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Springs/suspension/spacer upgrade - confused???

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Springs/suspension/spacer upgrade - confused???
« on: June 25, 2009, 04:05:32 AM »
i have a 91 Vitara with aftermarket springs in it, giving a raise of almost 2"
I'm wanting to lift it more and am going to flip the  front mounts over.
With my longer springs, will fitting a spacer kit to the springs lift it even further?
I realise I will have to change rear shocks, but not sure if I can/or need to fit the spacers.

Thanks

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Offline Rhinoman

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Re: Springs/suspension/spacer upgrade - confused???
« Reply #1 on: June 25, 2009, 04:20:17 AM »
The spacers will lift it further, you should fit strut spacers, the strut mount flip is not enough even with a 2" lift. If you already have the strut spacers then don't flip the strut mount, you'll trash the CVs. You may need to adjust thesteering stops or modify the wishbones to prevent the springs hitting the brake calipers and causing brake failure. If you don't modify the bumpstops you will get spring sag.
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 karl214

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Re: Springs/suspension/spacer upgrade - confused???
« Reply #2 on: June 25, 2009, 04:23:17 AM »
I have seen postings here and on other "zuki" sites, that state over 2 inches of lift in the front will also do damage the the C V joints also...
Rust in Peace Black Bugger..1994 sidekick... Planing on a Digger"donuts" and 3 inch bodylift, topped off with 31x10.50's in the spring.New D.D 90 softtop lilblue with the heart of black bugger

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Offline BRD HNTR

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Re: Springs/suspension/spacer upgrade - confused???
« Reply #3 on: June 25, 2009, 04:14:36 PM »
More suspension lift means higher CV angles.  The more CV angle, the more likely they are to break.  If you disassemble a CV you can see the cage that holds the balls in place is weakest on the edge, when you get high CV angles it places pressure on these weaker area's which break easier.  The straighter the CV joint is, the stronger it is, because of increased amount of metal in the center (area under pressure).  To reduce the CV angles we drop the diff down lower and in turn reduce the clearance that the lift created.
High pressure at high CV angles will almost always find relief.  OME struts at 2" longer by themselves do not usually cause a problem.  Strut mount flips, or strut spacers by themselves do not usually cause problems.  Put any two of the three together and it does not take much force to break the CV's.  I have broke two CV's climbing up with one side (allowing the other side to drop lower than normal running) and very little force on the CV that broke.
And yet there are some who have 3+" of lift who have not broken their CV's.
93 Tracker,XL7 springs & 1" raised spring pads in front with YJ springs in back, home built bumpers rear & front (w/winch), 2" x 4" rock tubes,  ARB front & rear, converted Sami rear to IFS, 33x12.5x15  aluminum rims, roll cage, 2.7L w/5 speed auto.

Re: Springs/suspension/spacer upgrade - confused???
« Reply #4 on: June 27, 2009, 02:38:23 AM »
My springs havn't raised it level.. rear is higher than the front.. so should be ok for a bit more.

What I was more concerned about is that the bigger springs I have, if you add spacers to them, will it put the spring rate through the roof and make it way too hard?

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Offline Rhinoman

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Re: Springs/suspension/spacer upgrade - confused???
« Reply #5 on: June 27, 2009, 04:51:16 AM »
The rear is supposed to be slightly higher than the front.
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

Re: Springs/suspension/spacer upgrade - confused???
« Reply #6 on: June 27, 2009, 04:59:39 AM »
I realise that.. mine is a bit more 'yeeehaaaa' with a 'feddy flag on the roof- ; jacked in the rear if you know what i mean  >:D

Looking at all the pics of readers rides on here, mine has deff got the rake going on.,-