Re: What\'s The Best Samurai 2\" Lift Kit?

Lifts that size oare usually shackles and those are pretty much the same. I believe Rancho has some leaf springs that are about the lift, real stiff from what I hear, espically if your spua. Also try the search button chances are if you thought of it we've done it to death already.

 

Re: What\'s The Best Samurai 2\" Lift Kit?

Who sells the cheapest 2" shackles for the Sammy?

 

Re: What\'s The Best Samurai 2\" Lift Kit?

howdy,
i started with shackles and snow-balled into everything else. shackles are a good place to start.

 

Re: What\'s The Best Samurai 2\" Lift Kit?

A 2" longer shackle provides 1" of lift. That is the maximum that most people utilize. Longer shackles begin to add unwanted sway and affect the steering angles adversely.

HTH,

TGT - NCO

 

Re: What\'s The Best Samurai 2\" Lift Kit?

and most longer shackles are not even stable enought to worry about cause most likely they are fangs! Bottom line I have a shackle lift and absolutely HATE IT I wish I would have done the work and made it SPOA but I didnt it rides like crap and I get no clearance off road so if you were to ask me I would say just SPOA it even tho that is about 4+ more inches than what you are asking...

 

Re: What\'s The Best Samurai 2\" Lift Kit?

How much are you looking to spend?? Is it a ride issue or is it wanting bigger tyre for off road? If you're just looking for a small amount of lift I'd go with Old Man Emu lifted springs. They are the catsass when it comes to nice ride! We run them on the rear of our rig in SPOA and love them. DO NOT BUY BDS springs you'll be hatin' life and spending all your money at the chiropractors office!!! BEEN THERE DONE THAT!!!!
ROB

 

Re: What\'s The Best Samurai 2\" Lift Kit?

I don't do any serious off roading and am not interested in anything more than a nice subtle 2" lift to add some presence to my stock hardtop. I am running BF Goodrich LT215/75 tires and am very happy with them. I have heard that a 1.75" and 2" lift with shackles will only moderately effect road handling and in some cases, people have preferred the altered ride.

 

Re: What\'s The Best Samurai 2\" Lift Kit?

ya but rob man even with stock springs with shackle lift no I may not be going to the chiropractor now I need a kidney transplant! LOL it is really rough on and off the road I would always advise SPOA once I rode in a sammy with it I slapped myself I have a 3 inch body so with a SPOA taht would look huge for 31" tyres but I would still do it in order to accomplish ride there is an old sayin that went for this and I wish I would have followed it ....DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME....it always starts off around a 26" tire then you work your way up to a 33+" tire you will see why eventually I used to not care either...

 

Re: What\'s The Best Samurai 2\" Lift Kit?

The Old Man Emu lift is about as close as you're going to come to a 2" lift. For the Samurai, it is a 2" front lift and 2.5" rear lift.

You can see some good general information on the OME springs at
http://www.rocky-road.com/omesprings.html

Any questions, feel free to email us.

 

Re: What\'s The Best Samurai 2\" Lift Kit?

Emu seems a bit unnecessary for my purposes. Add to it the fact that shackles are a mere fraction of the price and you could see why most stock Samurai owners in search of a little lift would opt for latter.

 

Re: What\'s The Best Samurai 2\" Lift Kit?

That's why I asked you how much you were looking to spend. I went the wrong way with mine and I don't want to see you make the same mistake.
ROB

 

Re: What\'s The Best Samurai 2\" Lift Kit?

if you got a welder and such you could do your own SPOA for as lil as 150-200...

 

Re: What\'s The Best Samurai 2\" Lift Kit?

The ride you get from the OME's is damn near worth the
money.Those long shackles screw up the pinion angles.

 

Re: What\'s The Best Samurai 2\" Lift Kit?

all the vendors sell shackles. I like to make my own though. But when I first started I used shackles from central 4wheel drive and they were like 50.00. they were 8" but hung down alot I would recomend a 6" one.

