[mcwilly]

hi i just bought a zuk and and looking into the best way to lift it and get 31's or 33s under it. it needs new shocks so wanna work out what to do before buying new ones. thanks for your help in advance

[steve]

aya mcwilly

What's the intended purpose? just street? rallies? general wheeling? rockcrawling? just for looks?

There may be lots of other stuff to consider depending on what your end goal is

[mcwilly]

its mainly just gonna be an offroad toy, shopping centre car. i have another car that im modifying aswell which i wont want to take to shops etc. im mainly after something that is fairly capable offroad, but can be driven on the street. its got the 1.3l and its wide track. basically to start with i dont wanna go to crazy just a lift that will allow 31s or 33s nicely, also kinda cheap because of the work with my other car

[jimbo_jones]

spoa, 2" body lift, 6.5 t, gears 33" tyres & push the diffs out about an inch + front & rear lockers

[Brett]

if you are going 31's get some 2 inch springs, move the diff forward 22mm and some guard tapping will get you there. if 33's are your thing put a 2 inch body lift in there as well.

with these wheels you'll have to go some transfer gears or diff gears to turn them easy and not kill your clutch

[ZookiDave]

2" extanded shackles + 2" body lift + 31's.

Tried, tested and proven to u in person, so u no it works.

Would add a set of crawl gears for ur transfer but, to save ur new clutch as u know wot happens to my clutch after a bit of climbing

[joeblow]

if you want 31's and still have it handle nice go some 50mm springs and a 50mm body lift. that way you won't need longer shackles, which aren't that much of a good thing.

[mcwilly]

so this is what im thinkin now
* rancho 9000x adjustable shocks suitable for 3.5-4' suspension lift
*superior engineering 3' leafs front and rear
*bushes kit
=$1600

*2' extended shackles till i have the money for drop shackles
*2' body lift
=$$$???

*31' muddies
=$1000

what else will i need to complete this?

[Rockhopper]

save some money and don't waste them on shackles (extended or drop)
If you don't mind a really harsh ride go the 3" suspension, but if you want it comfortable go 2"

[mcwilly]

so does it still flex up ok with the 3' suspension, any difference between the 2 and 3? im not worried bout ride its a sierra there is no comfort. im assuming ill need to extend my brake lines aswell.

[zooker]

If you're after a capable sierra, stick with the 2" springs, 3" springs are too stiff and wont flex. Old Man Emu Dakar springs seem to be the most popular.

My 2c, for a cheap capable sierra
- 2" lifted OME springs
- 2" Body Lift
- 2" extended front brake lines
- Cheap gabriel shocks from Supercheap (see my post in your shocks thread)
- 4.1 or 4.9 transfer gears
- a nice set of chunky 31/32's on 15x8 rims with -28 offset

I ran the above setup and it was quite capable, got me most places I want too. I've now done a RUF to get a bit more flex from the front end. Next step will be lockers to allow me to crawl a bit slower over obstacles

[mcwilly]

that sounds good. i looked through the link and im really not to sure about the bump stops or custom shock mounts??? is it possible to go extended shackles with this setup.
you got any pics of mounting and bumpstops?

[mcwilly]

http://www.4wd1.com/zook.htm#lift

what are your thoughts on this stage 2 kit with ranchos and rockcrawler springs?

also above i noticed tht the ranchos had a shock for 3.5-4' lift this could be a good shock for the 2' lift and shackles maybe

[Mike]

you could probably get the stuff cheaper than that

[joeblow]

will ride like a brick......actually...a brick is softer.

[Zook_Fan]

y not for cheap and effective ways do a 1/2 RUF, with 2" OME's in the rear and 2" body all up your looking around $800 for that set up and you get 4" of lift? Make your own shackles it is cheaper, use the old bushes and u-bolts cheaper again. If you want to make it to a budget try researching RUF there is heaps of info on here and many other suzuki forums

[mcwilly]

when you say it rides like a brick does that mean it doesnt flex and doesnt perform off road or it just rides rough on road. because if its just comfort on road i dont care i have an astina lowered on coil overs and big sway bars that i drive everyday atm. im not really worried bout the money side to much just want to do it right with new springs / shocks because it needs them. so trying to work out what my options are with doing this and the most lift i can get without having to do to much custom work.

i think the RUF is a bit further then i want to go atm with making new mounts etc. im after relativly easy bolt up mods but mods that perform.

sorry for all the silly questions guys i havent been into 4wd's long

[mcwilly]

i have also been looking on OME website and they appear to have long travel shocks and leafs. are any of the long travel shocks suited to the springs available in a 2' kit and would they be long enough to add extended shackles

