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: 2K1USGV on March 01, 2009, 05:34:29 PM
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So I'm about to get myself a new suspension but I can not decide between Calmini and OME. Do hte Calmini springs ride as rough as RR would have you believe? I'm looking for people with experience. The only problem I have with going OME is that I don't get the diff drop brackets, the rear track bar relocation bracket, and of course the A-arms. If I could get these things separately I would but the rest from OME, but since I can't I need your opinion......
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All the Extra pieces that come with the calmini kit are recommended pieces in My Opinion
So IMO go with calmini
Please also keep in mind that when you raise your suspension(and possibly go offroad) your going to be putting more stress on the Stock body mount locations and hardware (frame+body combo) and could possibly damage those areas...its always best to get a body lift kit as well which have some better spacers to avoid damaging those areas as the stock ones would do alot more over time........especially if the mount areas are rusty.
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You are incorrect about the body lift as this will actually move the body further from the frame, making the body to frame mount points weaker. It's like saying that my wheel hub to wheel connection will be stronger if I have wheel spacers installed. Simply not true and actually it's the other way around. That being said, I have a 2" body lift already installed.
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you have a lift already dont you?,for the price of calmini? little gains over yours in my eyes.
alot of people like the ride of the ome.....but i perfer to use stock springs and shocks so it rides like a stock truck. works well for me.
why do you want to change? more lift?
-Lance
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Yeah, I guess it really comes down to just wanting more lift. I hear that the OME's are more comfy riding that the stock springs, that's what sparks my interest into them. My suspension lift consists of the RR 1" robber spacers and stock springs at the moment.
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If you are at all interested in ride quality, OME is the way to go. They are the only outfit who can provide lift AND an improved ride.
Calmini are often jokingly referred to as Calstiffy - every description I have read of their ride explains that one.
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You can get the diff drop brackets and other stuff here.
http://www.giz.com.tw/english/rv_product.php?Cid=1
and other stuff here too
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=zh-TW&u=http://www.fts4x4.com.tw/&ei=OeirSY7mAZaitgfYhIXjDw&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dfts4x4%26hl%3Den%26rls%3DHPIA,HPIA:2006-16,HPIA:en
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I chose the Calmini over the OME because
a) the a-arms
b) the ball joints are bolted on like the Sidekicks, much easier to replace
c) I think the stock suspension is too soft with a box of tools and a bunch of other crap in the back. I was always bottoming out the rear of my Sidekick, ESPECIALLY with rear passengers!
d) I wanted as much lift as possible to clear 31's and have lots of room for flexing. Calmini makes the biggest lift.
e) I figured if the ride REALLY sucks I can always upgrade the struts to FTS or OME and do something about the rear too if necessary.
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If I had to do it over I would just stay with spring spacers.. especially now that jeff has diff drops! ..Way cheaper -factory softness! I have the calmini kit and its alright.. but an extra 2.5" of spring isn't gonna make a vittrack an off road monster.. need a sas for that..
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Who's jeff and where can I get his diff drops?
If I had to do it over I would just stay with spring spacers.. especially now that jeff has diff drops! ..Way cheaper -factory softness! I have the calmini kit and its alright.. but an extra 2.5" of spring isn't gonna make a vittrack an off road monster.. need a sas for that..
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For me, I'm an OME convert. The Calmini arms would be great but I don't want to spend the bucks for the entire kit when all I would really want out of it is the arms and diff drops.
Running down smooth hardball roads stock spring and coil spacer combos are fine. The truck handles fine at highway speeds and when turning. I've had a set of Jeff's coil spacers on one of my trucks for almost two years now and I don't have any complaints on their durability or performance... or price for that matter. They are solid, they get the job done and they are still the best inexpensive way to gain lift on your truck. However I've noticed my passengers get launched up out of their seat into their seat belts pretty hard when the rear end kicks over a bump on trails. Especially when the belt locks up as they are rising in the seat.
I can appreciate guys who need heavier spring set-ups to hold all their gear on the go, though.
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I didn't know Jeff had diff drop brackets.
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i put xl7 rear coils to eliminate the soft stock spring problem, with mustang shocks they can ride rough with no weight but add a few pounds in back and the ride is good. anyway, it's an option for people wanting something stiffer in the back to carry shit
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If i keep my vit, I might try jeep coils in the rear since i can get some from a buddy for free. Last summer i wasn't impressed with the way the back of my zook saged loaded up for camping.
**my bad strut spacers not dif drops!!!!
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I'll have all 4 XL-7 coils available soon if anyone is interested :)
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Who's jeff and where can I get his diff drops?
If I had to do it over I would just stay with spring spacers.. especially now that jeff has diff drops! ..Way cheaper -factory softness! I have the calmini kit and its alright.. but an extra 2.5" of spring isn't gonna make a vittrack an off road monster.. need a sas for that..
Its not me!
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I've had both kits. OME is an easier install, rides nice and is less expensive. CALMINI rides VERY rough, costs more and is a tougher install. However, CALMINI gives you more real travel, as it does not use a spring spacer. It also repositions the front wheels to give more clearance in the wheelwell. The lack of a diff drop solution with OME was never a problem for me. The CALMINI kit probably needs it (especially if you remove the front sway bar), because it'll lift the front about 3 inches or more until it settles. It's a tough call. Figure out what's most important to you, then git-r-done! Good luck!
P.S. - If you get CALMINI, you may need to modify any front skid that covers the front diff and oil pan, since the diff will drop slightly lower than the crossmember. Just another thing to consider.
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Does the Calmini kit move the hub forward at all, away from the firewall? I'm considering the Calmini despite the rough ride considering that the handling would improve with the stiffer suspension.
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I went with Calmini for the hardware figuring i could change the struts/coils later on. And i wanted 31" tires while avoiding getting a body lift.
So far i have nothing to complain about. I have the 2dr soft top and it is stiffer than stock but not enough to say its not comfy.
Calmini + 1.5" spacers = 31" tires without a body lift.
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Yeah, I already have the body lift, and I'm running 31's so the lift would be purely for more travel in the suspension. It would probably not be as stiff in the XL-7 as it is in a 2 dr.
I went with Calmini for the hardware figuring i could change the struts/coils later on. And i wanted 31" tires while avoiding getting a body lift.
So far i have nothing to complain about. I have the 2dr soft top and it is stiffer than stock but not enough to say its not comfy.
Calmini + 1.5" spacers = 31" tires without a body lift.
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I saw a guys rig running the calmini kit with ome shocks and springs. He said its very nice doing it this way. He also said it gave more lift. I was just wondering how he could do that being that the OME springs are for 2" lift right not 3"??
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Yeah, Unless he's also using spring spacers, there is no way he's getting more lift witht he OME stuff, especially since it's not even 2".
However nice this would be, it would also cost me another $800 on top of the $1000 I'd already be spending on the Calmini kit. That's just cost prohibitive.
I saw a guys rig running the calmini kit with ome shocks and springs. He said its very nice doing it this way. He also said it gave more lift. I was just wondering how he could do that being that the OME springs are for 2" lift right not 3"??
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Yea man im with you on that. I really want to get the calmini kit but i think for now i might just get the spacers and see if i can get by with them. I havent heard anything bad from spacers but people are so flip flop when it comes to lift kits! Im so lost on what to get.
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i believe the OME GV springs are longer than the OME 2dr 4cyl springs, this could be where the extra lift comes from?....?
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OME FOR THE WIN 8)