 

Re: What\'s The Best Samurai 2\" Lift Kit?

look man check this list out:
perches-45.55 www.rocky-road.com

that would be prety basic then work your way up and would give you NICE clearance...unless no one can weld the perches on for ya...

 

Re: What\'s The Best Samurai 2\" Lift Kit?

I am about to put the calmini 2" Bolt-on S/R on mine plus I am making a 2" body lift. I just want enough room for 30's since 80-90% of my driving will be on road this is the best lift for the price. I have ridden in a bare bones SOA, a emu lifted and a s/r lifted how I am doing mine and when it comes to ride quality for money spent the little s/r rig was nice to drive and cheap.
http://www.puresuzuki.com/shackle_reverse.htm

 

Re: What\'s The Best Samurai 2\" Lift Kit?

Do the longer shackles if you want but I reckon you may regret it, or at least end up spending money to fix what the longer shackles create.
OME springs will give lift, a gr8 ride, gr8 flex, and last a long time.
My .02
Alfie.

 

Re: What\'s The Best Samurai 2\" Lift Kit?

Generally speaking, if I want a 1.75" - 2.00" lift, how long would the shackles be?

Thanks.

John

 

Re: What\'s The Best Samurai 2\" Lift Kit?

I'm at the point of needing to lift my sammie. I'll take it SPOA, sometime next year, but until then I'm going to do the cheapass hokey shackle lift and a bit of body lift. Get one inch out of each, nothing to upset it. I don't really care for the shackles, but don't want to shell out for a SPOA right now. I just took the rediculously long shackles off my wife's Wrangler, it was a good move (bought it like that, 9" shackles look hokey).

On another track, what is considered the better choice, a Z-link or a dropped pitman arm?

 

Re: What\'s The Best Samurai 2\" Lift Kit?

i really want a pair of 2" OME springs to go with my S/R... what do ya'll think of this set up?

where did you get your springs rob? is there anywhere else to get them besides RRO?

thanks

 

Re: What\'s The Best Samurai 2\" Lift Kit?

The attached picture is of my daily driver '86 hardtop with OME springs and Trail Tough 3/8" lift shackles. I am still spring under axle and it clears 30" tires for all of the trail driving I do. This is not a rock crawler and never will be.

 

Re: What\'s The Best Samurai 2\" Lift Kit?

If you must go with a shackle lift then a 6 inch shackle will give you one inch of lift and a 8 inch shackle will give you a 2 inch lift, but I do not recommend the 8 inch. You steering will become very touchy and try to constantly pull you off the road.....bottom line is anything over a 6 inch tall shackle is scarry! Another option would be to pickup a set of add-a-leaf springs. I have a set I typically use for my frugal customers which give you a 2 inch lift and actually do not make the ride too bad since they are longer and softer than most add-a-leaves. I've got a used set of 4 for $50 if you need them. Otherwise my DOG-BONE and BOOMERANG style 1" lift shackles are $89.99 per set.

Sean DeVinney
aftermarket4x4@cox.net
www.aftermarket4x4.com

 

Re: What\'s The Best Samurai 2\" Lift Kit?

What made you go with the 3/8" lift shackles since the Emu's already gave you 2 inches? Did the 30" tires require a little extra lift?

Thanks. John

 

Re: What\'s The Best Samurai 2\" Lift Kit?

On ebay you can get a full set of shackles 1-1/2" lift or 1-3/4" lift for about $56.00 for the full set (4). My friend just got the 1-3/4" lift shackles from Morris 4x4 on ebay and it handles fine on the road, they just hang down pretty low (fangs) and as long as you won't do much off road or curb hopping it should pose no problems. He only uses his Samurai to ride to and from the beach (and on the beach) to go surf casting and he has been satisfied with the results......but if you do go with these shackles I would recommend you upgrade to poly bushings at the same time.

HTH

 

Re: What\'s The Best Samurai 2\" Lift Kit?

Seeing as you dont wheel much, and cost is a factor...I would recommend a very small shackle lift like 1/2 to 1-1/2" and then do a very small body lift like 1". I think this would have the least effect on road manners and be the most cost effective.