Okay, still searching for a sidekick that fills all my criteria (low miles zero rust).

Meanwhile, I'm trying to order everything I'll need for it.  

The rig is gonna be a 95-98 4 door 4x4 sidekick daily driver. Gonna have bumpers, sliders, and eventually a winch (not a priority as it's not seeing mud and we don't have those things called hills)..  Tire size is 30.

Other than daily driving, it will see the occasional pipeline or canal bank.


Obviously, with the rig being 15 years old, I want to replace the struts/shocks. And here's where everything goes crazy. Some say grab mustang shocks (what year, and what do you do about the front), others say OME shocks and struts with calmini springs, and there's the altered ego of course.  My original choice was altered ego 3inch deluxe lift with the diff drop brackets (but they won't answer calls or email lately).  

Low range offroad has a pieced kit with springs, OME struts/shocks, and spacers. Which seems overpriced to me.  I'm fine with shelling out 800$ if what I get works.

The guy in this thread http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=444978 pieced together his own kit.

I'm just looking for clearance, a decent ride (I'm in an import now so I'm not expecting Mercedes e class ride), and durability over time.

I'm in the process of reading all 814 pages of threads, so don't say use the search please.  Nothing in the first 79 pages has guided me one way or the other ha

Opinions?

A coil spacer/strut spacer lift will be OK for your situation. The ride will stay exactly as factory and you do not need longer front struts saving you $$. You will need longer rear shocks but you are going to rep[lace them anyway. You can get a full 2" of lift and satisfy your needs this way. I make and sell them. PM me here or search Ebay. My parts on ebay are red. I also supply for LowRangeOffroad.

Jeff

I was hoping you would chime in. I'll pm you when I figure out what Im going with.

I want new struts and springs... just because of age/fatigue over time. Are springs and your spacers useable, or is that going to be beyond the limits of stock cvs? I wanna do the diff drop bracket for added reliability.... In my mind less of an angle is better.

I'm thinking OME struts and shocks, and then pick a spring. Your spacers might help with the suspension sag from all the gear.

My spacers will work with aftermarket lift springs, but using 2" lift springs and my spacers will be suicide on the CV's. I can make a custom spacer for the front of 1" that can be used with the lift springs if you are using a front diff bracket.

So you're thinking they'll get destroyed by the go pedal at full drop? Or they'll just be binding right off the bat?

What is the degree limit for stock cvs? In the atv world, my rule of thumb was 35 degrees. Any more than that and it'll sound like a playing card in bicycle spokes. 

I mean, hopefully the strut runs out of travel before they hit that point... or is that wishful thinking?

"go pedal at full drop"  Who are you kidding these things don't have enough power to break parts  My fear is just too much angle for them to last any amount of time. I know that any spacer bigger than 2" in front maxes them out. I would think lift springs and a spacer over 1" would be too much. You are right about ATV's, my buddy runs them at over 45deg but those are a different style joint. I would think the struts would max out, but that might be like you, wishful thinking.

You might be able to get away with it, but I would look at adding a limiting strap to make sure you don't over-extend your cv's when your suspension is lifted to high.  It doesn't take much to break them, just climbing up a normal hill can do it.

Ditto

Finally heard back frm altered ego... Think I'm going that route. And when I get bored with 30s. Masterkit 3 inch body lift, trimming, gears, and 35s... On ifs. 

Take a look at SR CUSTOMS they have there lifts on sale till the end of the month www.srcustoms.ca

Can anyone comment on the necessary wheel backspacing for a 30x9.5 mt? I need that, bolt pattern and center cutout diameter?

Im thinking 4 inch backspacing, and 5x5.5 bolt pattern. I just dont know the center cutout and want to make sure I'm correct before ordering.

I personally like the 3 5/8" or 3 3/4 back spacing! Don't most wheels have the large hub opening? That will work!

Good luck and enjoy your lift.
Kevin

Well the USD fell to the Canadian dollar quite a bit recently, so I'm probably going to piece together an OME kit... Their struts with grand vitara heavy duty front springs and heavy duty sidekick rears. Rockyroad rocksliders and a calmini bumper.

Trying to find the correct offset (and where to buy) to run the mastercraft mts in a 30 with no trimming. I think I've finally found the unit I'm going to get, it's down to two choices, and as long as they don't sell over the weekend, I should have one early next week.