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Beating Us To Death

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Offline Rumpshaker

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Beating Us To Death
« on: August 30, 2010, 07:56:59 AM »
We recently purchased an old Samurai that has underwent several modifications. We are very excited about and though we''ve owned to Sidekicks (daily drivers) in the past, we are in unfamiliar territory with the Samurais. I have a couple of questions that hopefully someone would shed light on:

1) It has two transfer cases and we're not sure exactly why or how to use either or both, properly (no knobs with identifying marks to explain the patterns either).

2) It beats the living snot out of us and we are now urinating blood (just kidding). Despite being lifted and having 35 or 36" tire on it, it does not have one shock absorber on it. Does it need them; is that why it is riding so hard? The shackles on the end of the leafs are horizontal---is that right; should I tack them in place, vertically?

3)  It idles really high--how do I adjust it down; at the carb or timing modification?

4) Anyone ever put a SBF in one; how much weight could this suspension support; would this be a bad idea?

Nice site and I appreciate any direction or clarification anyone could provide. Thanks

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Offline wildgoody

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Re: Beating Us To Death
« Reply #1 on: August 30, 2010, 08:41:22 AM »
Post pics of the parts in question, helps in overall diagnosis

Welcome to ZukiWorld

Wild
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Offline Jluck

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Re: Beating Us To Death
« Reply #2 on: August 30, 2010, 10:12:10 AM »
It sounds like you got a basket case. IMO if you had sidekicks before and were happy with them I would sell the Sammy and build up a sidekick. samurais are notorious for riding like crap kind of like being beaten with a steel pipe just to drive.             

 ALL vehicles need "shock" absorbers or dampeners, that is probably most of you problems along with flat shackles. (wow it must really drive bad)(my back is now hurting thinking about it) :P

IMO v8 conversions ruin Suzuki's, everyone I have seen has rendered the vehicle junk. just no longer fun and useable, axles don't hold up any longer.....the snowball effect of doom starts there.

hope this helps but please post some pics. (those buck boards (samurais) are still very popular and within this forum you might find someone to trade with) ???


my $.02
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Offline lv2fsh

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Re: Beating Us To Death
« Reply #3 on: August 30, 2010, 10:46:29 AM »
But it looked cool huh? Seriously it sounds like you have a strictly off road rig built to go where no trackick would dare. The double transfercases are for superlow gearing. The shackles are missing link shackles for more articulation. You would probably be better off to sell or trade it for a more stock Sammy and build it to suit you.
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Offline Rumpshaker

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Re: Beating Us To Death
« Reply #4 on: August 30, 2010, 11:44:17 AM »
Thanks for the input. Yes, it looked pretty cool and it was affordable. Our two Sidekicks were the 4-dr 4wd variety and we got plenty of use out of them but we traded the first one in when we started our family and sold the other because of condition. I visit several organized (is that an oxymoron?) mud bogs and have always been amused and curious about the Samurais. Like our Sidekicks, they mildly and conservatively pretty much went where they pleased. There are definitely more Sammies that Sidekicks at the bogs. So, I began to lightly shop for one. This one seems to have some potential, as its purpose would be exclusively for off road. But when I got it home, off the trailer and took the family for a ride, it broke our backs even on flat ground (we live in Florida---no rock climbing here, LOL). Attached are a few pics---again, suggestions are appreciated.
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Offline Rumpshaker

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Re: Beating Us To Death
« Reply #5 on: August 30, 2010, 11:48:53 AM »
Okay so you got one pic of it and a couple of Horse Trailer pics (my wife rides). Try these:
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Offline Jluck

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Re: Beating Us To Death
« Reply #6 on: August 30, 2010, 11:53:40 AM »
fix them shackles put shocks on it and play. 8) if it does not improve enough to be tolerable sell!
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Offline locjaw

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Re: Beating Us To Death
« Reply #7 on: August 31, 2010, 08:57:05 AM »
you hear soooo often people complaining about how "rough "their suzuki rides. 9 times out of 10 it will ride better with one important 5 minute modification.
heres what you need....

