ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: hcgalvin on March 05, 2005, 02:20:30 PM
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Hey guys,
Kevin (the guy with the 4 door calico Kick) works at a machine shop.
These are what he is putting on his truck. He's thinking about producing these, full time if enough interest is there. The spacers are die cut 2" strut spacers that have been powder coated, and the rear differential drop bracket is 3" and is also powder coated. These can be made to different heights if the interest is there.
Would you be interested? If so, is there anything else you would like to see? He's thinking about offering a kit that includes both the drop bracket and the spacers, or, you can buy them seperately.
Here are some pictures:
(http://www.granitepath.com/friends/kirving/photos/spacers/DCP_6838.jpg)
(http://www.granitepath.com/friends/kirving/photos/spacers/DCP_6840.jpg)
(http://www.granitepath.com/friends/kirving/photos/spacers/DCP_6839.jpg)
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I like the 2inch strut spacers ;D
Those would come in handy ;D
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Very interested, I was considering subing out similar work to get a set of 10 or 20 made. Never got past the " I thought about it stage" .
How Much? I am gathering pieces for a 3" lift right now and those 2" strut spacers and 3" rear spacer would be right on time. Looking to lift my DD 98 2dr Sidekick this month.
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man, if only i could get them in australia.
i made my own strut spacers, look similar. but, somehow i'm always hesitant about the rear diff spacer. i think i'm worried the one i make wont be strong enough.
can you guys send me a diff spacer for cheap? please?
*sigh*
heres a pic of the strut spacer i made.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/sikid_01/DSC04591.jpg)
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I would be interested.
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This is Kevin, the calico suzuki owner, I was wanting to know if you who was all going to MOAB this year? Looks like enough interest in the spacers, so thinking about making more and taking for moab for sale. Thanks for the input. Might only be able to make (3) sets to take down. C-Ya |removethispart|@ MOAB
***** MOAB or BUST!!!! ******* ;D
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I'm interested in both ... Q is how much?
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when you get back from moab (im jelous) i would be very interested in the dif drop. i am makin my own out of poly but i like yours better. i would be interested in the strut ex too but, i have 3" ones i made, could you do 3" ones with say a 1/4" offset to move the top of the strut in. just a thought. got a rought idea on cost?
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Simply add a couple of coil spacers and a recommendation on a rear shock, sell the whole thing as a package. That would be cool for the Trackick owners.
Talk to Kevin to see if he would expand the strut drop bracket into a Vitara model design. It'll have to handle the support cross bar and drop the mount for the strut. I've got a design, just haven't gotten around to knocken out the Trackick studs to use the stock Trackick upper mount w/ the Vitara mount.
Anyways, KCTracker would probably be interested in such a package for his Tracker.
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sounds like a good idea. but the problem with coil spacers is, it pree loads the coils (makes them stiffer) what i did was found some taller coils that fit and installed them. basically i am sitting as high as a suzuki with a calmini 3in. body lift and a 3in. susp. lift on 33s. that would cost about $1000.00......i would be interested in building the other stuff but would need drawing and possibly a template. :) there are a lot of things that i did to my own zuki that would be easy to build , but not sure on cast yet. thinking after talking to wc galvin and friends that strut spacers will be $80.00 and dif. spacer $40.00.
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sounds like a good idea. but the problem with coil spacers is, it pree loads the coils (makes them stiffer) what i did was found some taller coils that fit and installed them. basically i am sitting as high as a suzuki with a calmini 3in. body lift and a 3in. susp. lift on 33s. that would cost about $1000.00......i would be interested in building the other stuff but would need drawing and possibly a template. :)    there are a lot of things that i did to my own zuki that would be easy to build , but not sure on cast yet. thinking  after talking to wc galvin and friends that strut spacers will be $80.00 and dif. spacer $40.00.
Sign me up for both at that price. When can you have them done for me, and how do you wish to receive payment? Send me an e-mail to let me know. Thanks!
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How about posting some schematic drawings/diagrams?
BTW I want them!
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well i made a set for hot rod finally. have been real buisy lately. am willing to build another set for some body. if you are interested drop me a mesage at suzukhunter|removethispart|@aol.com thanxs.
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How much suspension lift do you need to benefit from the rear diff spacer? I might be interested...
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i think about 3" max. usually if people do a 3"+ lift, the use longer shocks up back for more travel, and this is where the ball joint starts to bind. you should be right with less than 3" lift, but you can make one to suit the lift you have. ie:, if you have 2", make a 2" one, and if you have 4", make a 4" one. or soemthing along the lines of that.
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well the front strut spacers i made are 2", any more than that it really startes to throw the top of the tire out(alignment). the back was 3".its ok if the angle of your 3rd link is slightly pointing up. gives great down travel. i didnt want a whole lot of up travel, tires would be in to the quarter panel edges and posible cutting in to the tire.
