ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: standog on January 13, 2004, 10:37:43 AM
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Finally got the spacers and not having any directions just wanted to make sure on what I had to do. Do I take out all the old spacers and just put the new one in or do I put it in with the stock spacer set? Just don't want to make any mistakes. I will be putting it on in the morning.
Thanks.
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DID YOU SEARCH THE ARTICLE ARCHIVES ... I THINK THERE WAS SOMETHING THERE...IF YOU DONT GET A RESPONSE........
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I would suggest use your best judgement. I would think the stock spacers are conformed to fit to the spring on one side and conformed to fit the bracket on the other. The spacer should fit the top of the spring and conform to the face where the spring was originally. If not, I'd swap out the original and replace with the spacer (which acts as a thick original). Again use your best judegement.
Don't forget to take pics along the way after completing first corner install. Taking pics on the second corner install gives you the opportunity to learn on the first corner and provide lessons learn for the rest of us. Don't forget about safety first with those coils.
Take measurements from a frame point to the ground front, back and side. After install using same tires, measure change.
Do you plan to drop the top mount for the strut since you'll be on the bottom end of the travel with the added spacer?
Good luck.
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Which spacers are you using? how many did you get?
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Well here's how thing worked out.
The spacers are 1.5 inch and made by Sky MFG
I bought a set of 4.
First the 1.5 inch spacers were a royal pain to put in the front. I had to take off the strut bolts, sway bar, tierod, brake's, axel shafts, and finnaly the entire hub assembly(to get the axle shaft's out) to get the arm low enough to put the coil back in.
Putting every thing back togather was pretty simple until it came time to bolt the stuts back together. I had to loosen the top strut bolt almost all the way to get the two strut bolts to line up with the hub then retighten them.
The back did not happen because the spacer did not fit the coil. The rear coil is smaller at the top than the front but it was very simple to take out. Simply unbolt the shocks and lower the axle.
This was my first time doing something like this.
This was done on an 03 Vitara and I do not know how much diffrent it is from the sidekick but it took me alot longer than the 2 hours it took them to do the sidekick in the gear guide section.
So the front spacers are in and looks good. No more tire rub. The back still needs to be done and they are going to make some new spacer to fit. I am happy with the look and the ride.
I have to thank Figmo at Roadless Gear for his help getting the spacers and help with getting new ones made for the rear.
Clay
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http://www.zukiworld.com/month_050103/feature_wheelers_spacers.htm
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Well here's how thing worked out.
The spacers are 1.5 inch and made by Sky MFG
I bought a set of 4.
First the 1.5 inch spacers were a royal pain to put in the front. I had to take off the strut bolts, sway bar, tierod, brake's, axel shafts, and finnaly the entire hub assembly(to get the axle shaft's out) to get the arm low enough to put the coil back in.
Putting every thing back togather was pretty simple until it came time to bolt the stuts back together. I had to loosen the top strut bolt almost all the way to get the two strut bolts to line up with the hub then retighten them.
The back did not happen because the spacer did not fit the coil. The rear coil is smaller at the top than the front but it was very simple to take out. Simply unbolt the shocks and lower the axle.
This was my first time doing something like this.
This was done on an 03 Vitara and I do not know how much diffrent it is from the sidekick but it took me alot longer than the 2 hours it took them to do the sidekick in the gear guide section.
So the front spacers are in and looks good. No more tire rub. The back still needs to be done and they are going to make some new spacer to fit. I am happy with the look and the ride.
I have to thank Figmo at Roadless Gear for his help getting the spacers and help with getting new ones made for the rear.
Clay
Wow. I plan to do the same thing on my XL-7 in a couple of months. Did you take any measurements prior to the install for height difference? Did you take any pics?
I'll be receiving some Trackick strut cones soon to replace the taller cones of the Vitara model. Do you have any down travel now? What is the difference in height on the strut shaft itself with weight sitting on it? How much travel at the wheel do you have now?
