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ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: lil_Truck on May 16, 2004, 01:53:31 PM

Title: What a difference!!!!!
Post by: lil_Truck on May 16, 2004, 01:53:31 PM
I did the axil rotation.  I had a vibration and couldn't figure it out.  It ended up being that my angles were all messed up.  So the axil rotation helped out a great deal with that.

BUT the ride quality from using the 3 year old Calimini shocks to the Ford F150 4x4 Monro Sensatrax shocks is like night and day in the ride quality!!!

I beleave it's as close to stock ride as I can recall!!  It's great!

Right now I have the front end torn down, but can't wait to get it back on the ROAD!!  Top down, sun on my face, the wind in my, well I have no hair but I still enjoy the air blowing around  ;D

Does anyone know if theres a better strut??
Title: Re: What a difference!!!!!
Post by: 1bigtracker on May 16, 2004, 02:15:25 PM
dosn't rock road have some diffent struts?

stu
Title: Re: What a difference!!!!!
Post by: Mikerpm4x4 on May 16, 2004, 02:46:25 PM
I swear by the OME struts. They are slightly longer than the calmini struts though. Im not 100% sure they would bolt in without messing with the CV angles.

Mike
Title: Re: What a difference!!!!!
Post by: Agent Orange on May 16, 2004, 03:56:04 PM
aren't the calmini struts the same length as stock oem ?

then wouldn't a good set of gas charged stock struts work ?
Title: Re: What a difference!!!!!
Post by: biker on May 16, 2004, 04:12:28 PM
I have heard that the GV struts were a bit longer than stock, is there any truth to this? ???
Title: Re: What a difference!!!!!
Post by: lil_Truck on May 17, 2004, 04:05:06 AM
As I sit here at the computer, the phone rings and my steel third member is IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just wish it wasn't an hour drive to go get it.  I live in a GM town (Tracker) and the closest Zuki dealer is in Lansing Michigan.

I guess I'll be off the the capital tomarrow!!
Title: Re: What a difference!!!!!
Post by: explosivo on May 17, 2004, 05:20:02 AM
Hey, how much did that third member cost?

(I'm trying to get an estimate on how much a steel housing and 3rd member would cost... All I know right now is that the steel housing is $168...)
Title: Re: What a difference!!!!!
Post by: lil_Truck on May 17, 2004, 08:00:32 AM
A new from the factory 3rd member (27450-68D10 - number from eric) gotten at the dealership was $236.00.  

I called around and the one in lansing was the cheapest.  

If you can get one for $168 go for it.  Also where?
Title: Re: What a difference!!!!!
Post by: Mikerpm4x4 on May 17, 2004, 10:46:29 AM
The first one I got was $168
The second was $212
Same dealer same part# In an E mail some guy said he couldnt find one for under $265
I think the dealers just pull a # out of their ass. :-/

Mike
Title: Re: What a difference!!!!!
Post by: Mikerpm4x4 on May 17, 2004, 10:48:13 AM
Quote
I have heard that the GV struts were a bit longer than stock, is there any truth to this? ???

Nope. They are exactly the same.
Title: Re: What a difference!!!!!
Post by: NY_SIDEKICKER on May 17, 2004, 11:44:07 AM
Quote
A new from the factory 3rd member (27450-68D10 - number from eric) gotten at the dealership was $236.00.  

I called around and the one in lansing was the cheapest.  

If you can get one for $168 go for it.  Also where?

NOW DONT YOU ALSO HAVE TO USE A CARRIER OUT OF AN XL7 OR SOMETHING  ???.....RICK GAVE ME THIS QUOTE FOR A READY TO BOLT IN DEAL........" RIGHT NOW I HAVE A USED STEEL HOUSING AND CARRIER WITH 5.12:1 GEARS FOR $400.00 EXCHANGE. IF YOU WANT IT SET UP WITH AN EZ-LOCKER IT WILL COST YOU ANOTHER $400.00 IN PARTS AND LABOR. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL ......" SO THIS IS WHAT I'M SLOWLY SAVING FOR...........MATTY  8)
Title: Re: What a difference!!!!!
Post by: NY_SIDEKICKER on May 17, 2004, 11:46:14 AM
Quote
I did the axil rotation.  I had a vibration and couldn't figure it out.  It ended up being that my angles were all messed up.  So the axil rotation helped out a great deal with that.

BUT the ride quality from using the 3 year old Calimini shocks to the Ford F150 4x4 Monro Sensatrax shocks is like night and day in the ride quality!!!

