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Post by sicvitara on Jun 7, 2005 2:01:39 GMT -5
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Post by uncivilized on Jun 13, 2005 11:55:35 GMT -5
Has anybody ever put spacers (20mm)or washers between the front control arms and the front ball joint bolts for more lift at the front? Apparently all you need are 6 spacers drilled and 6 longer bolts. sombody must know something This would do nothing. If you want a lift, get coil spacers. Sky Manufacturing make a 1.5" set.
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Gman
Counts zuks instead of sheep
Posts: 530
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Post by Gman on Jun 13, 2005 13:52:58 GMT -5
sicvitara,
With the coils sitting on the control arms... such spacers would put more tension on the springs..which is what you want, but then, longer bolts at that location would cause a structural integrity problem...the bolts (while taking a pounding) would be apt to stretch, bend and break under the stress...
Cal-mini and perhaps others, redesigned the arms for added height, while maintaining or improving the strength/safety issue...
Jeff
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Post by Lucy on Jun 14, 2005 11:05:23 GMT -5
ooook....for starters ,spacing out the ball joint will just screw up your suspension geometry and create a very weak point. Now with coil spacers they are doable I know several guys running them , personally I dont recommend them but if your going to do it dont go any bigger then 1.5"- 2". I would also recommend getting the old man emu longer shocks , struts and springs. You see when you space out the IFS without lowering any mounts you create a harsh angle on your CV joints and depending on how hard you off road and what size tire your running you can end up snapping your CV's frequently. If you are looking for and inexpensive way to lift your truck alittle ,get 30" or 31" tire under it and get started with offroading what I recommend is a body lift. they are simple cheap and by keeping your suspension stock you can retain the strength of the factory suspension. As for calmini ,gees where to start Ok the calmini arms are no different from the stock ones they are the same dimensions just they are pretty power coat blue. With the 3" suspension lift from them the rear set up is very good the front set up leaves alot to be desired and IMHO is built to sell their other parts. The front springs are way too heavy for a kick (because they expect you to blow $800 canadian on their heavy winch bumper). The other problem I have with it is the front drop mounts for the front third member, it creates a weak point and when your truck torques up to hard the third member kicks up and shears the mount. There is also the issue of wicked CV angles so if your running anything bigger then a 31" your going to break something. I am running 33" super swampers and I've dealt with these problems by replacing the calmini front springs with a 3" spacer and the factory springs, I replaced the mount on the third member with a hoop the goes all the way around the third to hold it in place (pic's apone request). To date this has stopped most of the breakage I still snap CV's from time to time but I'm hitting her pretty hard to do it , I'm curantly working on a solution to that problem. for those of you with out the facilities to Fab stuff up your self you can always buy calminis anvil front housing. If you have any question or would like my to clearify anything by all means shoot
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Post by MuddinForFun on Jun 14, 2005 11:16:56 GMT -5
:)You might give www.rocky-road.com a try. They specialize in tracker/sidekick off-road spacers and lifts.
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Post by Lucy on Jun 14, 2005 11:18:40 GMT -5
:)You might give www.rocky-road.com a try. They specialize in tracker/sidekick off-road spacers and lifts. So do I
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Post by MuddinForFun on Jun 14, 2005 11:48:11 GMT -5
Sorry Lucy, Forgot your set up to sell. I'll be sure and check with you before I buy next time. Thanks for this great site.
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Post by uncivilized on Jun 14, 2005 11:51:35 GMT -5
As for calmini ,gees where to start Ok the calmini arms are no different from the stock ones they are the same dimensions just they are pretty power coat blue. No different? They're different, they have a different bend in them to allow for the longer spring, and they're a pinch longer. Plus they're bomb proof. I've never heard of anyone who had a problem with the diff drop brackets, they're way stronger than the stock ones, and if they're wasn't room, or if something wasn't right the design would have been changed long ago. The aluminum housing is weak anyway, switch to a steel from a gv?
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Post by Lucy on Jun 14, 2005 12:24:28 GMT -5
No different? They're different, they have a different bend in them to allow for the longer spring, and they're a pinch longer. Plus they're bomb proof. I've never heard of anyone who had a problem with the diff drop brackets, they're way stronger than the stock ones, and if they're wasn't room, or if something wasn't right the design would have been changed long ago. The aluminum housing is weak anyway, switch to a steel from a gv? you talking about the front or the rear , the rear control arms have a bend to compensate for the longer travel. The only difference it the fronts is the cup for the spring, they built up a steel plate around the spring mount, there is no bend it the front arms that compensates for anything and according to my measurements they are the same length as stock , so if I mismeasured (which I may have) I bet it's only a 1/4" max which in the grand scheme of suspension travel isn't going to do a mouse farts worth of difference. Also lengthening the arms without lengthening the CV's just puts more stress on the retaining spring clip for the spline. Just outta curiosity the housing you've never heard of breaking, what size tire are these people running and what kind of wheeling do they do? As for the front housing , yes the aluminum is weaker then steel ,but in the stock configuration it'll hold up, start changing angles and add 33"s and snap. BTW I never said the calmini mounts are weak, they aren't, I said the angles the mounts put the front housing on put the housing in a weakened vulnerable position. If you look at the stock brackets they are thick heavy cast steel the calmini brackets are 1/4" steel plate so personally I wouldn't be quick to say they are way stronger then stock, but thats just me. in a perfect world this would be true, unfortunately in a world where there are winch bumpers and anvils to sell you have to question.
