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l80vel Newbie
Joined: 30 Nov 2009 Posts: 2 Location: Bristol
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Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2009 15:17 Post subject: Vitara lift kits!! |
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Hi all,
New to this - I have a cheap vitara for some green lane action. Been out and had a lot of fun. Need to get it lifted as im really battering the bottom.
Im look for advice and a cheap kit, second hand is fine, 3" lift would be great!!
Also lookin for some steal wheels and crazy tyres, have alloys with alter tyres on. Can swop or sell as required.
Cheers
Lovell |
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Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2009 15:17 Post subject: Google Ads keep this community free to join! |
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me and the wife *******
Joined: 07 Aug 2007 Posts: 1013 Location: gosport
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Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2009 17:58 Post subject: |
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go to a scrap yard and try to get some springs off a lwb vitara as that will give 1.5- 2" of lift |
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Tempman_ *
Joined: 15 Feb 2012 Posts: 26 Location: Cornwall - Sussex
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Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 23:06 Post subject: |
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Thats a good idea, springs on the front or just the back? will the lwb vitara springs fit on my 1996 jlx? cheers |
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Tempman_ *
Joined: 15 Feb 2012 Posts: 26 Location: Cornwall - Sussex
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Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 23:08 Post subject: |
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Thats a good idea, springs on the front or just the back? will the lwb vitara springs fit on my 1996 jlx? cheers |
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b4mb4m100 *
Joined: 28 Dec 2011 Posts: 21 Location: north yorkshire
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Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 17:32 Post subject: |
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i have just done a 3inch body lift on mine and used 2inch box section steel with threaded bar .. the body lift is really easy to do if you can use a 2 poster lift ... and if you are doing green laning and they are rough then my advice is to get some 235 75 15 inch insa turbo special tracks thats what i run on and they are mint tires they make alot of road noise but when you take them off road there just in a different league to every thing else |
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stt Newbie
Joined: 18 Feb 2012 Posts: 3 Location: United Kingdom
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Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 1:55 Post subject: |
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Mercedes 190d front springs on the front with 1 coil cut off give about 2" lift
Rover 800 rear springs give 2.5" lift on the rear |
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zocko *******
Joined: 13 Sep 2009 Posts: 1438 Location: Southampton
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Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 15:10 Post subject: |
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cutting springs is not the right way to go
im sure someone will say "i do it all the time and its fine" etc but that just means theyve been lucky.
springs have x amount of coils for a reason.....
use a spring thats suitable when complete, its not worth bodging it.
remember, your life depends on thos springs when youre driving _________________ the car in front is a toyota...
the car pulling it out of the mud is a suzuki |
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stt Newbie
Joined: 18 Feb 2012 Posts: 3 Location: United Kingdom
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Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 21:20 Post subject: |
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as long as you are cutting normal springs ie not pigtail springs theres no safety concern with cutting springs - other than cutting too many coils and the car hitting its bump stops - not a likely scenario when the point of fitting the springs is to raise the vehicle
i dont have enough posts to be able to post links but if you change the start of the following web link you'll see a thread on the theory and why there is no safety implications if done properly
www*migweb*co*uk/forums/other-mechanical-electrical/386266-question-about-suspension-springs.html |
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zocko *******
Joined: 13 Sep 2009 Posts: 1438 Location: Southampton
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Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 21:26 Post subject: |
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the problem with cutting springs is that you wont get them exactly the same length and torsion as youre not able to calculate the torsional strength of the springs over their length.
this will create two problems:
1, the springs may be slightly different lengths and strengths. this can cause uneven ride height over the pair causing more problems namely the change in the performance of the individual springs.
2, you risk MOT failure as the MOT testers opinion of whats safe is what counts there
ive seen the results of a couple of accidents directly attributed to unsafely lowered vehicles created by cutting springs.
just remember this:
the spring manufacturer doesnt just take a tape measure and look at a spring then go hel for leather with a disc cutter to get it about right.
the springs are measured to within a millimeter while straight, theyre then coiled and tempered to strict safety guidelines before being tested and deemed safe.
if they werent done this way, any muppet in a garden shed could make and sell lowering kts etc claiming theyre safe to use on the road. _________________ the car in front is a toyota...
the car pulling it out of the mud is a suzuki |
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Tempman_ *
Joined: 15 Feb 2012 Posts: 26 Location: Cornwall - Sussex
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Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 1:13 Post subject: |
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b4mb4m100 wrote: |
i have just done a 3inch body lift on mine and used 2inch box section steel with threaded bar .. the body lift is really easy to do if you can use a 2 poster lift ... and if you are doing green laning and they are rough then my advice is to get some 235 75 15 inch insa turbo special tracks thats what i run on and they are mint tires they make alot of road noise but when you take them off road there just in a different league to every thing else |
Sounds good mate! I've seen those insa turbo tyres an they are big boy stuff.
I'm interested in lifting mine, is this something that need to be done before buying a winch bumper? Im not a mechanic and wanted to know how hard the job in I've got some axel stands only used them to change wheels and paint calipers on my old type r. Any advice would be very help full.
Cheer Tom |
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stt Newbie
Joined: 18 Feb 2012 Posts: 3 Location: United Kingdom
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Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 1:14 Post subject: |
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You could argue that raising a vehicles ride height is detrimental to its handling characteristics and therefore it's suitability and safety for road use
I would say that most competent people would be able to cut the coils to nearly similar lengths
Do you think that the weight distribution is 50/50 left right - so one side will settle more than the other causing uneven ride height regardless of the sort of springs you have! |
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