ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: dingus on December 29, 2008, 09:07:15 PM
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OK i have done alot of reading on Tracker 4 door lift kits.
BUT the proof is in the pudding so they say :laugh:
So id like some info from people Gals and guys that have lift kits of either brand please?
Which kit would be better for a 4 door 1997 Tracker
The Calmimi 3 inch
Or the Rocky Road
Old Man emu 4.5
I just finished reading about the Rocky lift with them Emu springs that sounds pretty good. They dont list all the parts or show pictures of what you get like the Calmimi lift kit does tho.
Which is easyer to Install. ?
Which rides best at HWY speeds ?
Looks like im getting that 97 LSI 4 door Auto :)
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Can't go wrong with either way if you just want to put bigger tires on your rig, I would personally go with the Rocky-Road kit, they stand behind their products, can't say the same for Calmini, my own experience. Hope this helps.
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I have the OME from RR and it is great. Its the best money I have spent on my Tracker.
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Which kit would be better for a 4 door 1997 Tracker
The one that will fit the size tires you plan on running. You should fit the lift to the tires & gearing, not the other way around.
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Which kit would be better for a 4 door 1997 Tracker
The one that will fit the size tires you plan on running. You should fit the lift to the tires & gearing, not the other way around.
29 inch tires so i wont be looseing so much gas mileage.
Like you said keep the rig center of gravity low.
I just was thinking a suspension lift might be a nicer ride than just Spring spacers.
But let me know i want to run a winch and calmini bush bumper to
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FYI: many people run 29" tires without the need for lift at all. It will depend on your particular vehicle (wheels & how much sag your springs have), and the type of tire (some are taller / wider than others). You can easily have 29" mounted up, and drive it around, if there's rub, find out where it's at.
Spring spacers is a suspension lift, because you are adding length to the springs - springs are part of your suspension. They're a great solution for $200. If you're looking for longer travel suspension, the only bolt-on solution is from OME, and it's $700 + S&H from: http://www.lowrangeoffroad.com/kicksuspension.htm (http://www.lowrangeoffroad.com/kicksuspension.htm)
I run the OME, and LOVE IT. If you can afford it, it's well worth the investment.
There's already a thread running with good suspension info in it that covers a lot of the question you probably have: http://www.zukiworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=23839.0 (http://www.zukiworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=23839.0)
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the only bolt-on solution is from OME, and it's $700 + S&H from: [url]http://www.lowrangeoffroad.com/kicksuspension.htm[/url] ([url]http://www.lowrangeoffroad.com/kicksuspension.htm[/url])
Calmini offer two bolt on kits as well, the 2" and the 3". If you're not going hardcore then the 2" is a good bet and a much better ride than the 3". The OME kit is actually a 1.5" lift, the RR kit adds their own spacers which messes up the camber again.
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It does depend a great deal on how you are going to use it. Perfect world is a hybrid Calmini\OME suspension. Since we don't live in that world you must decide how hard you want to run.
I usually suggest this http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=444978
Use his name and get a deal so you can't go wrong
Keep us posted on what you do decide to go with
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Well im picking up the LSI 4 Door Tomorrow 8)
I will post pics showing how it sits on the Road now after i get it Tomorrow.
Its got 4 new Tires on it so i dont know what type they are but they will be 15 Inch.
its got Alum Mags to.
I dont mind spending $700 USA on lift if it makes a nice Ride.
I will spend time reading all the Links you all have posted thanks.
Great Helpfull bunch here! :)
I liked that Do it yourself Aproach that Heather and a Guy did?
Useing XJ coils.
Thats a Great Link to! Very helpfull for do it yourself types.
What about them XJ Coil springs with a 2 inch Calmini Suspension lift ???
Im not a Bad mechanic have a welder a small Lathe and a Milling machine drill press Ect.
Would not them XJ Coils with the Calmini stuff be simlar to a Emu springs lift but way Cheeper kinda give the best of both worlds.
I do want it to be very nice to drive tho.
Anyway i will go read them Links
WOW that Pirate 4x4 link is Great.
I like the way he did his black Rig thats about the same as i want...
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That guy doesn't work at 4-wheel parts anymore. In fact - the staff is so new, they don't even know who he is. I had 2 very bad experiences with 4-wheel parts trying to get that kit, and ended up spending more than I would have with buying it from Low Range. Low Range is the best price I've seen, and their customer service is good. They will even order different springs for you (like I did for heavier front end) using the part numbers in the pirate thread for the springs. Otherwise, just go with the stock kit if you're going to stay light in the front.
The Calmini kit is sweet, but does NOT give more articulation. OME is the only one that has a strut with longer travel, is a better strut & the springs last longer. I agree the "best" way to go is the calmini lower arms & OME, but it's just as easy (and 'free') to oval out the bolt hole on the OME to get correct alignment. I've thought about producing my own lower A-arms and selling them since Calmini won't split up their kit, and no Vendors seem to be interested in building one - we're only talking about 1/8 - 1/4" wider that stock too.
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That guy doesn't work at 4-wheel parts anymore. In fact - the staff is so new, they don't even know who he is. I had 2 very bad experiences with 4-wheel parts trying to get that kit, and ended up spending more than I would have with buying it from Low Range. Low Range is the best price I've seen, and their customer service is good. They will even order different springs for you (like I did for heavier front end) using the part numbers in the pirate thread for the springs. Otherwise, just go with the stock kit if you're going to stay light in the front.
