Vehicle & Technical > Suzuki

Vitara lands tomorrow!

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Damon:
Frankly Calmini are t*&&£&&

I fitted the 3" super artic....... kit, took the truck to a field, drove up a slight slope (not even a hill) in 4WD, the front left wheel lost traction slightly in a bit of sand, slip - grip - slip - grip BANG!!!! that was the end of the front ali axle.

To be honest I wouldn't fit this kit again if you paid me.  But it's on the truck now and it's working OK.

The steel front axle conversion is straightforward enough and gives you a completely steel front end including 3rd member.  The ring/pinions in the GV are different to my 5.125:1 so I had to change them out, the side gears from the GV were 26 spline not 22, so I changed them too.







Personally I wouldn't drive off-road without a steel front axle, but that's just MHO :)  It might last forever, it might last 5 minutes.

I've known Vitaras to break front axles that don't have the Calmini kit fitted.  It's a week part of the vehicle.  So is the Calmini rear rose joint, but that's another story :)

cotefarmboy:

--- Quote from: "Damon" ---

The steel front axle conversion is straightforward enough and gives you a completely steel front end including 3rd member.  The ring/pinions in the GV are different to my 5.125:1 so I had to change them out, the side gears from the GV were 26 spline not 22, so I changed them too.


--- End quote ---


OK now I am lost, not a mechanic I'm afraid, what does this mean? Can I just buy the complete GV axle and diff and fit it or do I need more parts?

Damon:

--- Quote from: "cotefarmboy" ---
--- Quote from: "Damon" ---

The steel front axle conversion is straightforward enough and gives you a completely steel front end including 3rd member.  The ring/pinions in the GV are different to my 5.125:1 so I had to change them out, the side gears from the GV were 26 spline not 22, so I changed them too.


--- End quote ---


OK now I am lost, not a mechanic I'm afraid, what does this mean? Can I just buy the complete GV axle and diff and fit it or do I need more parts?
--- End quote ---


You'll need to change the ring/pinion and possibly the side gears depending on which ones you're running at the moment :)

Unfortunately it's not a straight swap :( as the GV runs different ratios.

Whatmot:
basically the diffs on the gv are geared different to the vit, so you have to change them. also, the axles are different too.

its either a diy job or you could buy this

Edit: dammit, damo beat me to the reply :)

Whatmot:
ive just seen your post on difflock, us mudclubers not good enough for you :o  :P


--- Quote from: "cotefarmboy" ---OK, It's here, seems OK at first glance but there are one or 2 issues that I need help with please as I haven't owned one of these before.

1. Oil is leaking from the rocker cover, is this common and is it worth fixing?

2. Car has a 3" Calmini suspension lift and I am hearing horror stories about broken front diffs, should I suck it and see or fit a GV front axle?

3. It looks to be toeing in slightly at the front, I guess this is due to the lift, does it need correction bushes/bolts etc?
--- End quote ---


the only thing i can help with is the 'toeing in'. sounds like your cambers out, dave jones at bits4bits does camber adjustment bolts, might be worth looking into them Link

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