i'm taking my first step in tricking out my 1995 2-door Tracker LSi 4x4.

i'm waiting for my tax check to roll in...any day now and i've surfed the forums and internet for a year now to gather info on which 2inch lift kit to buy for my tracker.

i'm still confussed.  which one is truly the majority favorite and what are the honest pros and cons of installing each kit.

i'm not doing anything hardcore just "yet" (steel bumpers, winches, roof racks...etc) at this point i'm just getting started in what will be a long list of trailworthy  modifications, but for now it's mostly cosmetic...the off road look i'm shooting for.

i heard the RRO lift kit is the best riding kit, and Calminis kit is so stiff it makes you feel like your in a Samurai.  but the RRO staff i've so far spoken to seem rather misinformed about their own product.  
here is what i'm after.  

quality long-lasting well made product (so far that looks like calmini)

comfortable ride, not harsh gut jarring somewhere close to stock (that seems to be RRO, true? not true?)

able to be aligned (again RRO, seems from what i've heard Calminis kit needs alot of work to be able to be aligned...true? not true?)

easiest to install (i'm real hazy on this one both look pretty straight forward, but i hear Calmini's needs special welding and whatnot, and RRO "claims to be a fully "bolt-on"...true? not true?)

help me guys!  or else i'm going to blow my 1500 bucks on a used Swift GT.....i want to hook up my tracker though! but don't want my daily driver to ride like a wagon

OK, Calmini sent me NEW rear shocks - MUCH BETTER!!!

Thanks Steve!

RRO is cheaper, and pushes your CV's closer to the limits of their working envelope all the time.  Look at it this way:

Calmini gives you 3" of lift, with new longer A-arms, and lowers the diff - but NOT below the cross-member.

RRO gives you 2" of lift, but doesn't touch the diff, so your CV angles are actually greater with RRO 2" of lift, than with Calmini 3" of lift.

RRO also gives you a camber problem - well, no problem, if you don't mind wearing the outside edges off your expensive off-road tires.  You can fix it with a camber adjustment kit - well maybe.

People here use both.  It would be interesting to have a poll, and see which one is used more.  My guess is that Calmini outnumbers RRO by about 2 to 1, even though it's more expensive.  There's a reason for that.

Go with the Calmini 3" I love it, the only thing I would do is flip the upper strut mount when you install, and the truck will ride nice, I have owned many Sami's and this thing rides like a caddy compared to, it is a stiffer ride, but it also handles much better in the corners, it is a great system, that is very well thought out, and is basically bolt on with a bit of grinding no welding involved at all. As well your tires choice will affect yuor ride, if you run swampers like my set up it will be noisy and a harsher ride, run a nice set of BFG Mud or a/ts and you will be very happy with the ride on the road.

i'm taking my first step in tricking out my 1995 2-door Tracker LSi 4x4.

i'm waiting for my tax check to roll in...any day now and i've surfed the forums and internet for a year now to gather info on which 2inch lift kit to buy for my tracker.

i'm still confussed.  which one is truly the majority favorite and what are the honest pros and cons of installing each kit.

i'm not doing anything hardcore just "yet" (steel bumpers, winches, roof racks...etc) at this point i'm just getting started in what will be a long list of trailworthy  modifications, but for now it's mostly cosmetic...the off road look i'm shooting for.

i heard the RRO lift kit is the best riding kit, and Calminis kit is so stiff it makes you feel like your in a Samurai.  but the RRO staff i've so far spoken to seem rather misinformed about their own product.  
here is what i'm after.  

quality long-lasting well made product (so far that looks like calmini)

comfortable ride, not harsh gut jarring somewhere close to stock (that seems to be RRO, true? not true?)

able to be aligned (again RRO, seems from what i've heard Calminis kit needs alot of work to be able to be aligned...true? not true?)

easiest to install (i'm real hazy on this one both look pretty straight forward, but i hear Calmini's needs special welding and whatnot, and RRO "claims to be a fully "bolt-on"...true? not true?)

help me guys!  or else i'm going to blow my 1500 bucks on a used Swift GT.....i want to hook up my tracker though! but don't want my daily driver to ride like a wagon

Are you shooting for the Calmini 2 inch or the Calmini 3 inch? There is a big difference in the way those two kits ride...

The Calmini 2" Kit DOES NOT ride rough and is very durable. I ran alot of miles (probably 70-80,000 miles) on and off road on my 2" Kit on my sidekick before I upgraded to the 3" Kit. The same Kit is now on my daily driving X-90 that I commute 1000 miles a week in. Runs the interstates and back roads as good as a stock ride. I would reccomend the 3" Kit if you plan on doing alot of off-road mods later. It will easily out perform the 2" Kit off-road. It will ride rougher on the road though. Once you get you bumpers, winch, roll cage etc... done it will ride smooth.
Zig

i'm taking my first step in tricking out my 1995 2-door Tracker LSi 4x4.

i'm waiting for my tax check to roll in...any day now and i've surfed the forums and internet for a year now to gather info on which 2inch lift kit to buy for my tracker.

