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: inthesky on May 14, 2016, 11:17:39 AM
-
Hey guys I apologize if this is a dumb Question/has an answer already (searched but could not find :-\)
I have a 2001 Chevy Tracker red prerunner- has a 2" spacer lift kit installed. I liked it when installed but seems like after a while it lowered half an inch or so?? May I just be got use to it.
Anyways I looked for a 3" spacer so I could put that on the rear and swap the front spacer out for the rear which will raise the front another inch so it will have 3 inch instead of 2". This 3" spacer I can not find, anyone on here know of one ???
If not can I just add another flat 1" spacer to the one that's already on there?
Thanks y'all.
-
Also anyone have the coil spring outside/inside diameter for 2001 chevy tracker?
;D thanks
-
I"m thinking that IF your front end is sagging now, it is because of one or more of the following reasons:
1. it could be you are comparing the lift height BEFORE the coil springs settle into the coil spacers and afterwards. Once installed, you have to drive your truck a few miles to allow the coil pacers to "seat in" BEFORE you attempt to align the truck. There is a significant difference in the height of the lift immediately after the coil spacers are installed and AFTER they have settled.
2. the material your coil spacer (you now have installed) is constructed from a material that is not durable and has compressed/deformed
3. your coil springs have fatigued and are sagging
4. your suspension geometry has changed (from bending/flexing or just extra weight)
5. you have additional weight over your front end that is compressing your existing lift
The OD and ID of one of my old Jeff Hoepker's coil spring spacer is 4" OD and 2.5" ID (which allows them to slide over the coil spring positioners).
Jeff Hoepkers will make a custom set of coil spring spacers for you if you contact him. Jeff builds his coil spacers out of a super dense Poly (HMVW?) material that absolutely won't deform and will take a severe beating. Beyond solid steel or aluminum coil spacers, you won't find any of them tougher than Jeff's coil spacers. Jeff's coil spacers don't squeak either... because there is no metal to metal contact with his. I believe his coil spacer lifts are still sold through Low Range Off Road. Jeff is on this forum fairly regularly.
The reason you don't find coil spacers in excess of 2" is probably because a 2"lift is about all the front CV axles will handle reliably without further front suspension modifications (like front diff drop brackets for example) to prevent your CVs from binding/breaking during severe compression/extension turning.
Because of the control arm geometry, the 1.5" coil spacer provides you a full 2" of lift on the front axle. An actual 2" thick coil spacer up front would probably provide you closer to a 3" lift. With greater lifts in the front, the front coil springs will also bow outwards more because of the arc of the control arm, unless you are running aftermarket control arms like from Calmini or other vendors.
-
If your front is sagging Grand Vitara springs will level it nicely. That's what I did when I added my winch bumper and I have Jeff's 2" Lift in mine too. plus a 2" body lift
-
Thanks neprecon/ captwoody, i appreciate the info you have given. By the way DON'T stack spring spacers- yes that was a dumb ? It's dangerous & not worth it, also DON'T "make" spacers if you care about yrself & those around you :o
Captwoody are the Suzuki GV 4dr springs longer then my 2001 Chevrolet Tracker LT rwd 4dr v6? I understand they're the same? Really need that info ???
Currently I'm running a 2" spacer lift kit (not impressed) 1.5" strut,spring spacer/2"rear spacer which still has a sag look in the back. other models dont seem to sag in the back yet mine always has. (springs maybe? 2 sub boxes weighing it down?)
Since I'm trying to give my Prerunner Tracker a big, noticeable lift I'd like to go 3" & above on suspension lift only- no body lift :P
I believe through some research that the spring spacers for jeep wrangler tj models will fit tracker/GV so I'm going to try the 2.5/3" kit with shock extensions from a ford f150. I will let yall know how it turns out here in the next few weeks...
*In the future I'd like to try the OldManEmu springs, struts & shocks + coil spacers & shock extenders - that should give me "the look" i want while making it quite the preformer off road ;D
Anyone with rear diff lock options please let me know. ( Open to further idea's thoughts & suggestions. Thanks.
