I'm thinking of buying a nice 99 Chevy Tracker and was reading here about lifts and such and got majorly confused. I want to make sure that if I buy the thing that I can modify it (I've also got a thread re bumpers, which confused me as well). It would be used about 75% offroad, mostly gravel, washboard, sand, and rocky bits...SoCal desert and mountains. My priorities are reliability, not getting stuck, and comfort.

I've concluded I'd start with a suspension lift. I'd like to run bigger tires; in my experience that makes a big difference. Especially since we air down a lot. Nothing really extreme, but from what I've seen stock it's a little low for what we do (I also have a lifted van on SPOA suspension for comparison).

The problem is which one, or combo thereof.

My friend has the OME lift with the springs and all and he finds it too stiff for what we do (he's a dirtbike rider, so it's not like he's expecting a Lincoln ride). He wants to change to a ZukNation deluxe, but that's not even available for the '99 yet (but they are testing). And it's a bit expensive for me at this point. And I'm worried the OME stuff would be too stiff for me as well.

I couldn't find tons of reviews of folks actually using the Calmini deluxe kit, but most say it's pretty stiff as well. Perhaps it's a measure of the extra lift that and the RR achieve.

I also looked at the various 2" suspension lifts, accomplished by spacers. Seems like a start, but each kit claims to have needed variations the others don't. Jeff's is the most basic, but also has the strut brace spacers, and this 99 is a 2.0 so it has one. The SR has the strut brace spacers as well, and also a panhard extender. Do I need that?

The bits4vits kit is a bit different. It has the coil spacers, but uses a very different strut spacer, just a one-bolt extension. I am assuming this would eliminate the need for the strut brace modification, but I'm not sure. And it uses some trick bracket for a shock extension, not something the others have. And again, nothing for the panhard.

RR and SR both recommend a steering extension. And all seem to recommend camber bolts.

So if I go that route with this vehicle, whadda I need, aside from choosing which kit to get? And money's a factor.

Second, for some reason although there's lots of discussion re the kits that include OME struts and whatnot, not much about which other shocks and/or springs one could get. I figure I could replace those perhaps if this Tracker needs it (not sure right now). From my admittedly limited understanding of suspension, these spacer lifts don't really affect travel much, but do affect the geometry some. So with them is there any reason to get a spring with a different rate? Or get longer shocks instead of using the stock ones or the extensions in the rear? I have Rancho 9000s on my van and like 'em; I've heard Bilstein 5125s are really great on washboard, and I'd love to solve that problem. Anyone use these?

TIA,
Rob

I have installed sr lift in mine. I have a 2" suspension lift, and a 2" body lift. As for the panhard bar extender from the info i found be for i did the lift in mine, people told me it would have the rear axle shift over to the passanger side with out the extender. Which would cause premature tire wear, tracking, and not being able to get a proper wheel alignment. Now onto the camber bolts this statement will open up a can of worm but I'll say it anyway. You can use camber bolts to correct your camber but what i did was rounded out the top hole until the strut touched of the steering knuckle then installed some plates with the same size holes as the strut. After you get a wheel alignment put a couple of spot welds on the plate and you don't have to worry about the camber coming out of alignment. After the suspension lift i found it allot smother of a ride but i also installed new struts and shocks when i did the lift. The steering extender is for the body lift if your not doing a body lift don't worry about it, but it is necessary for the body lift. If you have any questions let me know i just put my lift on 3 or 4 months ago so its still i bit fresh in my mind. Mine is a sr customs lift i have to say it is really good quality and they are very helpfully. If you have any questions to ask they reply very quickly. Mud child on this forum is sr customs if you wanted to pm him.

What shocks/struts did you put in?

I see what you mean about camber, but maybe it's just the autocrosser in me...I'm constantly fiddling with it.

Rob

The coil spacer lifts simply "move" the factory range of motion of your stock struts downward about 1.5" while providing about 2" of lift to your vehicle.  OME struts are longer than factory and actually provide 1.5" more stroke (over factory struts) and allow more movement to your front A-arms.  The OME springs provides a similar overall lift as the coil spacers.

I ran Jeff's coil spacers for three years and had no problems/complaints with them.  I also used the "screw on" strut extenders on two of my trucks and had no problem.  I've also ran OME springs under one of my 2nd gen trucks with stock struts (with above extenders and Monroe Crown vic shocks) and I enjoyed the ride improvement.   I've had a complete OME suspension under my current 2nd gen for about six months now and the ride is very nice.  You can control the harshness of the ride by varying the tire pressure you are running in your tires.  32#s or greater pressure and you will be assured a harsh jolting ride.  Run 30 pounds and the ride is noticably softer.  Depending on the tire you are running you may even go down to 28 pounds on the road and the ride is even more 'plush'.  It's all in what tires you are running and where you intend to drive.  BFG AT K/Os have the 3 ply sidewalls and absorb quite a bit of the road if you run them at 28-30 pounds.  These trucks are on the light side and are generally easy on tires.  I have run various 235 series tires on my trucks.

Jeff's 2" lift is about the same as the lift I got with the OME springs/suspension and I didn't run a pan hard bar extender on either one of the trucks.  Regardless, if you intend to run desert trails at moderate speed I would recommend front and rear skids and a smaller one to protect the rear of your transfer case (which is a bit exposed).  Sean Devinney (at AFTERMARKET 4X4) markets some beefy skids for the front and rear (gas tank) made out of 10 gage steel that are pre-formed and literally "bolt right up.'   They are well made, reasonably priced and worth the investment.

One last bit, I didn't use camber bolts on my OME struts and was still able to get them almost perfectly dialed in.

The shock i am running i got from sr customs when i got my lift I'm guessing they are crown vic shock but not 100% sure. The front struts are Monroe struts. as for the tire pressure if i remember correctly they call for 26 psi from the factory sticker on the door. I know when i got my 31's installed they filled them up to 32psi and the rig hit really hard.

personally i wont trust the bits4vits strut extender, i cant picture the thing hold the force of the weight of the truck without sliding out...but that is only me. if you like the ride of your truck as is now i sugest just buy the jeff's kit, its affordable,very well made,will last forever and easy to install, you will gain 2" and even more, all trucks is different as for wear and tear (weak spring...) i got the kit on my truck in the rear and it still drives like it did before wile hiting bumps (not softer or stiffer) but the travel made a huge diference specially with ford crown victoria rear shocks.

wen i get my front done i figure it will get a bit stiffer than before, as the a-arm will get a greater angle to move and will get a bit harder for the spring to flex in that angle (please let me know your thoughts on this plz) i know the rear "panbar" bracket i think its called for the rear end will need to be extended a bit more as the rear end will swing on one side wile hitting bumps (may cause rear to jump on one side?) i know i dint do this to mine and the rear jumps a bit on one side on tiny hard hits on the road witch i think is beacause i dint lower that bar (i got new stock springs and crown victoria shocks)

The Bits4Vits strut extender is very well made.  It has a set screw in the side of the extender to lock it in place on the strut shaft.  It all boils down to personal preference.  I ran a set of Bits4Vits extenders and had no problems with them for over two years (40K+ miles).  I had a different set on my other Tracker from (as I recall) Boondox.  Another 40K+ miles on them.  I didn't experience any problems with those either, although I will say the Bits4Vits are of far better construction.

I suggest you buy my kit, of course