How different lifts affect tire clearance

[Nesquik]

Hi everyone, new to the forum

I'm familiarizing myself with different lifts....I recently bought my wife a 1999 Suzuki Vitara and she wants to do some light off-road driving with it.

I did some research and found what tires would fit, and installed 5 235/70r16 Goodyear AT adventure tires. I had to cut the front bumper a little bit, and they run the frame at full lock, but otherwise no issues. I used a ramp to flex the suspension and the clearance is VERY tight, but it works.

My question is about coil lifts vs spacer lifts. I have researched the two and understand the differences, I am asking in regards to tire clearance only.

If I do a full calmini kit it gives a 2.5 inch lift, and I see that this obviously gives more clearance at rest. But won't this also increase articulation, possibly to the point that the tires won't fit at full flex?

If I do a spacer lift, it increases clearance without increasing articulation....which would then yield more clearance at full flex, right?

Thanks for any input. Just trying to decide which lift to go with to better accommodate these 29 inch tires

 

[tommudd]

Some will argue this point BUT I have always found that a full spring replacement and new shocks are always better overall than any spacer lift
Most times people use a spacer on already worn weaker suspension which when combined with a spacer gives a really bad ride and handling
I've been working on 4x4s for over 40 years and have only ridden in a couple of spacer lifted vehicles in all that time that sort of rode OK. But both had brand new factory suspensions when they were installed
The last 4 new vehicles I have bought, 3 XJs and a KJ all had complete full spring suspensions installed before they were a year old
So now short answer is go with the full spring lift in my book
Just my 2 pennies this evening

 

[Nesquik]

How will it affect tire clearance? Same? More? Less?

It's not a matter of the money, as I am in no hurry and will simply save longer before lifting.

Edit

I'm likely doing a body lift. The lift kits for this vehicle have sketchy reviews. Quality is more important that overall lift but I do need a little more room. Likely going to go with OME springs/shocks/struts and keep it where it's at, since OME says not to use cool spacers with their product

 

[kojackJKU]

Depending...I have spacer lifts in my JK and I had one on my 2010 F150, I also had one installed on my 2010 patriot. All ride/rode fine. For an expedition vehicle, spacer lifts are fine. IF you are rock crawling or having issues with your stock springs, yes, a spring lift is better as you are fixing problems. My JK unlimited has 185,000 on it right now, with a teraflex 2" spacer lift. It rides much better than a stock jk as I have better shocks etc installed as well. DO not listen to the general wide sweeping statements that spacer lifts do this or that. OME springs will lift your rig, that's why they said do not use spacers. One or the other. If you want a little extra room for tires, and your stock suspension is in good condition you can use a spacer lift NO ISSUES.

 

[Nesquik]

Depending...I have spacer lifts in my JK and I had one on my 2010 F150, I also had one installed on my 2010 patriot. All ride/rode fine. For an expedition vehicle, spacer lifts are fine. IF you are rock crawling or having issues with your stock springs, yes, a spring lift is better as you are fixing problems. My JK unlimited has 185,000 on it right now, with a teraflex 2" spacer lift. It rides much better than a stock jk as I have better shocks etc installed as well. DO not listen to the general wide sweeping statements that spacer lifts do this or that. OME springs will lift your rig, that's why they said do not use spacers. One or the other. If you want a little extra room for tires, and your stock suspension is in good condition you can use a spacer lift NO ISSUES.

Appreciate the info.

This thing has 200k on it so I'm not opposed to new parts. According to the info I found, I should get a little over 1 inch with OME springs/struts/shocks and maybe more depending how much the old **** has worn

I'll likely do this along with a 1inch body lift, as opposed to do the OME in conjunction with cool spacers.

The other kits for this vehicle have sketchy reviews, or sketchy retailers. On top of that, it involves really complicating the setup or replacing A lot more parts....

 

[kojackJKU]

yea, I would not do the ome springs and spacers as it may throw off the suspension geometry to much. OME is awesome. I would have no quams about using their gear.

calmini also makes a few lifts for that rig too. They are very reputable in the Suzuki corner. I almost bought an xl7 back in the 2000s, and I was going to install a calmini. I went a different way and never got off roading again until my 2005 F150. Now, everything I own is off road capable and modded to work great and last in the backcountry. My family loves outdoor adventures and all our vehicles provide us the way to the outside.

 

[tarditi]

To add that sometimes replacement springs have different spring rates more suited for rugged terrain than factory rate (which is designed to appeal to a more broad range of driving surfaces and owner preferences)

 

[kojackJKU]

Totally, but really depends on the rig. For the most part, the stock JK spring rates in the 18-19 and 59-60 range are great overlanding. The rear springs are stiff enough for weight, unless your towing a trailer, and the fronts provide ample flex. Shocks on the JK are the weak link. but on the vitara, I have no clue about rates...im sure the shocks could be upgraded.

 

[Nesquik]

Interesting about calmini

I've read nothing but terrible reviews....the occasional "good product, horrible retailer" but mostly all bad

 

[kojackJKU]

Really, maybe they have gone downhill since then!

 

[pittsburgh]

I had a 2" spacer kit on my 2005 TJ Unlimited and it road/handled like crap. It cost me around $300 including shocks, for what it cost I would have been better off putting the $300 towards an OME kit.

As for suzukis I would give these guys a call http://www.trailtough.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=47&Itemid=53

They helped me build this Sammi, with YJ springs 33's and a 5:1 t-case. Also the Sammi drove straight and handled as good as my stock TJ.

 

[kojackJKU]

As I said, I am going by my experience of 3 different rigs with spacer lifts. All worked perfectly.

 

[pittsburgh]

As I said, I am going by my experience of 3 different rigs with spacer lifts. All worked perfectly.

How much lift did your spacers provide? And which shocks where you running with them? I think my TJ needed better shocks, sway bar extensions, and possibly a track bar adjustment??? But a complete kit would have covered those additional parts for around $1300 which would have been better in the long run and depending on tax returns I might be getting the TJ an OME kit.

 

[kojackJKU]

On my JK Unlimited, I have 2" front, 1" rear. I am using Monroe reflex monotube shocks (awesome, I have used these on three different rigs now), teraflex swaybar links, teraflex lower control arms. Jeep rides, drives, handles better than it did stock. I recently added teraflex drag link, tie rod and steering stabilizer as well. On my F150 I had 2.5" of lift in front and 2" in the rear, stock shocks etc and 285 tires. Again, rode as good if not better than stock. My Jeep patriot had the RRO spacer lift. It was awesome. rode same as stock, better clearance off road, and for bigger tires.