ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: Dihnekis on September 06, 2005, 02:54:57 PM
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After doing a lot of reading here and at zuwharrie, and a lot of looking over the members rides thread, I've came up with an idea of what I want to do to my tracker. I have a 2dr 94 tracker.
-4door coils
-strut flip and 1 1/2 spacers all aroud
-calmini 3" body lift
- 15 x 8 old cj wheels with 3" of backspacing or so
I'm hoping to clear 32" tires, but its seeming like 31" is more realistic. I'm not afraid of fender trimming and hammering, and plan on trimming up quite a bit to get rid of rub.
Will I run into any camber problems if I do this? What adjustments should I make to make sure the camber is correct? I won't have any problems with CV angles will I? Oh yeah, and how much would be a good price to pay for some 4door coils?
I've read about camber adjustment bolts but I don't really know how they work or where to get them.
Thanks for all your help.
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Keep a close eye on the centerlink of your rear axle. You will be close to over extending it and if you do failure running down the interstate will not be a pretty site.
Zig
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sounds like a good plan. u will run into camber problems. i think the rocky road struts r redrilled to corect the camber for a 2 1/2" lift but u can call them and make sure. i have camber bolts on my tracker and every time i wheel it hard i have to adjust the camber it is a pain in the ass. u shouldnt run into any scv issues as losg as u dont increase the drop on the strut more than 2"s.
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tracker8wr: you have camber bolts and have to re-adjust them after every offroad ride? What brand? What are they doing, turning on their own or something? I just got camber bolts for the Goblin because I replaced all 4 strut-to-spindle bolts with 17mm full size bolts to remove any possibility of shifting and the OME struts with 1-1/2" coil spacers gave me camber like this: /----\. But I don't want to have to re-adjust them after every run! ::)
Dihnekis: that plan sounds good, but you might want to add a rear Y-link spacer to the top of the rear diff to get it more level so it can operate at a more normal angle...
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Keep a close eye on the centerlink of your rear axle. You will be close to over extending it and if you do failure running down the interstate will not be a pretty site.
Zig
What exactly would I be looking for on the centerlink? And is there anyway to correct it?
Would I run into less problems if I just used the coils and didn't do the strut flip? Or would it be better to forget the coils and just do the spacers and strut flip? If I've read correctly, those two modifications give me suspension lift, which improves ground clearance. Sometime in the future I'd probably be looking to do the Calmini 3" super articulation lift (and anvil), I just can't come up with that kind of cash anytime soon. Will these mods make it harder to install the calmini kit in the future?
This is going to be a DD, so I'm looking to avoid camber problems.
Thanks again.
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The strut flip will push the top of the struts further out a little which is what causes the camber to look like \----/ a little from the front, especially after the coil spacers and springs, but the rims you mentioned will increase the leverage on the spindle, bringing it closer to spec. You might be fine or you might need to investigate one of several camber fixes discussed on the thread "Hateful Camber Issues". It would be hard to tell if you're going to have a problem until you actually do it.
As for the centerlink, in stock form it's level or slightly pointing rear up a little. Pushing the axle down by springs and spacers makes this link point rear down which binds the center pivot ball joint during axle articulation and can cause it to pop out of place if the angle is too severe or the parts are worn. You can add a spacer between the ball joint and the top of the rear diff to correct this and prevent any problems...
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Ok thanks, I'll look over that camber thread. Know where I can pick up one of those spacers for the rear diff?
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There was a thread about that somewhere, but it's back quite a few pages now. Do a search for rear diff spacer and you should come up with it...
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Ok I will do.
Here is another random question.
Whats the deal with flares and street legal? I've seen some people had to put flares on their zuks after cutting fenders or putting big tires on, but I'm not really sure why.
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The covered tire laws vary from state to state,
I have a friend that was a cop, says you are
allowed one tread to hang out of the fender.
So he said get some Boggers, tread is like 6" wide ;)
Wild
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Ok thanks for clearing that up.
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I know in PA, NO tread is allowed to protrude from the fenders. :-\
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For the rear 3rd link spacer.
SuzukiHunter has made (and sells) some really nice 3" spacers to cure that problem.
Try to Em him and see whats he's up to.
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The strut flip will push the top of the struts further out a little which is what causes the camber to look like \----/ a little from the front, especially after the coil spacers and springs, but the rims you mentioned will increase the leverage on the spindle, bringing it closer to spec. You might be fine or you might need to investigate one of several camber fixes discussed on the thread "Hateful Camber Issues". It would be hard to tell if you're going to have a problem until you actually do it.
As for the centerlink, in stock form it's level or slightly pointing rear up a little. Pushing the axle down by springs and spacers makes this link point rear down which binds the center pivot ball joint during axle articulation and can cause it to pop out of place if the angle is too severe or the parts are worn. You can add a spacer between the ball joint and the top of the rear diff to correct this and prevent any problems...
