Lifting my escudo

[escudoboy99]

Hi all. Im debating on which kit I should by for my 3 door v6 escudo to lift it up to fit mud tyres. There many different kits for vitara but im unsure which ones will fit. as the parts on the escudo may be different. any suggestions on kits?

[vitz]

Hey mate
Welcome to ORE.
There are heaps of different options depending on how much lift you want.
Dont worry about the Vitara/Escudo name, they are the same thing.
Do a search on here for vitara lift, there are heaps of discussions going on.
One last thing, when your off road, take your tow ball off and put a shackle through the hole in the tongue of the tow bar, much safer!

[escudoboy99]

I will keep that shackle idea in mind for next time, would be better to hook a tow strap onto. I have been looking at the fts kits and the calmini kit but unsure again as to which one will have all the componets to fit. Im aiming to get the height of this v6 vitara that another user posted on here and he said that he used the calmini 3inch lift kit.

Would be a hassle to buy and get a kit shipped to me and then it doesnt all fit in..
Would be cool if anyone on here has tryed these kits or know of any different mounting hardware that I would need.

[Dirtydog]

Wouldnt suggest the calmini kits, ive seen alot of busted shocks from them while looking through threads,

Try bits4vits for some other stuff too.

[Pico42]

What size tyres are you wanting to fit? You can get good muddies in std Suzuki sizing.

[escudoboy99]

Had a look at bits for vits. they sell mostly bushes and bolts etc. im realli after a complete kit instead of doing everything sperately. im wanted to fit possably 33' mud tyres so want at least 3 inches of suspenion lift and a 2 inch body lift. any cheap options?

[Dirtydog]

May i ask why you want to run 33's?

31's are big on a vitara, not to mention the somewhat light duty 4wd system they have compared to surfs/terranos, and they have trouble with driveline components.

[Pico42]

33's and cheap don't really go together easily for Suzuki's, not in a way that doesn't grenade your front diff, or CV's, or clutch, or rip up your guards and soak up all power from you engine.

Would look cool though.

What is your budget? Nearest $1000.

[escudoboy99]

The ideal size tyre im hoping to run are 31's. 33 would be too big but if I got enough lift abd installed transfer case reduction gear it might work out. My budget is aroubd 2k at this stage. I will have new 15x8 rins this week and could have a deal on some cheap muddys. not sure on the size atm. Have a look at this page, i saw that and sort of what this height and tyres.
http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/Forums/ ... 6&start=15

[churchill]

FTS do a lift kit, contact Mike and winch.co.nz.

Watch you front diff with 33's, even 31's will damage things if you have the wrong driving style. If the front wheels leave the ground back off the gas.

Another way to lift it is to use Cobra 50mm lift springs, Commodore rear shocks and 50mm shock extenders on the front shocks.

[escudoboy99]

hopefully the front diff lasts as long as I dont stretch the cv joints too much..

Im waiting on a price from winch for a 2inch v6 model lift kit because they said the 3 inch kit wouldn't all fit.

the kits come with the drop brackets for the diff and TC. aswell as the rear v arm spacer which i need.

This kit would be good, http://www.4wdbits.co.nz/ProductDetails ... uctID=4152

and also these tc gears, http://www.4wdbits.co.nz/ProductDetails ... uctID=4227

Just looking into what there is for vitaras

[williamhamilton]

I went for Ironman springs/shocks which gave a bit of a lift. tyres I wanted to stay realistic with so that I did not destroy my running gear - stuck with 205R16 Nominal OD = 735mm
For reference
30x9.5/15 = 745mm
31x10.5R15 = 770

With the tiny wee diffs under the Zuki I find clearance is good
Some details
http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/Forums/ ... 18&t=36181

Hope this helps a bit

W

[escudoboy99]

Hey is this the kit that you went for
http://www.ironman4x4.com/html/suzuki/68.html
Looks like the shocks and springs are very solid but are the lower ball joints and and the rear diff v arm ball joint maxing out? And whats the angle like on the cv's? whats what Im worryed about.

At the moment I have Dobson raised springs frong and rear by i think they were only 25mm lift. Also have Raw heavy duty shocks at the rear and monroe front struts. 30/31 is what im planning to run.

Like your vitara build williamhamilton! looks good

[Chairmen]

I agree with "churchill" 33" will be a lot of wear an TEAR on you drive train especially the on the front diff.

I have the same truck as yours, FTS make a good straight bolt up 2.5" suspension lift kit, Calmini do not make a kit too fit the V6 escudo/vitara chassis yet. You can buy it an alter to fit but i do not know whats involved doing this, plus i'v heard the shocks do not last long..

Take it easy on the front diff....

[escudoboy99]

Have started modifying the suki after building up some money.

Brought some 16x7 steel rims

Have grinded 2-3mm of the edges of both front calipers to fit the rims..
i Was told that if you fit 1.6L vitara front hubs to the v6 model you can run 15x7/15x8, but I decide not to go to that effort.

Next thing I need to do it sort out tyres, im looking at some federal couragia one, they seem to have a good tread pattern and look.

