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Sidekick springs, sizes swaps etc

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Dale.E

Sidekick springs, sizes swaps etc
« on: November 28, 2007, 10:03:44 AM »
I need some info so I get my right bits b4 I disasemble.
can anyone supply the ID of the springs on the 1989-2000 Kicks plz (mine is a 92)
I am going to use a spring spacer for lift, want to use my stock springs. OME is out of my price range.
will spring spacers for JEEP work? this is why I need the ID of the springs, also is the front and rear spring on the Kicks the same size?

Thankx

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kingzoo

Re: Sidekick springs, sizes swaps etc
« Reply #1 on: November 28, 2007, 10:06:58 AM »
   There ais a guy named jeff on this forum who makes spacers for your rig at agood price.Jeep spacers work but have to be bored out from what I understand

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Offline Digger

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Re: Sidekick springs, sizes swaps etc
« Reply #2 on: November 28, 2007, 10:10:41 AM »
The inside diameter of the front and rear springs vary between 2-1/4" and 2-1/2", at least that's what the inside diameter of the spacers need to be. I used to make them and I made mine with an ID of 2-1/2" and they seemed to fit just fine... The front and rear springs where the spacers go are the same size, however the front and rear springs are different heights and different rates(stiffness).
Had a cool sig pic till I changed the text... sigh...
90 Tracker: "Silver", 2" BL, 1-1/2" Coil Spacers, Strut mount flip, Calmini Header, Winch, 31" Swamper radials, Sold.
98 Suzuki X-90: Calmini 2" Sus, 1-1/4" whl spcrs, 2" Exhaust, Cobra Safari Bar, Neon, Sold.
96 Suzuki X-90: Mostly stock daily driver(for now)

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Dale.E

Re: Sidekick springs, sizes swaps etc
« Reply #3 on: November 28, 2007, 03:44:02 PM »
   There ais a guy named jeff on this forum who makes spacers for your rig at agood price.Jeep spacers work but have to be bored out from what I understand
Thanx, found him and shot a PM off, see where that goes.

I am quite budget constrained, wife hates new toy :) says I spent enough on my dirt bikes.
Might go and make my own, but if Jeff's are cheap enough.... well lets see :)

The inside diameter of the front and rear springs vary between 2-1/4" and 2-1/2", at least that's what the inside diameter of the spacers need to be. I used to make them and I made mine with an ID of 2-1/2" and they seemed to fit just fine... The front and rear springs where the spacers go are the same size, however the front and rear springs are different heights and different rates(stiffness).

Thank y ou for this info!! perfect :)

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Offline SnoFalls

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Re: Sidekick springs, sizes swaps etc
« Reply #4 on: November 28, 2007, 04:15:25 PM »
Dale,

I think I've run the gamut ...

I started with some of the rockyroad spacers (they are now about 1/2" thick)
Got some TJ spacers I drilled out and they worked ok... (but not like I saved any money from folks that offer them pre-done here now).
I also do actually have some of diggers spacers I never installed (but probably will this winter).

I'd say jeffs are probably a good to go ... afterall it's just a spacer.
I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy it.

Buy-it, Build-it, Beat-it, Part-it

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Offline Drone637

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Re: Sidekick springs, sizes swaps etc
« Reply #5 on: November 28, 2007, 07:07:02 PM »
I started with some of the rockyroad spacers (they are now about 1/2" thick)

My RR spacer ended up bulging out on one side and looking rather useless.  :) 

Jeff was kind enough to make me a 3/4" space for the front.  I run the Digger 1" spacer in the rear, gives me just about perfect clearance for the slightly larger tires and evens out the front end.  You can't go wrong with either spacer kit.
96 Geo Tracker, x-SJ-410,  x-White Rabbit, x-Project Trouble
Crawlers NorthWest
x-Trouble Racing

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Offline Digger

  • 1991
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  • 1996 Suzuki X-90 4X4
Re: Sidekick springs, sizes swaps etc
« Reply #6 on: November 28, 2007, 07:51:43 PM »
One little bit of advice, though...

