Just installed my 3' suspension lift on my 97 tracker, it looks awesome, 30 x 9.5 bfg's.  I am having one problem with the lift, the front has a real bad creaking noise at low speeds or small up and down movement.  I figured out the noise was from the struts.  I called calmini and the gentleman i spoke to said that i am over extending the struts because i probably have more than the 3".  He said this lift is made to work with a heavier bumper and winch, and if i didnt modify the bumper i would have to cut 1/2 coil off the springs.  Im not in the market right now to buy a bumper and i dont want to cut the springs just in case in the future i do buy a bumper.  Anyone else have this problem?  I only have the suspension lift not the body lift.

Just installed my 3' suspension lift on my 97 tracker, it looks awesome, 30 x 9.5 bfg's.  I am having one problem with the lift, the front has a real bad creaking noise at low speeds or small up and down movement.  I figured out the noise was from the struts.  I called calmini and the gentleman i spoke to said that i am over extending the struts because i probably have more than the 3".  He said this lift is made to work with a heavier bumper and winch, and if i didnt modify the bumper i would have to cut 1/2 coil off the springs.  Im not in the market right now to buy a bumper and i dont want to cut the springs just in case in the future i do buy a bumper.  Anyone else have this problem?  I only have the suspension lift not the body lift.

Another possibility of squeaking is the poly bushings. Did you apply some kind of lubricant to those bushings as you were assembling the unit? Another thought on lowering, and I haven't tried this so sanity check me, what about using the stock springs and maybe purchase a set of spacers? And then in the future as you add accessories you can put the Calmini springs back in... Maybe?

HTH -Eric

You shouldn't cut coil springs - regardless of what Calmini told you.(I don't think they should be suggesting this to their customers) urethane bushings do squeak if not lubed or loaded properly. Plus, if it's really new, and you haven't driven it too much, drive it for a little while to let it settle before you make any descisions.

Almost forgot:

You shouldn't cut coil springs - regardless of what Calmini told you.(I don't think they should be suggesting this to their customers) urethane bushings do squeak if not lubed or loaded properly. Plus, if it's really new, and you haven't driven it too much, drive it for a little while to let it settle before you make any descisions.

I actually agree with cutting the coils on the 3 inch kit. One guy in our club is running the Calmini kit with 1 ring cut off the coil. his rig is light, no bumpers/winch/or even fenders for that matter . He swears by it and Ive got to admit it wheels far better than it did before. I have the Calmini 3 inch coils in the front of the rockstar currently with 2 rings cut off the coils. The front of that rig is extended so its not really a fair comparison but still it is the best coils choice Ive had in it to date.

If you add a bumper later just add a coil spacer to level it out.

Mike

I always thought cutting coils altered the spring rate? I remember long ago reading something like that about progressive springs.

yea cut the coils then send what you cut off back to them for a refund

I had a ARB Bulbar on before the 3" lift.
It's is very stiff in the front end but over all went ok.
Only wield thing was the lean to the drivers side, even after changing over springs.
Fixed by installing one spring spacer.

Every 6 months or so I syringe in some suspension lube works a treat.

I always thought cutting coils altered the spring rate? I remember long ago reading something like that about progressive springs.

It does raise the spring rate but it also makes it shorter which keeps the struts from topping out and the higher rate keeps them from bottoming out. Logic would tell you its a bad Idea but fact is it does work very well.

Mike

why is Calmini so f-ing cheap that they will not sell something to the public in 2 spring rates....heavy and light....then they could sell the heavy springs to guys for extra money after the upgrades to heavier bumpers.....sorry for the outburst but ehy seem only to sell stuff all or nothing style....a met a guy who had the calmini 3+3 and the thing rode like shit bounced every where he went and did not work well off road since it was to stiff....if they sold stages they would make more money and have a lot of new customers constantly upgrading.

does this only make sense to me??

why is Calmini so f-ing cheap that they will not sell something to the public in 2 spring rates....heavy and light....then they could sell the heavy springs to guys for extra money after the upgrades to heavier bumpers.....sorry for the outburst but ehy seem only to sell stuff all or nothing style....a met a guy who had the calmini 3+3 and the thing rode like shit bounced every where he went and did not work well off road since it was to stiff....if they sold stages they would make more money and have a lot of new customers constantly upgrading.

does this only make sense to me??

I would make sense...IF there were greater demand.  I wouldn't imagine that Calmini sells too awful much for Kicks...relatively speaking that is. There just aren't that many people buying.

For example. I live in a fairly large town, and although I know there are a few Kicks around here somewhere...modded..  I have never seen a single lifted Kick, other than my own, on the streets or trails around here.. and NO calmini parts. NONE... on the other hand, it's hard to go 4 blocks without seeing a lifted Jeep...

There is just no money in Kick parts.  Supply and demand you know.  Pretty soon, all kicks will be modified, and no more parts sales.. I would like to see the actual numbers... and I do admit that right now is probably the best market there has been, but it still can't be too lucrative... there are just not enough people lifting them.

While I'm new to the Kick world, but were I'm at I haven't seen but 1 Kick lifted, and only a handful running around. I would love to lift mine but it's just to d-mn costly. On top of that I keep reading about things going wrong just like this with lift kits for the Kick's. I have my own machine shop and have made my own spacers. But I would like to know if the Sammy chasey is so different that a person couldn't put the Kick body on the Sammy chase. Then it would be alot simpler to build a lift for it. Anyone have the answer.

Calmini does make a milder/softer version of their lift kit. It is called their 2" lift. Softer sprung and a little lower.

I have owned both of their lift kits and loved both of them. The 2" is a softer ride and the 3" is a stiffer ride. The 2" is great for every day driving and comfort while the 3" is made for harder use off road.

I have had no problems out of either kit untill I started trying to tweek it and get 'a little more' out of it.

My 3" rode rough as hell when I first bought it but settled in after some abuse. It still is not the best ride on the road, but for the extra off road clearance and performance it is worth it.

My 2' rode good at first and got smoother as it broke in. It's all on what you want.

I personally dont see the 'problems' with the kits. Both of mine have given my years of flawless performance.

Zig

I agree with Zukpilot, great kits....
With modified parts there is always a bit of tweaking/improving involved.
Every after market part I have brought, I have modified to fit too my satisfaction.

i have the kit and have not had any problems i have not pute any heavey bumpers on it or nothing. i even added i 1" spacer under the spring for moore lift its worked fine for a year. i do carry a heavey tool box in the rear but ist cant be close to the weaght of a heavy rear bumper. i did grease my bushing when putting it together. i think that is your problem.