ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: chevycotton77 on December 22, 2008, 09:30:54 PM
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I was thinking about getting the 3" Calmini body lift for my 96 2D Geo Tracker.. and i was wondering what kind of mods you have to do to put it on..or if any? or does it go on pretty easily?
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Somewhere out there talks about how to do this lift yourself... but I must say I'm anti-body-lift. For the same price, you can do Jeff's strut spacers, strut mount flip & new rear shocks (total should be under $200 - Jeff will correct me if I'm wrong). This will give you more clearance between the frame & other importand junk that's tied to it. The body lift ONLY lifts the body... other option is to cut the fender wells. It can be done with a hack saw, pliers & hammer, and done right (taking 4-6 hours instead of 1-3), it looks very clean. Body lifts only raise the CG.... which is bad in a narrow vehicle like ours.
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thanks man! i want to lift it but there are so many options i just dont know what to do..
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The Calmini body lift requires you to extend your t case shifter (extension provided) and to heat and bend your tranny shifter.. On some applications you need to extend your steering shaft between the fire wall and the steering box. All are fairly easy to do if you have access to the right tools. If you are planning on wanting more than 3" of lift to clear larger tires the body lift will help you out. I wanted more than a suspension lift could give me so I used the Calmini body lift for years with no issues. Just plan out what you want your end product to be so you dont throw money in the wrong direction.
Zig
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alright cool..so wich one should I go with first suspension or body? I just want to clear some 31s for now...
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It depends on where you are going with your project. If you plan on having a suspension and body lift eventually, either one will work for 31's. My point was, don't waste money on a body lift if you plan on ditching it later for suspension lift. that money can go towards a suspension lift. The same thing would apply to a suspension lift. If you plan to do a full blown suspension later, you would probably end up tossing the spacers.
Either option will get you room for 31's (maybe with a little trimming) and are about equally difficult to install. If this is your only mod planned and you are planning on wheeling it, the suspension would get you better clearance.
Zig
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A good suspension lift will also give you better articulation.
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If you do a body lift you get the clearance of the tires only.
If you do a suspention lift you get the clearance of the tires plus the three inchs of the lift also.
I'd go with the supention lift.
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alright thanks dudes...but ive heard bad things about calmini so whats a good lift to get? i want at least 6 inches of lift
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I have run the calmini kit and the body lift kit from Sky and I have to say that Sky's kit is super easy to install. It is basically 2" of the RockyRoad 4.5" rocksteady kit, The other 2.5" is Old Man Emu springs struts and a coil spacers. The 2" kit is all the higher I would go. I have run it for years and it was great and required minimal to no modifications. I do recommend modifying your T-case shifter to be longer but it's not mandatory. The other thing I like about a small body lift is it makes cleaning mud and crap from under your rig much easier. I also used that extra 2" of body lift to build a set of rock sliders to protect under the doors.
http://www.zukiworld.com/month_120104/feature_sky_bodylift_install.htm
http://www.zukiworld.com/month_090105/feature_rockyroad_rocksteadylift.htm
With all that said my truck now has evolved to a .75" body lift. I got the shrockworks sliders for a 2" body lift and then set my body down on the sliders because I wanted the sliders as tight to the body as I could get. I did have to hammer over the pinch weld on the body under the doors to get it all to fit snug. I had a gap of about .75" so I just pulled Sky's body lift. Cut it down to size and reinstalled. It's pretty hard to do that with square tubing.. so there is a customisable reason too.
Happy wheeling,
Hutch
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nice! so how much did all that cost you think?
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My complete 2" coil spacer lift kit will cost you $120. That does not include new rear shocks. It comes with 4 coil spacers and 2 strut spacers shipped to you. Add $10 if to Canada. Just adding it if you are interested.
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alright thanks dudes...but ive heard bad things about calmini so whats a good lift to get? i want at least 6 inches of lift
Calmini's 6" suspension is a good kit. They make good stuf. Their customer service is what's lacking... but that can be avoided by going through someone like: http://www.lowrangeoffroad.com/ (http://www.lowrangeoffroad.com/) who carries Calmini's stuff in stock - and they'll answer any questions before, during & after the install. The other thing about Calmini's lifts are that they're a bit stiff - which is GREAT if you want to run a big bumper & winch (front won't sag, and the extra stiffness softens up with the added weight = good ride), but bad if you're going to try to stay light.
Everyone's in a hurry to get lifts & tires... I don't think it's such a good idea. The 1.6L is already under powered, and I don't recommending doing anything other than 29/30" tire, a MILD lift (keep that center of gravity LOW), and lockers. My 4-door on 29" tires keeps up with some pretty insanely lifted rigs out here. People are in awe of what it'll do. Our advantage is light weight & short wheel base.
Unless you're going to spend $4000+ on your vehicle to run BIG tires, stick with 29" & lockers - looks more impressive when a 'shortie' is going the same places Chevy's & Fords are going on 35" tires.
