ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Model Specific Suzuki Forum => Suzuki XL-7 (Gen. 1 Platform) 2001-2006 => Topic started by: joejoekuo on July 04, 2004, 11:09:23 PM
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I am from Taipei,Taiwan. I just bought a 04' XL_7 in this Feb. I hope I will enjoy this forum very much. Thanks you guys!
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I'm sure you will. A lot of people here with a lot of know how.
Geoge
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I am from Taiwan too, but now lives in Vancouver BC. I have a 2002. Someone advertised this new xl-7 forum on zukiworld in the yahoo group board, so I thought I'll check it out.
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I am from Taiwan too, but now lives in Vancouver BC.  I have a 2002.  Someone advertised this new xl-7 forum on zukiworld in the yahoo group board, so I thought I'll check it out.
What a small world!!Can you read Chinese? This is the biggest XL-7 forum in Taiwan: http://clie.ws/bbs/index.php?s=1451640b9a7c0dd855d90d1e6b2ce325&showforum=162
After you register, you will find a lot of XL-7 stories. Enjoy yourself, having fun!! ;D
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Yes, I can read chinese no problem, thanks for sending the link, I'll keep an eye on it from now on.
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whats it say!!??
Frank
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I am from Taiwan too, but now lives in Vancouver BC.  I have a 2002.  Someone advertised this new xl-7 forum on zukiworld in the yahoo group board, so I thought I'll check it out.
That was me ::)
George
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whats it say!!??
Frank
it doesn't say anything in particular, it's just a Message board like zukiworld that's based in Taiwan. Got quite a few pictures in the trip section. I've already seen more xl-7 fitted with lift and bigger tires on there than in yahoo group.
Must be because of smaller geography area and easier to get members together, they regularly have 6-7 XL-7s going on trips.
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Hammahead, any details as to the lifts and tire sizes there? Could you forward directions on how to view the pics on that page unless you could transfer them to where we could look at them?
Thanks.
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Hammahead, any details as to the lifts and tire sizes there? Could you forward directions on how to view the pics on that page unless you could transfer them to where we could look at them?
Thanks.
I just recently discovered that board, so it'll take some digging through the archive to see which suspension/body lifts they are using and tire sizes. Perhaps joejoekuo who is a regular visitor there can help us out on the details?
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 I've already seen more xl-7 fitted with lift and bigger tires on there than in yahoo group.
Could you post pics of lifted xl-7 here? because it's too hard for a french canadian to search on a asiatic board.
Thanx
Fredo
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Perhaps joejoekuo who is a regular visitor there can help us out on the details?
I'd like to help you guys to know more about XL-7 in Taiwan. But I don't know how to post the pictures on this forum. And my car is 04' XL-7, I changed my tires to the 245/70/16 size. Sorry for my poor English, see you!
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Just post the pic web address with [ img ] before and [/img ]after it.  Or just cut and paste the www.
George
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Just red's X
:(
Fredo
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more red X's/ They are nice ones tho:)
Frank
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Check out his webshots link in his signature.
Joejoekuo, you can't place the webshots link into the http:// setup. It just doesn't work. Do a search under the normal forum for picture and kalbusa or something like that will come up. This site is used for such additions.
What I do is direct them to the webshots in my signature.
Good pics of your -7. See that you've got a Calmini install. Got any pics of the rear suspension install? Since the -7 is a 5-link rear (4 lateral and 1 track bar), I'm wondering if Calmini includes any type of brackets for the arms or track bar.
Any pics of the front axle setup, bet with a clean housing, we could tell you if you have a cast or aluminum housing?
Do the 245's fit within the wheelwell both front and rear when fully compressed?
Does your -7 have a u-joint on the rear axle pinion? In my webshots, you can see I've got a rubber isolator type joint.
Looking forward for more information sharing.
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test
(http://home.pchome.com.tw/life/joejoekuo/b6.jpg)
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Got any pics of the rear suspension install? Since the -7 is a 5-link rear (4 lateral and 1 track bar), I'm wondering if Calmini includes any type of brackets for the arms or track bar.
Picture is here:
(http://home.pchome.com.tw/life/joejoekuo/c3.jpg)
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Any pics of the front axle setup, bet with a clean housing, we could tell you if you have a cast or aluminum housing?
This is the answer:
(http://home.pchome.com.tw/life/joejoekuo/DSC03664.JPG)
Do the 245's fit within the wheelwell both front and rear when fully compressed?
Front wheelwell need to be modified, rear is OK!
