Q's regarding Suspension for Suzuki Sierra

G'Day all,
I have some money to put into making my Suzuki Sierra a more formidable
little beast. Yes I know this is not a sensible financial proposition and
that I'll never get that money back. But first I don't intend to sell this
fun little vehicle, so resale isn't a consideration, and I like the fact
that the mods and initial purchase price combined, is still going to be a
lot less than the most basic Landcruiser/Patrol will cost me, and with these
mods will eat either of those for dinner out bush.

One of the first mods I want is to raise it to get room under there for some
decent tyres, and I want to improve the lousy suspension that comes stock
standard on a Suzuki Sierra (Samurai in US).
I asked a friend who was a mechanic for a suspension specialist, and he
insists I need to go with King Springs and Koni Shocks as he believes they
are unbeatable.

However a company here who do extreme 4WD modifications, and specialise in
Suzuki's, recommend this kit from Calmini, which is both a suspension
upgrade and 5 inch lift. http://www.puresuzuki.com/super_5.htm

The Calmini is simple bolt-on and fully pre-prepared for the Suzuki Sierra
which suits me well as I intend to be installing most of it myself with the
help of a technically capable friend, so this kit appeals to me from the DIY
point of view. But which is going to be the better for use on and off road,
this kit, the Koni/Kings, or some other combination you recommend.

The other mods that are to be done include front and rear lockers, a
Long-Ranger fuel tank, and larger exhaust with extractors. Would these other
mods alter the choice of the best suspension? Secondly should the lockers,
tank and exhaust mods be done before or after the suspension kit? Will
either one affect the other?

Thanks in advance
Trentus

"Trentus" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> G'Day all,
> I have some money to put into making my Suzuki Sierra a more
> formidable little beast.
<snip>
> Thanks in advance
> Trentus

Easy, **** it off and buy a proper vehicle. Those things are a noisy,
rough, gutless little toy. If you like Suzuki's so much, spend your money
on the bigger thing. What do they call them, Vitara or some thing like
that?

Ron

Trentus,

In regards to the suggestion regarding the Vitara....yes, they are more
comfortable, but nowhere near as capable offroad, unless you **** the CV
joint front-end off. You can only lift Vitaras about 3 inches without
serious mods and also a body lift.

That Calmini kit is a good idea. I have a 94 hardtop with ARB winch bar,
ARB 75l long range tank, extractors, snorkel, etc, and was considering a
spring-over lift (which I can do here at home for practically nothing) which
will instantly give me 4.5 inches of suspension lift plus what the 31" tyres
give me (about another 2").

If you discuss the matter with the guys on the forums that actually do a lot
of these mods, although the SPOA is quick and gives you the lift you are
after, it comes with inherent problems, and they all suggest that whilst
some of them have SPOA (like Toyotas, etc have as standard), that we're
better off doing the springs and maybe a body lift like you're thinking of
doing on yours.

I would suggest you have a surf around here:

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modules/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=7

....because these issues get discussed on almost a daily basis.

I'm sure you'll find the answers to your questions quite easily.

Are you from Sydney by chance?

Regards,

Adam
http://home.iprimus.com.au/adam_c/stuff_for_sale.htm

"Trentus" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> G'Day all,
> I have some money to put into making my Suzuki Sierra a more formidable
> little beast. Yes I know this is not a sensible financial proposition and
> that I'll never get that money back. But first I don't intend to sell this
> fun little vehicle, so resale isn't a consideration, and I like the fact
> that the mods and initial purchase price combined, is still going to be a
> lot less than the most basic Landcruiser/Patrol will cost me, and with
these
> mods will eat either of those for dinner out bush.
>
> One of the first mods I want is to raise it to get room under there for
some
> decent tyres, and I want to improve the lousy suspension that comes stock
> standard on a Suzuki Sierra (Samurai in US).
> I asked a friend who was a mechanic for a suspension specialist, and he
> insists I need to go with King Springs and Koni Shocks as he believes they
> are unbeatable.
>
> However a company here who do extreme 4WD modifications, and specialise in
> Suzuki's, recommend this kit from Calmini, which is both a suspension
> upgrade and 5 inch lift. http://www.puresuzuki.com/super_5.htm
>
> The Calmini is simple bolt-on and fully pre-prepared for the Suzuki Sierra
> which suits me well as I intend to be installing most of it myself with
the
> help of a technically capable friend, so this kit appeals to me from the
DIY
> point of view. But which is going to be the better for use on and off
road,
> this kit, the Koni/Kings, or some other combination you recommend.
>
> The other mods that are to be done include front and rear lockers, a
> Long-Ranger fuel tank, and larger exhaust with extractors. Would these
other
> mods alter the choice of the best suspension? Secondly should the
lockers,
> tank and exhaust mods be done before or after the suspension kit? Will
> either one affect the other?
>
> Thanks in advance
> Trentus
>
>
>
>
>
>

