Hi, I got tired of my vitara breaking endless front diffs, and i also wanted bigger tires so... let the pictures speak.
Im about half way done with the front end... i hope to finish this project before the summer ends. And the car will need to be road legal and have neat enough driving characteristics to use as a daily driver like before.
Suzuki - body = ready for the burning torch and cutting wheel
Use the free time to clean this whole mess up
Look at those ridiculous angles.... PFFF :lol:
Motor off frame....
Rolling chassis, will start with the front axle swap. Rear should be easy enough...
Bye bye IFS, LOL
neat to remove as a complete unit...
Somthing missing??
1996 Toyota SR5 IFS rear axle with electric locker unit
1991 Toyota solid front axle from double cab diesel(same as 79-86 except slightly wider) Although not as wide as the SR5 rear axle I got, but I use 5mm thick spacers in the front to correct that.
Bye bye IFS subframe, LOL
First test fit, taking measurements and thinking a lot... lol
:eek:
custom building brackets the cheap way... not pretty but it works, some trimming will be done later + paint
Brackets match width of frame rails, magically they are the same exact width as the leaf spring hangers on the solid front axle originally from the toyota... so measuring was easy..
Ive never welded much before, but i think this should hold the axle to the car... in this place i am worried of clearance between bracket + bolt and 3rd member, but we can worry about this later...
Ready to build brackets to the frame...
Making sure everything is exactly centered...
brackets + jimny trailing arms
after some welding practice... perfect i think
dont worry this is not the only welds holding bracket to frame, i will also use this bracket to make body mounts on top of... this will make a complete weld up along the frame rail making it indestructible
Ta-da!!
Some free flex test of trailing arms, looks promising...
panhard bar bracket on outside of frame rail because of little space...
some things puzzled to their places to get an idea of space... springs are from vitara, i plan to use springs from suzuki jimny...
Panhard bar is too long and doesnt fit, need to bend it over the diff cover and make a good bracket on the axle front side in exact same height as the pull-rod for steering. The angle will be exactly the same as pull-rod so i dont get a pull in the steering wheel when car articulates... ... suspension science.. i will not tire you in a language im not good at..
idea of placement for coil springs... May cause some axle wrap but its impossible to put directly on top of axle i think... i will think this more...
Plenty of clearance from pitman arm...
any questions?