The RRO spacers seem to be made from rubber and they deform over time, losing their height and getting squished from the weight. I would suggest staying away from them. They do give a nice, quiet smooth ride, but wont give much lift over time... Stay with stiffer urethane and UHMW material, they seem to last much longer.
Had a cool sig pic till I changed the text... sigh...
90 Tracker: "Silver", 2" BL, 1-1/2" Coil Spacers, Strut mount flip, Calmini Header, Winch, 31" Swamper radials, Sold.
98 Suzuki X-90: Calmini 2" Sus, 1-1/4" whl spcrs, 2" Exhaust, Cobra Safari Bar, Neon, Sold.
96 Suzuki X-90: Mostly stock daily driver(for now)

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Offline crikeymike

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Re: Sidekick springs, sizes swaps etc
« Reply #7 on: November 28, 2007, 08:40:24 PM »
One little bit of advice, though...

The RRO spacers seem to be made from rubber and they deform over time, losing their height and getting squished from the weight. I would suggest staying away from them. They do give a nice, quiet smooth ride, but wont give much lift over time... Stay with stiffer urethane and UHMW material, they seem to last much longer.

You're right about them squishing out.  They're softer rubber than the stock spring bushes are, as far as i can tell.  I should grab one (have a couple laying around) and show how flexible they are and post it up...
1993 4-door Sidekick
3" hybrid Calmini/OME lift, 2" B/L, Rear air locker
Shrockworks bar & sliders, Full skid plates
4.24:1 t-case
 WAZUKS member - visit http://www.wazuks.com

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Dale.E

Re: Sidekick springs, sizes swaps etc
« Reply #8 on: November 29, 2007, 07:05:20 PM »
Dale,

I think I've run the gamut ...

I started with some of the rockyroad spacers (they are now about 1/2" thick)
Got some TJ spacers I drilled out and they worked ok... (but not like I saved any money from folks that offer them pre-done here now).
I also do actually have some of diggers spacers I never installed (but probably will this winter).

I'd say jeffs are probably a good to go ... afterall it's just a spacer.


I think I found the best one off got it all kit for the best $ yet.  how does 155$ sound for:
4 x 1.5" spring spacers UHDPE made for Suzuki not altered from something else.
2 x 1.5" strut spacer's also UHDPE with bolts.
2 x rear shock relocator's

Only thing missing is the Camber bolts. check it out.

SKY OFFROAD DESIGNS
http://www.sky-manufacturing.com/
look under the sidekick section.

I kinda want to go with Jeff's as he is offering a great deal but I need the strut spacers and shock bits as well......

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Ira

Re: Sidekick springs, sizes swaps etc
« Reply #9 on: November 30, 2007, 02:45:26 AM »
Dale, I used Jeff's 2' in the rear, and 1 1/2" up front. I flipped the strut mounts so I didn't need anything else up front to make it work (there's a link somewhere here how to do it) and just had to buy longer rear shocks.

Same money you're talking about, but new rear shocks to boot. Thing rides real smooth.
« Last Edit: November 30, 2007, 02:49:50 AM by Ira »

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Offline ppltrak

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Re: Sidekick springs, sizes swaps etc
« Reply #10 on: November 30, 2007, 08:55:22 AM »
Dale, If you use Sky's kit you will have to weld on the rear shock mounts Or use the crown vic. shocks. I just installed this settup on a friends 94 tracker with a 2" body lift. He's running 31x10.50 M/T with 2.75 back spaced rims. We just had to trim the front fenders a little but it looks good and the kit is well made.


