[jlennon]

Because I'm cheap I'm looking for springs/struts from other vehicles that will fit my GV and perhaps give it a bit of lift and a better load rating?

Anyone have any experience with this?

Good/Bad idea?

[Built4thrashing]

Grand Vitara struts fit a Grand Vitara. Not point putting any other strut in it that's not right for the vehicle.

Dobinsons do a good extended strut (40mm longer extended). Combine that wit a raised Dobinson coils is a winning combination.

Dank should be able to sort you out with a good price.

[jlennon]

Yeah, I keep hearing dobbys are the deal... better keep saving then I think they quoted me about 1200 or 1300 fitted.

[Built4thrashing]

if that includes camber bolts and a wheel alignment that's a good price.

[zoukshin]

Got mine for slightly more than 1k. Fitted myself. Add 60$ for alignment.

[Reubs]

ODA has a 40mm Dobinsons lift kit for a GV including camber bolts for $880 according to his website

[Built4thrashing]

Reubs wrote:

ODA has a 40mm Dobinsons lift kit for a GV including camber bolts for $880 according to his website

And most garages will charge 3-400 to fit and do alignment.
If you can install it yourself which is quite easy then you can be done for under $1k

[Sled]

.....

[Sled]

I have 2x 40mm rear Dobinsion springs if you're interested?

[zoukshin]

Quite easy .. only if you have the right tools. You'll need spring compressors and a torque wrench will be REALLY useful to remove the nybloc nut at the top of the strut.
The back is indeed really easy. The front was a bit of a pain (well it was my first time doing it)

Also looking back at my invoices, I got the set from ODA at that price indeed. Make sure to ring him up before attempting anything else

[Built4thrashing]

I've never used a spring compressor or a torque wrench to do the fronts and believe me I've had it apart several times.

The trick with the front is to loosen off the inner control arm bolts. This stops it binding up and makes fitting new springs a breeze.. Just use a jack under the arm to hold/push it up into place while you feed the strut into its hole.....

[Zook_Fan]

Dan from KPD can set you up with the Dobinson lift kit for a very similar price. Might be worth a PM and you'd be helping out a forum supporter

[fordem]

zoukshin wrote:

You'll need spring compressors and a torque wrench will be REALLY useful to remove the nybloc nut at the top of the strut.

What's your idea of a torque wrench? Mine is a wrench that's calibrated so you can tighten bolts (or nuts) to a specific torque setting and those are not commonly used to remove said bolts or nuts.

[GeckoXL7]

Ultima 4x4 struts and shocks are good (simalar ride to dobs just not quite as long) if on a real budjet with king springs, but if can, go dobs. Rear end only takes around a hour to do, front about 3hrs and a beer or two. After a few times rear end can be taken apart and put back in half hour front around 1.5 after working out easy ways of doing it and the right tools, eg impact wrench, circlip removers, two bottle jacks and car stands.

[zoukshin]

fordem wrote:

zoukshin wrote:

You'll need spring compressors and a torque wrench will be REALLY useful to remove the nybloc nut at the top of the strut.

What's your idea of a torque wrench? Mine is a wrench that's calibrated so you can tighten bolts (or nuts) to a specific torque setting and those are not commonly used to remove said bolts or nuts.

Sorry, meant IMPACT wrench.
My torque wrench actually discourages untightening using itself

[jlennon]

GeckoXL7 wrote:

Ultima 4x4 struts and shocks are good (simalar ride to dobs just not quite as long) if on a real budjet with king springs, but if can, go dobs. Rear end only takes around a hour to do, front about 3hrs and a beer or two. After a few times rear end can be taken apart and put back in half hour front around 1.5 after working out easy ways of doing it and the right tools, eg impact wrench, circlip removers, two bottle jacks and car stands.

Getting some rear dob springs for the rear off sled^^ for a good price... Also have some front and rear strut spacers on the way. Just need to find some front springs now

Will I need camber bolts for a 40mm lift?

Maybe these? http://www.jimnybits.co.uk/shop/grand-vitara/suspension/grand-vitara-camber-adjustment-bolts/prod_336.html

[Built4thrashing]

jlennon wrote:

GeckoXL7 wrote:

Ultima 4x4 struts and shocks are good (simalar ride to dobs just not quite as long) if on a real budjet with king springs, but if can, go dobs. Rear end only takes around a hour to do, front about 3hrs and a beer or two. After a few times rear end can be taken apart and put back in half hour front around 1.5 after working out easy ways of doing it and the right tools, eg impact wrench, circlip removers, two bottle jacks and car stands.

Getting some rear dob springs for the rear off sled^^ for a good price... Also have some front and rear strut spacers on the way. Just need to find some front springs now

Will I need camber bolts for a 40mm lift?

Maybe these? http://www.jimnybits.co.uk/shop/grand-vitara/suspension/grand-vitara-camber-adjustment-bolts/prod_336.html

YES

[GeckoXL7]

Get camber bolts of ebay, i got 4 from USA for around $40 delivered here they charge 99 for 2 of the same bolts.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/J-Power-FRON ... 485f84c668

Its good to have two as spare as had 99$ ones from here rust in the center and brake in half causing the camber to colapse. USA cheapies have been in there two years and havent budged.

Just make sure if you have 10mm bolts or 12.

Be carefull to make sure your shocks and struts are long enough for springs with spacers. Shocks topping out on a highway and dethreading themselfs from the top bolt, esp vic highways and towing a trailer isnt pleasant.

[jlennon]

GeckoXL7 wrote:

Get camber bolts of ebay, i got 4 from USA for around $40 delivered here they charge 99 for 2 of the same bolts.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/J-Power-FRON ... 485f84c668

Its good to have two as spare as had 99$ ones from here rust in the center and brake in half causing the camber to colapse. USA cheapies have been in there two years and havent budged.

Just make sure if you have 10mm bolts or 12.

Be carefull to make sure your shocks and struts are long enough for springs with spacers. Shocks topping out on a highway and dethreading themselfs from the top bolt, esp vic highways and towing a trailer isnt pleasant.

Oh, sh*t haha I'll get the cheapies then! I've got struts spacers to install so hopefully that won't happen

[GeckoXL7]

with strut spacers put a washer on top of them had one strut spacer punch its way straight through the strut mount.

The washer will just give the spacer some extra surface area so not same size of the mettal tube in the center of the rubber bit in the mount.

[Built4thrashing]

Strut spacers are not a great idea. You can get better travel without them. I ran spacers for a while and they destroyed a set of struts. Front would compress and the struts would bottom out. Killed the struts on the first trip.

You have to run a bumpstop spacer to stop that happening

The front suspension is limited in its down travel and you will get a better ride and more useable travel with just a extended strut like a Dobinson.

[GeckoXL7]

I have Monroe strutmates with bumpstop but price of them might as well get do b struts haha.

[Reubs]

GeckoXL7 wrote:

I have Monroe strutmates with bumpstop but price of them might as well get do b struts haha.

I just googled what those are and I've seen them before on the cheapest dodgiest struts available for a Vitara and using a bump stop built into the strut instead of using a proper length factory bump stop will result in damage to either the strut, upper strut mounts or both. Don't do it!

Quote:

STRUT MATE PROTECTION KIT

Too often a new strut or cartridge is fitted with the old original and damaged suspension travel limit bushing (compression bumper) and dust boot. The Monroe Strut Mate kit includes a high quality, soft entry urethane compression bumper, a new dust boot, retaining strap and fitting instructions.