I have a 1996 Sidekick Sport 4x4 and was wondering what the difference is between the standard and the sport since I see alot of products that say not for use on sport model. Particularly dealing with suspension lifts. Any help?

Frame & engine generation are different. The 1.8L / 2.0L and 2.3L are the same family... kinda like the 1.3L and 1.6L. And the 2.5 and 2.7

Lifts only touching the springs should be fine, and OME has struts for the sport model.

Hmm, Thanks for the answer. Maybe I'm being anal but why would it have a different frame? The the entire line of sidekick frames change in 1996 or so...or did they just change the frame on the sport?

That is the mystery of the ages.

As far as I can tell, ONLY the Sidekick Sport had a different frame width compared to regular Sidekicks of the same model year.

My '02 Tracker ZR2 4-door looks smaller than "my" '96 Sport 4-door  (by "my", I mean I service it but I don't "own" it     ).

Who knows why it is that way - it just is.

Oh, and the A-arms are forged on the Sport instead of stamped and welded.

ok, I had another post on here asking if the A-arms from some of the kits could be fabbed to work effectively or not and it disappeared. Any ideas?

Someone on here fitted a Calmini kit to a wide chassis model. I think it was one of the Australians, maybe CJ.

The Sport model also has the lower ball joints built into the control arm. The calmini kit doesn't include ball joints.

Hmm, Thanks for the answer. Maybe I'm being anal but why would it have a different frame? The the entire line of sidekick frames change in 1996 or so...or did they just change the frame on the sport?

The story I heard says the Sport was originally designed for a V6, but EPA approval was not obtained for that engine for some reason.  The 1.8l engine was added as an afterthought.

The story I heard says the Sport was originally designed for a V6, but EPA approval was not obtained for that engine for some reason.  The 1.8l engine was added as an afterthought.

I heard that too, we got the V6 model over here.

So, I guess the old saying "anything is doable" comes to mind. Are there any large lifts for the vitara since it has that frame? I'm trying to go as big as possible for now and then do a custom solid axle in the future. All ideas, suggestions and theories will be considered.

fender trimming & hagen widening mod are your friend.

So, I guess the old saying "anything is doable" comes to mind. Are there any large lifts for the vitara since it has that frame? I'm trying to go as big as possible for now and then do a custom solid axle in the future. All ideas, suggestions and theories will be considered.

I'd say that a basic 2" spring spacer lift and a 3" body will be good for atleast 31" tires depending on how much trimming you want to do.  I've seen atleast 32" on the "sport" version with a setup like that.

So it looks like I'm gonna have to get my hands on a set of toyota axles to run 35-37's on this one...dang that sux. Was kinda hopin for the bolt on kit. (was even willing to do a lil fabbing in place of a solid axle swap) I wanted to try and stick with the IFS.

Trail Tough has a kit specifically for running 35" tires. Screw their "undertaker" though - get the shogun, or Kicker III (runs a samurai case behind yours) and it will re-gear you PERFECTLY for big meats, give you low & double low, and even more low if you replace the stock t-case gears. All said and done, you're looking at a big $$$$ layout.... then again - costs less than a stock Jeep.... it's all relative I guess.