im gona have to agree w whitfield, its not that expensive, i picked a toy front axel friday,$250, a pair is $400, but i had a rear. ring and pinions $119.oo,locker $190. shocks $40 a piece ,coil springs$65 a piece. dom tube $5.00 a foot. its really not that bad ,and what all you guys arnt realising is your rig will be built buy you,shur you will have to do some R&D but thats the fun part, you,not someone else built your rig you will know everything about it,if anything breaks,you can fix it,if you dont like somthing about it ,you can change it,you will know the weak links and the strong ones. and the satisfaction of building somthing unique is ossem ,especally if it works really well! the hard part is stripping the ifs stuff the rest just comes together

You proved my point perfectly . You are getting awesome prices on your parts, designing and welding in everything your self and with out considering any extras you are already up to;


Axle+ 400 /pair
R&P 119 x 2 = 238
Locker 190 x 2 = 380
Shocks 40 x 4 = 160
Coils 65 x 4 = 260

Already up to $1438 with no shock mounts built, not brakes mated to your Zuk stuff, so shop suplies, no time alloted, etc..... We all know that the major costs when fabbing something your self is all of the little stuff you dont expect. (Crush sleeves, carrier bearings/races, axle bearing/races, brake pads, parts, etc.....)

I think it is cool as hell to build your own stuff, but to compare a I can do it myself $600 job to a Off the shelf ready to bolt on tried and tested kit is completely un reasonable.

Still back to my original conclusion that It may be able to be done cheap, but not that cheap.

Zig

Liability make it to risky.  Turning stuff out in your garage is one thing, but selling it is a whole nother Cooler O worms..  

I'm sure you already know this, but make damn shre your well insured if you make a run of your parts to sale, one bad weld by some DA that should of never been working on a suspension and they will be looking to blame you

I feel that a SPOA Style (Simple & Cheap) kit for the Kick is what is needed to incresase the popularity and demand for more after market support.

I think it would help attract those that must have a SAS. But these rides have blown up over the past few years and they seem to keep growing in populatity

See Bold Above, I messed up

All of you that live in the US are very lucky cause you can find cheap parts,mainly used ones.For example ,here its impossible to find used YJ leafsor coils ,or other useful SAS  parts believe it or not.Here the 60% of the 4x4 's  are  IFS pick up trucks (Nissan-Toyotas-Mitsubishi) ,the next 30% are Suzuki's (Sammys and Sidekicks)and  the rest 10% are Jeep,Kia,Mazda, Toyotas,e.t.c  The Jeeps here are considered to be luxury trucks(and they are expensive to buy) somewhow,95% of them never touth mud or rocks .Sad heh......They dont have damages ,so no used parts......
Anyway ,it makes me wonder the prices that some of you mention,very cheap indeed.But on the other hand,my truck is a daily driver,I want to put the best parts in it.I cant do it that cheap.And she will have to pass the MOT also.
Yes I could get a Sammy and with half the money I invested on the Sidekick,I could make it a monster.But its too small for me and I like the Sidekick more. .Also ,about the prices I mentioned above,have in mind that the customs duties for importing parts from US are almost 50% added on their cost,not to mention shipping  
But ,I m staying with the Kick.expensive or not.I just love it very much I guess  

This is from somebody without the fortunate luck of finding 'deals' for every part...

You proved my point perfectly . You are getting awesome prices on your parts, designing and welding in everything your self and with out considering any extras you are already up to;


Axle+ 400 /pair
R&P 119 x 2 = 238
Locker 190 x 2 = 380
Shocks 40 x 4 = 160
Coils 65 x 4 = 260

Already up to $1438 with no shock mounts built, not brakes mated to your Zuk stuff, so shop suplies, no time alloted, etc..... We all know that the major costs when fabbing something your self is all of the little stuff you dont expect. (Crush sleeves, carrier bearings/races, axle bearing/races, brake pads, parts, etc.....)

I think it is cool as hell to build your own stuff, but to compare a I can do it myself $600 job to a Off the shelf ready to bolt on tried and tested kit is completely un reasonable.

