Hello All,

I am just new here so please bear with me.

I have just installed a set of gas shocks on My 1999 sidekick. I am in a sort of confusion, I need to run 235/75 R16 on it also I like the looks with the 1" coil spacers.

Will this size fit without the spacers? Will it cause any rubbing? How will installing the coil spacers affect the on road handling?

The other issue I am facing is that after installing the new shocks, the back wheels are pretty much flipped towards the inside from the lower part, how to resolve that ? Will the spacers increase that ? Do I have to install the shock absorber repositioners ?

Appreciate the help

Hi

I would say that a maximum of 225/70 R16 would fit without rubbing or contact with no modification. If you plan on using your vehicle for off-road driving without tire rubbing running 235/75 R16 then a coil spacer lift will probably be your cheepest option. The tires you are looking at are about 30" tires plus they are slightly wider witch should even out stability regarding your increased ride height. With the 1" spacers at all 4 corners you should get away with this size in my opinion. Either flipping the front strutmount or installing a spacer on top of the strut it self is also recommended to keep full front end travel.

Your vehicle has a solid rear axle and any shock change or shock reposition will not do anything to your wheel adjustment at the back, it is non adjustable. Spacers in the rear will not do anything to make it better or worse. If you have a problem with your rear wheels you might have a damaged or bent rear axle housing, that should be checked out so you do not do any damage to axles, tires our yourself in traffic.  In the front the spacers might slightly push your wheel alignment off so an adjustment at a professional workshop would be highly recommended.

If you installed new front shocks then you might have a misaligned front end because of that as well.

I hope this information helps you out with your modifications and good luck with your vehicle. What tires do you plan to install?

Best regards,
Tryggvi

Just to verify, you are wanting to mount 235/75 R16 an not R15 tires, correct?

Yes.  Actually i have installed 1.25" spacers and looks that I will change the tires to 265/70 R16.  What do you think?  Do I need any modifications for that?

Should fit, depends on the tire.  235/70 R16 is supposed to measure out to 29" which is just a touch bigger then 135/75 R15. 

I did run into issues with rubbing in the rear at flex stock on my Tracker with 1.5" wheel spacers, a 1" spacer in the rear fixed that so it will probably work for you as well.

just a quick update here, i got 31 x 10.5 R15  on the stock suspension with only 1.25" coil spacers.

Did you say a 99 Sidekick?

I was under the impression that 98 was the last year Suzuki sold the Sidekick - the 99's would have been (should have been) Vitaras - and it's more than just a name change, it's a different vehicle, wider chassis, different suspension.

You also mention 16" wheels - Sidekicks had 15, Vitaras 16.

Sidekicks were manufactured here until 2000.