-
Well if you have a 2-wheel drive truck then the CV issue is no issue at all. I'd still consider the hard plastic coil spacers over the metal ones simply to avoid the metal to metal noise. Old Man Emu springs and struts would be a nice improvement to the ride quality while also allowing more suspension travel and durability.
I run a Lock Right #1512-LR in the rear of my 2002 Tracker.... which has the 4.88 diff gears from a 2001 Tracker. For the price, the Lock Rights are hard to beat.
Several thousand miles ago my (long) cross pin in my diff broke into three pieces. The breaks on the pin occurred right along the three machined reliefs of the stock cross pin. The machined reliefs were there to allow the spyder gears to receive gear lube. Since I no longer have spyder gears in my rear diff I tried to source a solid cross pin to replace the factory stock cross pin (with the machined reliefs on them).
I was never able to locate one, but my neighbor who owns a machine shop, made me a new set out of 5/8ths inch steel bar (bless his heart!). After machining the bar diameter to size, he then had them case hardened. I installed them into my newly rebuilt diff about 10K miles ago and so far... so good. I always hate to say "something is working good" >:D. My Lock Right operates very smoothly and for some reason, I now rarely get any of the pops from the rear end that I had more regularly when I installed it the first two times. Yet the rear end still locks-up nicely when crawling up hills or in loose traction soil and I can still occasionally hear the ratcheting of the rear axle when I am turning.
-
I made the assumption you had a 2 dr so the vitara springs are made for more weight. if you are a 4dr then you would have to buy old man emu springs to get more lift
-
You two (captwoody & nepracon) are the only ones who repond to my questions on this site (hope it's not me :-\)
I do appreciate it, yr knowledge on the Tracker gen2 is priceless to me, even if yr experience with the rearend is beyond my comprehension i still need to know since i am experiencing bad sounds back there lately! >:(
Anymore you info you want to add nepracon please do.
So i have not received my 3" lift spacers yet from RTZtech but did get my Summit f-150 shock extenders for 2-4" lifts in the mail and worked them onto the rear end with a big open-end wrench & a drill, these things fit great w/ no binding! As a bonus they look awesome are made of super lightweight aircraft aluminum- made in the USA!
So stoked as i tried a different set but those didnt work out & where made of heavy steel.
I did also make my own 1" extensions for the top also (not longer threads, spacers) ;) -turned out perfect with an extra 3" of travel w/a soft ride using stock shocks- yes sir ;D
Pics: /wont let me, wonder why? L8tr dude's.
-
Don't be too concerned with dumb questions or even dumb comments. I make both of them all the time.
More guys will eventually chip in. Our forum members pop in and out all the time and with the warmer weather, a lot of them are out either working their butts off, spending time with family or playing with their toys.
Just a thought, if you increased your suspension lift three inches, you might want to elevate your truck and allow the suspension to sag and then inspect your drive shaft to make sure it doesn't slide out of the tranny too much with the additional movement of your rear axle. You may need a drive line spacer to make up for the excessive movement range of your axle.
-
What kind of "bad sounds" are your getting from your rear axle?
-
if the back springs very sagging and looking like you were dragging ur ass I've heard people using tj springs
-
Thanks for mentioning that about the driveline & yr right about guys being busy w/work, family n also try in to have fun. Ever since I broke my back at work I've had too much time on my hands so I rebuilt/designed a custom racing scooter (2005 Yamaha Zuma 70cc) now I've turned my attention too the tracker.
I'm working on piecing together a 4" suspension lift with just spacers,exstenders & adapters got most of it but have to figure out if everything will work together in harmony or if I'm trying too go too high :P
Question, will the springs for a first generation tracker/sidekick springs fit perfectly fine on my 01 tracker?
Guessing they since they fit from grand vitara/2nd gen tracker onto sidekick/1st gen trkr. Doesn't hurt to ask though ;D
Found the that boondox mtsprts has nice 3" springs for like a buck twenty five. Nice!!
