[Daly87]

Hi Guys,

going through the website as much as i can searching for advice on suspension lift for a 1997 SWB vitara 2.0 16v seems all i can find is info for sierras... sorry if iv missed a big similar topic

I was looking at either the dobinson springs and shocks/struts... best price i got is $900
Thats Springs for $350
http://www.suspensionstuff.com.au/shop/ ... 980_32_105
and gas dobinson shocks for $536 for front and rear
http://www.extremelimitsoffroad.com.au/ ... zuki-front
http://www.extremelimitsoffroad.com.au/ ... uzuki-rear

or the iron man kit for 800 of ebay

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SUZUKI-VITAR ... 846wt_1398

Any one got any comments on these? ride quality etc? I am looking for 2-2.5" really and I believe the dobinson are 40mm and ironman 35mm so spacers will have to be used i guess.

Also if anybody has other suggestions for good quality suspension im all ears! ( a dealer and price would be good thanks )

Thanks guys!!

[christover1]

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=20219

Try Dank, a member on here, for dobinsons on above link.

I use dobinsons front 40mm+ struts, very happy

[Daly87]

Thanks, I have been on that website but they only stocked Sierra parts? Ill give him a PM tho!

So you do you only use dobinson front struts? what about springs, rear shocks?

Cheers.

[got_bar_work]

I have hd dobinson front coils there great stoped the car diveing under brakes
And rolling so much with the weight over the front end

[Daly87]

got_bar_work wrote:

I have hd dobinson front coils there great stoped the car diveing under brakes
And rolling so much with the weight over the front end

Sounds good! no body roll is what i want as i drive it regularly on road too! What did you use on the rear springs, shocks and struts? just wondering if its even worth the money to buy a full kit if others only use bits and pieces?

[christover1]

The rest of my suspension is all Old Man Emu/ARB.

[Dec]

That's expensive dobinsons mate, i'd be able to beat that price through work if you wanted.

[Daly87]

christover1 wrote:

The rest of my suspension is all Old Man Emu/ARB.

Not been able to locate any OME ( that i could afford From searching the web that is ) any places or do you think a full set of dobinson springs and shocks a good enough quality?

[Daly87]

Dec wrote:

That's expensive dobinsons mate, i'd be able to beat that price through work if you wanted.

PM Sent

[christover1]

Mine was already fitted with OME when I bought it.
I replaced the front struts with Dobinsons because the OME failed.
Lowrange USA sell OME cheaper delivered, than you can buy in Aus.

[Daly87]

christover1 wrote:

Mine was already fitted with OME when I bought it.
I replaced the front struts with Dobinsons because the OME failed.
Lowrange USA sell OME cheaper delivered, than you can buy in Aus.

how would you compare a full OME setup to Dobinson?

[christover1]

The OME is great for my needs.
Mine is a tourer, medium hard off roader and daily driver.
Both OME and Dobinsons seem to have a good reputation.
I think Dobinsons will be cheaper, or was when I looked last.

[Charlie Brown]

I've got a dobinson kit from dank, even with the lift it actually improved my handeling

[Daly87]

Definitely made my mind up on the Dobinson. Cant wait to install it

Can it be installed without spring clamps or should i buy some?

[Joe]

No need for spring clamps, give us a yell if ya need a hand to install I have plenty of tools here and have done a few of these lifts now

[Daly87]

Joe wrote:

No need for spring clamps, give us a yell if ya need a hand to install I have plenty of tools here and have done a few of these lifts now

Hey thanks for that Joe! Never done this before but iv read it - seems like the most simple thing you can do after changing a wheel.... or have i spoke too soon!

Rockingham hey? When I have a half decent Vit maybe you could show us around some good tracks!

[Joe]

Daly87 wrote:

Joe wrote:

No need for spring clamps, give us a yell if ya need a hand to install I have plenty of tools here and have done a few of these lifts now

Hey thanks for that Joe! Never done this before but iv read it - seems like the most simple thing you can do after changing a wheel.... or have i spoke too soon!

Rockingham hey? When I have a half decent Vit maybe you could show us around some good tracks!

Yeah mate no worries

[DarkHorse]

Speaking way too soon!!!

Rear end is easy enough, front is a bitch if you haven't done it before.

Take up the offer of help, Joe's experience will make the whole process much easier than doing it on your own. Get some INOX or WD40 and soak every bolt the night before you do it. 15yo bolts that have never been undone can be a PITA.

I'd stick with the 40mm-ish lift for a while, let it settle in and then decide if you want to go higher. Any further and you start running into issues that take exponentially more work to address.

[Daly87]

DarkHorse wrote:

Speaking way too soon!!!

Rear end is easy enough, front is a bitch if you haven't done it before.

Take up the offer of help, Joe's experience will make the whole process much easier than doing it on your own. Get some INOX or WD40 and soak every bolt the night before you do it. 15yo bolts that have never been undone can be a PITA.

I'd stick with the 40mm-ish lift for a while, let it settle in and then decide if you want to go higher. Any further and you start running into issues that take exponentially more work to address.

ahh.... maybe I should take the offer up then. Joe whats your price/ poison haha

WD40, advice taken and will be used!

Yea i think i will stick to 40mm for now, I guess as im new to this i wont be doing anything that extreme!

[Joe]

Six pack of jacks this weekend is no good for me but next sat/sun is cool if ya wana lift it then

[Daly87]

Joe wrote:

Six pack of jacks this weekend is no good for me but next sat/sun is cool if ya wana lift it then

Cheers Joe! Easter weekend I think im off camping down at Collie. If its OK, I could give you a shout after then? Dank has sent me a message today saying my springs are on their way now so Im not expecting them any time soon.

[Joe]

Daly87 wrote:

Joe wrote:

Six pack of jacks this weekend is no good for me but next sat/sun is cool if ya wana lift it then

Cheers Joe! Easter weekend I think im off camping down at Collie. If its OK, I could give you a shout after then? Dank has sent me a message today saying my springs are on their way now so Im not expecting them any time soon.

Yeah that's cool mate my misses works every 2nd weekend so id prefer to do it while she is at work or if you can get here by 3 on a friday arvo we could get it done before dark
If your springs are on there way expect them sooner then you think

[shandy92]

another vote for dobinsons bits, had them installed by the man himself (joe) took us a while ahah. been running them for a while and couldnt ask for a better setup.

havent had to look at the front end since installing them......except to make the nice blue shine again

[Daly87]

sounds like your more than happy with them! having never tested an uprated suspension lift before its always good to know iv made the right choice haha. really interested to see what the difference is. are you running the shocks aswell?

shame i cant have them before i go down to Collie for easter, would of loved to give the Lennard Track a go with the lift!

Guess this isnt an accurate representation of how to change them haha



hope to see you around on a trip Shandy!

[shandy92]

im running the springs and struts in the front only. have my own concoction of stuff working away in the back.

mate that vid shows exactly how to change them, really isnt all that hard. only thing different is that you will be doing it on the ground not with a hoist. yeah for sure mate, keep an eye on the trip section and im sure we will catch up sooner or later.