Offroad-Express

hey there, just bought some 2" coil spacers for the vitara,doing a strut flip on the front but need to find some longer travel rear shocks, anyone out there know of what rear shocks would fit, out of what car? pics would be good.

also would longer springs out of another car benefit over coil spacers, im thinking coil spacers would decrease travel?? any help would be great

search (cheap vitara lift)and have a look there.this can be achevied (good spelling) for very little money and gives about 65 to 70mm as well as good travel, any queries give me pm.
vaughan

Hey
As spanky said try a search
Just fit the lift etc in and then measure the rear to see how long/short the shocks can be and then look through trademe/supercheap catalogue etc to find ones appropiate length etc From memory some out of a commordore, corolla, etc etc... you want one out of something lightish rather than something big and heavy

Just out of interest where did you get the coil spacers from (and if you don't mind saying what did they cost you). I know there is always someone looking for them from time to time.

Cheers

ok saw ur post, so e30 318 bmw shocks work, and what year corolla ones?? got the 2" lift coil spcers from this place off ebay, was $150 nz$ landed in NZ as nz dollar is pretty good i can give you the site if you want.

I put vn commodore springs in front and in stead of a strut flip put 40 mm spacers on top of strut then put 93 honda accord springs in rear with commodore shocks has made a big difference in articulation also took out front sway bar.

in my 93 3door ive done 40mill spacers and used toyota hiace van shocks in the back
and in my 96 ive done 60mill spacers and used vs(96) holden commodore shocks in that

anyone know if vl rear shocks would work in the back? or vl springs for the front?

No, but have a look to see if the shocks have the same fitting as suzuki (ie think its eye-pin but i can't remember)
Once you have lifted your suzuki measure the height where the shock would go compressed/extended and find a shock to suit or measure the vl ones to see if their similar length then just fit them and make sure spring won't fall out at full droop and their not too hard/soft

If you cant be bothered goin round all wreckers etc try BNT as I got new Gabriel front struts for my Scud for $80ea, just give em the type of mount on each end and length you need them to compress and extend to and they'll prob have something.

c33 laurel springs with vl commodore air shocks in the back and ea falcon springs with 2.25 coils cut off and a strut mount flip is all i did to mine and gives so much rear wheel travel you have to put 5dr handbrake cables in to stop them pulling tight and buggering the rear brakes.if you go for more lift you will start snapping cvs all the time.
vaughan

spanky wrote:c33 laurel springs with vl commodore air shocks in the back and ea falcon springs with 2.25 coils cut off and a strut mount flip is all i did to mine and gives so much rear wheel travel you have to put 5dr handbrake cables in to stop them pulling tight and buggering the rear brakes.if you go for more lift you will start snapping cvs all the time.
vaughan

Just thought i'd mention that if you want to keep yours road legal then my understanding is you are not allowed to cut the springs. I believe putting in lifted springs and shocks is fine as long as the springs do not fall out at full droop and you retain the factory mounting points or something along those lines, so not sure about coil spacers but i know lots of people that get away with them (similar to the 5% tyre size thing)...

Cheers

ok cheers, just got some e30 bmw rear shocks and honda torneo springs in the rear now, gives abit of lift and more articulation, will try look for some springs for the front soon.

Did you measure it befoer and after too see how much it gave you?

about an inch lift and 2" more downtravel.

Is there any special tools i need to removed and replace rear coils - or will they just drop out like the front. And do i need an axel puller to remove axels from rear diff so i can fit my diff locker!

Cheers

Dunno bout axle puller (and manual is alllllll the way out in garage to have a look in) but taking coils out of rear is simply matter of undoing the shocks both sides and then pushing one side up with jack will help force other side down and coil will drop out.

any slide hammer will get your axles out, easy to do your coils while you are pulling the diff out, put some stands under the chassis rails , put the jack under the diff head and take the weight undo shocks and lower the jack and your springs will fall out.extend your diff breather while your under there.
vaughan

Ok i have the front coils done and im impressed, got the tape measure out before i started and the Coby coils gave me a good 2" lift. Im hindsight the 5 door coils were a waste of money, tophat flip on front shocks was a great idea. Thanks for the help guys.
Will do the rear coils tomorrow seeing i have the day off work, and i may start with the diff locker in the weekend or Monday depending on how i feel and if anyone is going to play in the mud over the weekend. Will try to post some pictures later when i sort Zuk coils and my browser, browser is last on the to do list.

Cheers Hans

I have done the rear coils and spring today and im very happy with the result. I took onboard what all you guys have used and asked a shock shop for the sizes of all the ones that people seem to use. What i found is the the std rear shocks are 460 extended and 290 compressed. The VK Commodore air shocks were 517 extended and 307 compressed. the E30 318 BMW were 547 extended and 356 compressed. Tried the EA falcon ones as some one suggested but the mountings were diffrent.

So i went with the VK Commodore air shocks and the Cobra coils with 50mm lift!. and the top hat flip on front shocks with coils from Cobra as well. 45 mm lift on the front and 60mm on the rear. With the 2" body lift i have plenty of clearance to run 31 X 10.5 tyres. Oh and cost was only $200.00 new for both rear shocks.

Hope this helps
Hans