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Post by Lucy on Jun 14, 2005 12:25:41 GMT -5
Sorry Lucy, Forgot your set up to sell. I'll be sure and check with you before I buy next time. Thanks for this great site. Np ,anything I can do to help lemme know
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Post by uncivilized on Jun 14, 2005 12:32:35 GMT -5
you talking about the front or the rear , the rear control arms have a bend to compensate for the longer travel. The only difference it the fronts is the cup for the spring, they built up a steel plate around the spring mount, there is no bend it the front arms that compensates for anything and according to my measurements they are the same length as stock , so if I mismeasured (which I may have) I bet it's only a 1/4" max which in the grand scheme of suspension travel isn't going to do a mouse farts worth of difference. Also lengthening the arms without lengthening the CV's just puts more stress on the retaining spring clip for the spline. Just outta curiosity the housing you've never heard of breaking, what size tire are these people running and what kind of wheeling do they do? As for the front housing , yes the aluminum is weaker then steel ,but in the stock configuration it'll hold up, start changing angles and add 33"s and snap. BTW I never said the calmini mounts are weak, they aren't, I said the angles the mounts put the front housing on put the housing in a weakened vulnerable position. If you look at the stock brackets they are thick heavy cast steel the calmini brackets are 1/4" steel plate so personally I wouldn't be quick to say they are way stronger then stock, but thats just me. Both... CALMINI does it right! We offer a system that truly improves every aspect of the vehicles off-road ability. Our system, using replacement control arms that create lift and ground clearance is the only way to go. Our exclusive longer control arms increase wheel travel, and maintain proper track width and wheel alignment.
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Post by Lucy on Jun 14, 2005 12:49:09 GMT -5
Both... CALMINI does it right! We offer a system that truly improves every aspect of the vehicles off-road ability. Our system, using replacement control arms that create lift and ground clearance is the only way to go. Our exclusive longer control arms increase wheel travel, and maintain proper track width and wheel alignment. you work for them do you??? Or you just like quoting them? Do you belive everything you read? This forum is for wheelers that want what works best on the trail and what will stand up to real wheeling. I run this site and my business as a wheeler and a zuk enthusiast and as such I provide people with an Unbiast opinion to help then save time and money so they can enjoy their zuk and the sport. I am a hardcore wheeler I also fab and know a kick inside out, up and down so you can quote calmini all you want. I use it , I beat it and I Know it's good points and bad and how it stands up under real use.
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Post by uncivilized on Jun 14, 2005 13:55:39 GMT -5
Both... CALMINI does it right! We offer a system that truly improves every aspect of the vehicles off-road ability. Our system, using replacement control arms that create lift and ground clearance is the only way to go. Our exclusive longer control arms increase wheel travel, and maintain proper track width and wheel alignment. you work for them do you??? Or you just like quoting them? Do you belive everything you read? This forum is for wheelers that want what works best on the trail and what will stand up to real wheeling. I run this site and my business as a wheeler and a zuk enthusiast and as such I provide people with an Unbiast opinion to help then save time and money so they can enjoy their zuk and the sport. I am a hardcore wheeler I also fab and know a kick inside out, up and down so you can quote calmini all you want. I use it , I beat it and I Know it's good points and bad and how it stands up under real use. I'm in Nova Scotia, that would be a long drive to work I quoted them because they say they're different, and they are for obvious reasons. You said they were the same, and they're not. I don't even have a Calmini lift, I just stated that I had never heard of any problems with the kit. PS - I'd like to see some pics of you rig on 33's (uncivilized121@hotmail.com)
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Post by Lucy on Jun 14, 2005 14:25:58 GMT -5
I'm in Nova Scotia, that would be a long drive to work I quoted them because they say they're different, and they are for obvious reasons. You said they were the same, and they're not. I don't even have a Calmini lift, I just stated that I had never heard of any problems with the kit. PS - I'd like to see some pics of you rig on 33's (uncivilized121@hotmail.com) Dimensionally they are the same, the front arms do nothing to lift the truck ,also the calmini arms are strong yes but no stronger then the stock ones , there perpose is to look pretty blue and match the other kit components. You must remeber Calmini is a business so ofcourse they are going to tell you they're product is bigger bader and better then everything else , they want to sell their product. for example .... "Our system, using replacement control arms that create lift and ground clearance is the only way to go .Our exclusive longer control arms increase wheel travel." they can say that cause the Rear control arms do actually do that but the front ones don't ,I actually have less travel in my front end with the calmini kit then I did stock. ", and maintain proper track width and wheel alignment." Now this one is just a total line of crap, #1 track width has to do with axles widths ,wheel spacers and rim offset , the only suspension lift that affects "track width" is an axle swap. As for the wheel alignment , the suspension kit throws the camber way off , you have to either add a huge amount of weight to the front end or grind out bolt holes on the struts so you can ajust the camber and bring it back to some what normal. to give you an idea ....front tires before the lift kit /-\ front tires after the lift kit \-/ there are 2 reasons I have a seemingly dark veiw of calmini , 1 IMO the front end part of the lift kit is not at all up to par with how they advertise the kit and 2 when I called to express my conserns about the problem with the camber I was told to buy one of there bumpers to fix it, personal that set of some warning lights about their motives when designing the kit. I will give then this though ,they have a great advertising department!
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Post by Lucy on Jun 14, 2005 14:28:33 GMT -5
as per your request another pic of my rig
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