[MichV]

Hi guys,

I've been reading on this forum for a few weeks now and im just so confused when its comes down to suspension lifts.

People mix matching springs and shocks from different car models and different lift kits for different lifts is making me confused the most lol. On performance cars its so much easier no mix matching from different cars and kits.

I just want my vitara do get to some of those hard to get to fishing spots. Some are sandy conditions, some bit muddy or hilly. Nothing crazy like some guys are doing here.

Already plan on the 2' body lift and 29' or 30' tyres on 15x7 (not sure what offset wont cause excessive scraping). Totally stumped on what kind of suspension lift?

I've just finished reading tons of build threads and threads relating to lifts for about 4-5hrs straight and im totally confused lol.

Please healp?

[shandy92]

mate it depends on how much you want to spend really. you can get a complete lift kit from dobinson or OME (40mm) starting from $450, calmini (3") $1200 and some other brands have cheaper lifts.

Im a special person so i run nissan 180sx rear springs in the rear of my swb vit and got about 40-50mm lift and i run commo shocks. In the front i run the dobinson springs and struts. works really well and nice and cheap.

rims- i run -13 on 15x7 with 31's and ^^^^ with a 2" body lift and only get small scrubbing.

[MichV]

I was thinking a 2' suspension lift should do well with a 2' body lift. Don't want to spend more tham $800. Looking more for a kit to slap on and be done with it. Calmini's a bit swanky and from what i've read, 3' lifts kill cv's.

[atari4x4]

MichV wrote:

from what i've read, 3' lifts kill cv's.

that's a bit like saying Germans kill Jews, set up correctly a 3" lift will be no harder on CV's than a 2" lift...

[Gwagensteve]

^ much win.

Steve.

[alien]

Gwagensteve wrote:

For reference (again ), 33's with no lift. lots of guard cutting and very large bumpstop spacers.



Steve.

[atari4x4]

that pic is older than dirt... steve, how many trips did the front diff make or did it have a steely in it?

[MichV]

Lol! @ atari4x4x. Set up most things correctly and you wont have issues. But from what i've read, most have said that. Either way 2' BL + 2' SL should be more than enough right?

Like i said, just mainly want to get to the hard to get fishing spots. And some can be bit tough for a stocker vitara.

So far im thinking either OME or Dobinsons. From what i've read they seem to be the favourite's mainly due to lift and ride quality both off and on raod. Can't seem to find a full list of the parts included in the kits though.

Any other suspension parts i should replace while im at it? Would like to get it all done in one go if I can before I get it rego'd.

Thanks so far guys

[Marko_SJ]

MichV wrote:

Lol! @ atari4x4x. Set up most things correctly and you wont have issues.

[shandy92]

MichV wrote:

So far im thinking either OME or Dobinsons. From what i've read they seem to be the favourite's mainly due to lift and ride quality both off and on raod. Can't seem to find a full list of the parts included in the kits though.

Any other suspension parts i should replace while im at it? Would like to get it all done in one go if I can before I get it rego'd.

i would go dobinson spring-struts-shocks, PM Dank on here as he is a dealer and does good prices. Not really, check the ball joints, etc but nothing obvious.

[Gwagensteve]

atari4x4 wrote:

that pic is older than dirt... steve, how many trips did the front diff make or did it have a steely in it?

Steel third, alloy axle housing.

Diff was fine.

Had strut spacers in it so the cv's fell apart from time to time.

Steve.

[dank]

Hi MichV, send me a PM with your vehicle details and town and postcode where you live and I'll do up a quote for you. Cheers Dan www.kpd4x4.com

[MichV]

PM sent. Thanks mate.

Any noticable differences between OME and Dobinsons?

Was definately thinking of getting ball joints replaced. Any kits you guys recommend?

Was thinking of doing bushings too.

[Chop]

MichV wrote:

Any noticable differences between OME and Dobinsons?

$$$$$$$

[MichV]

LOL knew about the price difference already. Meant more like performance wise ie. lift, handling, reliability?

[MichV]

Will an ARB bullbar be okay with the Dobinson kit? Like will the front of the vit drop a fair bit?

[atari4x4]

yes, get springs to suit the extra weight or you'll need a packer/small spacer.

something like their v6 vitara springs would take that weight... do you have/plan on fitting a winch?

[MichV]

Not 100% sure, but would like to be set up for it if I do though.

On a different note, will I be ok with 30' tyres with just a suspension lift till I can afford to get the body lift done? Im going to have to change the tyres for the roadworthy anyway and I was thinking of getting the Maxxis MT-753 BRAVO in 30 x 9.50R15LT for some 15x7 -13 Sunraysia's. These tyres look like a pretty good all rounder and from what reviews I could find on them seem to suggest just that.

Thanks for the help so far. This forum's great!

[Zoognoogle]

I put 30s on mine with the same offset and a 2 inch suspension lift. They were fine on the road but scrubbed on flex in the back, probably fine with a bit of a guard roll.

[Reubs]

MichV wrote:

Will an ARB bullbar be okay with the Dobinson kit? Like will the front of the vit drop a fair bit?

Will be fine.

I have 2 sets of dobinson springs for my LWB Vit. The first set I installed were supposedly from a V6 and the front end sat noticeably higher than the rear 'lifted' springs.

Some regular lifted 1.6 ones allowed the car to sit nicely though - even with an ARB bar fitted.

[MichV]

I was thinking now i should probably go the v6 coils all round. I was thinking of getting a steel rear bar as well. If the front is still slighlty lower than the rear, i guess a small spacer would ok for it.

I assume the v6 coils are slighly more lifted and firmer than the regular lifted coils i was planning to get?