[mcwilly]

is there any kits be it
superior engineering 3' lift - http://www.superiorengineering.com.au/p ... ts_id=1627

superior engineering drop shackles stage 2 kit - http://www.superiorengineering.com.au/p ... cts_id=819

superior engineering 2' kit - http://www.superiorengineering.com.au/p ... cts_id=818

ranco/rockcrawler 2' kit - http://www.4wd1.com/zook.htm#lift

or any other kits that seem good for a 2' lift with shackles

[zooker]

Why are you set on getting extended shackles? They are not necessary unless you have longer springs. Extended shackles with normal 2" springs gives an almost vertical shackle angle which equals a crap ride and little suspension droop.

[mcwilly]

i dont know i just wanna get was much lift and flex as possible with doing new springs and shocks and body lift... and thought extended shackles or drop shackles would help as seen some crazy ones with them.so with the 2' springs and body lift and extended shocks ill be able to fit 32's like yours? if possible can i see some pics etc

[Mike]

if you want lots of lift get a 3" body lift and efs 65mm springs

[zooker]

Lift does not equal flex. ATM mine has about 1.5" of spring lift (sagged springs) and a 2" BL, and it fits 32's with no rubbing



As it was with 2" springs, 2" BL and cheap gabriel shocks from supercheap


On flat ground with 32" Mongrels (really only measure 31")


And this is the flex I have now with RUF, 40mm extended shackles(front only) and 2" extended brakelines



It might not look that tall sitting on flat ground, but it flexes well and is capable and stable offroad.

If all you're after is a zook that looks big, then go ahead and get 3" springs, extended shackles and a 3" body lift. Will look big and fit big tyres, but wont flex or do well offroad.

[mcwilly]

sorry for asking so many stupid questions i have only had the zook for less then a week and trying to learn quick as a few things need fixing before i can drive it. With the ruf does it work if you use brand new rear's front and back? I.ll look in your thread to try work it out more. Thanks for all your help and sorry if i come across stupid.

[Brett]

no you normaly take your old rear springs and new rear springs

go look up the thread "31's with no body lift" its a car i did about 2 months ago. should'nt be to far back.

[Rockhopper]

Also depends on your wheel offset too. I have 31" tyres on 15x8 King wheels with a -24 offset, and they scrubbed like crazy. Had to move the diff forward an inch. In hindsight I wish I had bought the 15x7 wheels, cause with a bit of gaurd bashing they'll fit fine with a 2" spring and bodylift.

@ Zooker, just wanted to know if you extended your front bumpstops and by how much??

[Damo]

Rockhopper wrote:

Also depends on your wheel offset too. I have 31" tyres on 15x8 King wheels with a -24 offset, and they scrubbed like crazy. Had to move the diff forward an inch. In hindsight I wish I had bought the 15x7 wheels, cause with a bit of gaurd bashing they'll fit fine with a 2" spring and bodylift.

@ Zooker, just wanted to know if you extended your front bumpstops and by how much??

I agree 100%, the offset makes a difference. Go too big and you will have to do more to stop the tyres scrubbing on full lock. Same goes for running wheel spacers, which are effectively doing the same thing as a greater offset wheel.

I'm also in the same boat with 15x8 -25 offset, I wish I had 15x7s.

[zooker]

Rockhopper wrote:

@ Zooker, just wanted to know if you extended your front bumpstops and by how much??

Yes I have 1" bumpstop extensions on the front only. This is mainly to stop the longer shock bottoming out on compression, but also helps minimise the tyres eating into the guards.

Im running my 32x11.5's on 15x8 rims with -28 offset. With the axle moved forward approx 1" it clears the firewall but I did need to do a fair bit of hammering at the front of the guards behind the headlights. Its amazing how far you can bash that part in with a mallet

I love the extra stability of the greater offset. If you can get em to fit with only a bit of guard bashing and moving the axle forward (which is a benefit in itself) then why not.

[mcwilly]

im thinkin im just gonna do 2' body lift and 2' shackles to fit my new tyres on then drive it for a while then work out what to do with springs and shocks. as i dont really wanna be doing full custom work on this car just bolt up stuff that works well. i read a review about the rancho's and rockcrwler springs and they reackon it went good so might do that and the body lift.

should still go good for what i want and down the track just do lockers and ratios should go anywhere

[joeblow]

don't forget, the wider the offset, the less life you will get out of your wheel bearings.