1.) a tire gauge
2.) a valve stem puller(to make things faster)
3.) a compressor

now...TAKE SOME AIR OUT OF THE TIRES!!
18-20#'s should be good for most suzukies unless they are strictly highway then i would say the mfg recommended 23#'s
i run my 33's at 15#'s on the street


everytime i have ever had tires put on a suzuki they(tire "professionals") pump them up to the tires recommended pressure, not the vehicles recommended pressure(yes people, you might want to check your other vehicles also). Tire pressure is important to maintain performance, mileage, wear(tire and suspension). that tire pressure is recommended by the mfg'r based on vehicle weight and the specific tire size, but most people (and especally the "professionals")dont realize that over inflation can be a problem as well with wear and performance.

good luck with the ride
jason
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Offline my996duc1

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Re: Beating Us To Death
« Reply #8 on: August 31, 2010, 04:25:15 PM »
+1 Locjaw ....

I run my 31 x 12.50 tires between 16-18psi on the street/freeway.
Makes a huge difference from where they were set by the tire place as 24psi.
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Offline Rumpshaker

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Re: Beating Us To Death
« Reply #9 on: August 31, 2010, 06:18:40 PM »
Point taken; I will check the tire pressure and go from there. I never even checeked that b/c it was so severely rough that I immediately considered the suspension and its components. If the ride was smoother, I'm sure that it would be the time and trouble that I went through to get it.

With regards to the shackles, should I pin them in the proper position using nuts and bolts or slap a bead weld on  them?

As for Shocks, I believe the stock mounting points are no longer in their original places. In fact, I'm not even sure they're still on the axles. Suggestions???
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Offline bentparts

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Re: Beating Us To Death
« Reply #10 on: September 01, 2010, 04:14:24 PM »
Shoulda boughta Trackick! ;)
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Offline Rumpshaker

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Re: Beating Us To Death
« Reply #11 on: September 03, 2010, 11:52:20 AM »
Quote from: locjaw on August 31, 2010, 08:57:05 AM
you hear soooo often people complaining about how "rough "their suzuki rides. 9 times out of 10 it will ride better with one important 5 minute modification.
heres what you need....

1.) a tire gauge
2.) a valve stem puller(to make things faster)
3.) a compressor

now...TAKE SOME AIR OUT OF THE TIRES!!
18-20#'s should be good for most suzukies unless they are strictly highway then i would say the mfg recommended 23#'s
i run my 33's at 15#'s on the street


everytime i have ever had tires put on a suzuki they(tire "professionals") pump them up to the tires recommended pressure, not the vehicles recommended pressure(yes people, you might want to check your other vehicles also). Tire pressure is important to maintain performance, mileage, wear(tire and suspension). that tire pressure is recommended by the mfg'r based on vehicle weight and the specific tire size, but most people (and especally the "professionals")dont realize that over inflation can be a problem as well with wear and performance.

good luck with the ride
jason
[/quote

I can appreciate your take---but my tires are at 12# on all four corners.
If anyone has any decent, closer, pics of their suspension, I would appreciate it. I am trying to figure our what the heck is up with this suspension that I have. No shocks and shackles are parallel to ground---help me figure this out. I jacked her up at the axles and tried to see how much flex was in there and  using a pry bar, I had to put the serious "who done it" on it just to get the shcklea to go down a bit. If the springs are let out, away from the axle, will that soften the ride? I'm wondering if that's what's pushing the shackles out and flat (flexion). Also, would the shocks even help?
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Offline Drone637

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Re: Beating Us To Death
« Reply #12 on: September 03, 2010, 12:05:17 PM »
Can you take a picture of your shackle setup?  It sounds like either the wrong springs are on the vehicle or your springs are bent and the shackle is pinned to the frame.
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Offline Rumpshaker

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Re: Beating Us To Death
« Reply #13 on: September 03, 2010, 02:04:42 PM »
Quote from: Drone637 on September 03, 2010, 12:05:17 PM
Can you take a picture of your shackle setup?  It sounds like either the wrong springs are on the vehicle or your springs are bent and the shackle is pinned to the frame.

I'll snap some pics tomorrow and post 'em up. Thanks.
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Offline Rumpshaker

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Re: Beating Us To Death
« Reply #14 on: September 03, 2010, 06:56:38 PM »
I'm at work for 24h so I asked my wife to snap some pics for me. The only problem was she reall focused on axles and springs and not any shots of the shackles. What is apparent is that my leafs are old and there are no shocks. I'll snap some pics tomorrow, when I'm off duty. Here's what she sent:
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