Ron McGrice wrote:
> "Trentus" <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]:
>
>> G'Day all,
>> I have some money to put into making my Suzuki Sierra a more
>> formidable little beast.
>
> Easy, **** it off and buy a proper vehicle. Those things are a noisy,
> rough, gutless little toy. If you like Suzuki's so much, spend your
> money on the bigger thing. What do they call them, Vitara or some
> thing like that?

Because even though I love my Vitara, Trentus' Sierra is a very able off
roader, as any serious off road drivers know. Anyone who calls them "toys"
doesn't know much about Sierras.

ant

ant wrote:
>

> Because even though I love my Vitara, Trentus' Sierra is a very able off
> roader, as any serious off road drivers know. Anyone who calls them "toys"
> doesn't know much about Sierras.

Agreed they great little 4x4's and I have seen Vitara's and Sierras plus
the re-bodied Sierra's (Jimny) do hard core 4x4 work and always have
been impressed with them. Sure they aint no powerhouses but put a turbo
on them.

On Thu, 30 Oct 2003 11:57:24 +1100, "ant" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>Ron McGrice wrote:
>> "Trentus" <[email protected]> wrote in
>> news:[email protected]:
>>
>>> G'Day all,
>>> I have some money to put into making my Suzuki Sierra a more
>>> formidable little beast.
>>
>> Easy, **** it off and buy a proper vehicle. Those things are a noisy,
>> rough, gutless little toy. If you like Suzuki's so much, spend your
>> money on the bigger thing. What do they call them, Vitara or some
>> thing like that?
>
>Because even though I love my Vitara, Trentus' Sierra is a very able off
>roader, as any serious off road drivers know. Anyone who calls them "toys"
>doesn't know much about Sierras.

I'll second that. My son has owned one for about 4 years.
Excellent off road car. Less than ideal on the highway
though.

Mike Harding

Trentus <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
I like the fact
> that the mods and initial purchase price combined, is still going to be a
> lot less than the most basic Landcruiser/Patrol will cost me, and with
these
> mods will eat either of those for dinner out bush.

Now there's a provocative statement. I'd argue that given the same level of
after market wallet emptying and perhaps a range of different terrains over
a period of time, that the Suzi might get indigestion.
Mind you its no bad thing to believe that you've got the best 4wd there is.
Confidence in your vehicle is of course a major component of safe and fun
travelling.
I'd love to be wrong here. Pick up a little s/h Suzi, pour $$$ into it and
get a vehicle that doesnt sweat the corros of the Cape, the dunking of the
Daintree or the length of the Canning. And then take it home and use it as a
daily driver. Well I can dream can't I ?

Cheers
Jim

Cheers
Jim

Mike Harding wrote:
> On Thu, 30 Oct 2003 11:57:24 +1100, "ant" <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>> Ron McGrice wrote:
>>> "Trentus" <[email protected]> wrote in
>>> news:[email protected]:
>>>
>>>> G'Day all,
>>>> I have some money to put into making my Suzuki Sierra a more
>>>> formidable little beast.
>>>
>>> Easy, **** it off and buy a proper vehicle. Those things are a
>>> noisy, rough, gutless little toy. If you like Suzuki's so much,
>>> spend your money on the bigger thing. What do they call them,
>>> Vitara or some thing like that?
>>
>> Because even though I love my Vitara, Trentus' Sierra is a very able
>> off roader, as any serious off road drivers know. Anyone who calls
>> them "toys" doesn't know much about Sierras.
>
> I'll second that. My son has owned one for about 4 years.
> Excellent off road car. Less than ideal on the highway
> though.