I beleave it's as close to stock ride as I can recall!!  It's great!

Right now I have the front end torn down, but can't wait to get it back on the ROAD!!  Top down, sun on my face, the wind in my, well I have no hair but I still enjoy the air blowing around  ;D

Does anyone know if theres a better strut??

IF I WERE TO BUY THE FORD SHOCKS WOULD THEY WORK AS SET UP  UNTIL I COULD  GET SOME ONE TO DO THE ROTATION  FOR ME  ??? MATTY  8)
Title: Re: What a difference!!!!!
Post by: Zukipilot on May 17, 2004, 11:12:05 PM
Quote

IF I WERE TO BUY THE FORD SHOCKS WOULD THEY WORK AS SET UP  UNTIL I COULD  GET SOME ONE TO DO THE ROTATION  FOR ME  ??? MATTY  8)


Nope, The shocks are to big to fit in the stock location (bigger round than stock)
Zig
Title: Re: What a difference!!!!!
Post by: NY_SIDEKICKER on May 18, 2004, 02:39:28 PM
Quote


Nope, The shocks are to big to fit in the stock location (bigger round than stock)
Zig

>:(      FIGURES     I GUESS I'LL HAVE TO PUT UP WITH THESE (SORRY CALMINI )  SUCKY SHOCKS A LOT LONGER  :( THEY HAVE BEEN ON FOR ONLY LIKE 8 MONTHS & THEY LOOK LIKE THEYV'E BEEN THERE FOR EVER & AREN'T ALL THAT GREAT FOR COMFORT ......
Title: Re: What a difference!!!!!
Post by: Kreg on May 18, 2004, 04:16:15 PM
Ya I can't wait to get rid of my Calmini shocks.

The washboards are almost unbearable, even when riding at 8psi.

Want something a bit more comfy.

Title: Re: What a difference!!!!!
Post by: HotRod on May 18, 2004, 05:50:58 PM
You can try the Rancho 9000s, They seem to work good for me. A little long but no problems so far (knock on wood) ;D
Good droop but only 4-5"inches in compression.
Title: Re: What a difference!!!!!
Post by: juggster on May 18, 2004, 07:37:42 PM
do the ranchos fit well on the tracker? even up front?
Title: Re: What a difference!!!!!
Post by: Bobzooki on May 19, 2004, 09:07:08 AM
I complained to Calmini for so long, that they finally sent me new, softer rear shocks.  That was a few months ago - well, OK, maybe Thanksgiving.
Title: Re: What a difference!!!!!
Post by: Mikerpm4x4 on May 19, 2004, 09:18:59 AM
Quote
do the ranchos fit well on the tracker? even up front?

The front is a strut and rancho does not even make any.
Title: Re: What a difference!!!!!
Post by: HotRod on May 19, 2004, 02:54:39 PM
Up front I use OME. What a difference ;D
Title: Re: What a difference!!!!!
Post by: Bfunk on May 19, 2004, 03:09:00 PM
I don't know if the extra wieght of my 4 door makes that much difference but my calmini suspension ride awsome.  When I first get in it from my truck it's almost to soft.
Brian
Title: Re: What a difference!!!!!
Post by: GRVIT on May 20, 2004, 04:41:17 AM
so does anyone know a code for shocks that are longer and softer than Calmini ones ? (I think that Calmini shocks are Rancho).
Title: Re: What a difference!!!!!
Post by: HotRod on May 20, 2004, 03:33:23 PM
OME struts#  N31s
Rancho 9000s rear shocks # 9168

These are on mine with the Calmini 6"inch lift Combo and 1"inch spring spacers in rear and Double stock Rubbers on front springs.
They give a 100% better ride ;D
Title: Re: What a difference!!!!!
Post by: GRVIT on May 21, 2004, 05:21:06 AM
Thanks HotRod   :)  I also have the 6" Calmini lift.
I used to have the 1 1/2" Rocky Road spring spacers on front and rear,the truck got a bit more higher (nice)  but the angle of the driveshafts on the front front was I believe bad.....so I got them out again.... :( They were close to 45 degrees with the truck standing on even terrain....
If I do the rear axle rotation,do the codes you gave me add some more drop ? or they are just softer than Calmini shocks but with the same travel distance ?
Title: Re: What a difference!!!!!
Post by: wildgoody on May 21, 2004, 05:50:37 AM
You were maxxed out on hight, no good for
traction. you need to leave the 6" Calmini kit
with no spacers in front for maximum travel.

