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Lift advice needed!!

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Lift advice needed!!
« on: September 08, 2008, 12:56:54 PM »
I've been lurking around for about a month trying to figure the lift best options for my 94 sidekick. There seems to be endless opinions on how to lift these little monsters.

My truck: 94 4door,16v,5 speed,4x4

My goal: Moderate lift that will perform off-road as well as on the pavement. I hope to install 30 10.5 15's on 15x7 or 15x8 wheels with 2-3 in. back spacing.

After reading a ton of posts on here I am leaning towards a 2 inch body lift and a budget 2 inch suspension lift. I found a thread on here a while back that covered a lift where you simply replace the springs with Grand Vitara springs and ford F-150 rear shocks for 2+ inches of lift.

I am leaning towards the Sky 2 in. body lift because it seems to be an easy install with little to no additional mods in order to install.

Any thoughts on combining these two lifts?

In a perfect world I will install these two lifts at home without any welding and little to no side issues.

What do ya think? ???

Re: Lift advice needed!!
« Reply #1 on: September 08, 2008, 01:23:24 PM »
Would I be better off simply combining Skys coil spacer kit and body lift?

Some of the diy mods I have done in the month that I have owned my kick:

Painted rims and bumpers flat black

installed 235/70/15 Goodyear all terrains

homemade roofrack made with PVC and painted flat black(Looks pretty good and is pretty strong)

straight pipe from header back with cherry bomb. (a little too loud for my taste...will probably install more restrictive muffler) I am getting more power and improved mpg.

Homemade ram air with K&N cone filter.

After the lift I will paint her Safari khaki and rhino line most of the under carriage.

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95sidekick

Re: Lift advice needed!!
« Reply #2 on: September 08, 2008, 04:47:27 PM »
i have 2 inch coil spacers and i ran 31's but you get a bit of rubbing when you get a lot of flex. i gettin a 3 " body lift just cuz i like to go big or go home, but 2 inch should give you the clearance you need , an you wouldnt have to modify the shifter.

with the spacers you get a bit of a stiff ride, but they no cadillac to begin wit..lol

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Offline jeff1997

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Re: Lift advice needed!!
« Reply #3 on: September 08, 2008, 05:32:52 PM »
I have the complete coil and strut spacer 2" lift you need. $120 shipped to the US or $125 to Canada. Let me know.
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

Re: Lift advice needed!!
« Reply #4 on: September 08, 2008, 06:44:34 PM »
Thanks for the input 95sidekick!

Jeff...I may be interested in your kit. Does it include (or will I need) shock relocation brackets?

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Offline kubik1981

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Re: Lift advice needed!!
« Reply #5 on: September 08, 2008, 06:52:01 PM »
i got Jeff's kit all you do is get a pair of rear shocks for like a 1985 ford mustang.  i installed my kit in just about 5 hours only because i got a 12 dollar spring compressor from harbor freight. i would have had it together quicker but the $12 part hindered that being it broke three springs in

Re: Lift advice needed!!
« Reply #6 on: September 08, 2008, 06:58:20 PM »
Thanks,

My rear shocks are shot and will be replaced anyway. It sounds like Jeffs kit might work for me.

do you have a pic of your rig with the kit installed?

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95sidekick

Re: Lift advice needed!!
« Reply #7 on: September 08, 2008, 07:52:57 PM »
YEA i got jeffs lift to i had it in my 4 door now in my 2 door an still looks brand new! oh and for rear shocks jsut get a set from an old crown vic....i forget the year 98? maybe

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95sidekick

Re: Lift advice needed!!
« Reply #8 on: September 08, 2008, 07:57:24 PM »
i got Jeff's kit all you do is get a pair of rear shocks for like a 1985 ford mustang.  i installed my kit in just about 5 hours only because i got a 12 dollar spring compressor from harbor freight. i would have had it together quicker but the $12 part hindered that being it broke three springs in

first time i put it in it took me about same amount of time but second time i never used a compressor just undo swaybar(i never put mine back on either) take out strut bolts, loosin flex hoses an you can pry the hole arm down with little effort to fit the spacers and springs back in and the back is even easier and this way only took me about 1 and half hours an thats losing my bolts..lol

Re: Lift advice needed!!
« Reply #9 on: September 08, 2008, 08:06:38 PM »
Thank guys!

I think I'll pick this up from Jeff.

My two inch body lift is already on its way and will be installed this weekend.

The two lifts should work fine together Right????

also, I want to buy new shocks...any sugestions on a new shock that works well with this kit?

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Offline Drone637

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Re: Lift advice needed!!
« Reply #10 on: September 08, 2008, 09:33:19 PM »
Did we ever find out if the struts from a Dodge Vista actually work for those putting spacer lifts on?  I know someone mentioned them, but I didn't see the reply on if they fit or not.
96 Geo Tracker, x-SJ-410,  x-White Rabbit, x-Project Trouble
Crawlers NorthWest
x-Trouble Racing

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Offline beercheck

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Re: Lift advice needed!!
« Reply #11 on: September 09, 2008, 07:31:47 AM »
i installed my kit in just about 5 hours only because i got a 12 dollar spring compressor from harbor freight. i would have had it together quicker but the $12 part hindered that being it broke three springs in

That's one of those tools I really, really don't want breaking on me.
'03 ZR2 2dr Tracker, '02 XL-7 drivetrain and electrcs
XL-7 front coils
1.5" rear coil spacers
Monroe 32316 shocks w/2" extenders
235/70-16 Bridgestone Destination A/Ts on stock XL-7 Alloys RRO Rock Rails (Presently removed, as they rusted to all hell; all the bolts were rusted to dust.  Real nice, RRO...) http://www.trivia-nights.com

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Offline Drone637

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Re: Lift advice needed!!
« Reply #12 on: September 09, 2008, 09:06:05 AM »
That's one of those tools I really, really don't want breaking on me.

No kidding.  :)

Check with your local auto part store.  Many of them have tools you can borrow/rent for working on your car.  I know my local shop has a spring compressor available that I should have used.  Instead I just cinched down the coil with some wire before I put the jacks under the Tracker so when I lifted it up the springs were nice and compressed. 
96 Geo Tracker, x-SJ-410,  x-White Rabbit, x-Project Trouble
Crawlers NorthWest
x-Trouble Racing

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95sidekick

Re: Lift advice needed!!
« Reply #13 on: September 11, 2008, 08:11:10 PM »
you dont need to compress the springs to put them in it jsut takes more time to do that..and you dont have to worry about the tool breakin or anything