Suzuki Modification Information

[Scott Brady]

Datruper inquired about modifying the Suzuki Vitara.

Here are some good resources:

Calmini (http://www.puresuzuki.com/grand_vitara2.htm)

Old Man Emu (http://www.rocky-road.com/kickome.html) My personal recommendation, as the lift is only 1.25-1.5"

Then, install some 235/75 R16 Yokohama Geolander AT+II's

If you want to improve performance after that, install a limited slip or ARB locker, though that might encourage use of the vehicle on trails where body damage is likely.

[datrupr]

Scott, thanks for the post, and thanks to Kevin on the other thread for helping to point in the right direction. The only lift Calmini offers for the GV is 2.5" which I think is a bit much. OME and the 1.5" is more along the track I would be looking for. And I am with you on the tire size as well Scott. The GV I will start after I get the tires and suspension done on the Trooper. But now I have a good idea and feel for the Zuk's abilities and it's primary driver. :luxhello:

[jeffryscott]

I have been modding my 4dr Vitara to get it off-road ready and have been very pleased with Rocky Road Outfitters' "Rock-Steady" kit with the addition of their rocksliders, which are very beefy and mount to both the frame and the body. The Old Man Emu springs and struts are first class, as are the Doetsch Tech shocks in back and give the truck MUCH better off-road manners and flex. I have 235/70/16 Firestone Destination AT tires, which have been very good on and off the road, except for mud.

The Zuk replaced my very gas thirsty Land Rover Discovery and I have been pleased, and impressed, with the off-road prowess of this little beast.

Feel free to ask any questions if you have any,

Jeff

[datrupr]

Thank you Jeff. I really appreciate your input. My wife and I were very impressed with the Zuk's off road prowess. After we get the modding going on the Trooper we will start on the Zuk. I agree, it is a great little rig, and fairly efficient to boot. :clapsmile

[datrupr]

Jeff, would you mind posting some pics of your Zuk and some of the mods you have done?

[chet]

wow a suzuki thread! I have a 4 door sidekick that I use for trips in the PNW. I have a friend with a GV with the calmini lift and it is perfect size.

In a small vehicle like this 2.5" is not that much. Although we both have problems with the Calmini being too stiff on gravel roads. I would like to try OME struts with the calmini suspension components for an all around perfect ride.

One a side note you need to remove the rear seat to gain any useful storage space. either that or a big roof rack! :camping:

[datrupr]

Chet, as the GV is my wifes car it will not actually see all that much serious off roading. And removing the back seats would not fly with her. In most cases when we take it anywhere it is a second vehicle on the trip to haul people, the Trooper takes all the gear and crap that a family of 5 "needs" on our camping trips. Have you heard from anyone that has the OME suspension on thier GV? I would like to hear more. I can not imagine the ride getting any harsher than the stock suspension, because of the short wheelbase it is already very YJesque in its harshness. :jumping:

Also, thanks for the post and welcome to the forum. There are a lot of people on here that are always willing to hit the trails or offer up some good advice. I think you will like it here.

[chet]

haha on the ride not getting worse! :hehe: I was thinking the same thing but the calmini is HARSH! I use dto be able to take speed bumps at a normal speed but now I am down to a crawl to get over them!

If I was going to do a newer suzuki it would be an XL7 with the extra length.

Have you been to www.zukiworld.com They have a good GV section in their forum. I'm sure someone there has installed the OME stuff.

[datrupr]

Thanks Chet, I will go and check it out. :)

[jeffryscott]

http://homepage.mac.com/jeffryscott/PhotoAlbum9.html

Here are a few pics of my first outing with the Old Man Emu/Doetsch Tech setup on the Vitara.

I've added the 2-inch body lift and rock sliders since from Rocky Road, but haven't gotten out to the trail as of yet.

Still have a lock-rite for the rear to install and UPS will bring a Hidden Hitch 2-inch receiver hitch I'll install as a rear recovery point (certainly not going to be towing 3500 pounds with the 2.0 liter engine).

My experience with Rocky Road was good, a little slow waiting for bits, but otherwise very good service. Calmini, on the other hand, has given me rather rude replies to any emails I've sent.

Everything I've read on the Suzuki forums is the Calmini shocks, springs and struts are not very good, the Old Man Emu stuff is infinitely better. I know on my Trooper (which I traded even for my Land Rover when gas was reasonable) I switched to OME and the difference was simply amazing.

Any of you Zuki guys planning on the November rendezvous?

Jeff

[Scott Brady]

Jeff,

Very cool Suzuki! I cant wait to see it in Nov. :clapsmile

Where were those pictures taken?

[datrupr]

Jeff, has the OME set up helped improve its ride? Chet was saying that the Calmini has made it worse. Just curious and wouldn't mind your input here. I will be going in November but more than likely I will bring the Trooper.

[jeffryscott]

Aaron, the OME has improved the ride - cornering is better and washboard roads are much improved. The addition of the body lift has made the ride choppy, but that's OK for me.