So true. i test drove a couple of new Sierras way back, but I was up for a
long commute each day and it was just too rough on road at 80km + for me. So
I got a Vitara. Top, top little car, and it regularly trundles past "proper"
4WDs floundering in the snow. But Sierras are just that little bit tougher
off road.

ant

"ant" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> Ron McGrice wrote:
>> "Trentus" <[email protected]> wrote in
>> news:[email protected]:
>>
>>> G'Day all,
>>> I have some money to put into making my Suzuki Sierra a more
>>> formidable little beast.
>>
>> Easy, **** it off and buy a proper vehicle. Those things are a
>> noisy, rough, gutless little toy. If you like Suzuki's so much,
>> spend your money on the bigger thing. What do they call them, Vitara
>> or some thing like that?
>
> Because even though I love my Vitara, Trentus' Sierra is a very able
> off roader, as any serious off road drivers know. Anyone who calls
> them "toys" doesn't know much about Sierras.
>
> ant

My Neighbour had one, he used it to drive all over Fraser Island.
The hard part was driving the little noisy, rough barstard of a thing on
the highway to get there.

Ron

"adam_c" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

> Are you from Sydney by chance?

Originally yes, but now from Canberra.
BTW, I might point out these mods aren't just for looks.
I'm a member of a 4WD club, and Canberra being "bush capital" has massive
amounts of 4WD territory around it, which I fully intend to utilise to the
max.

Trentus

"Dan---" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> ant wrote:
> >
>
> > Because even though I love my Vitara, Trentus' Sierra is a very able off
> > roader, as any serious off road drivers know. Anyone who calls them
"toys"
> > doesn't know much about Sierras.
>
> Agreed they great little 4x4's and I have seen Vitara's and Sierras plus
> the re-bodied Sierra's (Jimny) do hard core 4x4 work and always have
> been impressed with them. Sure they aint no powerhouses but put a turbo
> on them.

Can you turbo a 1.3 litre?
Where would I look to find such a mod?
That would be worth considering.

Trentus

"Mike Harding" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

> I'll second that. My son has owned one for about 4 years.
> Excellent off road car. Less than ideal on the highway
> though.
>
> Mike Harding

It's that, "less than ideal on the highway" that I'd really like to do
something about.
Being a 4WD club member, I get a little embarrased at being hard pressed
doing 70Kmh up hills while en-route to the 4WD areas. I really don't want to
be an inconvenience to the rest of the convoy.
I wouldn't want to add too much speed to her with her current suspension.
Hence the desire to improve the suspension AND the engine.

I'm hoping that with highflow filters, exhaust and extractors, that she'll
get that extra 10-15kmh up hills.
If I can just sit on 80 or above up hills I'll be able to keep up with the
rest of the convoy, where many diesels aren't doing much more than 80 up
hills either.

Trentus

"Jim" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Trentus <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> I like the fact
> > that the mods and initial purchase price combined, is still going to be
a
> > lot less than the most basic Landcruiser/Patrol will cost me, and with
> these
> > mods will eat either of those for dinner out bush.
>
> Now there's a provocative statement. I'd argue that given the same level
of
> after market wallet emptying and perhaps a range of different terrains
over
> a period of time, that the Suzi might get indigestion.

What I meant with that statement, was that a $5K Sierra, with $10K of mods,
makes a $15K vehicle.
That $15K would only buy me a very basic Patrol or Cruiser WITHOUT mods.
Thus given a total budget of $15K I'll have a better off-road vehicle with
the modded Sierra, over an unmodded big 4WD.

The only alternative would be to buy a REALLLLLY OLD, and VERY HIGH KM's
Patrol/Cruiser for $5K, and put the same $10K mods on IT. But that would
give me a whole lot more reliability issues, because any Patrol or Cruiser
that I could get for $5K would have very high Km's and be many years older
than the Sierra. Whereas the Sierra I have is just under 9 years old, only
just over 100,000Kms, and immaculate. It also has the same looks as nearly
all other Sierras, whereas Patrols/Cruisers have changed a hell of a lot
since the model that I'd get for $5K and would really look it's age.

I don't, even for a second, believe that a $15K Patrol/Cruiser with the same
$10K of mods wouldn't leave me in the dust, but then that would be a $25K
vehicle.

I was saying that the two vehicles for the SAME PRICE would sway in the
Sierra's favour off-road.

