Hi all,

im new here, so hello, names phil and im from south wales, uk!
Ive been out of the offroading scene since 2007, when i sold my vitara due to personal circumstances. im now wanting to come back, and have a few questions.

ive attached a photo of my old vitara, not sure what it had to be honest as i bought it all ready kitted out!

im wanting to get it up in the air, now whats the difference with just a body lift? and then suspension lift, and both?

Ive heard alot of talk about peoples driveshafts causing problems and breaking.. so could i lift the body say 5 inches, and keep the standard suspension?

Im also looking to come wide, so to have a nice wide track, would 38mm spacers do the trick, id also be looking to run 31 inch tyres....

is there a big difference in a lwb 5 door to the swb 3 door vitara?

With lifting the body what is needed, ive seen these nylon plastic spacers for the top of the suspension?

Basically after some good info... also aware i need to extend the brake lines - would i need to buy new longer braided ones? and also the fuel tank, is it ok to be left where it is or should i lift it in to the boot?

Thats all for now, hope i can have help 
Merry xmas!


ps. my old vit kept chewing the half shaft is there a reason behind this?

Looks like you have a body lift and a suspension lift on that truck,
but without pics from under the truck, there is no way of knowing
if you had a Calmini kit or another knockoff, or just a modded stock
system, which is what I have done.

I suspect the problem you were having with halfshafts was a home
grown kit that over lifted the front suspension, or perhaps someone
did a strut mount flip after the suspension lift. The stock front inner
CVs can only take a 3" maximum lift past the stock fully extended
suspension cycle, I would tell you to only go to 2-3/4" for CV life

Wild 

thanks for the reply!

that was the only two photos i could find of my old vit 

I replaced the halfshaft and the same day it chewed its splines again!

Right, so to say, my driveshafts would be safe at a 4 inch lift - calmini 2 inch lift kit, and then a 2 inch suspension lift?

ive seen this suspension kit - not sure if its any good? couldnt find a calmini one, they only sell the body lift kit (2inch)
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SUZUKI-VITARA-3-LIFT-KIT-SPRINGS-SHOCKS-SPACERS-BUSH-/280600504354?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item415517e822

ive also found a set of 32mm spacers, has anyone got a picture of a vit lifted 4 inch with 32mm spacers? just so i can get an idea...

thanks

That's kind of expensive for 4 springs 2 shocks 2 strut spacers and a bushing kit.

Also the Toe not the Tow will be affected, I suggest you talk to Jeff here
on the board, get some spacers and buy the shocks locally, save a bunch
of cash and get the same results

Wild