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I've ordered my set ;D
Can't wait ;D ;D
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hey suzukihunter, what lift is in yers? heathers budget lift?
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yes it is heathers buget lift. as my truck sits, i have either traded for or built myself. well with the help of nate and heather ;)
actually this is my third zuki body. ;D
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If you're looking for a cheap set of shocks to go with a 3" or so lift try Monroe #32162. They stretch out to over 24", they work really well on the back of mine and are longer than the crown vic ones.
Also, what is the purpose of offsetting the 3rd link mount? Does it require rotating the axle for it to work that way?
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If you're looking for a cheap set of shocks to go with a 3" or so lift try Monroe #32162. They stretch out to over 24", they work really well on the back of mine and are longer than the crown vic ones.
Also, what is the purpose of offsetting the 3rd link mount? Does it require rotating the axle for it to work that way?
Did you just get new shocks duane?
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Also, what is the purpose of offsetting the 3rd link mount?
Does it require rotating the axle for it to work that way?
When you use larger springs, and larger shocks, you might put that upper ball joint in a bind (and could blow it out) unless you can lengthen that upper arm to accomodate the extra travel.
To help keep the pinion at a good angle you might want to lengthen the control arms. In which case, you can adjust the pinion agle to what ever you need, thusly rotating the axle to proper angle.
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I built my spacer with the holes aligned and it seems to keep my u-joint angles equal and I have no vibration. I was not wanting to do an axle rotation at this point and was curious about how the offset would affect u-joint angles and shock clearance.
Yes Spencer I put new shocks on as I folded my old ones when the rear diff rolled on me.
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Yes Spencer I put new shocks on as I folded my old ones when the rear diff rolled on me.
Oh yah, forgot about that :D
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yes i and nate had to rotate the axle up.had to leghten the control arms. add a cople of brackets for the shocks and a driveline spacer.nate and heather have pictures on www.granitepath.com ;D
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i would be interested . :) :) :) i would need to know whare to find some longer springs that would fit .for both frount and rear. cheep.
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well i used the springs from a grand cherokee for the rear, fit tight so i pounded the buckets out a little. i also heated up the bottom coil and bent it in a little to fit the coil cup on the axle. for the front i went to the local spring shop and found some coils that were same size only 2"taller. ;D
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how mcuh for just the strut spacer?
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80$ for the strut spacers and 40$ for the dif. 3rd link spacer. plus shipping, was about 10$ to portland
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80$ for the strut spacers and 40$ for the dif.  3rd link spacer. plus shipping, was about 10$ to portland
hhmmmm, ill have to think
thanks!
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im also set up on pay pal now if that helps any.
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I got mine today when I got home. Nice welds, Hafta show my Lil bro these. He's also a welder. ;D
(http://www.omghi2.us/april05/spacers.jpg)
Thanks for the Paper towels, We were out ;D really
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oh lol. i can make them better looking than that. iwas going for penatration on those. and they have plenty of penatration. you should see the welds i put on nate and heathers truck. i have to admit they looked pretty good. i weld on cromalloy tubing all day i better know what i am doing (lol).
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so i finished with sloan mclaughlins order i thuoght someone else e-mailed me ording a set. my computer crashed on me last week and i lost all my old e-mails. so i dont remember who it was that wanted a set of spacers. i think it was snow falls but might be mistaken. my email is suzukhunter|removethispart|@aol.com
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yup was me ... PM me with paypal info if they're ready to go out ...
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were you the one i was making them for. (2 in rear with no off set spacer and 2in front strut spacer.
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yup
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I SAW THE PAY PAL, SENDING THEM OUT TOMORROW ;D
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hey suzukhunter, u wanna send me the measuremtns and everythign that u have doen for them so i can make a set :D ;D
but serriosuly it woudlk be cool ::)
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i would but i dont build them that way with measurements, transfer punchand make as tall as you want.
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snowfalls your set should arive monday ;D
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did you receive the spacers snofalls.
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yup, going in this weekend
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cool i hope you like what you get you know its really a good deal. you could of went with emu strutes for about 102.00$ a peice and only reiceved about 1" more travel. with the ones i made for you,you will get about 2" more travel in front and a ton more in the rear for half the cost. if you ever have any problems let me know and i will fix. -k- ;D
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I'm happy .. that 3rd link ball joint is VERY happy .
a couple suggestions ...
skip the powder coat ... a coat a primer wulda been enuf for me.
make a "kit" ... include the $5-$10 in grade 8 hardware. I know it aint a big deal to make folks get their own, but really would complete the "package".
No complaints ... just suggestions.
