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: the_maplebar on May 10, 2005, 07:16:37 AM
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On budget track/kick lifts they always talk about flipping the strut mount to get an extra 1" of droop, but will that work on the GV/tracker since they come with a strut tower brace?
Also according to [link]http://www.zukiworld.com/month_030104/feature_sidekickbudgetlift.htm[/link]
the GV struts and shocks are the same length as the trackick. So presumably any application that will work for the trackick will work on the GV i.e. Doetsch Tech or 91 Crown Victory shocks. Although I suppose they might be a little softer on a GV than a trackick. Has anyone tried this, will struts and/or shocks that work on a trackick work on a GV?
Along that same line, if the mounts for the Struts are the same will a strut spacer for a trackick work on the GV?
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Jagular7 has some info on this.
If you go to his webshots, he has some pictures.
http://community.webshots.com/user/jagular7
Cwkick
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The shocks are different.
Im gonna try using Vitra upper strut mounts and fliping them and bolting them under the GV mount
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Yah, thanks for the plug. Pics should be under the XL7 Suspension. There is a large difference in size and shape of the upper mounts between the Trackick and Vitara models. Remove the Vitara upper mount, add a plate to 'adapt' the Trackick to upper bracket, use longer bolts and re-connect the strut brace.
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Thanks for the info, so the struts are the only things that are the same on the suspension between trackick's and vitara's.
Does anyone have the stock suspension measurements for a GV?
I see that Jagular measured the XL-7 front coils at 12.75". Is the GV the same? What about the extended and collapsed lengths for the stock struts, shocks and rear coils? That would be a great reference to have handy.
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Hey jag u got some pics of ur spacers on ur front struts cause another thing i was gonna get was get a water cutters to cut me out of .5 or .75 steel spacers the same size as the strut mount to space it.
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Hey jag u got some pics of ur spacers on ur front struts cause another thing i was gonna get was get a water cutters to cut me out of .5 or .75 steel spacers the same size as the strut mount to space it.
I haven't gotten around to doing the front just yet. I still have a 'hotrod' XL7. I've got to replace the cracked front diff housing with a steel housing. Once I start this, I'll do the front suspension also. That time is coming close.
I can take some pics of the cut plate I've got already. Next is to drill out the Trackick studs (couldn't pound them out and bent the mount). Do the same with the stock upper mount. Them assemble all. The other problem I've had when initially installing the coil spacers was the length of the static spring and the amount of drop the a-arm gives. The rubber stock bushings bind up at a certain point and don't let the arm swing down. You would figure that with everything disconnected and removed that gravity would make the arm hit the ground or at least point it at the ground. But no.
To resolve this, I'm going to customize an external coil spring compressor. I'm going to cut it to a fix size. Cycle the suspension to compress the spring, place the compressor in and let the spring expand into the compressor. Then remove the spring, install the spacer, install the strut upper mount configuration, install the spring, reconnect, release the compressor, and be ready for alignment. Simple eh?
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Oh so are you gonna burn out the bushing in the stock XL7 months then what mount the sidekick upper strut mount under the XL7 one???
pics would be coo
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the_maplebar, I've just measured my stock springs, as I recently changed them (with the help of other members ;D).
For the front I've got: 33 cm long, with 14,5 mm wire
For the rear I've got: 33,5 cm long with 12 mm wire.
I'd better convert that, then it is just me doing the work ;):
Front: 13" long with 0.57" wire
Rear: 13.19" long with 0.47" wire
I'm surprised they are longer than the XL-7 springs. However, my car is a diesel, and though it is a 3 door it weighs about 1475 kgs (3250 lbs ;)). Maybe other gas versions have different lengths.
I haven't measured strut/shock measurments.
Hope it helps!
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Thanks for the info, I will try to keep track of these numbers and hopefully I will have a good idea of what I need once I am ready to really use them. Assuming these are all stock springs that have been used for a while, I wonder if Jagular's had just settled a little more than yours. It is only a 1/4" difference.
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 Assuming these are all stock springs that have been used for a while, I wonder if Jagular's had just settled a little more than yours.  It is only a 1/4" difference.
That would probably explain things. Just for the record, mine was 1 year old last march, whilst Jagular's is a 2002 model.