[ninjadaniel]

Hey guys, just thought i would post up my thoughts about the calmini shackle reversal kit..

1. Doesnt fit, reversed shackles are too wide
2. Solid bushings dont line up with the front mounting plates, had to visit bunnings for a smaller diameter bolt.
3. When hitting ruts, springs now flatten backwards causing backwards wheel movement (into my guards)

Overall, not impressed- took far too long to install for very little gain, only improvement was in on-road ride comfort.

I have to say, Calmini extended brake lines and drop pitman arm are definitely worth getting, i also have a pair of driveline extensions which look very well made.

-Daniel

[Fatzook]

pics?

[ninjadaniel]

i spose i should post pics, i cbf pulling it apart to show the poor fitment, i will try and show how much i had to bend the chassis spring mounting plates to get the shackles to fit

[1.6zook]

I was also looking at getting this kit for my zook but will definatly reconsider it now. Have you contacted calmini to let them know if the problems? Maybe they sent you the wrong kit ( N/T kit instead of W/T kit ).

[tanshi]

The US didnt get Narrow tracks i believe so i doubt they would make a kit for them

[1.6zook]

From there site:

VEHICLE PART NUMBER PRICE
1986-95 Samurai, SJ413 SS1575 $279.95
1981-85 SJ410 SS1574 $279.95

[Joe]

I had the calmini kit on my old zook and it fitted up no worrys
Where the front tyres hit the guards just bash the seams flat

[2stroker]

tanshi wrote:

The US didnt get Narrow tracks i believe so i doubt they would make a kit for them

Im sure I have seen pics on the net of yanks with 1 litre sierras / samurais

[1.6zook]

Yeah they definatly have a N/T kit

[RIKSTR]

I work in a shop that fitted a few of these and never had a drama

And as for the wheels now moving backwards when you hit a bump, that is the whole idea of the kit, when you hit a bump the wheels move back and up not foward and up , this creates a soother ride.

[BJPK]

i also have thought about this kit.
but cant work out how to mount it and an arb bar, cause the reversal kit appears to use the same mounting point as the bar! is this correct?

[ninjadaniel]

yeah the mounting kit uses the outside of the chassis rails and assumes your bullbar uses the inside.

I will have to confirm which kit they have sent me, i cant see that the Nt and Wt kits would be different except for the reinforcement bar that goes between the chassis rails.

The seams are hammered and i have a 2" (admittedly it is a cheap ebay one) spring lift as well as the 2" calimini kit and my 31's on 15x8 rims... still scrub under any articulation- Could it be that the springs are too soft and flatten out easier than they should?

[BJPK]

just had a look in there catolouge, and they definatly do two kits with different part nos.
maybe they did send wrong one?
hey joseph i see you ran the shackel reversal and arb bar on bullant did you have to mod the bar or similar? or does it all bolt up together ok?

[ninjadaniel]

i checked the part number, its definitely for 86-95 model. I will be removing and selling this kit if anybody is interested? After how badly i bagged it out i doubt it tho Might put it on ebay.

[Joe]

BJPK wrote:

just had a look in there catolouge, and they definatly do two kits with different part nos.
maybe they did send wrong one?
hey joseph i see you ran the shackel reversal and arb bar on bullant did you have to mod the bar or similar? or does it all bolt up together ok?

Yep i had to cut and reweld mounts

[4WDNROX]

I have a calmini shackel reversal kit on my Zuk you can see the kit in different stages on the rides forum. I had no problems fitting mine, except now my front axle seems to have rotated and the front wheels sit at an unusual camber.

I also agree that you then need to modify the ARB bar to make it fit. I plan on removing the front spring purchases of the kit and returning the suspension back to normal, mainly so I can re-attach the bullbar without modification.

[ninjadaniel]

what i may end up doing is lowering the mount for the rear of the front spring and using an extended shackle (1" each)

[v.w.dave]

How much do you want for it???

[ninjadaniel]

would ask $350 for the kit, postage alone was $200.

[RIKSTR]

The only difference is the support bar that goes between the front brackets. I have fitted a WT kit to a NT before, just cut the bar and re-welded it

[shep]

NT wont go to WT because of the outboarded spring mounts. i tried, but not very hard.