[MarbleMaker]

Hello all

Please be kind

My partner and I have started to take her first car out in the bush as of late, stock standard except running 28" wheels (1994 4 door Vitara JX auto). The goal is to use it as a stepping stone and project car for 4x4 driving, we still plan to make it our backup car so reliability and function is important so nothing too nuts will be planned for this car. We aim to take it out for half dozen trips at a time and make note of what limits us the most, and tackle them as the need arises.

Unfortunately we have noticed early on that ground clearance is a factor. To the best of my knowledge the only way to gain ground clearance is larger wheels?

I am thinking of putting on some 30" wheels with a 2" suspension lift. I figure that should get me enough clearance for the mean time as we tend to bottom out on occasions. This seems to be the staple go to from what I have read on the subject as of late. With a possible gearing change in the transfer case needed, but I would like to see how it handles before I look too much into gears.

Some note I would like clarified. Reasons why would be muchly appreciated too.

If installing a 2"lift will I need to install a drop diff?
will diff breathers need to be extended? or anything else of note worthy?
Are extended bump stops and strut spacers needed?
will brakes need to be upgraded?

Bash plate, transfer and fuel protection plates are also on the shopping list at the moment.

I have seem to gone down a rabbit hole and wanting to throw money at every little bolt on it seems. But I would like to make a conscious effort too isolate one problem, Find a solution, Learn why then move on to the next issue without damaging the car because of poor execution and spending more money then necessary.

What are peoples thought on this modification? Any one thinking 30's are too much? Also insurance, have anyone had issues with this? What's the driving like? regrets?

ps. If people are running 30" wheels what rim and tyres are they using?

[Gwagensteve]

Hi Marblemaker.

You're sort of correct that the only way to add clearance is to fit larger diameter tyres... but only sort of. A suspension lift on a Vitara will increase ground clearance under the chassis and critically, the front crossmember. The lowest point on the car will still be the rear diff, and only bigger tyres will lift that. The front crossmember is a significant issue though, so lifting that 2" does improve capability.

tyre clearance isn't changed by fitting a suspension lift. This is 4WDings biggest misconception. A suspension lift only changes the rest point of the suspension. in use, the wheels can still move into the same places they could before the lift is installed, so the tyres will still rub. 30" tyres will need the pinch weld behind the front wheels to be folded over, but will fit OK so long as they're on the correct offset rim.

You will notice a reduction in torque. If your car has the 3 speed automatic/carby engine, it might start feeling pretty doughy with 30" tyres. It's relatively cheap and easy to swap from your 4.66 diff ratios to 5.12 which will easily correct the larger tyres more cheaply than fitting transfer gears.

A diff drop isn't 100% required for a 2" lift but I would always drop the diff whenever the suspension is lifted.
No, diff breathers etc do not need to be extended.

Strut spacers are not required and cause more problems than they solve unless you re loosing control and really understand everything you're messing with.

Extended bump stops are a tool to provide increased tyre clearance at the expense of some compression travel. They should not be required for a 30" tyre.

The brakes will not need upgrading but you will notice a drop in efficiency. SE416 LWB Vitaras use ventilated rotors and larger calipers which are a useful upgrade.

[atari4x4]

LWB will be 5.12:1 in the diffs & I’d chuck diff drop brackets in just to keep the cv’s happy

Other than that gwags is on the money, 235/75r15’s are another viable option if you don’t want to lug it down with 30’s. Have seen 235’s work extremely well down in the sand/dunes at Beachport/Robe.

[Eddy]

I suggest a 2" body lift.
Despite the chassis remaining stock height, the body gets a good amount of extra clearance.

My (1994 4 door Vitara JX auto) has had it's 2 inch lift for over 15 years, and am currently running 265/70x15 tyres, have done for at least 6 years. It does struggle a bit in acceleration etc, and the speedo is way out, but I regularly drive around other "real" 4X4s.
Once these tyres are done I'll probably go down to either 235/75x15 or 30/9.50x15.

Also have a set of 225/75x15 on the stock rims, which puts the speedo spot on by the GPS. I use these for driving to the big smoke, (less attention from the gendarmes)

This car has given me a great run ... now passed 350,000 kms.

[Gwagensteve]

atari4x4 wrote:

LWB will be 5.12:1 in the diffs.

Ah yes, I missed the LWB bit.

That will help significantly with offsetting a larger tyres.

[MarbleMaker]

Excellent!

Thank you for the replies.

So Ill go with recommendation of the diff drops as there is not all that much extra money in getting it, and ditch the strut spacer and bump stops.
Thanks for pointing out the diff ratios as that is something that I never thought off, happy to hear that I am running what is suggested.

So this is what I have on the list for the suspension at the moment. Any suggestions or alternatives?

Suspension 2"
https://www.zookoffroad.com.au/product- ... ft-kit-zoa

Drop Diff 2"
https://www.zookoffroad.com.au/product- ... p-brackets

Wheels BFgoodrich All-Terrain T/A® KO2 30X9.5R15 104S
https://www.bobjane.com.au/a/30-9-5r15- ... nt_id=9640

This seems to be all that is needed for at the moment.

Has anyone been pulled over by the fuzz for having too larger tyres of had insurance issues?
My partner works late on the weekend and she often gets followed home by police or pulled over for breath tests far more then I prefer.

[Gwagensteve]

It's less that you're running what's suggested, only that you're running the lowest ratio already - there is no easy solution for correcting the gearing. The key is that as you have a four speed automatic and the EFI engine, it won't be too bad with a 30" tyre. You will definitely notice the drop in performance.

My preference would be Old Man Emu suspension. They won't lift the car a full 50mm. Lifts exceeding 50mm (which is what zookoffroad are suggesting to expect) make the car hard to align and exacerbate CV issues. Old Man Emu offer a range of springs to ensure the car sits the correct height, and their struts are the softest riding and longest travel available.

Tyre choice is fine, you'll need replacement wheels for that size and offset will be critical to keep the tyres under the guards and maintain clearances. I think a 15X6 rim as close to 0 offset will be ideal but others may have feedback on this.

The car will look fine and you shouldn't have any issues with unwanted attention. A tyre 50mm larger than standard diameter is legal, you're only a little larger than that. If you want to be able to claim legality, a 235/75/15 is slightly smaller and sort-of legal at 29.XX" tall.

I would be surprised if anyone has been denied a claim for 30" tyres on a Vitara.

[suzukitas]

Having played with Vitaras primarily for a long time, I have often thought what would be the best set up for one. here it my conclusion.
Tyres 235/75r15 (29inch) 0-15neg offset
2 inch suspension (old man emu as Steve suggests is a perfect choice)(choosing lightest bullbar possible will help greatly here)
1 inch Body Lift
1 inch front diff drop
Air Locker Rear
and if you have a lot of money to spend on it steel front housing, with stubby shaft conversion and air locker front.

Any thing bigger, cheaper, or higher in my experience is for looks only and will have more cons than pros for a vitara

[Reubs]

Hi Suzukitas, what is the reasoning behind the 1" body lift - a lot of effort for a small amount?

[suzukitas]

Its the easiest way for the larger tyres to clear cab and to keep the suspension setup as factory which in my opinion and experience to be as good as any other suspension setup.

[Reubs]

Fair call Suzukitas - if you are maintaining standard suspension. It doesn't take much bumpstop spacing to clear 235s if going down the path of longer travel suspension.