Scott, the pics are up Redington Road on a little trail named 4436, it is a turnoff just about a mile before the bathroom/staging area. It's a nice little trail, very little traffic, not difficult, but definitely 4wd in spots.

It's become my favorite little trail when taking newbies out in their vehicles, or with family when I'm by myself. You don't have the yahoos that Chiva attracts ...

Jeff

[jeffryscott]

Here are a few pics which show the benefits of the Rocky-Road Old Man Emu/Doetsch Tech suspension upgrade on a 2002 Suzuki Vitara.

http://homepage.mac.com/jeffryscott/PhotoAlbum10.html

makes a big difference offroad.

[Scott Brady]

Here are a few pics which show the benefits of the Rocky-Road Old Man Emu/Doetsch Tech suspension upgrade on a 2002 Suzuki Vitara.

http://homepage.mac.com/jeffryscott/PhotoAlbum10.html

makes a big difference offroad.

I really like that Suzuki. The steel wheels and compact size. I noticed the rock sliders too. Can't wait to see it at the rally!

[datrupr]

Jeff, did you buy your GV with out the fender flares and body cladding? Ours has all that stuff and it looks like I need to remove the bottom panel to add sliders. Did you have to remove anything?

[jeffryscott]

I can't wait for the rally. I've been at home all week with the little ones (one and three) while my wife has had mucho training for work. I love them dearly, but daddy time is important too.

Jeff

here's a great video of zuks, rovers and other vehicles in Argentina:

http://www.suzukiclub4x4.com.ar/Videos/Pehuenia_2005.mpg

It's funny how little respect these machines get. I was at a local 4x4 club cleanup the other day and amongst all these lifted Jeeps was my little guy. The head of the group was asking me what I wheel in, I said my Suzuki, and he kind of shook his head in such a way that I could tell he thought my idea of 4wheeling was a dirt road. Then they said I could ride with somebody to go up Charoleaux Gap for the next cleanup and I mentioned I wouldn't have any problem taking this vehicle up there ... hmmm, was the response, then they said, well, after a couple of times wheeling with us you'll be looking at our Jeeps and thinking, "I have to get a Jeep." I politely said no, the Suzuki is just fine. Brand loyalty is one thing, but brand pompousness is another ...

[jeffryscott]

got a LockRight installed today in my Vitara and will be going to Charoleaux Gap (north of Tucson) on Sunday for a Tucson Rough Riders cleanup day to photograph for the newspaper. Can't wait to try it out.

The guy who installed it, Lloyds Transmission, is a big Toyota fan.

I'll report back how it does on Sunday.

Jeff

[datrupr]

Congrats on the locker Jeff:clapsmile

[BajaTaco]

That little rig just keeps getting better and better :cool: Congrats on the locker. I look forward to hearing about your trip.

[jeffryscott]

Wow, is all I can say in the difference between having the locker and not. With the automatic, I the difference on-road is imperceptable, but off-road, WOW.

I took it up to Redington Road area today to a trail called 4436 and to Chiva Falls. Didn't get too far on 4436 because some "jerk" for lack of wanting to say worse, parked in the middle of the trail and was nowhere to be found. Lovely. Went to Chiva and drove over the toughest lines I could find in all areas except three feathers (don't want the kids in the car for trying too much) and stuff I couldn't do a week ago without the locker was a piece of cake.

Sad, though, to see how continuously more and more trashed the area is becoming, and the Forest Service has a sign up they will no longer remove trash- they expect people to pack it in, pack it out. The area is going to be a disaster without any cleanup efforts.

Here is a little movie I made of the day, music is by Adrian Legg:

http://homepage.mac.com/jeffryscott/iMovieTheater17.html

[Scott Brady]

Are the bumpers next Jeff? Have you decided on a solution?

:lurk:

[jeffryscott]

Bumpers, hmmm, they are hopefully next. I like John Shotts' approach, except no room for a winch. I'm hoping to get together with Goodtimes over the break and brainstorm with him about ideas. I've seen some tube bumpers from Argentina that look good and then there is still the Jeep option.

While my wife has time off from school, I'll have some mornings free and thinking I might make a prototype out of 2x4 or 2x6 and get the angles cut, etc .... then try to figure out what something might cost.

I still have concerns about the airbag, but, one of the Australian sites says the sensor is in the dash, so bullbar-type bumpers can be fabbed without too many concerns. (Much stricter laws down under for modifying vehicles)

Need to get busy with some freelance work to pay for some of this stuff. Know anybody that wants a wedding shot?:o

[datrupr]

I was just browsing Rock Road's (http://www.rocky-road.com/sidekick.html)website looking for racks for the Trooper. After I was done with that I started looking at the stuff for the GV, And man, this is a project I really want to get started on, I think I can turn the GV into a really cool little wheeling rig while still making it look good for the CEO/CFO to use as a daily driver. Man, I need to get the Trooper finished so I can start on this project. Or maybe I should just start doing them at the same time. I am so confused, and so much in dream land with both of these trucks.