What he said ;)
Zig
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The strut flip will push the top of the struts further out a little which is what causes the camber to look like \----/ a little from the front, especially after the coil spacers and springs, but the rims you mentioned will increase the leverage on the spindle, bringing it closer to spec. You might be fine or you might need to investigate one of several camber fixes discussed on the thread "Hateful Camber Issues". It would be hard to tell if you're going to have a problem until you actually do it.
Flipping the strut top mounting shouldn't affect camber because everything will still be in line. It only affects the working range of the strut.
None of these mods will affect the fitting of a Calmini kit, you just won't need them anymore.
What exactly would I be looking for on the centerlink? And is there anyway to correct it?
Would I run into less problems if I just used the coils and didn't do the strut flip? Or would it be better to forget the coils and just do the spacers and strut flip? If I've read correctly, those two modifications give me suspension lift, which improves ground clearance. Sometime in the future I'd probably be looking to do the Calmini 3" super articulation lift (and anvil), I just can't come up with that kind of cash anytime soon. Will these mods make it harder to install the calmini kit in the future?
This is going to be a DD, so I'm looking to avoid camber problems.
Thanks again.
If you fit the cold without doing the shocks and strut flip/spacer you will end up with the shocks/struts almost fully extended at rest. Under cornering when the body lifts you will get the tyre lifting too which is potentially quite dangerous. The ride quality is also likely to be very poor as the suspension will be topping out a lot.
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So Rhinoman I should be fine the way I've planned it, or should I do shocks too. I've read shocks work out of a grand marquis, what years? Is that a good plan or will that lift it more too and give me more problems?
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Normally shocks don't lift or lower your vehicle, the weight is on the springs. The shocks just make sure you don't bounce a long while after you hit a bump ;) But as stated it is a good idea to get some longer ones for elseway you'll lift a wheel because the suspension downtravel is very limited.
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Sounds good. Anyone know the deal on using grand marquis shocks?
Is this lift I'm planning going to limit my articulation?
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i have 1.5" coilo spacers in the rear with 4 door kick coils, im usin crown vic shox, i dont find them long enough
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For shocks, I took measurements into my local napa and scoured the book for the right sizes ... "RR 94058" was the napa part# I ended up getting (about $15 a piece if I recall)
They ended up "a bit too long" for the 2dr (with just 1.75" spacers), so I made up some limit cables (will try to get a pic), and that keeps it from articulating so far that the springs fall out :)
On the 4dr, I got some OME springs (the "light" variety) combined those with 1.125 spacers and using the same shocks, the springs aren't falling out. BUT, I think it might be hanging up on the center ball or perhaps even the ebrake cables. I'm still sorting that one out, but if needed, I'll put some limit cables and call it good.
This last time I went in, I found another shock in the book that had the same stud and bushing sizes but about 1" shorter. I didn't get em tho cuz they were about $8 more each. (yes, I'm cheap).
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Here's a pic of the limit cables
(http://www.avalonforest.com/geo/misc/cable.jpg)
This is at "ride height" with the 4dr coils I recently swapped in. I think I may be able to extend them a bit more ... dunno till I get a chance to put it to a flex test.
It may not look like they allow much drop, but it was a good 4" of drop when I had the stock coils in.
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I just finished my lift last week... 1.5" Coil spacers (Sky Manufact), 4 door coils, Crown Vic shocks (monroe sensatrack), 2" Strut spacers, Camber bolts, New struts (as mine were POOCHED), and new balljoints. Twas a little costly. But what a diffrence. The kick is now up to Decent size, and rides smooth. The Monroe Sensatracks are a little soft, but take alot of abuse out of the back of the Kick. Your going to need to slot the struts though. I need to do mine.. Even with the camber bolts in the passenger side is a little off yet. If anyone has a set of RROs Struts could you post a pic to show how the slot was made? I hear if your decent enough the alignment shops will do it for you, but I havent found a shop willing to do it yet.
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The shocks I use are out of a 91 Ford Crown Victoria rear. I've heard that 90's Ford E-150 van rear shocks work also.
The strut flip will push the top of the struts further out a little which is what causes the camber to look like \----/ a little from the front, especially after the coil spacers and springs, but the rims you mentioned will increase the leverage on the spindle, bringing it closer to spec. You might be fine or you might need to investigate one of several camber fixes discussed on the thread "Hateful Camber Issues". It would be hard to tell if you're going to have a problem until you actually do it.
Flipping the strut top mounting shouldn't affect camber because everything will still be in line. It only affects the working range of the strut.
It shouldn't affect it, but it does. Ask me how I know... Or better yet, I'll just tell you... I found this out while swapping struts on my 93. My camber was closer to spec with the mount flipped than it is with the mount stock with the OME struts. Stock mounts and OME's give me camber like this: /----\, flipped mounts and OME's give a much more vertical camber...