[Doug_Zuki]

Firstly, Hi all!

So here's my problem. I have a '97 model 2.0L Vitara with a 3" Calmini lift kit.
The shop that installed it for me although knowing it was meant for a 1.6L model, and having never installed a lift kit on a Vitara before assured me they could fit it without any dramas.
All credit to them it only required one small modification to one of the brackets (specs. provided from Calmini directly) to fit and the purchasing of ball joints from a 1.6L.
However.....It is impossible to get the wheel alignment right and as such after only 5000ks it has created really bad uneven wear on the front tyres.
Also, the front passenger strut has completely shat itself.
So my questions are this:

1- Are there modifications that they may have overlooked to fit it properly?
2- Are the 2.0L models too heavy for the strut and coil combo provided with the kit?
3- Is there anything I can do to correct the wheel alignment issue? ( BFG Muddies are really expensive )

Any advice from someone who has had these issues would be greatly appreciated.

[atari4x4]

welcome to AZ Doug,

I run the front 2.5" lifted springs from Calmini's GV lift kit in my '97 SV420 as I was concerned about the extra weight... 6 years on they're still holding up pretty good.

Do you know if you've had camber bolts fitted to the front struts?

The Calmini struts & shocks are known to be garbage & the front struts supplied are still the standard length, I'd look at getting some Dobinson or OME's from arb.

[Doug_Zuki]

Camber bolts are in, but they still can't align it properly?
It also doesn't look as though it has been lifted the full 3" the front tyres are angled inwards like this / \ but after reversing they sit like this \ /
Do you know if the extra height would correct the alignment problem?

[atari4x4]

those angles... are they when looking at the front of the car?

/ \ = negative camber
\ / = positive camber

or looking down from above the car?

/ \ = toe in
\ / = toe out

I didn't run the front springs supplied with the kit but I think they would struggle with the extra weight, Stuey & I both ran the GV 2.5" springs in our SV420 & I still got more than 3" of lift out of them.


not too many SV vits running the cal kit... these are the ones on here.
my build (loooong read): viewtopic.php?f=4&t=555
stuey's (pics seem broken): viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1842
grantlington: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1129

[Flx11e]

atari4x4 wrote:

those angles... are they when looking at the front of the car?

/ \ = positive camber
\ / = negative camber

or looking down from above the car?

/ \ = toe in
\ / = toe out

I didn't run the front springs supplied with the kit but I think they would struggle with the extra weight, Stuey & I both ran the GV 2.5" springs in our SV420 & I still got more than 3" of lift out of them.


not too many SV vits running the cal kit... these are the ones on here.
my build (loooong read): http://www.auszookers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=555
stuey's (pics seem broken): http://www.auszookers.com/forum/viewtop ... f=4&t=1842
grantlington: http://www.auszookers.com/forum/viewtop ... f=5&t=1129

Your cambers are mixed... Negative camber is inward inclination at the top.

[christover1]

The front wheels should be almost I I at rest.
Camber may be over adjusted,
or have camber bolts in wrong slot (should be fitted to top hole in strut)

Get some Dobinsons struts, in my opinion

Does the calmini kit include caster correction?

[atari4x4]

Flx11e wrote:

atari4x4 wrote:

those angles... are they when looking at the front of the car?

/ \ = negative camber
\ / = positive camber

or looking down from above the car?

/ \ = toe in
\ / = toe out

I didn't run the front springs supplied with the kit but I think they would struggle with the extra weight, Stuey & I both ran the GV 2.5" springs in our SV420 & I still got more than 3" of lift out of them.


not too many SV vits running the cal kit... these are the ones on here.
my build (loooong read): viewtopic.php?f=4&t=555
stuey's (pics seem broken): viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1842
grantlington: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1129

Your cambers are mixed... Negative camber is inward inclination at the top.

oh crap, good pickup... fixed

[Doug_Zuki]

Sorry, it's in regards to camber.

Not sure if the Calmini kit has castor correction. They guarantee proper geometry so you would assume so?
I have questioned the shop in regards to castor though and they assured me it"s fine.

The strut is being replaced under warranty and i"ve bought a 15mm coil spacer to address the wheel alignment issue for the time being.
But since a front bar will be going on shortly, if the wheel alignment is affected again will definitely give the dobinson and GV spring combo a look see.

Thanks all for the advice

[DarkHorse]

How is a spacer going to fix your variable camber issues?

Sounds stupid to ask, but have they adjusted the tie rod out to allow for the lift? Would be part of a wheel alignment, but it's the only thing I can think of that would explain your issue. With a 3" lift it needs a LOT of adjustment.

[atari4x4]

can you post a pic of the camber bolts on both sides Doug, could be a matter of dialling out some camber as they work both ways adding & removing camber.
(you'll either need to downsize them to upload them on here or join up to photobucket & host them on there & copy the [IMG] tags onto the forum)

could it be that the 3" vit spings aren't holding up the weight & it's sitting low causing excessive camber at ride height.

[stocker]

Hey mate. Just curious as to what Size Tyre, and What Rim combo you've got.

The 3" lift is designed to be used with a specific rim combo depending on how wide they are.

for example running a 15 x 8" Rim, off the top of my head it needs to be 3" Backspacing with a 31" Tyre

The geometry of the arms to work with the OEM camber bolts needs to be setup to Calmini's Spec's

if your running a tyre/rim combo thats not within their specs, i would suggest getting a set of camber bolts that
are able to be adjusted further than the OEM ones

[Jester]

stocker wrote:

Hey mate. Just curious as to what Size Tyre, and What Rim combo you've got.

The 3" lift is designed to be used with a specific rim combo depending on how wide they are.

for example running a 15 x 8" Rim, off the top of my head it needs to be 3" Backspacing with a 31" Tyre

The geometry of the arms to work with the OEM camber bolts needs to be setup to Calmini's Spec's

if your running a tyre/rim combo thats not within their specs, i would suggest getting a set of camber bolts that
are able to be adjusted further than the OEM ones

tyre size isnt gonna mess with camber at all mate, doesnt matter if he has stocko sierra wheels on it, or 31's plus. if everything has been fitted properly, and nothing is faulty, and you have camber bolts fitted maybe think about going to a different place for the wheel align, some places seem to hire trained monkeys for their wheel aligns

[DarkHorse]

OEM camber bolts?

[atari4x4]

DarkHorse wrote:

OEM camber bolts?

x2 lots of WTF's in that post of stockers

[bigrig91]

Does anyone know if you can buy parts seperately from calmini, as in just the rear a arms or front arms etc?

[atari4x4]

i don't think they do, unless you're replacing a broken part. shoot Jake an email if he's still there.

[DarkHorse]

The GV rear arms are listed seperately, so they should be easy. Otherwise it might depend on exactly what you're after.