Hopefully this weekend I will Sort out a DIY snorkel to fit

I'll upload some pics of my progress If anyone has advice on what I should do then let me know

[fash]

Next thing I need to do it sort out tyres, im looking at some federal couragia one, they seem to have a good tread pattern and look.

Go for the Federals, put some on my sj a few weeks back and have not been disappointed

[escudoboy99]

I have now got new tyres on the zuki and shes looking good. next task for me to dois set up my snorkel and light bar. i got a 2.5inch lift kit priced up at 1130 so not too bad.

[Chairmen]

Trucks Looking good.. What size tyre's did you end up going with ?

[oneinkedgeek]

Trucks Looking good.. What size tyre's did you end up going with ?

hahahah bro i knew it was only a matter of time before you jumped on this thread those wheels look familar eh

[Chairmen]

Trucks Looking good.. What size tyre's did you end up going with ?

hahahah bro i knew it was only a matter of time before you jumped on this thread those wheels look familar eh

Haha yeah bro, always keen to help another fellow suzuki owner .. Them rims look super sweet, i wonder if his put the lift in to fit them in this pic ?

[escudoboy99]

Hey chairmen. I went with some 245/70/16 hancook dynapro atm. They look gud and are suitable for road and mud as i run them all the time. have my old rims and tires just for fun. When I first got my zuki I brought some Dobinsons springs which gave me around 25mm lift I think. Im just running standard shocks on the rear. hoping to buy a fts 2.5inch lift kit soon to get more lift or make my own custom peices. need more lift so the tyres dont thew on the guards

[Chairmen]

Hey man, cool.. Before i got bigger tyre's/More lift i use to run maxxis bighorn's 245/75r16 with the FTS lift kit which by the way lift's the rear noticeable higher the the front, with a 1 inch bump stop at the rear an commie shock with next too no rub at full articulation the only rub is was getting was from the flat edge roughly 10mm long facing inwards, bit of steel on the wheel arch so i flattened it out an had Absolutely no rub in the rear, how every the front will rub on the chassis rails an your lose a bit of steering lock/turning radius as your probably all ready found out

[escudoboy99]

Im hopeling that the kit will work sweet if that happens i can just get spring spacers for the front to make the height netural. Im actully pretty lucky because i dont have any rub on the front at hard lock (well what the lock is set to by manuf). My tyres just rub up on the gaurds as the suspension articulates thats why i need more height. I removed my sway bar for now to see how it handles on the road, seems good even better off road.

[Chairmen]

Im hopeling that the kit will work sweet if that happens i can just get spring spacers for the front to make the height netural. Im actully pretty lucky because i dont have any rub on the front at hard lock (well what the lock is set to by manuf). My tyres just rub up on the gaurds as the suspension articulates thats why i need more height. I removed my sway bar for now to see how it handles on the road, seems good even better off road.

Why don't you go 2" Body lift if all your after is tyre clearance ? Way cheaper option an relatively easy to install...

[escudoboy99]

Im wanting to lift the whole chassis and body higher of the ground so geting the kit woukd help this. then if i want for looks il lift the body up too. I may as well put a body lift in to start with. Be nice to get bump stop touching action meaning full aticulation.

[escudoboy99]

Finally I manage to get back on here and start posting some more of the work I have carried out on my vitz. Lately I have been to the bombing range alot and wood hill, have found that the tyres tend to rub under the gaurds alot so am starting to sort out my lift.

I have got some 1.25inch spring spacers to put in the rear and am going to order some of bits4vitz for the front. before I fit these I need....
to make an a arm spacer and put a drive shaft spacer in.

Also have just brought some commordore shocks to fit so i will see how it all goes..

Im in the progress of running breather lines from the gbox, T case, front and rear diff to the engine bay, just thought it was a good idea as i started smelling diff oil inside the car from the rear diff breather and got sick of it.

Here are some photos of everything and anything.
hope some of it helps you guys

[zukmeista]

Lately I have been to the bombing range alot

You do know that is illegal right?

[escudoboy99]

Yea mate. Fully aware that it is. Would prefer muriwai over woodhill

[Ralfie]

Lately I have been to the bombing range alot and wood hill, have found that the tyres tend to rub under the gaurds alot so am starting to sort out my lift.

Yea mate. Fully aware that it is. Would prefer muriwai over woodhill

So if you know you are not supposed to go to the bombing range, why go "to the bombing range a lot"?

and of course driving off the beach into the dunes along Muriwai Beach is also out of bounds. The regional council and forestry are getting annoyed at the increasing numbers doing so, trespassing and damaging the dunes and vegetation.

This sort of thing is what gives the 4wd community a bad name. Its trespassing and we have all been warned about it.
It gets people backs up and very soon all land access will be closed to vehicles due to their drivers inability to obey the rules.

[escudoboy99]

Oh sory i havent actully been in the bombing range. I though the upper half of the beach was the bombing range. Ive only personaly been on some of the dunes there clise to the beach. Im not interested in geting a fine and trespassed from an awesome beach.