Here's couple of pics of my shock exstentions:
-
By the way nprecon, the sound is kinda like clicking under water at slow deceleration but not if I amply any amount of throttle, like wtf!!!
Bugs the heck out of me. Time for a rebuild or a junkyard unit I suppose?
-
So this sound is related to the drive-line components... but are you absolutely sure the sound originates from your rear differential?
How many miles are on your Tracker? Have you placed your truck up on jack stands and examined the drive shaft, u-joints and rear diff for excessive movement yet? It may or may not be coming from your rear differential.
Sounds can be so deceptive as to their point of origin. Especially when you are driving and can't move around or stick your head outside both sides of the vehicle to listen for the noise.
-
Crawl underneath your tracker and twist driveshaft with your hand. if it clicks or is loose probably need new u joints or they are loose. I got that sound on my f250 and had play in shaft so had new u joint bearing installed
-
Also, I didn't mention it, but if you haven't checked your rear diff fluid since you took possession of your truck, you really ought to. It is not unusual for prior owners to neglect checking, let alone replacing their differential, transfer case and/or transmission fluids. There may well be water contamination in the diffs that has never been addressed. You never really know until you check them yourself... or buy the "one in a million" vehicles that has its maintenance history records with it.
-
Good suggestions nprecon,
So I went to install the plastic 3" jeep spacers & surprise! :( Things didn't go as planned but after studying the issues & design of suspension I just made some 1.5" & 2" spring seats with the jeep spacers and then add the steel motofab spacers... 4"+!
Turned out perfect but... had no bumpstops & very limited down travel for front struts :-\
So I was gonna make some spacers for both but instead I'm gonna buy the Supreme Suspensions 2" lift and use the strut spacers added to the ones I have now with longer bolt & use the bumpstop spacers too. Should be good enough for just a paved road going tracker.
Can't believe I'm sitting at 4inches+ :P
The ride is just unreal.. Feels better then before! So stoked.
I do have a question though (searched all over but no answer) do y'all know any bolt on salutations for the track bar? Right now the rearends sitting about 1/4 inch to the right & that's after beating the $!#% out a the bracket but won't move any further. I'd like a adjustable trackbar from like a camaro of ford or some other model that has a straight bar & will fit in the brackets I have on the tracker now.
Thanks Y'all!
-
You obviously need a pan hard or track bar extension to raise your pan hard bar attachment point to your axle. Several vendors sell them as a part of their suspension systems. You could build you one too.
-
vits4bits sells them ...panhard relocation bracket
-
I got my panhard relocation bracket from Bits4Vits. Easy install and decreases that crab walk shift of the rear end. One must really crank on the bolt to keep it tight. Mine came loose after (an admittedly) few hundred miles.
-
Clicking sounds during slow speed, that goes away on acceleration is typical of U-joints. 2dr's with lift can be hard on them.
When you go over 2-2.5 inches of lift, it is time to consider a diff drop also, or the clicking will start on your CV's. Or, the may just break up totally, especially when turning.
-
Hey where did u get those nice shock mounts in the rear
-
Your Tracker looks amazing.
It would take some careful work, but you could drop your rear axle holusing, carefully cut-off the factory shock, spring, control arm (upper and lower) mounts and rotate/clock them forward on the axle housing about one inch and this would help get your pinion angle back into better alignment with your drive shaft's transmission u-joint and you could also extend your rear control arms (about an inch) to push your rear axle backwards an inch as well. You may need a one inch drive line spacer as well to do this.
This will increase your wheel base just slightly and push your rear tires back into alignment with your rear wheel well by creating a larger arc of swing.
-
Haven't been on here in a while but to answer tracker marks- I don't remember the vendor on ebay but the rear shock extensions are from a f150 I think and a b|removethispart|@tch to get on/working without rubbing shocks. but definitely worth it as you get to keep that stock plush ride :)