Travel, both up and down is what gives you
articulation, with limited articulation (too much
lift in your case) you will get stuck by not having
terain following wheels.

I learned about this way back in 1990 when I first
lifted the suspension on my Kick, and I didn't put
on longer travel shocks and strut spacers.

Maxxed out lift looks badass cool going down the
paved road, but it's suckass going down the dirt road
;)

Wild
Title: Re: What a difference!!!!!
Post by: HotRod on May 21, 2004, 05:48:48 PM
The shock bodys are large so when you do the rotation you would have to move the shock mounts out away from the axle.
Title: Re: What a difference!!!!!
Post by: GRVIT on May 21, 2004, 08:06:47 PM
Quote
You were maxxed out on hight, no good for
traction. you need to leave the 6" Calmini kit
with no spacers in front for maximum travel.

Travel, both up and down is what gives you
articulation, with limited articulation (too much
lift in your case) you will get stuck by not having
terain following wheels.

I learned about this way back in 1990 when I first
lifted the suspension on my Kick, and I didn't put
on longer travel shocks and strut spacers.

Maxxed out lift looks badass cool going down the
paved road, but it's suckass going down the dirt road
;)

Wild


yeah , I know. On the road it looked good but off road was pretty bad.I dont remember well but think I also broke a driveshaft easily when I had the spacers on... :(
Thanks  :)
Title: Re: What a difference!!!!!
Post by: GRVIT on May 21, 2004, 08:10:34 PM
Quote
The shock bodys are large so when you do the rotation you would have to move the shock mounts out away from the axle.


Yes , I m going to make new custom shock mounts.Thanks :) I m anxious somehow about doing the axle rotation but I hope that everything will be o.k eventually.Do you know if the F 150 shocks that Hagen proposed to be used with the Calmini lift when doing the axle rotation are longer than the Rancho rear 9000s shocks ?
Title: Re: What a difference!!!!!
Post by: Kreg on May 22, 2004, 04:45:16 AM
I think the ford shocks are a bit longer than the Calmini shocks.

Mike said that they will give you 3 more inches of droop.

I wouldnt get a longer shock than the ford length unless you had coil spacers. When you rotate the rear diff and set up your coils you install the shocks so they are at max droop just as the coil is touching its seat.  There for if you had longer shocks your coils would fall out of their seats at max articulation.  
Title: Re: What a difference!!!!!
Post by: wildgoody on May 22, 2004, 03:47:02 PM
I have 3" spacers in the back and F-150 shocks
are way too long, it would give me like 2" up travel
and bottom the shocks out.

You need relocated upper shock mounts or use Ford
Crown Vic Shocks 1998-99 I think, That's what I'm running

Wild
Title: Re: What a difference!!!!!
Post by: lil_Truck on May 23, 2004, 04:27:17 AM
I had to relocate the lower and upper shock mounts.

Lower the axil untill the spring is just loose and mount the bottom of the shock.

I then took a sawz-all and cut off the upper bracket.  Attached it to the upper shock and welded it back to the frame.  The new location stuck up above the frame about 1 1/2 inches.  So I added a 45 degree bracket to the top of the shock bracket to the top of the frame.
Title: Re: What a difference!!!!!
Post by: Kreg on May 24, 2004, 01:59:03 PM
So what shock will give me maximum travel without relocating the upper shock mount?

I suppose it all depends on where I relocate the lower mount to... So I guess my question is, what kind of shock should I get which will ride softer, and have enough length to offer me maximum travel without relocating the upper shock mount?
Title: Re: What a difference!!!!!
Post by: Zukipilot on May 24, 2004, 11:13:31 PM
I did the rotation and kept my Calmini shocks, and only relocated the lower shock mount. It gives me prety good rear wheel travel

(http://www.kielbassa.com/pictures/ShCreek9S.jpg)

Though I do plan on doing adjustable rs9000 when I blow out a Calmini Shock.

Zig
Title: Re: What a difference!!!!!
Post by: Mikerpm4x4 on May 25, 2004, 02:25:49 AM
Quote
So what shock will give me maximum travel without relocating the upper shock mount?

I suppose it all depends on where I relocate the lower mount to... So I guess my question is, what kind of shock should I get which will ride softer, and have enough length to offer me maximum travel without relocating the upper shock mount?



I aM pretty sure the rear shocks from 2wd 99 f150 will do that for you.

Mike