I think it would work perfectly fine; cost would be the inhibiting factor.
Also, posting this from elsewhere just so there is more information in the thread:
kingkom wrote:
...minus the CV breaking shock load.
Also out of interest, looking at getting my front cv shafts converted to stubs with flanges and running Porsche 930 cv shafts. So far looks pretty simple to sort out and cost will be around a grand.
Just on these two points. CV breaking shock load is like twisting a tooth pick, if it's really below that torque it will all but be an open centre.
Second, I was going to do the same with 930 shafts. How are you going to get both travel and steering out of any 930 joint and have the total cost come around a grand? For at least the outers you are going to need non plunging joints, which pretty much only RCV sell and that will bump up your projected cost. Otherwise you are looking at a total of 23 degrees max combined suspension and steering angle. When a Vitara is at ride height with no lift the shafts don't sit flat so you're already using up some of the angle. I don't know how much lock to lock steering they get but it would be in the 20 degrees range so as soon as you are near full lock you're at the max your CV can take and it goes bang.
Next to consider is plunge. Vitara's run a strut set up which does not allow for zero plunge. Assuming you've decided to have some longetivity and went with a non plunging outer all of the plunge will have to be in the axle shaft and the inner joint. After you've made your stub shafts you're going to have to have the centres bored so the axle has clearance through the joint. You can only have a maximum of around 1.5" plunge throughout your travel with these joints or they are going to burn out. If you've modelled it all up and that is possible than ignore this part but for a GV this pretty much put the idea to bed.
In my opinion the only way to do this is to redesign the front suspension. Get rid of the strut, make it a coilover. New lower control arms and make an upper arm to go on as well. Control the plunge through the design and you will end up with a lot more travel. Oh and make it wider and tuck it all inside a huge positive offset rim for the extra travel. When you can do all that for a grand pm me, I'll take two.