I was giving the newly acquired 95 sidekick 4x4 the once over and notice the top of both front shock mount has contacted the opening in the engine compartment!!  Both side seem to of contact the inside towers.  The right side has actually bent/rip the metal.  How close are they suppose to be?  It also flexes enought to contact when I push on the side of the car.  Something bent?  Doesn't seem like the shock mounts are loose, just flexes.  Do they sell a strut tower bar for these cars?  Is something damaged?   Maybe a hard landing?  Thanks for any replies.

  Look closely at the strut towers, you might have a crack near the base that is allowing the tower to flex that much. The only tower brace that I'm aware of for the trackicks, is the one for the 96-98 Sport 4 doors. I don't know if it will work on the non-Sport versions though. If it mounts anything like the GV bar mounts, it won't work without an adaptor of some kind.

That what happens when you jump it too much
Somebody has got to make a strut tower brace for these poor things

Well the strut mounts seem ok... no cracks on the metal.  Not sure why the shock tower is so close to the panel in the engine compartment.  It looks like the body is too close to the frame.  Is that possible?  Mounts for the body has compressed enough to have the strut tower contact the engine compartment.

EGAD! How does it drive? I see what you mean... looks like someone jumped it stock. That sucks. Hey are you a 4-door?

steveo

Have you checked your body mounts yet?  Maybe you have a couple rusted threw or broken.

Yeah looks like u have some rust on the body mounts or the fender wells are rusted and the shits sagging.

It drives like it needs an alignment.  Sways alot.  Its a 4 door 4x4.  Not sure what is sagging  Body mounts look ok.  Still has a gap between the body and frame thru-out.  No signs of cracks on both strut towers.  Is it possible that the tower bent back/upward without cracking?  The cracks and rust in the engine opening is caused by the top of the strut tower pushing up at it.  The front of the sidekick doesn't seem any lower the any other stock sidekick.

If you look from the front of the vehicle do your tires lean in like  / \    :-/
Zig

Front wheel camber looks ok.  No / \ noticable.    Any other ideas?  Anybody know any offroad shops in the SF BayArea that speciallizes in Suzuki's?  Might also do a 3" lift at the same time if there is related parts that need to be changed.  Think this project is worth it or is it going to be a money pit?  Still not sure if the engine is any good.

These little 1.6L will run forever, so if it's running OK you should be good with the motor. The only thing I can think of on the strut tower is that it had been wrecked and the body shop did not fix the inner finder when repairing it :-/ I would get a shop to check the alignment and if it's OK, drive the wheels off the 4 door If it is rubbing and making noise because of the contact, you could always do a body lift and get some space back between the body and strut tower.
Zig

Pulled both front wheels off and didn't see any damage.  Title is clean... not salvaged.  Not sure how the strut tower could be bent...  the bump stops should of took the blow before the shock fully compressed  Body and frame looks original (not transplanted).  Are the strut tower suppose to flex a bit?  Anybody elses tracker/sidekick have this flaw?  Thanks all

i know Mike Hagen has bent some up close to the engine i think.  dose your tracker feel like its been beat on or anything like that?

stu