Still back to my original conclusion that It may be able to be done cheap, but not that cheap.

Zig

All of this along with the fact that if you want regular width axles, or even a bit wider, you are going to have to find something bigger then plain old toy mini-truck axles (which are narrower then sidekick or have custom axles made.  Don't forget your SYE.  

I still don't see how this can be accomplished that cheaply

Especially with all of the little stuff, like steering, housing rebuild kits, brake lines, drive lines, bushings, grade 8 hardware, welding wire, gas, griding disks, paint, etc.

I think if you REALLY add up all of these costs, you'll have yourself a good reality check.  

But boy is it fun to show the Heeps that yours' ISN"T a bolt  on kit.

~Nate

I am fairly new to this forum but not new to building 4x4’s.  My first attempt at building the SAS tracker was planned by building it as cheep as possible.  It would have ended up like a tiki torch filled with gasoline.  
So far the cost of my SAS is:
$500 axles
$400 tranny T-case
$375 leaf springs.
Drivelines are going to be between $600 and $800.
This does not include: steering, fuel, rewiring, shift kits, rebuild kits, brakes, brake lines, tools(supplies for the tools), tires, metal for the frame and bumpers, exhaust, or tons of other modifications.
And you will not need to do all of this if you leave the motor and trans stock.  But then you need to look at gearing.  Ring and pinion?  Kicker 3 case?
I do not see Calmini ever making this kit, or even for the amount of $2500.

ya yr rite over$1400.00 dollars.but my intention was to use a sammy axel i already had .and i would have ben under $500. but couldnt do it,ive broken too many parts.
still ,i have a hard time paying for annything i can build myself. :-/

Had to bring this post to top!

Sweet Teal Tracker.  I think I saw it before.  LOL  Matter fact I sure of it!  Heres a coulple pics of my Sammy.

Yesterday!



Hey the snow had the rocks and trails covered up!

Here is part 2 of Video from Yesterday.
Mounds 1-9-2005 Part 2

More pics and vids on http://www.wegotmud.com and http://www.maniacaloffroad.com/

Later Todd.

PS Im not really a rock guy.  Stock Sammy with SPOA.  Thats it.  No flex or gear!  Dont forget the bald 31x10.50 TSLs.  Why did I sign up as Robrahn on a Zuki site?  Gonna have to change that.

Cool pics, and welcome top the BBS, BUT, what does that have to do with a SAS for a Kick/Vitara???

Zig

Downloading the video now though.

Sorry about the been drinking to many .  Link brought me to middle of topic and really didnt read.  Just saw the Tracker and got pumped up!  Tell you the truth by the time I got done with post I thought I was on a differant web site.

Sorry Todd.

It's All Good

Cool Vid too. Love watching a Sami slow ride through the deep stuff while the full size hammer down because theyre skeerrttt

Cool Vid too. Love watching a Sami slow ride through the deep stuff while the full size hammer down because theyre skeerrttt

I figured what the heck since we're off topic here's more mud videos....
http://wegotmud.net/videos/mounds1_2_05.wmv
http://wegotmud.net/videos/mounds12_19_04.wmv[/color]

sweetness!  those are some great vids!

stu

sweetness!  those are some great vids!

stu

Yeah, the mounds rock .

Here is a link to some Xterra SAS pics (supposedly Calmini design). If you look closely, the owner cut out the IFS crossmembers, added in a bolt-in crossmember. The SO shocks are one a bolt-in loop. The tranny crossmember as well as the long arm crossmember is also bolt in. Looks like the only weld requirement is the long arm mount  on the axle housing with the SO shock system.  All this provides a foundation for a full running gear skid plate.http://webpages.charter.net/cmxterra/sas/

For the long arm, the moung design looks a lot like an upside down Land Rover design. The end on the crossmember is a rather simple Johnny joint. Only concern for the long arm is the area necessary for clearance during suspension cycling. In the ramp picture, it's quite obvious, the front axle has tremendously more articulation capability in comparison to the rear (difference in axle angles relative to the vehicle).

Really nice stuff! Wow! One problem, I think my Grand Cherokee has a better approach angle than that X.