[buggy man]

Hey guys I'm currently driving around a swb vitara that is reasonably standard just running a 2in body lift and some coil spacers.... Now I want to build it into a weekend play truck that will mix it up with the big boys. Here's what I was thinking suspension wise:
- 3inch lifted springs
- 3inch longer shocks and struts
- diff drop brackets
- custom fabricating some longer rear links

So there's the suspension side. Tell me what you would do and what could be changed? I am after useable flex as well as keeping the car stable. I am going to try and fit 33's and a rear locker and perhaps a front aswell.
Thankyou everyone.

[Gwagensteve]

Never mind the suspension. The limiting factor at 33" is gearing and axle strength, both front and rear. Sort that out and the the suspension is easy. It's been documented before that no lift is required to run 33's on a vitara.

Steve.

[got_bar_work]

U will need calmini rear axels and gv steel diff as a min
And some 4.2 transfer gears
Hilux cv mod would help if u have a heavy right foot
pm fat zook I think he's planning some kits
33 are a big ask on evey thing in the drive line
Are u auto or manual
The auto can help with the crap gearing and soften up blows on the driveline

[buggy man]

Thanks, I'm running a manual box. Can you buy the calmini stuff in Australia? I've only seen it overseas....

[got_bar_work]

Get Gears and axle from Lowrange

[Fatzook]

Calmini rear axles aint what they are cracked up to be. Do some REAL research on them. Pirate is a good place to start.

[got_bar_work]

Make floater kits for us then
They are Way better then stock
I have broke more axels then cv
I'm yet to destroy a calmini one

[Fatzook]

I don't have the equipement to make them in a cost effective manner. Joeblow does

[stocker]

Im interested in this. As i have 33's on my LWB Vit

Yes like everyone says, the gearing is Crap at best you'll get no argument there

i am yet to go wheeling with them (for fear of destroying things)

I have been looking at options like the "undertaker" drive. but that does involve shortening/extending driveshafts.

Also i would be concerned with everything behind that Rear axles, CV's, Alloy Diffs etc...
Food for Thought

[DarkHorse]

Don't even think about this level of modding with an alloy diff. Won't last 10mins in decent bush. Stocker your danger now is obviously lack of diff oil, but also crown wheel teeth grinding away on the twisted case when it torques up. Only going to make the repair more expensive.

Buggy Man you're suspension list looks good, but the devil's in the detail. Steve's right in that 33s have been put on a Vit without lift, but it didn't have much in the way of guards left:


Gearing and strengthening driveline is absolutely non-negotiable for anything over 31s IMO. It's a list I'm starting to work my way through, but there are few shortcuts unfortunately. Hilux CVs are about the easiest step after steel diff. I don't know of any options for rear axles other than the Calmini HD ones, which are holding up OK for me so far, but haven't really been tested much. I'm interested to hear what the next weak point is - if it's drive shaft unis that's OK, but if it's gears in diff/box/transfer stripping out I think I'd rather have CVs as a fuse.




CV kit any closer FatZook?