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alright thanks dudes...but ive heard bad things about calmini so whats a good lift to get? i want at least 6 inches of lift
Calmini's 6" suspension is a good kit. They make good stuf. Their customer service is what's lacking... but that can be avoided by going through someone like: [url]http://www.lowrangeoffroad.com/[/url] ([url]http://www.lowrangeoffroad.com/[/url]) who carries Calmini's stuff in stock - and they'll answer any questions before, during & after the install. The other thing about Calmini's lifts are that they're a bit stiff - which is GREAT if you want to run a big bumper & winch (front won't sag, and the extra stiffness softens up with the added weight = good ride), but bad if you're going to try to stay light.
Everyone's in a hurry to get lifts & tires... I don't think it's such a good idea. The 1.6L is already under powered, and I don't recommending doing anything other than 29/30" tire, a MILD lift (keep that center of gravity LOW), and lockers. My 4-door on 29" tires keeps up with some pretty insanely lifted rigs out here. People are in awe of what it'll do. Our advantage is light weight & short wheel base.
Unless you're going to spend $4000+ on your vehicle to run BIG tires, stick with 29" & lockers - looks more impressive when a 'shortie' is going the same places Chevy's & Fords are going on 35" tires.
That makes perfect sence to me.
So by Mild lift what exactly do you meen.
A Coil spring spacer lift?
Im gona be going with 235 75 R 15s as i already have a new set of 4 off my wrecked 1987 Ford E 150 Van.
Aparently they Bolt right on the Tracker.
Would a Jeff coil spacer Lift give me the Lift i need ?
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Jeff's coil spacers would certainly do it, that is probably the most common lift. A set of coils off of a 4 door tracker would also give you a bit more space. I run a 3/4" spacer in front and a 1" spacer in the rear to clear the standard 235/75 R15 tire that measures out to just under 29".
http://www.zukiworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=22395.0 has a good write-up on creating enough lift to clear some 30" tires.
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Jeff's coil spacers would certainly do it, that is probably the most common lift. A set of coils off of a 4 door tracker would also give you a bit more space. I run a 3/4" spacer in front and a 1" spacer in the rear to clear the standard 235/75 R15 tire that measures out to just under 29".
[url]http://www.zukiworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=22395.0[/url] has a good write-up on creating enough lift to clear some 30" tires.
Good to Know.
Im buying a 4 Door tracker as soon as the Rotten snow melts enough to get out and buy one.
I found a 1995 for $4000
And a 1997 LSI for $5000 both are 4 doors both have about 200,000 Kms on em.
Im up in B.C Canada so thats the going rate up here.
I think i can get the 95 for $3500 tho ;D
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Mild lift = anything under 2". SOME 29" tires will fit without any lift at all, while other require lift and or off-set wheels (the tires are so wide, they'll rub on frame at full turn, need to get a different wheel offset to get the tire moved 'outward' away from frame). My tires rub a little on FULL turn to the left, but it's only the last 1" or so of turning so I just deal with it. I recommend any of the following:
* Spring spacers, new rear shocks & strut mount flip = $200
Cheap, quick (4-8 hours) & easy. Will lift the while truck (frame & body clearance), but not give any additional suspension travel.
* 4-door coil springs (only works on a 2-door), new rear shocks & strut flip = $??? cost of strut flip & shocks ($40) + used springs
Don't know much about how this affects ride quality, but it will give additional frame & body clearance while giving additional suspension travel in the rear. The front can be made to give aidditional wheel travel if used with OME struts (the ONLY struts on the market that will give additional front suspension travel), but expect to fork out some more $$$ (I've not priced just the OME struts, call low range offroad if you want pricing).
* OME lift kit = $700 + S&H
Available from low range offroad, this is the lift I have. It's the 'cadillac' of lifts. Much better ride quality, and additional suspension travel. If you have the $$$, get it.
http://www.zukiworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=20578.0 (http://www.zukiworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=20578.0)
* Virtual lift = free(ish)
Virtual lift is cutting, bending & BFH (Big F*cking Hammer) your way to clearing bigger tires. Cut, bend or bang wherever the tires rub. This has the advantage of clearing tires for the price of a hack saw, pliers & a hammer while keeping the center of gravity as low as possible.
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Thanks Jeremiah :)
I must say im new here but you have been a great help to me.
I will check out and read that Link you posted.
Im willing to spend some more money on my Tracker when i get one to build up i do want it to be a quality ride!.
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yeah i think im just going to go with the 3" body for now then get the 3" suspension when i get the money..
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Here's a picture of mine with the Calimini 3" suspention lift only. Stock rims and 235/75 tires. You can see I had more than enof clearance for the tires. So a 2" spacer lift would be just right.
Also with just 235's I noticed very little power loss (manual).
(http://www.zukiworld.com/forum/gallery/0/443_29_12_08_2_32_14.JPG)
P.S. The ride was very stiff until I got the bumper, winch and changed the rear shocks. OME for the fronts are next on the list.
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I just bought a 97 4 door Kick with an auto. I put 235s under it with no lift. Doesn't rub anywhere. Just thought I'd throw that out there.
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nice! thats kind of what im shootin for right there thanks dude