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Standog, I think your experience shows the importance of using spring compressors. I suspect the process on the front would have been easier with them. Am I right that you didn't use a spring compressor?
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I've mentioned this before (so has Mike Hagen when he was talking about triming his fenders and his floor board for his 35" tires) but couldn't find the thread.
With the truck on jackstands.  Raise a floor jack under the lower control arm and take the three bolts out of the lower ball joint (leaving the spindle assembly together).  Also remove the sway bar links.
Lower the floor jack, the lower control arm will swing down and the spring will fall out onto the floor. ÂÂ
Put the spacer in place and install the spring.  You might have to put a pry bar through the spring to get the end of the spring to "pop" into the molded spot in the lower control arm. ÂÂ
Now just jack up the control arm and install the lower ball joint.
If your spring has a little too much tension and lifts up the truck instead of lining up the parts (like the problem standog had).  Use a tie down strap.  Put one end on the frame and the other on the jack.  The strap will take up the extra tension and alow the parts to align up.
Good luck.
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....snip....Now just jack up the control arm and install the lower ball joint.
If your spring has a little too much tension and lifts up the truck instead of lining up the parts (like the problem standog had).  Use a tie down strap.  Put one end on the frame and the other on the jack.  The strap will take up the extra tension and alow the parts to align up.
Good luck.
Wouldn't this also indicate the overall droop limitation the strut has in it's stock location. If you took and reversed the top mount cone (Trackick only), you gain the additional difference in height to the strut, thus lowering the spindle. The coil wouldn't have to compress too much to realign the ball joint.
To flip the cone, I would think a setup like this: frame on jack stands, tire off, floor jack under control arm. Mark strut configuration on spindle with scraper/marker, loosen the top strut nut, loosen 2 strut bolts at spindle, lower control arm to make sure everything is clear (ie. brake line), remove top nut. Lower so strut pulls out of cone. Remove cone, invert and reinstall. Put strut back in by lifting the control arm and add nut hand tight. Lift car till frame is barely off stand (this gives full weight compression on the strut). Align best you can the strut at the spindle and tighten the 2 bolts. Tighten the top nut. Add tire/wheel, and drop to ground. Once both sides are done. Take it for an alignment. Once alignment is done, remark the strut mount on the spindle for future configurations/corrections (best probably with a paint can).
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If he's gone that far, he mite as well try that also. I don't think he will have to remove the strut completely. He could just remove the center nut, and compress the strut.
Next remove the three bolts and you can drop out the cone assembly.
Then just reverse steps to install.
I think that will do it unless I'm missing something.
Note: When you have the strut bolt off get an oversized washer that will go beond the rubber strut support.
I haven't done it yet, but this summer at Zuki Melt I saw a strut pull out of the top rubber strut mount. The washer will take the brunt of the force when the front tires come off the ground.
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Oh yea, I have the Calimini struts and their not adjustable. There's no slot to adjust camber. I thought the stock one's were the same way?
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Thanks for all the help with the install. I have a Vitara and do not know how much difference there is but here is what I found.
1. I tried to spring commpressors and the were to big and bulky to get the spring back in.
2. I only have one bol;t on the ball joint for the assymbly aside from the two that bolt to the strut. I could not get the half shaft out to lower the control arm low enough.
3. I will look into the strut cone reversel when it warms up.
I took it out for a quick wheel and am pleased with the performance. I did'nt notice a big difference in the droop due to the strut lenght. The spacers raised the front end almost 2inchs
Clay
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i was thinking about having a machine shop make me up some spacers is it worth the trouble to get them made or are they cheap to buy does any one have measurements on theese or is this just a stupid noob post (i really dont know what iam talkin about) help is appreciated thanks in advance
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The reason that I went with the spacer lift was I have the factory warrentyand wanted the truck to look basicaly stock. You will be better off just buying them than having them made. I got mine from Roadless Gear. They were 40.00 bucks.