[zookvitara1]

hey guys, I recently bought 3" coils for my Suzuki vitara LWB, they got my attention due to the rears being new, but still as soft as standard springs, but a little stiffer, i'm worried about bowing on the front, yes I have a list of everything to do but your opinions do not hurt, no I do not plan to run big bugger off aggressive mud tyres exceeding the vitara's limits, I only plan on running 30" muddies, I have spent days reading up on it. and I want your experience, can I mod the spring seat on the standard control arms? do I even need too? I think I've over read (lol), I plan on running strut spacers not longer struts? what are peoples opinions on strut spacers? how much drop can I get in the front with diff drops I want about a 2" diff drop and 2" in rear?


and please before you start a "lets talk ---- about his project" topic please remember i'm only asking before I go ahead with it.

[klutched]

These should straighten out your front springs. I run a 3" spring in my GV and they bow a bit.... Need to get some correctors and hopefully it'll fix it.

[DarkHorse]

zookvitara1 wrote:

hey guys, I recently bought 3" coils for my Suzuki vitara LWB, they got my attention due to the rears being new, but still as soft as standard springs, but a little stiffer,
erm... huh?
i'm worried about bowing on the front, yes I have a list of everything to do but your opinions do not hurt, no I do not plan to run big bugger off aggressive mud tyres exceeding the vitara's limits, I only plan on running 30" muddies, I have spent days reading up on it. and I want your experience, can I mod the spring seat on the standard control arms? do I even need too?
How good is your welding? Of course you can mod them, but you may not need to, and it's quite a job.
Not pretty, but you get the idea:

got_bar_work wrote:

I plan on running strut spacers not longer struts? what are peoples opinions on strut spacers?
Generally not positive - they relocate the range of travel that your suspension has, they don't increase it at all. You're going for a fairly big lift, but not improving actual articulation.
how much drop can I get in the front with diff drops I want about a 2" diff drop and 2" in rear?
Most aftermarket diff drop brackets will drop the diff between 25mm and 40mm. Any further than that and your front drive shaft will kick up on an unhealthy angle, and the front off the diff will start making friends with your steering arms. A 2" spacer in the rear is less complicated, but not really necessary. However, lifting the thing 3" without compensating for the geometry change could cause problems - drive shaft uni angles, shock lower mount angle, tyre clearance (not much meat to trim because of back door) brake line length, blah blah blah.

[Rhinoman]

The strut spacers do give extra travel, with the stock set up the wishbone hits the bumpstop with 2" of travel left in the strut. Adding the spacers brings down the top of the strut and allows all the travel to be utilised. A 2" spacer gives up to 45% more travel, depending on the springs, which is well worth having.