(p.s. see if TT or sky or someone wants to "market it for ya :) )
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good idea never thought of doing that (bolts hardware). i might do that with sky or tt . ;)
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Well I went and put the spacers to the test today ... beat on it pretty good and everything held up good!
I had the trac on 2 wheels (pass side) for what seemed forever, finally got settled (greasy side down).
I'd say I'm happy with the strength of those welds so far!
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nice, i have found a way to mass produce these now. should only take about 3 hrs until ready for paint.
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SuzukHunter,
Fab/produce some front diff drop brackets now!!! guess what the full set nearly becomes ;D
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SuzukHunter,
Fab/produce some front diff drop brackets now!!! guess what the full set nearly becomes  ;D
I'd go for that ;D ;)
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am already looking in to that (brain storming) might be easier to just weld in new 3in. drop brackets.
problem with longer arms is the rubber bushing will be hard to press out of old and into new.
the only thing else i can think of is something to slide up in orig. bracket and alows the arm to slide into it with
3 in. drop.
am open for any ideas ;D
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the only thing else i can think of is something to slide up in orig. bracket and alows the arm to slide into it with
3 in.  drop.
am open for any ideas ;D
Drop down brackets have been used for years on other IFS rigs. There gotta be a way.
Maybe Calmini would start selling SOME parts to appease some poorer customers that can't aford a $900 lift? ;) ;D ;D ;D
I should cut off the front end to my parts car and leave that at my Bros. Give him something to think about. ;)
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i only wish *i wish, i wish, pretty, pretty please* that calmini would sell the lower arms seperatly or any other components like 4xfourart in turkey.
that way, i could slowly build up my vit by buying parts seperatly, and then maybe one day i migth be able to have a full calmini kit under my vit. seperating parts may attract a more expensive price though.
as for the drop brackets for the lower arms, i've had a good look at doing this, and i dont think its worth it as much. i think the old pro comp kit had these brackets in the lift kit, as well as front diff drop brackets too.
reason being, you wont gain much more ground clearance, but you will be able to fit larger tyres, and a higher ride height, and the front diff is protected against big-ish rocks.
i like the calmini arms because they use stock mounting positions, which either retain, or increase the ground clearance under the front of the car. and from what i can see, it allows the front diff to drop about 2.5", and the design of the arms allow for the CV shaft clearance at full droop.
if i were to lower my front diff as the calmini kit does, i would be using strut spacers to match the droop available, but when the stock arm is lowered too much, the shaft will touch.
i'm trying to explain the best i can, but its just not working too good at the moment. i hope you guys can understand me.
i would like to have custom lower arms, which allow for the suspension geometry to be returned to stock with big lift, as the calmini ones do by being wider than the stock ones, and drive shaft clearance. ultimately, i would like as much clearance as possible under the front end. (i do a lot of muddy tracks and swamps etc etc.) and usually when i get stick, is where the crossmembers become bull dozers.
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also, if the arms become too wide, the drive shafts will pull out at full droop, or upon compression, punch through or bottom out.
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Skid,
Are you saying that *just* a diff drop will cause the cv shafts to hit the stock a-arms?
I'm hoping to just improve the cv angles somewhat ...
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SnoFalls: with JUST a diff drop, everything will be fine, and CV angles will be better.
the reason i'm looking at dropping the front diff is exactly that, to get better CV angles. but having said that, i will be lifting the front more.
ok, i figure at stock, i can lift 3" before i run into major problems.
so if i drop the diff and cv's down about 2.5-3", i will lift another 2"-3" in suspension.
so basically, it replicates what a normal 3" lift would be like, only about 2.5" higher. now, with the strut dropping, and the diff dropping, the lower arm mounts are still in the same spot. this may cause a problem.
some people think that i am extremely crazy for trying to do this, but i'm game and will give anything a chance.
plan is to get as much ground clearance as possible, with out affecting CV operation. now, the strut will still have its 8"-9" of travel, only about 2.5" lower. so at full compression, the tyre wont be so much in the guard.
when i have time, i'll have to draw something up.
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Hi all.
i thought i could continue on in this thread rather than start a new one.
I need some help desperately, and was wondering if anyone could make me some front diff drop brackets (like the calmini ones, and the ones we've been talking about)
i dont have the resources to make them myself at the moment, and also, i can't get access to any thing close to being calmini. if i could, i would be able to measure and make them easily.
so for those who are good fabricators, would you be willing to make some for me and send them over to Aus. if anyone can, we can work out how much and i can wire the money over to you.
please, can someone help me. suzukihunter? anyone? please let me know. i will be on holidays through-out july, but i will be back by august, which should give you about a month to make the brackets.
let me know if anyone is able. thanks heaps guys.
Steve
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steve i am going down that road now. so i will take a close look in to it and let you know asap.
cant garantee anything, if it doesnt look safe to the public ill have to can the idea. ........kevin....... ;)