   Kevin
94 purple/green splash tracker w/ calmini 3' heavly modified lift 32 11.5 r15 bfg m/t's  & custom air induction and header w/ 2"exh. no cat lockrite rear 2" B/L and a heavy right foot and now 583s steel up front and locked.
2002 GV 2.5l 4.5 ZN lift locked on 31's

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Dale.E

Re: Sidekick springs, sizes swaps etc
« Reply #11 on: November 30, 2007, 01:58:07 PM »
Dale, I used Jeff's 2' in the rear, and 1 1/2" up front. I flipped the strut mounts so I didn't need anything else up front to make it work (there's a link somewhere here how to do it) and just had to buy longer rear shocks.

Same money you're talking about, but new rear shocks to boot. Thing rides real smooth.


Ya I am leaning back and forth atm, I want the 2" in the rear and the Sky kit is 1.5" both frt and rear.
I am not sure on the flip, I think fabing or buying a spacer is better, tho till I tear it appart to fully see the flip idea in action I guess I cant be sure.  fabin the strut spacer would be easy myself with a hunk of UHDPE plastic 1.5" thick just cut it to be what I want kinda thing.  I want to replace the rear shocks with Pro Comp 2" extended shocks.  if they can be had cheap enough.... still lookin :) 

Dale, If you use Sky's kit you will have to weld on the rear shock mounts Or use the crown vic. shocks. I just installed this settup on a friends 94 tracker with a 2" body lift. He's running 31x10.50 M/T with 2.75 back spaced rims. We just had to trim the front fenders a little but it looks good and the kit is well made.


   Kevin

Thanx Kevin, I think the New Sky kit now has bolt on shock extenders, I belive they just changed that.

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Ira

Re: Sidekick springs, sizes swaps etc
« Reply #12 on: December 02, 2007, 03:50:35 AM »

I am not sure on the flip, I think fabing or buying a spacer is better, tho till I tear it appart to fully see the flip idea in action I guess I cant be sure. 

The flip is the easy part:

Using those spring compressors is ANOTHER matter. (A PITA, which is why I paid my mechanic to do it.)

By the way:

Depending on your new rear replacement shocks, you may or not be able to use the new bolts that come with them--the bolts are too big and there's not enough steel around the truck's mounting holes to drill them out wider. So now, using your old bolts, they may be too SMALLl for the new shocks, and will clank around--not fit snug in there. So you'll need to jerry-rig some little insert sleeves to sit in the shock's mounting hole.

All depend on your truck's year and what shocks you buy, and you won't know until you get to work on it.






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Offline jeff1997

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Re: Sidekick springs, sizes swaps etc
« Reply #13 on: December 02, 2007, 02:09:08 PM »
Dale.E, I have the combo set of 2-1.5" and 2-2" spacers ready to go if you want them. All the other guys are right, it's just different ways to get to the same result. I have personally been very happy with my product and i think others like them too. You are right the strut spacer is easy to make and the rear shocks should be replaced not just relocated as the other kit would have you do. I bought the other kit at first then made my own spacers from theirs because theirs were too soft. I also just tossed the shock relocaters and got longer ones. It's totally up to you but just thought I'd jump in and let you know I've got them ready to go. The combo is $80 to the US or $85 to Canada. Thanks, Jeff
1997 4dr. Sidekick Sport 1.8L DOHC
2" coil spacers- I make and sell 1.5" and 2" on e-bay.  Look under seller: hoepkers
3" Masterkit1 body lift
Custom strut spacers
31/11.50/16 Super Swamper LTB's w/1.5" wheel spacers Steel bumpers Custom cold air intake 2" exhaust w/cherry bomb 98 Expedition, 2" lift, 35's, Magnaflow exhaust - BIG BLUE

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Offline Uncivilized

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Re: Sidekick springs, sizes swaps etc
« Reply #14 on: December 02, 2007, 02:13:43 PM »
I think the New Sky kit now has bolt on shock extenders, I belive they just changed that.
I liked their old weld on ones, They were straight out the axle tube rather than hanging down a few inches. I think you can still get them, just have to call them.

Personally, I'd recommend 1.5" spacer in the front, and 2" spacer in the rear. The rest you've already read.