The Calmini kit is sweet, but does NOT give more articulation. OME is the only one that has a strut with longer travel, is a better strut & the springs last longer. I agree the "best" way to go is the calmini lower arms & OME, but it's just as easy (and 'free') to oval out the bolt hole on the OME to get correct alignment. I've thought about producing my own lower A-arms and selling them since Calmini won't split up their kit, and no Vendors seem to be interested in building one - we're only talking about 1/8 - 1/4" wider that stock too.
Customer Service is very impotant lifes to short to deal with Dicks.
Once i get the Truck i will look into OME
I will have to talk to you more later about the Bolt hole ovaling out ect
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Hate to jack but I would like your opinion. I have the Calmini 3"sups lift and the rear binds. Calmini wanted me to change out the rear shock. The front works well for me with no sag, yet. Would the OME springs, struts, shocks be a drop in or would I need spacers. The OME is 1.5" susps I heard and have not heard what Calmini is but it has spacers as well.
Thanks for the info on 4Wheel Parts and the moved on employee
Personally I have had good customer service with Calmini. I just didn't like the answers
Any help or suggestions would be great
thanks
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Okay, hollowing out...
Because of the pivit point on the IFS, the tire actually "tilts" as the tire goes up and down through the suspension travel. As the tire goes up, the tires go like this / \ and as they travel down (which is effectively what you're doing when you do a lift) they look like this \ /
The way Calmini addresses this, is they supply you with a longer A-arm. Since the A-arm is at the bottom side of the tire, it kicks the lower part of the tire outbound, and fixes the alignment to be straight again. Now, on OME there's a point at the top where the strut bolts on, and two spots on the bottom |removethispart|@ the tire assembly that it bolts up to. You can see those brackets here (struts are on left):
(http://www.lowrangeoffroad.com/images/sidekick/suspension/omeshockst.jpg)
The upper bolt hole needs to be clearanced (made oval) so that the top of the tire can move back towards the vehicle, and go from an alignment like this \ / to straight again. It's quick with a rotary tool, takes a little longer with a drill bit - we're only talking like an 1/8" or so. Easy enough to do - I really wish OME just moved the hole over from the factory. Some people torque the bolt WAY down, others tac-weld on a washer to make sure the wheel doesn't wabble later.
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Okay, hollowing out...
Because of the pivit point on the IFS, the tire actually "tilts" as the tire goes up and down through the suspension travel. As the tire goes up, the tires go like this / \ and as they travel down (which is effectively what you're doing when you do a lift) they look like this \ /
The way Calmini addresses this, is they supply you with a longer A-arm. Since the A-arm is at the bottom side of the tire, it kicks the lower part of the tire outbound, and fixes the alignment to be straight again. Now, on OME there's a point at the top where the strut bolts on, and two spots on the bottom |removethispart||removethispart|@ the tire assembly that it bolts up to. You can see those brackets here (struts are on left):
([url]http://www.lowrangeoffroad.com/images/sidekick/suspension/omeshockst.jpg[/url])
The upper bolt hole needs to be clearanced (made oval) so that the top of the tire can move back towards the vehicle, and go from an alignment like this \ / to straight again. It's quick with a rotary tool, takes a little longer with a drill bit - we're only talking like an 1/8" or so. Easy enough to do - I really wish OME just moved the hole over from the factory. Some people torque the bolt WAY down, others tac-weld on a washer to make sure the wheel doesn't wabble later.
OK thats was easy to follow.
I now understand what you ment.
Going to get my Tracker this Morning. :)
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Well i got my Tracker Today ;D
Its the LSI Tracker 1997 4 door teal green.
Holly Crap i almost fell over myself when i seen it.
It looks brand New.
Smells new to.
Its Soooo Nice i seen other ones for sale not as nice for $7000
I got mine for $5000
Looks and runs like New no rust at all.
Never been off Road by looking at the Bottom.
Clean with $1000 worth of brand new tires.
I gona post pics tomorrow.
What a great one to put lift and winch & Bumpers on.
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The Calmini kit is sweet, but does NOT give more articulation. OME is the only one that has a strut with longer travel,
That not correct. The stock strut location leaves 2" of unused travel which the Calmini spacers ultilise. In addition the A-arms move through a different arc to the stock arms which also gives a little more travel. The OME kit gives 1.5" of extra travel on the front, the Calmini lift gives around 2.5" of extra travel. - thats around 50% more travel than stock. At the rear the Calmini kit has longer springs and longer travel shocks.
I have the Calmini lift with the OME struts but I had to reduce the height of the strut spacer to prevent the CVs binding, I run camber correction bolts to correct for the 'double correction' of the OME struts and the Calmini arms.
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When I emailed Calimini's 'engineers', they told me none of their lifts for Trackers / Sidekicks gave additional articulation in the front. The spring travel is the spring travel. The only way to get more spring travel is to install a longer spring (and corresponding strut that can take advantage of that additional travel). Placing a spacer on top doesn't allow the spring to stretch / compress any more - it just puts a puck there, and "lowers" the spring thus "lifting" the truck. They also said their strut isn't designed to have longer stroke, it's only designed with a longer shaft so a strut spacer isn't needed.