Trentus

"Trentus" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> It's that, "less than ideal on the highway" that I'd really like to do
> something about.
> Being a 4WD club member, I get a little embarrased at being hard
> pressed doing 70Kmh up hills while en-route to the 4WD areas. I really
>
> Trentus

Put the thing on a car trailer!

Ask your engineer what he will pass first..


then look into things.

What are you going to do more of? On Road or Offroad?
Weekend warrior **** or touring....??

They are all different in how you setup your car.

"Ron McGrice" <Newsguy.com> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Trentus" <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]:
>
> > It's that, "less than ideal on the highway" that I'd really like to do
> > something about.
> > Being a 4WD club member, I get a little embarrased at being hard
> > pressed doing 70Kmh up hills while en-route to the 4WD areas. I really
> >
> > Trentus
>
> Put the thing on a car trailer!

Yep, then hook the trailer up my butt, and run real fast.
Though seriously, we do have a "family car" that the wife uses, but it's not
a real grunty little thing, so it would be pretty hard pressed towing the
zook and trailer any faster than the zook can drive on its own, but that's
not the main problem.

The main problem is, that most of these 4WD club trips are point A to point
Z via off-road sections B through to Y.
They aren't trips where we go to point A to play only at A and then return
home.

This means as soon as we left the road, I'd have to leave car and trailer
behind. Many trips are long round trips such as Canberra to Tathra via the
Southern National Parks (Tallaganda etc), then up the coast and back to
Canberra via the Northern National Parks (Deua etc) So I'd have a car and
trailer down on the Snowy Mountain Highway near Nimitabel, and I'd be back
home in Canberra having to go down and get the car and trailer.
Other trips have had sections of 4WD, with sections of highway between them,
but again in a big loop, not going back the way we came, so I'd need to have
the car and trailer follow me so I could use it on the highway sections, and
I can't seriously see a way around that.

My long term plan is to change the "wife's" car for a family 4WD, and keep
"my" zook as the daily commuter and weekend fun-mobile. That way when the
whole family want to go on a club trip, we'd take the "wife's" car. And
when it's a severe trip, or it's just me and maybe one mate, we'd take the
beefed up zook.
But convincing the wife to give up her Station wagon, for a family 4WD isn't
proving to be the easiest job. Especially as she refuses to drive a manual,
so that means an automatic, which limits me to something like a Pajero,
Patrol, or Cruiser, which are expensive and rare in auto, and since the only
way we'd then afford to RUN this thing would be if it was turbo diesel, as
my wife has no intention of ever feeding the thirst of a petrol family 4WD,
so it has to be TD auto, which means even rarer, and more expensive.

So it looks like the zook needs to be the main 4WD for a while longer, and
serve the secondary purpose of a short 5-6km daily commuter for work. All
up about 60kms a fortnight for work, and easily 300kms a fortnight off-road.

Trentus

"Biggus" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Ask your engineer what he will pass first..

The 4WD place that does the mods has an engineer they recommend who does all
their certificates for them, so he'd probably pass the Calmini kit OK, but
he might require or prefer that the company does the installation, which I'm
not keen on as they want an arm and leg for a simple bolt on kit, where a
friend who has a full workshop at their farm, including hydraulic hoist,
will lift her up and put it all on for us for free, and we get a weekend on
the farm to boot.

> then look into things.
>
> What are you going to do more of? On Road or Offroad?
> Weekend warrior **** or touring....??

About 30kms a week on road, doing a short 5-6km trip to work and back.
And an average of one good off-road trip per fortnight of say 300kms or so,
and sometimes shorter trips on the other weekend.
(I knock off work early arvo, so get the gardens and lawns etc all done
during the week, which keeps almost every weekend free for play, and since I
work hard, I value my play time on weekends)

> They are all different in how you setup your car.

Yep, that's why I'll keep the smaller tyres and rims for the on-road daily
commute, and put on the 31-32 muddies for the weekends (besides I can't
afford to scrub bare a set of muddies by driving on road with them
regularly)
How I'll run two speedo's is another question all together. I think I'll
have to use the GPS unit for a daily commute speedo, and get the zook's
speedo calibrated for use with the muddies.

The club trips vary from extreme steep muddy mountains, to some very sedate
family stuff we could almost take the AWD Liberty on.
And everything in between.

