ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Build Diaries, How-To, DIY => Topic started by: drenalin on May 24, 2010, 04:22:00 PM
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Early stages of my X-90 build , 3" rear calmini suspension lift in , now working on the front. Also have the 3" body lift to put in .
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What kind of pitch should i ave on my rear end driveshaft setup.... its tuneable with the supplied a arm in the calmini kit, should the rearend be tilted up so the shaft is runing true with it "straight" . Keep in mind this is my first build.
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The ends of the shaft should be running parallel. I think there is a diagram in the Tech archive (diff rotation) that shows how to set it up correctly. Make sure that you have enough thread screwed in on the joint, I've known one to come apart on an X-90.
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Ok...i'm working on the front diff mount, seems to be way off as i have read iot would be with a sidekick lift kit on a x-90. Seems the lowering brackets have the front diff down enough that it is going to have to be fabed to mount on a slight angle to clear the cross member .... the slight angle shouldn't hurt anything should it ?
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Did you complain to Calmini ? It was sold to fit your X90 right ? I have installed 7 Calmini kits into X90's & when I call them they don't get it. Please, ask them "whats up". If enough people who bought the kit complain they might start to make a mount for the X90's that fit. As for making the adjustment to the rear, ask them about it when you point out the front diff. mount problem. Here is what I do to fix the mount. If you buy their transmission skid plate the rear two bolt holes miss the crossmember. You will need to weld on two new tabs. Just a heads up ! Got pic's of that too if it helps.
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Thanks..i will put in a complaint ... i have seen these pics before and this was my plan with the mount. The shaft end of my front diff has to be mounted "up" on an angle to clear the xmember , did your installs work out this way too, just woundering because at first i thought maybe someone might have previously welded a different xmember into my x-90 and that changed the clearance . I thought about lowering the xmember a bit but i can't see the slight driveshaft pitch causing much of an issue ...hopefylly. Thanks for the help !!!!!!
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The Calmini 3" suspension is for the Sidekick/Tracker (1989-98 Sidekick / Tracker SK19900 ). Their 2" kit installs onto an X-90 with no issues. Is the crossmember mount the only thing that needs to be modified to fit the 3" Kit on an X?
Zig
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Its the only issue i have found sofar ... but i don't have the front suspension in yet either . The back bolted up nicely.
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Did you complain to Calmini ? It's was sold to fit your X90 right ? I have installed 6 Calmini kits into X90's & when I call them they don't get it. Please, ask them "whats up". If enough people who bought the kit complain they might start to make a mount for the X90's that fit. As for making the adjustment to the rear, ask them about it when you point out the front diff. mount problem. Here is what I do to fix the mount. If you buy their transmission skid plate the rear two bolt holes miss the crossmember. You will need to weld on two new tabs. Just a heads up ! Got pic's of that too if it helps.
Hey ToyYoda - thanks for posting up those pictures and helping out... +1TP
-Eric
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ToyYoda .... what kind of pipe do you use for your front bumpers, how do you bend it ? Assumming they are your rigs on the generation x-90 site i was looking at .
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The Calmini kits (3") is great with the exception of the lower diff. mount on X90's. Until last summer we allways needed to cut 2 coils out of the rear spring to "level" out the X90's. But Calmini changed the springs now & that's not reqired anymore. Our group feels the Calmini is the best kit for the $ if your any kind of off roader. And yes, the X90's are a very small part of the market. Just like to see those who sell the Sidekick mods. to X90 owners point out whats going to need re-working to fit. As for bumpers I like to use DOM 1.20 wall. And 1.75" tubes. In So. Cal. you will find lots of fabricators who will bend whatever you want. Most smaller fab. guys around here use a JD bender. Bending is a skill & if you want to do your own get ready to ruin lots of tubes until you get it. If your only planning on doing your X90 then look for someone to bend it. As I said DOM is a good option when your ready. Chromo is big $ & regular tubing will bend easier against rocks & hits. Still standard tubing is what most use. Don't go thinner than 1.20 wall unless you get a deal on chromo. Lastly if you do install the body lift, consider raising the fuel tank. Here is what we do. We slip a 1.75 tube through the frame (1.75' fits perfect) and re-weld the tank mounts on top now along with building our bumper off the new tube. On the front side you will need to cut the other two tank mounts & re weld them back on 2.5" shorter. Hope this info helps.
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Yes it helps alot, thanks. .. I have been studing your pics . I got my front suspension in and the tires seem to slant outward at the top more than the bottom, is this normal on the X90 ? will i have to trim my front coil springs ?
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Here is a pic of my front end, the alignment was way off for some reason, bad enough it can't be driven till i ajust it good enough to get it to a shop. The tires are towed "in" at the bottom ? Also a pic of my fabed diff mount , got a new Millermatic 180 and i'm lovin it !
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Yes. Common problem. You need whats called a "camber kit". Napa sells them. A kit will replace the upper cam bolt. This will allow you to get the camber back. Also remember you installed diff. a-arms & adjusting the tow is required. This will bring out the wheels as well. We like to run spring spacers on top of the Calmini spring. Firms ups the front & your X90 will handle better at speed off road. Looks good so far !
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Thanks, i'll look into the camber kit. What about the front sway-bar ...do you remove it or hook it back up to the calmini control arms ? My sway-bar links are toast. Sorry for all the questions but i love learning from someone who has the "hands on" experience !
