cheap vitara lift

[Scott2007]

Hey, I have just brought myself a 3dr escudo. First mod i am doing is a spring lift. I have found some vn commodore suspention an c33 springs on trade me that i can get. My question is, what is the difference between the vl and vn suspention? and is the fitting of the front springs anything to worry about?

Cheers
Scott

[Swamped]

Does depend on how rangi you wana go. The fronts don't seat properly really and at their ride height they are quite bowed. The tops don't fit where the original goes too well either. Front springs can also bind on the brake calipers causing you to lose brakes on lock so you might have to wind the limiter bolts out a bit.

In hindsight I'd get proper front springs if its for the road but go with the rest of the cheap lift. Rear setup works great. Regardless of the springs up front you'll want camber adjust bolts.

[Scott2007]

Thanks guys, have just fitted Commy springs up front, c33 springs in rear, and commy shocks in rear. However the commy shocks have a smaller lower mount hole so ive put the standard shocks back in for now. Is there a certain model of commy shocks that do fit properly? Cheers

[churchill]

Commodore ute ones. They should give an extra 50mm down travel but you need to get a shaft made for the bottom eye. Send me a pm if you want the part number.

[lincooln]

or VL commy shocks

[lincooln]

so I have LWB springs to fit, when i put in the VL shocks and springs will the brake lines etc need extending?

Also what shocks fit as direct bolt ins? Do the VLs?

and does anyone have any shocks for sale?

Just trying to clear things up. Sick of having the bits to lift it but not having it done.

Cheers
Lincoln

[churchill]

Foot brake lines dont need extending but the handbrake lines on mine were short so I had flip 2 mounts move where they gripped on the cable.

I don't know what shock bolts in directly. Call Autolign, they can help you.

You might also need to extend the diff breather hose. I took mine out and went in the local parts store and bought a meter of fuel hose with the same inner diameter and two hose clamps. Jack the back up, let the rear axle hang unsupported (you need the new shocks in) and make the hose so it's a good fit like the existing one.

You can also fit a heim joit spacer to get the upper arm back to the existing angle, some people you don't need them. I used one because the joint looked like it was close to the end of it's travel and I didn't wan't to run the risk of damaging it. It might be okay without it, up to you.

Good luck

[lincooln]

cheers dude. I had completely forgot about the diff breather

But I will get a spacer for the arm at some point.

cheers

[churchill]

Let me know if you want me to make a shaft up for the bottom eye of the shock, we have lots of spare material here and it's pretty fast to turn one up on the lathe.

[lincooln]

ok cheers dude, will let you know if needed

[Scott2007]

Does anyone know anymore about using accord springs in the front. Not happy with the commodore ones in the front. Something a bit narrower and a bit higher would be nice.

[Swamped]

I think 94 accord springs fit the rear only. Lifted height varies from 2-4in.

As for fronts I couldn't get a straight answer so heated and bent the commodore springs to fit. Was easy as and went fine but whether it weakened the spring, i don't know.

[Swamped]

A bit of info here but no front setup stuff from what I can tell.

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=54646

This page has someone saying they were going to have a go with 2.2 vtec prelude springs in the front?

http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/Forums/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=6209&view=previous

[Scott2007]

looks like ill keep an eye out for some prelude ones.

[charliemac]

Does anyone know somewhere to get camber adjustable bolts? having trouble sourcing some for my 2 inch lift. Also where do you buy aluminium for the rear a-arm spacer, or does someone on here make them?
Cheers
Charlie.

[ZukOffroader]

Does anyone know somewhere to get camber adjustable bolts? having trouble sourcing some for my 2 inch lift.

x2 on that.

Also where do you buy aluminium for the rear a-arm spacer, or does someone on here make them?
Cheers
Charlie.

I sourced mine from a plastics place in Tauranga, but they're nation wide company. Cost me about $70 all up, just sent in a design I found online and they cut to fit, bolt holes and all. I got some longer bolts from Super Cheap which I think were about $10 - $20.

[Swamped]

Does anyone know somewhere to get camber adjustable bolts?

The brand I always see turn up is noltec. Can get em off trademe or at a guess bnt too?

[charliemac]

I sourced mine from a plastics place in Tauranga, but they're nation wide company. Cost me about $70 all up, just sent in a design I found online and they cut to fit, bolt holes and all. I got some longer bolts from Super Cheap which I think were about $10 - $20.[/quote]

Did you get the spacer made from plastic or did they make it with aluminium.

[charliemac]

I tried the guy on trademe but he doesnt stock them anymore. they used to be about $50. I asked repco and they said $170, Not keen on that price.

[Foxtee]

I got mine from Bits4Vits in the UK about $70 NZ including shipping, took about a week to get here

[ZukOffroader]

Did you get the spacer made from plastic or did they make it with aluminium.

No, it was High Grade Plastic, which is fine strength wise.

[churchill]

Does anyone know somewhere to get camber adjustable bolts? having trouble sourcing some for my 2 inch lift. Also where do you buy aluminium for the rear a-arm spacer, or does someone on here make them?
Cheers
Charlie.

Hey man, I put camber bolts in mine and I'm not sure they're the right option. I started damaging cv's so I thought I'd try and give the front wheels a bit more positive camber at the next wheel alignment. I got them to turn the bolts back as far as they could and it turns out they were still within the factory specification of -0.5º to 1.5º so basically I didn't need the camber bolts. I have a 2" lift and the final setting was about 1.0º. I haven't had any cv problems since but I could just as easily have bought dud second hand cv's and/or been too rough on them.

I also found that the camber bolt setup wasn't tough enough for my driving style and every time I got an alignment done I would knock it out of alignment after the first trip offroad. What would happend was the little tag that spaces the bolt out would gouge into the strut and put the front end out of alignment. I tried buying another set of bolts and using 2 tag washers and that seemed to be better but I suspect it's still not as strong as the original bolt. The original bolt I suspect keeps the wheels within the manufactures spec even with 2" lift.

Anyway, I'm taking mine out so I can sell you 2 sets if you want or you can buy a new set from "Autolign". PM me if your interested.

[charliemac]

instead of using the camber correction bolts i was thinking of slotting the strut holes to bring the camber back in, has anyone tried this, what did you think? Thanks.

[Swamped]

I've seen people do that with road cars and then just weld a washer in place once its ideal location was found. Unsure if its legal though.

[charliemac]

doing my 2 inch suspension lift at the moment , ive done the strut hat flips for the front, and got some vn commodore springs for the front but they are a bigger diameter and dont fit on the top mount properly. are the vl commodore springs different or do they not seat properly at the top as well? what did everyone do to fix this problem?

how much lift does the 5 door v6 springs give you in the front and do they fit properly?

thanks.

[kernels]

None of the "cheap lift" springs fit properly at the front top from what I've seen. The 5dr springs have the same taper and fit properly, not sure how much real lift they give.

[dtchch]

I was told about 1.5" for the 5-door springs into a 3-door

[kernels]

I was told about 1.5" for the 5-door springs into a 3-door

I would think that 5 door V6 may be different from 4cyl too. That V6 is a bloody huge beast, not sure how it weighs up compared to the 4cyl though.

[dtchch]

You're probably right, its gotta be heavier than the G16a for example. Stock springs are quite saggy at the front so if you can get a little more height from v6 springs at the front it'd be handy

[charliemac]

has anyone on the forum put 5 door v6 springs in the front of their 3 door 1.6l and how much lift did they get?