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Strut Spacer Guys: Need Input...

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Offline BLK_ARMR

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Strut Spacer Guys: Need Input...
« on: May 16, 2005, 03:34:09 PM »
Ok guys,

I've got a set of 1.5" coil spacers I'm gonna be putting on my Track/Kick (Thanks Digger!).  Got a set of 91 Crown Vic shocks ready to go in the rear, but I need some sort of spacing for the front struts.  1.5" spacers up front equate to ~2.25" of lift with the lever action.  I know the strut mount flip gives ~.75" - 1" of extra droop.  So I either need to do that and get a strut spacer on top of that or just use bigger strut spacers.  37Kicker makes .75" and 1" strut spacers.  Would it be ok to stack 2 of his 1" strut spacers to get 2", or would that be unsafe?  Do you think 2" of strut spacing is enough for the spacers I have or should I find someone to make 2.25" strut spacers? ???  Any help is greatly appreciated guys! ;D

Thanks in advance,
Bryan
93 Tracker

Coated in **HERCULINER**

2pc Hard Top, Flares, 3" Body Lift, 31"x10.50" OTR Muds, 15"x8" Black "Wagon Wheels"

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Offline Digger

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Re: Strut Spacer Guys: Need Input...
« Reply #1 on: May 16, 2005, 03:53:27 PM »
I would just use one of his 1" spacers in addition to a mount flip at the most...
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 37kicker

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Re: Strut Spacer Guys: Need Input...
« Reply #2 on: May 16, 2005, 05:11:38 PM »
with out lowering front diff you will start to bind the cvs. i agree with a 1" spacer & flip.   stan

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Offline Rhinoman

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Re: Strut Spacer Guys: Need Input...
« Reply #3 on: May 16, 2005, 11:55:26 PM »
I have run a 2" spacer without the mount flipped for a few years with no problems. Over 2" is not on without lowering the diff.
2000 Vitara 1.6, 3+3 Lift, 33"MTs, 5:83s, LWB brakes, Winch, Snorkel, Safari Rack
1986 SJ413K PickUp, 1.6L conversion.

OBD1 - Full diagnostics on a PC/Laptop: http://www.rhinopower.org

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Offline BLK_ARMR

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Re: Strut Spacer Guys: Need Input...
« Reply #4 on: May 17, 2005, 12:19:36 AM »
Wild has been running a 3" spacer lift with no problem for the past 10 years or something like that.  He made hsi lift before Calmini even thought about a Track/Kick lift.  I've talked to him on numerous occasions and he said if he had to do it all over again, the biggest strut spacer he would run is 2.75".  He said with the 3" the joints are riding on the little wires and a 2.75" spacer would more than likely be perfect, so I know I can run up to 2.75", which I don't need with only the 2.25" of lift. The mount flip and 1" spacer will give me about 1.75" for the 2.25" of lift...is that enough?  Also, is it safe to stack strut spacers???

Bryan
93 Tracker

Coated in **HERCULINER**

2pc Hard Top, Flares, 3" Body Lift, 31"x10.50" OTR Muds, 15"x8" Black "Wagon Wheels"

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Offline Digger

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Re: Strut Spacer Guys: Need Input...
« Reply #5 on: May 17, 2005, 06:01:44 AM »
Anytime you add more spacers stacked you weaken the overall strength of the joint by having more places it can come apart/shift around. If you remove the front coil spring and lift the arm to the bump stop, you still have close to 2" of strut travel left after hitting the bump stop. If you space more than that, the strut may bottom out before the arm hits the bumpstop if you don't space down the bump stops also. Doing the strut mount flip and adding a 1" strut mount spacer would lower the strut 1.75-2" approximately, allowing maximum strut travel within the stock bumpstop limits without problems. Without even considering cv angles, I wouldn't space more than that without altering the bumpstops just so I wouldn't bottom out the struts...
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 Rhinoman

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Re: Strut Spacer Guys: Need Input...
« Reply #6 on: May 17, 2005, 06:28:15 AM »
Quote
Wild has been running a 3" spacer lift with no problem for the past 10 years or something like that.  He made hsi lift before Calmini even thought about a Track/Kick lift.  I've talked to him on numerous occasions and he said if he had to do it all over again, the biggest strut spacer he would run is 2.75".  He said with the 3" the joints are riding on the little wires and a 2.75" spacer would more than likely be perfect, so I know I can run up to 2.75", which I don't need with only the 2.25" of lift. The mount flip and 1" spacer will give me about 1.75" for the 2.25" of lift...is that enough?  Also, is it safe to stack strut spacers???

Bryan


I checked mine with the spring removed and the strut bottom mounting disconnected. I had around 2 1/4" maximum travel left in the CVs, I kept it at 2" to allow for movement in all the rubber bushes. I do know someone that fitted 2 1/2" spacers and the CVs seized up on full drop.  They might vary between models and country of manufacture it is quite easy to check though. Just remember to turn the wheel from side to side fully and rotate the tyre as well as you can get a 'false' reading when the shaft drops into the splines.
« Last Edit: May 17, 2005, 06:29:14 AM by Rhinoman »
2000 Vitara 1.6, 3+3 Lift, 33"MTs, 5:83s, LWB brakes, Winch, Snorkel, Safari Rack
1986 SJ413K PickUp, 1.6L conversion.

OBD1 - Full diagnostics on a PC/Laptop: http://www.rhinopower.org

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Offline SuzukHunter

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Re: Strut Spacer Guys: Need Input...
« Reply #7 on: May 17, 2005, 01:43:14 PM »
or you could buy the ones ive been building and selling (2"). 80$ for the set. I dont know if i would go more than 2"  your toe will start to toe out at the top. unless you oval the holes out  on the top frame mount. ::)

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Offline BLK_ARMR

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Re: Strut Spacer Guys: Need Input...
« Reply #8 on: May 18, 2005, 02:10:40 AM »
No offense, but that's more than I want to spend on strut spacers  :-/  If I had a welder I'd just make them myself, but I don't and it'd be a pain to coordinate it with someone to get it done.  It will be faster to just flip my mounts and buy the 1" strut spacers and call it a day...

Thanks guys!
Bryan
« Last Edit: May 18, 2005, 02:12:02 AM by BLK_ARMR »
93 Tracker

Coated in **HERCULINER**

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Offline Uncivilized

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Re: Strut Spacer Guys: Need Input...
« Reply #9 on: May 18, 2005, 09:09:46 AM »
Quote
Ok guys,

1.5" spacers up front equate to ~2.25" of lift with the lever action.

Is there any factual info on this? I'm reading different measurements. I bought 1.75" TJ spacers for mine, but I only want 2" lift to spare the cv's. What will I have to trim them to? 1 3/8?

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Offline Natebert

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Re: Strut Spacer Guys: Need Input...
« Reply #10 on: May 18, 2005, 09:51:40 AM »
Quote

Is there any factual info on this? I'm reading different measurements. I bought 1.75" TJ spacers for mine, but I only want 2" lift to spare the cv's. What will I have to trim them to? 1 3/8?


Depends, spring spacers or strut spacers..
struts are 1:1
springs are about 1.5:1