot to ask, what is the bolt pattern for these trackers/sidekicks?
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i'm happy with the 31's on 7", but don't know back space- aftermarket jeepcj wheels.
i tried some 8" w/31's, but they rubbed more than i wanted to modify w/hammer(modify happened anyway).
i did a minor bodylift am refining/adding skid protection.
i think some rectangle tube before my rocker panel mashes into my door...
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Just bumping this up to address my question about going 30's or 31's with my tracker.
*EDIT* sorry but I forgot to ask, what is the bolt pattern for these trackers/sidekicks?
5 on 5.5 for the tires. I'm not sure about the back spacing for 31's though on a Tracker. As for getting them to fit, I know a few people are running them with the 2" spacer and 2" body lift.
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ok cool...5 on 5.5. Sorry for all my ignorance on this stuff, Im just used to full-sized trucks and kinda new to the technical part of this rigs.
Im pretty sure that 31's will fit with the setup I want to run...Im just worried about the power loss mainly. Kinda want others input as to stick with 30's to keep my power or go 31's/deal with the power loss :P
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I have gone your route so let me save you some money. ;D Get the spacers. 1.5" in front and 2" in the rear. 31" will fit with some fender trimming and hammering. I had 31" x 10.5" super swamper tsl's on 15x8 crawler rims with 3.75" backspacing (which will not rub lock to lock). These will work fine on the road. You will lose 5th gear in a head wind and be noticable slower off the line. There is a lot of tire and rubber there and it takes good grunt to get going (even with a header which if your going 31's you should add to your list). Here is the big problem. My 31's tear into my fender wells when you compress them up. You would have to increase your bump stop to keep this from happening. They also stick out so you will need fender flares to be legal for onroad.
I have since dropped that project for a samurai which I have switched the tires to. The sidekick/tracker is a great platform and if I wasn't knee deep in this sammy I would have continued with it. Step one would be if you are doing just spacers to not go 31" tires. You can get TSL in a 29" tire by 8.5 which can fit on the stock wheel. This is important because the stock rims are MUCH lighter weight than steel wheels. I think best bang for the buck on the cheap would be the 29" tsl's, stock rims, Jeff's spacers, doug thorley header (optional but it does make a difference with a good exhaust), crown vic shocks in the rear, stock struts front with the mount flipped in the front. I love my kick which is why I keep it as a seconday daily driver and it runs 235's on the street. Oh yeah, and ditch the front sway bar. You'll get much better flex and you will notice only a little dive going into a high speed turn but honestly I drive mine like a go cart and never had any scary moments. ;D
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I kinda figured that the power loss when stepping to 31's on steelies would be enough to notice...just didn't know how bad. Are there any decent Aluminum Wheels out there that you guys are running? Seems like most have steelies...
Thanks for all your help! It looks like I will stick to the original plan on running 30's
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I chnaged my ally rims for steels. Steel rims are more robust and in a lot of cases lighter than ally rims. Ally is 1/3 the weight of steel but ally rims for 4x4s tend to have much more metal then steels.
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I kinda figured that the power loss when stepping to 31's on steelies would be enough to notice...just didn't know how bad.
Real bad. Unless you live in a flat area - stick with 29" tires. Your gas mileage will go to crap, acceleration will be non-existent, going uphill with camping gear will put you in 3rd or 4th gear on the highway, way added stress to the driveline, breaking distance will increase by about 50%, and your low crawl ratio won't be very low anymore.
29" tires on stock wheels is cheap ($550 ish). The money you save will pay for lockers ($500) and spacer lift ($300) - which will do you more good than the 31" tires. I'd also consider the OME lift ($750) if you can afford it (if you can afford 31" tires, you can afford the OME lift). I think the tracker is superior to the samurai in every way, but it's Achilies heel is gearing options.
If you want a serous wheeling monster & want to be able to drive on the street, get a Kicker 3 (search) - but that's expensive and a whole new ball of wax.
Are there any decent Aluminum Wheels out there that you guys are running? Seems like most have steelies...
The #1 failure on trails is tires (popping a bead, poking a hole in the tire, or bending a wheel on a rock / tree). If you bend a steel wheel on the edge, you can beat it back with a hammer / rock. With aluminum wheels - you're stuck.