[matt91112011]

Hi guys,

I read the Commodore shocks post in the Tech section, now i'm more confused. I've just ordered the Calmini 3" lift kit, so I will need some Commodore shocks that are compatible with them. So which ones are they? VT Wagon?

Cheers Guys

Matty

[mr_ron]

Rear Vn Commodore Wagon Shocks - Gabriel 81340

I beleive they are used in 2" lifts tho not 3".. Im quite possible wrong tho

[steak_knife]

Doesn't you kit come with shock's???

[BlueSuzy]

They should be fine for 3"

But kits are normally..a whole kit.

[buzbox]

I put the 81865 in, which are VT IRS, Apparently I suppose to put the VL shocks in, I was under the impression that VN VR VS VT would be the same.

But yeah, Put VL Shocks in for 3" suspention.

What I did notice is that the handbrake cable and rear brake hose might be at full stretch. I have a replacement brake hose that is slightly longer if you need one.

[atari4x4]

i changed the calmini shocks out not because of the length but because i didn't like the ride from the straight hydraulic shock, the gas/hydraulic commy shock rides nicer IMO.

i made relocation "tabs" for the handbrake cable to free it up at full flex.

buzbox, the calmini kit comes with an extended rear brake line.

[BlueSuzy]

3" for Sierra?

3" for Vitara?

[atari4x4]

vitara

[Barnster]

You put the commodore shocks in the rear.What do you put in the front???

[mr_ron]

for Sierra:
http://www.auszookers.com/index.php?nam ... int&sid=33

[Barnster]

What about Vitara??

[atari4x4]

Barnster wrote:

What about Vitara??

extended struts from either Old Man Emu, Dobinson or if you want cheap junk, try Ironman.

[matt91112011]

Thanks for all the info guys, much appreciated!

It's a Vitara

So do the Calmini shocks flex as much as the Commodore shocks?

Since the OME struts are a 1.5" lift over the Calmini ones, did you take out the strut spacer or lift the rear? Because wouldn't the front sit higher than the rear since the struts are lifted?

Cheers

Guys

[Built4thrashing]

you need to remember its the spring that gives you the ride height not the strut. So a long or short strut wont effect height.

If i was you, I'd go for the longer dobinsons strut as they are the same compressed length as a stock strut but extend to be 40mm longer.

[Brett]

mr_ron wrote:

Rear Vn Commodore Wagon Shocks - Gabriel 81340

I beleive they are used in 2" lifts tho not 3".. Im quite possible wrong tho

that shock is the vr/vs wagon rear and is 2" longer than a stock shock

the 31844 ( vn/vp sedan stock height) are about 5 cm longer than the wagon rear at 60 cm. it got both of these today and took the wagon ones back.

[matt91112011]

So I want VP Commodore sedan shocks then?

[Gwagensteve]

matt91112011, you haven't answered why your "kit" you've ordered isn't coming with shocks.

I reckon the calmini rear shocks are OK from my experience. Not great, but OK.

I wouldn't run commodore shocks in their place. Commodore shocks are a cheapskate solution and they're nowhere near strong enough for an offroad application.

I run commodore shocks in the front of my sierra because I was being a cheapskate and I got what I paid for. Chrome is coming off the shafts, they dent really easily, and they ride rubbish in my opinion. I've also seen commodore shocks in a vitara and I didn't like them in that application either.

Firstly, when you get your kit, you might find the rear springs aren't appropriate for your application. They are quite soft and very long, but more importantly, Calmini are retards who can't tell the difference between a spring and a bumpstop. Calmini actually bind the rear coil springs to stop the shocks being damaged because of their compressed length, and to fir a larger tyre.

This is terrible suspension design.

Firstly, fit the calmini kit without the springs (at all), then flex the suspension with a jack and work out how long the bumpstop spacer has to be ( which is with the shock bottomed +1") Then fit bumpstop spacers to suit the shock length.

Then, A) the springs won't be acting as bumpstops and B) if you swap to shorter springs like OME, you won't wreck the shocks due to overcompression.