i'm still confussed.  which one is truly the majority favorite and what are the honest pros and cons of installing each kit.

i'm not doing anything hardcore just "yet" (steel bumpers, winches, roof racks...etc) at this point i'm just getting started in what will be a long list of trailworthy  modifications, but for now it's mostly cosmetic...the off road look i'm shooting for.

i heard the RRO lift kit is the best riding kit, and Calminis kit is so stiff it makes you feel like your in a Samurai.  but the RRO staff i've so far spoken to seem rather misinformed about their own product.  
here is what i'm after.  

quality long-lasting well made product (so far that looks like calmini)

comfortable ride, not harsh gut jarring somewhere close to stock (that seems to be RRO, true? not true?)

able to be aligned (again RRO, seems from what i've heard Calminis kit needs alot of work to be able to be aligned...true? not true?)

easiest to install (i'm real hazy on this one both look pretty straight forward, but i hear Calmini's needs special welding and whatnot, and RRO "claims to be a fully "bolt-on"...true? not true?)

help me guys!  or else i'm going to blow my 1500 bucks on a used Swift GT.....i want to hook up my tracker though! but don't want my daily driver to ride like a wagon

From reading your posts it appears like you called RRO for product information. Did you call Calmini as well?

-Eric

RRO gives you 2" of lift, but doesn't touch the diff, so your CV angles are actually greater with RRO 2" of lift, than with Calmini 3" of lift.

but Calmini only lower the diff 1" so the angles are the same

RRO also gives you a camber problem - well, no problem, if you don't mind wearing the outside edges off your expensive off-road tires.  You can fix it with a camber adjustment kit - well maybe.

True a lot of people think the Calmini kit corrects the camber but the truth is that with any IFS if the nose weight isn't right the camber will be out.

I don't use either kit, my suspension would be more like the RRO kit but 2" lift and no spacers, cheap and effective and in two years and 18,000 miles and a lot of offroading the only CV I've had go  was due to a split boot and a lot of muddy water. I would like a pair of the Calmini A arms though.

2 inch,  i already know the 3" rides harsh without toys.  my Tracker is bone stock and will probably stay that way till next tax return (LOL)

I run the Calmini 3" with no other weight added, and with the back seat taken out. It doesn't ride stiff at all, it's firmer than stock that's about it. I think Calmini has changed the shocks in the 3" kit to address the issue of a stiff ride, because I'm enjoying my ride which is my daily driver. I've been running this lift for eight months now, and loving it.

If you plan on future mods, I'd think of getting the 3" lift from Calmini you won't be disappointed trust me. There is no welding involved just a little grinding, and it bolts in. Took me 13 hours to do it by myself, and most of that time was pulling the stock components out.

To soften up the front ride try OME struts. I use those and its a world of difference.

id go with the three inch calmini just an overall better kit in my opinion but its just my opinion

Hi jookycola and the rest of the guys,

Let me tell you my opinion.

I use RRO 4.5 (2"body +2.5"suspension). My impressions are:
1) The front articulation has changed, but not very much. Although the front diff has been raised very much the travel isn't (I think I have to lower the upper strut mount a bit).
2) The front Ome suspension is very good. Before that, I had Koni and Bilstein stock height struts and they were really hard. Now it's softer but holds great on the road, and I feel less sidewind affection.
3) In the rear the articulation is great. The Doetsch Tech shocks together with OME springs are great. The rear has stopped bumping all the time and the road handling is very good.
4) The front camber you can correct with an expense of 30$. No big deal.

But, If I have to do this lift again, I think I would go with Calmini 6", or Calmini 3"suspension and RRO 2"body. And if it was stiff on road, I would change the rear shocks with Doetsch tech.
Because:
1) It has much more articulation,
2) It is a full suspension system, you don't have to correct anything.
3) With RRO I have to find a way to relocate the rear A arm.
4) Because of the front axle relocation, the CVs don't work in such an angle.
5) because of the different rear trailing arms the R&P angle does not change.

I suggest you buy the Calmini.

My vote is for the 2 inch Calmini because it is the best choice for what it sounds like you want.

Mike

I think Calmini has changed the shocks in the 3" kit to address the issue of a stiff ride, because I'm enjoying my ride which is my daily driver. I've been running this lift for eight months now, and loving it.

.

STEVE , ERIC, IS THIS TRUE ARE THEY OFFERING A DIFFERENT SHOCK FROM WHAT THEY OFFERED LAST SEPTEMBER...CAUSE THE FRONT IS GREAT BUT THE REAR STILL SEAMS A WHOLE LOT STIFF WHEN HITTING THINGS LIKE SPEED BUMPS..... :-/  MATTY D.

2 inch,  i already know the 3" rides harsh without toys.  my Tracker is bone stock and will probably stay that way till next tax return (LOL)

HAVE YOU CHANGED YOUR MIND NOT TO LIFT THE ZUKE NOW     CALMINI ALL THE WAY IN MY BOOK .....MUCH BETTER KIT ...LOTS MORE TO IT THEN RRO'S .....MATTY D.