I've already had the zook outperform a LR Discovery through a muddy boghole
(he tried twice and failed both times, I got through first go), I'd love to
turn it into a stealth weapon with lockers etc so that it outperforms even
more of the club vehicles, whilst LOOKING like a toy. Passing those bogged
Cruisers and Patrols in a vehicle they see as a speedhump, sort of appeals
to me.

Trentus

Approximately 10/29/03 23:51, Trentus uttered for posterity:

> "Dan---" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> ant wrote:
>> >
>>
>> > Because even though I love my Vitara, Trentus' Sierra is a very able off
>> > roader, as any serious off road drivers know. Anyone who calls them
> "toys"
>> > doesn't know much about Sierras.
>>
>> Agreed they great little 4x4's and I have seen Vitara's and Sierras plus
>> the re-bodied Sierra's (Jimny) do hard core 4x4 work and always have
>> been impressed with them. Sure they aint no powerhouses but put a turbo
>> on them.
>
> Can you turbo a 1.3 litre?

Turbo or super. Heck you can turbo a Subaru 360 if you are nuts
enough.

> Where would I look to find such a mod?

Google aftermarket turbo kits for Suzuki. Nitrous kits also
available.



--
My governor can kick your governor's ass

Trentus,

Mine has a finer filter (foam), extractors and an exhaust and it hums along
just fine. I can hold 100 pretty easily, even with the nice flat
windscreen!!

Adam


"Trentus" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Mike Harding" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
> > I'll second that. My son has owned one for about 4 years.
> > Excellent off road car. Less than ideal on the highway
> > though.
> >
> > Mike Harding
>
> It's that, "less than ideal on the highway" that I'd really like to do
> something about.
> Being a 4WD club member, I get a little embarrased at being hard pressed
> doing 70Kmh up hills while en-route to the 4WD areas. I really don't want
to
> be an inconvenience to the rest of the convoy.
> I wouldn't want to add too much speed to her with her current suspension.
> Hence the desire to improve the suspension AND the engine.
>
> I'm hoping that with highflow filters, exhaust and extractors, that she'll
> get that extra 10-15kmh up hills.
> If I can just sit on 80 or above up hills I'll be able to keep up with the
> rest of the convoy, where many diesels aren't doing much more than 80 up
> hills either.
>
> Trentus
>
>

You can also convert it to power steering if you've got $400, a set of
drills and some spanners in your pocket.

You'll need it if you're locking the diff/s

Adam


"Trentus" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]...
> "Biggus" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Ask your engineer what he will pass first..
>
> The 4WD place that does the mods has an engineer they recommend who does
all
> their certificates for them, so he'd probably pass the Calmini kit OK, but
> he might require or prefer that the company does the installation, which
I'm
> not keen on as they want an arm and leg for a simple bolt on kit, where a
> friend who has a full workshop at their farm, including hydraulic hoist,
> will lift her up and put it all on for us for free, and we get a weekend
on
> the farm to boot.
>
> > then look into things.
> >
> > What are you going to do more of? On Road or Offroad?
> > Weekend warrior **** or touring....??
>
> About 30kms a week on road, doing a short 5-6km trip to work and back.
> And an average of one good off-road trip per fortnight of say 300kms or
so,
> and sometimes shorter trips on the other weekend.
> (I knock off work early arvo, so get the gardens and lawns etc all done
> during the week, which keeps almost every weekend free for play, and since
I
> work hard, I value my play time on weekends)
>
> > They are all different in how you setup your car.
>
> Yep, that's why I'll keep the smaller tyres and rims for the on-road daily
> commute, and put on the 31-32 muddies for the weekends (besides I can't
> afford to scrub bare a set of muddies by driving on road with them
> regularly)
> How I'll run two speedo's is another question all together. I think I'll
> have to use the GPS unit for a daily commute speedo, and get the zook's
> speedo calibrated for use with the muddies.
>
> The club trips vary from extreme steep muddy mountains, to some very
sedate
> family stuff we could almost take the AWD Liberty on.
> And everything in between.
>
> I've already had the zook outperform a LR Discovery through a muddy
boghole
> (he tried twice and failed both times, I got through first go), I'd love
to
> turn it into a stealth weapon with lockers etc so that it outperforms even
> more of the club vehicles, whilst LOOKING like a toy. Passing those bogged
> Cruisers and Patrols in a vehicle they see as a speedhump, sort of appeals
> to me.
>
> Trentus
>
>