[diver_dingo]

i have decided to go with a spring lift instead of a body lift, can anyone give me some advice on how to go about doing this? is it better to use spring spacers or bigger springs? can i put springs out of a different vehicle into it?

[atari4x4]

IMO spring lift is the only way to go, there are a few different spring that you can run from other vehicles but a proper lift kit with matching springs & shocks will be ideal.

[MacDaddy]

Ebay do a few lift kits for the Vitara... some i have never heard of before... but there are Ironman lift kits for the Vits on ebay... i am getting an Ironman Lift kit for my GV, they have an extra 50kg load rating, and a 40,000km Warrenty, i did my research, they are a good kit

LWB Vit 1988 on - http://cgi.ebay.com.au/IRONMAN-35mm-SUS ... ccessories

SWB Vit 1988 on -
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/IRONMAN-35mm-SUS ... ccessories

Even though they say 35mm lift, its a proper 2in lift, 35mm is the average after the springs have settled...

[MacDaddy]

atari4x4 wrote:

IMO spring lift is the only way to go, there are a few different spring that you can run from other vehicles but a proper lift kit with matching springs & shocks will be ideal.

X 2
I agree, spring lift is the best !

[Bucket]

Buy my calmini kit

[AGRIFFO]

i've used ironman springs they tolled me 50mm but end
up with about 40mm have had then in for 12 months
and no problems, going 30mm coil spacer as well see how
it end up

[diver_dingo]

im trying to do this the cheapest way possible, dont have a lot of money, what bigger shocks will fit in it?

[atari4x4]

Check out shandy92 posts as he's just done the common whore shocks & 180sx springs in the back of his swb tin top Vitara. There are a few options in the front but really the only choice with struts are OME or Dobinson.

[just_cruizin]

Spring lift and body lift are totally different and serve different purposes. A spring lift "should" give you better articulation and flex. A body lift gives you greater clearance for larger tyres. Don't get the two confused for doing the same thing apart for poser vehicles that don't get off road.

If you think a good spring lift will allow you to run larger tyres you're wrong, only a bad spring lift will do this ie it won't flex.

Personally I'd get the suspension sorted first and get it riding the way you want. Then if you so desire and you get larger tyres then you may want a body lift for clearance. A mega tall suspension lift won't be the answer either without a lot of dollars spent on diff drop brackets etc. Anything more then 40 - 50mm of spring lift in the front and you'll be on the never ending search for CV's

[diver_dingo]

thanks just_cruisin, do you know what the largest tyres i will get on the vitara would be? im pretty happy with what it can do, but i get stuck in wheel ruts that everyone else gets through. i am only running half bald highway tyres at the moment, but still managed to recover a triton and ford courier ute from a swamp...are wider tyres better or can they do more harm than good?

[Fatzook]

I'd stick to 225/75 R16 or 29" if you are doing less than 2" lift.

[MacDaddy]

diver_dingo wrote:

im trying to do this the cheapest way possible, dont have a lot of money, what bigger shocks will fit in it?

Ironman are the cheapest suspension kit around... others are $1000 to $2000+, and the Ironman kits come with full instructions on how to fit them yourself if you want too, that saves money...

[shandy92]

hey mate,

why dont you look at getting Buckets(member on here) 3" calmini kit, he is selling it due to doing SAS. as said b4 i did the 180sx rear springs + commo shock set up in the rear, im very happy with it. didnt get that much lift (50mm or 2") but the length of the spring is the main advantage as it means you can run a long shock with out the spring falling out.

for the front ill be going dobinson springs and struts total of $540, 40mm.

just ask if you want more info.

Mitch

[banga]

i just put a set of king springs in and some vt commo shocks in the back cost me $85 a pair for the springs and $40 each for the shocks haven't quite sorted out the struts yet need more funds. i got about 35mm out of the springs. i aslo just put 235/75/15 federals couragias on on standard rims they only scrub on the body a tiny bit when fully flexed up. took it out on the weekend worked awesome needed to let pressure down heaps more though.

[img][IMG]http://i862.photobucket.com/albums/ab187/banga28/Photo020-1.jpg[/img][/img]

[img][IMG]http://i862.photobucket.com/albums/ab187/banga28/Photo021.jpg[/img][/img]

[Stretchomatic]

little bit of a thread dig, but i have just bought a 89 swb vitara and i think the suspension is getting on a bit.
how do the ironman sets handle the road? i have to drive the car about 100 kays to get to some decent tracks and dont wanna blow off the road on the way. my guess is that the handling should improve with newer, more solid gear.
any feedback would be great, cheers

stretch