ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Model Specific Suzuki Forum => Suzuki Sidekick, Vitara, Geo Tracker (Gen. 1 Platform) 1989-1998 => Topic started by: talonxracer on December 18, 2011, 09:06:32 AM
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Well I have about 3K miles on the AE kit so far, about 2100 miles on pavement and 900 miles on dirt roads and 400 of that recently crawling around the mtns in 1st gear, 4wd low, I have gone thru 3 rear shocks. They do fine on the pavement but as soon as you start flexing the rear suspension out the shocks blow rather quickly.
As soon as you sit there in the garage and flex the suspension without the coils installed, it becomes very obvious why the shocks are blowing their guts. The stock lower shock mount is fighting the axle movement and applies alot of side torque to the shock as the suspension flexs. I was surfing around and found a UK company that carries Sidekick/Vitara parts and they have a lower shock mount that changes the shock mounting 90 degrees to where the lower pivot is now in plane with the axle movement. http://www.bits4vits.co.uk/store/vitara-/-x90/shock-repositioners-/-spacers/prod_173.html (http://www.bits4vits.co.uk/store/vitara-/-x90/shock-repositioners-/-spacers/prod_173.html)
These would be far too costly to import a single set, so I plan on fabbing up a set as the design doesnt look all that complicated....LOL
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Interesting. I remember considering that problem, but it got lost in just getting back on the road.
The problem with this adapter is the loss of 1 1/2" shock compression, unless you have lots of lift. If you made the bottom shock mount wider 3", then use rectangle tube (about 2"x3"x2"h) to fit inside the new shock mount with bolts going toward outside (use shoulder on bolts to keep from making it tight) to bottom mount. Then on same plane on other sides of box drill holes for the shock bolt to go through. Shock mount would be in the middle of box. You would get the same swivel shock mount without the 1 1/2" loss.
Just a thought. Hard to explain.
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I see and understand your concerns.
Hopefully I will have the time here this afternoon to check this out a little closer with my AE lift. the AE kit uses SensaTrac rear shocks, 37199st, 14.3" collapsed and 24.5" extended and my primary concern is the coil spring falling off of the bump stop if I raise the lower shock mount much more.
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What about just putting on some limiting straps?