(http://home.pchome.com.tw/life/joejoekuo/c9.jpg)
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Front absorber of Calmini is bad quality, so I changed to KYB Excel-G type
(http://home.pchome.com.tw/life/joejoekuo/DSC04825.JPG)
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Test ;D
( New rear coil spring, because Calmini rear coil spring is also bad quality)
(http://home.pchome.com.tw/life/joejoekuo/DSC04870.JPG)
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Final style( Maybe I will change the front coil spring again)
(http://home.pchome.com.tw/life/joejoekuo/post-294-1089558357.jpg)
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It's fun to test! ;D
(http://home.pchome.com.tw/life/joejoekuo/post-471-1090828950.jpg)
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Watch 4 wheels positions :o
(http://home.pchome.com.tw/life/joejoekuo/post-471-1090852716.jpg)
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Picture is here:
([url]http://home.pchome.com.tw/life/joejoekuo/c3.jpg[/url])
Thanks for all the pics.
That track arm has to be custom with that adjustable sleeve inserted. I'm surprised with the Calmini lift, Calmini doesn't provide a drop bracket for the frame end. Keeping this track arm level and parallel to the ground and diff will keep it from dancing side to side on rough roads. Maybe the 2.5" lift is not significant enough in comparison to a TJ having 3-4" lift where they do get a drop bracket.
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This is the answer:
([url]http://home.pchome.com.tw/life/joejoekuo/DSC03664.JPG[/url])
From this picture, you have a totally different front axle setup in comparison to my 02 -7. You have a motor on top of the diff in that grey box. With the electrical going to it, it may be magnetic to engage the front axle. However, good thing, the housing is steel as well as the diff housing. That black color provides paint to the surface of the steel to keep it from rusting.
To add, the diff housing is shaped differently than the mine and it looks like it's mounted in front of the crossmember. Mine is mounted over top of the crossmember with a bracket. You bracket looks like it comes forward off the crossmember and then attaches to the pinion portion via 4 bolts.
Then, I've got to wonder what those bolts on the cover are for? My design doesn't have a cover to it. The rear portion is an integral part of the entire housing.
Front wheelwell need to be modified, rear is OK!
([url]http://home.pchome.com.tw/life/joejoekuo/c9.jpg[/url])
Is it because of the spacer you used on the new wheels?
How much of the flares did you have to trim?
From this picture, it looks like the 245's should fit in the wheelwell without trimming for the rear atleast. Thus the largest tire to use is the 245-70-16's, but you have custom wheels with spacers. Of course the bump stop would have to be addressed to limit that tire from going higher into the wheelwell. However, from the picture, the top of the tire tucks underneath the upper lip of the flare very nicely.
Thanks for the pics.
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steel. Its way different then my alum for sure..
Frank
This is the answer:
([url]http://home.pchome.com.tw/life/joejoekuo/DSC03664.JPG[/url])
Front wheelwell need to be modified, rear is OK!
([url]http://home.pchome.com.tw/life/joejoekuo/c9.jpg[/url])
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That track arm has to be custom with that adjustable sleeve inserted. I'm surprised with the Calmini lift, Calmini doesn't provide a drop bracket for the frame end. Keeping this track arm level and parallel to the ground and diff will keep it from dancing side to side on rough roads. Maybe the 2.5" lift is not significant enough in comparison to a TJ having 3-4" lift where they do get a drop bracket.
Haha........Calmini does provide a drop bracket for the frame, but still with some problems. So I didn't use it. So I use adjustable sleeve for the track arm.
Actually, since I changed the Calmini kit, there are some problems. As below:
1. No support ability for the front and rear coil springs.
2. Bad quality front absorber(Made in Mexico)
3. Front diff drop bracket doesn't fit to the space.(Drop too much and touch to the frame)
This is the Calmini and original rear coil spring comparison
(http://home.pchome.com.tw/life/joejoekuo/a21.jpg)
This is the final rear coil spring(The black one, 5" longer than original ;))
(http://home.pchome.com.tw/life/joejoekuo/DSC04859.JPG)
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Then, I've got to wonder what those bolts on the cover are for? My design doesn't have a cover to it. The rear portion is an integral part of the entire housing.
jagular7, I'm sorry that I couldn't get what you said. Could you point out where? Thanks!
Is it because of the spacer you used on the new wheels?
How much of the flares did you have to trim?
Yes! I use 3-cm spacer for four wheels. And the rear wheelwell I didn't trim anything, but the front I need to do a lot.
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steel. Its way different then my alum for sure..
This is good news for GV with cast diff. I heard from Suzuki that 2004 XL_7 diff is a reinforce design. More tough, and more reliable.
This is the pic of 2003 XL_7 diff.
(http://home.pchome.com.tw/life/joejoekuo/DSC03669.JPG)
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This is good news for GV with cast diff. I heard from Suzuki that 2004 XL_7 diff is a  reinforce design. More tough, and more reliable.