If you aren't getting shocks with your kit, have a look at Rancho RS9000 part # 99009 - they are very soft and long and should work well. I don't like Rancho's ( and I run them - 99009's on the back of my Merc) but I think they are an excellent option for the back of a vitara. Far better than commodont shocks.

PS part number 99009: Extended length: 26.8", compressed length: 15.67"

They're intended for the rear of a ford F150, which is a good application to get them from, as stiff leaf spring rear suspension doesn't need a very stiff shock.

As for front struts - run OME struts.

If you haven't done anything about the driver's side CV, don't run OME struts with the strut spacer. If you have sorted the driver's side CV, you can look at running both spacer and OME strut. The front end travels very well set up this way.

Steve.

[matt91112011]

Woah, that was heaps of info!

Thanks mate

The kit is coming complete as in with shocks, but I've been told that their shocks and struts are rubbish and that the commodore shocks are a better alternative and the OME struts are also a much better alternative to Calminis struts.

If I get a shorter spring won't it change the rears height?

I will look into the drivers side CV.

Thanks again mate

Matty

[Gwagensteve]

No need to buy shocks twice. Run the Calmini rears until they fail or you get sick of them, then go to a quality replacement, not a lower quality replacement that's really cheap.

When your kit arrives, check the length of the shocks against the specs I've posted for the Ranchos.

The struts are rubbish, but again, the kit works exactly as it is. As I've explained, once you start playing with OME struts etc, you're getting into a more complex build. I'd run them until they fail ( which might not be long) OME's are way better, but you've bought the calmini struts, you might as well use them.

OME springs might loose you some lift, but lift isn't everything - at least with using OME springs there's lots of part numbers to choose from to get the car to do what you want, not one spring that's supposed to work with everything.

Steve.

[buzbox]

Gwagensteve wrote:

No need to buy shocks twice. Run the Calmini rears until they fail or you get sick of them, then go to a quality replacement, not a lower quality replacement that's really cheap.

Monroe make a good quality shock, and they're not exactly cheap, but will do the same job as a Gabriel. BTW, did you know that Gabriel have been in the shock absorber game for about 100 years.

But yes, run the calmini shocks until they fail, which they will.

[DarkHorse]

Calmini shock compressed = touch under 16", extended = touch over 25"

[suzukiboy]

Pretty sure that is not where you measure the shocks from.

I just took my Calmini rear shock out to get a measurement and I cam up with:

Compressed 14" - Extended 23"

Anyone agree, disagree??

[Gwagensteve]

Yeah- I'd say compressed 14" extended 23.5"

That does make 99009's far too long though.

Steve.

[suzukiboy]

If anyone wants to know the exact sizing of the Calmini shocks they are:

14.25 inches =
361.95 millimetres

23.25 inches =
590.55 millimetres

This is direct from Calmini.

I have been looking everywhere for replacement shocks that match and only found two brands close:

This is one.

378.8 millimetres

597 millimetres

[Gwagensteve]

A shock that's near 17mm longer compressed is too long for the application.

Steve.

[atari4x4]

i just added in bumpstops extensions to stop the coil bind found in the calimari set up. don't know if it's the right thing to do, but it works for me.

[suzukiboy]

Gwagensteve wrote:

A shock that's near 17mm longer compressed is too long for the application.

Steve.

Bugger.....

Second one I found is:

343.91

577.85

Still out by 13mm.

Was told Prado RAW shocks will fit but I have to find out the sizing.

[suzukiboy]

atari4x4 wrote:

i just added in bumpstops extensions to stop the coil bind found in the calimari set up. don't know if it's the right thing to do, but it works for me.

I am not sure if it coil binds before the shock get to the full compressed length that was while I was thinking the 361.95 millimetres shock might work.

[Gwagensteve]

In a stock Calmini kit the coil binds before the shock bottoms or the Bumpstop is functional.

Steve.

[suzukiboy]

Finally received my new shocks.