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Yup ! Most ends of the sway bars are worn out due to age. We don't use them. After installing the spring shim on top of the Calmini front springs sway will be min. Keep in mind the sway bars are there for a reason. But when the mushy stock springs are replaced, sway bars don't play a big part any more. Try it without them & see. I don't like telling anyone to remove stuff that could be considered a "safety" item. Found a pic. of what you'll need to do if you wish to add the Calmini "transmission" skid plate. Ya, not the best welds. :-\
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Eh, them ain't bad welds....kinda look like mine ::)
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I installed NAPA cam bolts into the top of each side and eyeballed the tierod alignment ...the wheels still look to be towed in at the bottom a bit . Might have to try and modd it to get more of a ajustment where the cam bolt is ???? The cam bolt did help but don't look to be enough to me .
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Damn,thats scary,you had to tear your X90 apart to do that lift!!I'm hoping to get the "spacer" kit from Jeff on this forum,I'll be Happy with 2" suspension and 3" body...mount me up some 30" AllTerrains or Mud Terrains!!Good build though,I'll be watchin!!
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You don't have to tear it down like i did ... my rear frame was bad so i ripped the back off tank and all and welded in new rear frame, xmembers ect, still a work in progess. As for the front you need to remove the front bumper to get at the front body mount bolts if your doing a body lift. The worst part about this build sofar is half the bolts were so rusty they either twist off or i cut em off , a little heat helps ... and trying to find new good quality metric bolts for the swing arms .... what a chore, atleast where i live. But lucky for me i just love tearing shit apart and rebuliding it ! This thing will have wicked ground clearance with the 6" combo kit, just the 3" suspension made a huge difference, i can lay under the car and work on it no problem and i'm 6'4 225 pounds, body lift not in yet.
Keep ya posted !
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Loosen the (supplied) bolts where the strut spacer (blue) meets the mount. All six (supplied) bolts/nuts. This give you some camber movement & poss. what you need to get the wheels right.Then tighten back the (supplied) bolts. This will help to some deg.
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I'll give it a try. Put the tires off my ram on her today ! 15 x 31 x 13.5 Mickeys on 8 in aluminum offsets .
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I got a price here for DOM 1.20 pipe = $23 per foot, ootch , not spending that much on bumpers. What would be a cheaper alternative thaty wouldn't be too hard to bend ?
p.s i would hate to price the chromo here (nova scotia).
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Why dont you make some spacers to lift the stock bumpers into place and trim them back around the arches?
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That is an option ... i wanted something heavier but might have to go back to stock.
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I got a price here for DOM 1.20 pipe = $23 per foot, ootch , not spending that much on bumpers. What would be a cheaper alternative thaty wouldn't be too hard to bend ?
p.s i would hate to price the chromo here (nova scotia).
Holy! Where are you located? I am in Texas. I got 120 wall DOM for 3.05 per foot!
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Nova scotia , canada , its a special order as they don't sell much , shipping costs added to it and only comes in 20 ft lenghts. If i get 100 ft they can sell it for $10.00 ft , still way too much for a bumper .
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I use CREW Tube for bumpers it's plenty strong for bumpers at about half the price of DOM. That is an incredibly overpriced though I'm in BC and I just bought DOM 1 3/4 .120 for $7 per foot through Metal Supermarket! Check out their website and see if they have a dealer near you. But again for bumpers I'd just use the CREW!
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I might try heavy duty exhaust pipe. Here are pics of my rear cab mounts and x member for tank i fab'd up > still learning the welding thing . lol
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Fuel tank looks far better now that you moved it up. Nice bonus with the body lift. Yesterday I finnished cutting out my X90's wheel wells. Installed flairs too. Shortest one they sell. Cut & bent up fender well lipps so rubber flairs have a nice angle. Then cut body metal on both front & rear to match. Here are a few pic's.
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Nice .... i have to cut back my fender wells also, glad you put up the pics. I just finished replacing my floor pans with 16 guage sheet metal ...not long now and i will be able to fire it up .. very curious to see how the 1.6 liter handles those 31 x 13.5 x 15 mickey's , 5 th gear ? maybe downhill ...lol.
Where can i get a couple of those generation x90.com decals you have on your rigs ?
jamey
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Mobile but not complete ...got the front fenders cut back .
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My young guy loves the zuk !!! Still have work to do on it .
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Got my 31 x 9.5 x 15 BF's on , much more suited for the little 1.6 L .
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Was REALLY hoping you were going to change tires. Looks WAY better!! 8)
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Yah, the big tires were just a stand in i swiped off my dodge ram till i got the BF's .
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Sweet rig, I want one next! 8)
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Nice job so far. I have to hand it to you for your not giving up on a tough project to say the least. (Trust me I know). I am in Boston this week & fly all over now working in hospitals installing new equip. Sorry to take so long getting back to you. I had the logos on the side of our X90's cut/made by a co. in Vista Ca. call Sign Art. Mom & daughter run it. You can find them on the Web. They can cut the Generationx90 in any color you can think of. Carbon fiber looks good on silver but you call it. Send the web master a new pic. so they can post it on the site if your going to run the X90 logo. I know he would.
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Thanks.... still haven't finished the project yet , got bumpers to build and body work left to do on fender mods.
One thing i can't figure out with this x-90 is the drive line shake i get while going on the highway , dash will shake until i get up to a faster speed, can't see front alignment doing this but don't know where else to look , it doesn't do it in 4x4 low at all , even going through the gears on highway . It feel like something in the drive line causing it . Tranny mount ?