ANY ONE USING THESE ON THERE CALMINI 3" SUSP. LIFT    PRO'S - CON'S .......... FOR $80.00 AN XTRA 1 1/8" OF LIFT...WOULD THAT LET YOU CLEAR 33'S WITH OUT FENDER TRIMMING      THANKS ...HAPPY ZUKING ! ... ,MATTY D.  

this was on the http://www.k9rdj.co.uk/

 
Spring Spacers
Updated with WARNING message 01/05/03

Since fitting my Calmini 3" Super Articulation Lift Kit it seems to have "settled" somewhat with (ab)use and the weight of the mods (all the extra bars, etc.) and kit carried in it. I especially noticed it when I started offroading with Simon and his "Tonka Toy", after he'd fitted his Calmini kit there was a noticeable difference in the height of our two trucks. Admittedly, Tonka will also settle a bit when the new bumpers go on (See Si's site for more details and pictures) and with time and (ab)use!



So I searched the 'net looking for something to give the truck a little more lift, knowing I wanted some sort of spacers as one of our cohorts, Ian Warren, has something similar off a Jeep fitted on his Vitara. My search led me to the website of Glenn Wakefield's Rocky Road Outfitters, Glenn is respected both as a supplier and Suzuki offroader.



Ordering from the States was dead easy, I ordered the spacers online after RR answered a couple of queries by email, i.e. could I fit them with my existig 3" Calmini lift, and what would they cost to ship to the UK, etc. They cost just under £80 including postage after Paypal had done the dollar to pound conversion, this was the easiest way to pay I felt. The spacers arrived a couple of weeks later via Parcel Force (Royal Mail), and I was quite surprised when the driver asked me for £22.19, I knew I'd have to pay VAT on the way in to the country, but the receipt attached to the parcel broke down as - customs duty £2.30, VAT £11.89 and clearance fee £8.00, giving a total of £22.19. Still good value for another inch of lift though - just over a £100.

The spacers are polyurethane and actually measure 1 1/8" high (as advertised on RR's site) with a lip in the middle. They look the same visually but the fronts and rears are actually slightly different sizes -



They just fit on top of the springs in place of the original 1/8" rubber fitments which are already there. Front -



And, back -



They've definitely given the truck some of it's former height back -





 WARNING  - Since adding this page to the site a couple of people have emailed me asking whether they too could fit Rocky Road spacers with their Calmini 3" suspension lifts. So I've got to point out, and reiterate what is said above, that the only reason I fitted these spacers was that my Calmini suspension lift had "settled" enough (i.e. the springs had compressed / sagged with use and the extra nose weight on my truck) that I needed to fit spacers to regain the original height of the truck after it's lift. Calmini themselves recommend that the 3" suspension lift kit is designed to work with the added weight of a winch bumper and associated winch. Indeed, Calmini recommend that if the kit is used without the added nose weight of the winch/bumper that a half turn of the front coils is cut out. So, NO, it's not really viable to run the Calmini 3" lift kit with 1" additional spacing with no extra nose weight. Your truck would sit too high with the camber angle well out of line and the driveshafts may even be over-extended in use too. With a winch/bumper and some setlement in the kit it should be ok.

As with everything on this site, this is my personal opinions and ramblings associated with the history of modifications to my own vehicle, and not a recommendation to modify your own vehicle. You should satisfy yourselves by talking to experts/suppliers before modifying your own vehicle to make sure it remains safe and stable.



Supplied by : http://www.k9rdj.co.uk/

look under specification

Um, I believe that any Jeep TJ spring spacer will work great.  There are LOTS of different thicknesses to choose from.

The way we did it was to bore, with a hole saw, the existing holes of the spacer, larger by about .25 of an inch.  Essentially just make the existing hole bigger to fit over the upper spring cup/perch.  
You could spend a little more time and use a key hole grinder, maybe a file or possibly even a sharp knife too.  (depends on material and thickness)

The advantage is that you can purchase the jeep spacers at nearly ANY local 4x4 shop and not have to wait or pay the extra price (STEEP MARKUP).

(I would almost BET that this what RR sells, just modified TJ spacers, like this)  

I could be mistaken, maybe RR does order custom molded spacers, but I doubt it.

PLUS, the spacers work for both front and rear springs!

~Nate

You can watch E-bay for deals as well. I got a set of custom made 2" spacers for $30 US

James in Edmonton
92 Asuna Sunrunner

I've been looking at those spacers as well,just for the front end,it settled a bit since changing engines.

Hey Nate,

  RR does sell the mold poly spacers now. Thats what I run with my 3 inch body lift and 29 inch swampers. They used to sell the Jeep spacers that you yourself would have to mod once you got them. But now they run the poly ones.

Smitty

I'd suggest you buy the Rocky Road spacres with the moulded lip.I have TJ spacers on my rig but the rear spring perchs start to taper after one inch which creats a bit if difficulty if your trying to install the 30mm version.
Charlie

I would have to agree with Dave (K9RDJ) and recommend caution. The stock vehicle has around 3" of wheel drop. The Calmini kit lifts it 3" but restores a bit over 2" of wheel drop with strut spacers. 1" spacers will give over that in lift. So you'll have less than 1" of wheel drop left. This was the situation I was in when I fitted my 2" spring lift kit and before I made strut spacers. The suspension topped out easily just pulling away gently and the front wheels would lift off the road even under moderate corning, it was useless offroad and quite dangerous on it too.

I also had a problem of the front end sagging and the tires tiping in at the top.  Instead of spacers I just moved the lower ball joint from the top of the control arm to the bottom of it.

This basicly gave me an additional 1" lift and brought my front end back into line.

I wheeled it all summer and havent had a problem yet.

Hey Nate,

  RR does sell the mold poly spacers now. Thats what I run with my 3 inch body lift and 29 inch swampers. They used to sell the Jeep spacers that you yourself would have to mod once you got them. But now they run the poly ones.

Smitty

Thanks for the info, we're thinking about buying another set!
~Nate

I also had a problem of the front end sagging and the tires tiping in at the top.  Instead of spacers I just moved the lower ball joint from the top of the control arm to the bottom of it.

This works with the newer style A-arms, my 89' has an open spot where
the balljoint connects, but I had though of doing what you did, I got a
set of newer A-arms and was going to change them out, this also gets
the A-arms up higher for a little more ground clearance, but I think you
should put a spacer in the arm where the balljoint slides into the end,
this will keep the bolts tight and prevent crushing the steel in the arm.

Darrin

I've got the Calimni 3" lift with their custom front control arms.  Where the ball joint mounts it's solid metal so there was no problem.

The kit's 3 years old.

Ohh, I see, I didn't know you had the Cal-Mini
setup, sounds like you may have had them put
on wrong from the start.

My A-arms sit on top of the balljoints, or maybe I
put mine together wrong ............ Naaa  

The directions show them on top I beleave.  

I'm checking into bigger CV joints and I may have to put the arm back on the pottom for more room and go to spacers.

If you check out Mike's right-up in the teck. section.  His is on top with axil rim type studs in the ball joint for more clearance.

Would these work on the stock coil?  I think this was answerd just looking for confermation

thanks
Clay