This is the pic of 2003 XL_7 diff.
([url]http://home.pchome.com.tw/life/joejoekuo/DSC03669.JPG[/url])
That's the one. If you notice the line under the housing coming off the crossmember, that the pressure line which engage the front differential to work.
I haven't gotten to the diff, but from my understanding, this engages a collar on the driver's side, which then engages the spider gears which in turn spins the axle shaft. From your picture of the '04, there is a motor on top of the diff and is integral of such. To add, it looks electric.
As for the better design, why didn't they use only one CV axle shaft for it's design? This would save on manufacturing, installation, replacement, etc. costs.
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Haha........Calmini does provide a drop bracket for the frame, but still with some problems. So I didn't use it. So I use adjustable sleeve for the track arm.
Actually, since I changed the Calmini kit, there are some problems. As below:
1. No support ability for the front and rear coil springs.
2. Bad quality front absorber(Made in Mexico)
3. Front diff drop bracket doesn't fit to the space.(Drop too much and touch to the frame)
This is the Calmini and original rear coil spring comparison
([url]http://home.pchome.com.tw/life/joejoekuo/a21.jpg[/url])
This is the final rear coil spring(The black one, 5" longer than original ;))
([url]http://home.pchome.com.tw/life/joejoekuo/DSC04859.JPG[/url])
1. Assuming you are talking about the coil retainers, for the rear spring with it's axle base, you could drill through the center of the base and bolting flat steel to retain it. You could also add a bump stop pad on top of that to keep the tire off the body.
For the front, it's not as easy to do with the stock cast control arms. With the Calmini arms, you could do the same as the back.
3. Maybe the bracket didn't fit well enough due to the new design front axle housing.
As for the rear spring, who is it? what do it fit? where is it available (I know you are not in the US)?
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Then, I've got to wonder what those bolts on the cover are for? My design doesn't have a cover to it. The rear portion is an integral part of the entire housing.
jagular7, I'm sorry that I couldn't get what you said. Could you point out where? Thanks!
No you did get the picture of the front axle. Thanks.
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You wouldn't happen to have any pic's of the front wheel opening and what you did to make them fit the 245's ???
George
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This is good news for GV with cast diff. I heard from Suzuki that 2004 XL_7 diff is a  reinforce design. More tough, and more reliable.
This is the pic of 2003 XL_7 diff.
([url]http://home.pchome.com.tw/life/joejoekuo/DSC03669.JPG[/url])
The Steel unit we used for Hutch's Sidekick looked just like the aluminum housing...
From the archived ZUKIWORLD Article: http://www.zukiworld.com/month_090103/feature_sidekickdrivetrainimprovements.htm
(http://www.zukiworld.com/month_090103/images/hutch_steel/Camera%20Dump%20009.jpg)
I would speculate that JoeJoeKuo is different than what we are used to seeing because it is not made for the NA market. Notice the actual badging is different too saying "Grand Vitara" instead of XL.7
-Eric
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....snip....
I would speculate that JoeJoeKuo is different than what we are used to seeing because it is not made for the NA market. Notice the actual badging is different too saying "Grand Vitara" instead of XL.7
-Eric
Yah, I was thinking that also, but then, how many plants would Suzuki have to be making different vehicles for the same model for the different parts of the world?
Then come to think, the ECP gets input for the pump operating to be in 4wd mode, at least in my '02 -7. JoeJoeKuo's looks like its an electric motor right on top of the diff. I wonder if the electric's are the same.
It's really too bad that the manufacturer didn't move the diff housing centered more to be able to run the same cv axles on either side. The ds is not parallel with the centerline of the -7 so there little room to do. I believe Calmini's Anvil does this to make room for the same cv shaft.
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Actually, go to JoeJoeKuo's webshots website and look at his front diff setup. From one side pic, it looks like it a a bunch of pieces bolted together. (Pic DSC03663 on 5 page.) The driver's side axle tube bolts to the diff housing, then front and rear portions bolted together, and then passenger's side which is also the mount.
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to add something.... I have a test in 4wd and off road magazine from last year where they test a 02 XL7 and Broke the front alum diff. Cracked it off roading it.. I *think* Suzuki knew it was too fragile. Thats why the 04 change completly.. And if ya notice there is NO mention of this on am 04 brochure.. It was more or less a KNOWN needed improvement. Suzuki did not need to boast that fact.. I think ALL 04's have this change .. no matter where it is destined to
Im sure its fine for our 4wd snow driving tho:)
Frank
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Go off-road ;)
This place is located in the north of Taipei. We call this place : Tough guy MT. Enjoy the pic.
(http://home.pchome.com.tw/life/joejoekuo/aa.jpg)