[fullmetal88]

i didnt know if this would be a stiffie thread or shoes and rubbers..
basically i dont wanna drop my box, im too tall and live in to rough an area to drop. so im doing the oposite! I dont want to be a rediculous lift, just a couple inches that can be achieved with tires and springs, but in all honesty i have no idea how to go about this or what would be my first step.....
any and all help is apreciated!
Thanks in advance!!

[crxgames]

I would start by finding some bigger tires and maybe a new struts that are taller. Look into how people on vwvortex were lifting golfs and rabbits to get some ideas?

Should be a cool project. I could see a gen2 making this work a lot better than a gen1.

[gravebox]

that can be gained from just a set of suspension spacers and some stronger and longer upper strut bolts to deal with the new spacers. might need a camber kit after the spacers and bigger wheels/tires.

[ogerdgonz]

To lift it you would need new front struts and rear springs that are taller. You could probably get away with 1" to 2" with out affecting driveline angle to much. Maybe look into Rav4 suspension. The other option would be to install an air ride kit and change the top of the strut mount to a taller design and in the back change the bracket the bag mounts in. Both would give you the desired 1"-2" normal lift and then you could air it up when you need extra clearance and of course air down when cruising the highway for fuel economy.

[gravebox]

^^wouldn't need new springs unless you consider the rear springs, in which case you can make poly spacers for them with an indentation to fit the spring. the strut spacer on the front would go between the mounting point on the strut towers and on top of the strut.

[fullmetal88]

so i wouldnt necessarily need taller struts? just longer bolts and spacers?
sounds rather cheap..
thanks for all your advice so far!

[jtwopark]

in Japan, the are awd scions known as the corolla rumion...if you dig into its bin of parts, i'm pretty sure that you will be able to raise the suspension atleast 1 or 2 inches to clear the bigger wheel and tire package...if not then, the spacers are probably the way to go.....look into fox shocks with resoviers..i think if you play around with the idea, you might achieve what you set out to get!

[ogerdgonz]

Personally I think air ride is an easy, safe and cost effective method. Custom Fox coilover shocks can get expensive as you play with shock valving and length to get it dialed in right. Also is the easiest to switch back to car 2wd street tuner look from the rally truck look.

[fullmetal88]

so howcome i dont wanna use spacers for the front? would i want to use spacers for the rear?
if not spacers what should i do for the front?

[ogerdgonz]

The safe way is longer struts.... spacers can come loose. Similar concept is old 4x4 trucks with leaf springs. You can get away witj lift blocks on the back (think spacers) but in front lift block are a no no because they can come loose.

[fullmetal88]

where can i find longer struts that are a guaranteed fit?
how would spacers come loose? wouldn't they be bolted in between the strut and frame?
im really new about any mods, especially suspension. is it even possible to put a spacer on the front?
im trying to work on a budget and of course safety lol i want the spacer i dea to work cause i know i can do it pretty cheap
thanks again for all the help

[ogerdgonz]

bolts can break and the spacer puts extra stress as sheer force on them. As for guarantee fit there are none for longer struts. No one has done this that is why I am recommending air ride to get lift.

[fullmetal88]

makes sense.
how high can air ride take my box?
and can it stay at max height the whole time while i drive?

[gravebox]

i... don't know what bolts you're use to using with spacers but i've never heard of them coming loose or snapping. obviously you'd use grade 8 extended bolts and the nuts should be a mix of both locking washers and nylon locking nuts. at least that's how we've done it here on a few SR5's and 2 4Runners and we bomb the crap out of them during winter and summer in snow and dunes on stock struts with grade 8 bolts and the locking method... not one problem.

[fullmetal88]

now thats what i wanna hear!
teach me the ways to lift my box! lol what do i need? how much will it run me?
im only looking for a 4-5 inch lift total, including tires
so maybe just a 3-4 inch spacer?

[gravebox]

well, you can't go THAT high on spacers alone. most of the time, 2-3inch is about the max area before it's too much of a strain on the bolts. i think the xB can get away with 2inch spacers without issue as long as the bolts and locking methods are proper for the setup.

i'm not familiar with the gen2 xB, but seeing as it was done in AWD in japan as well as the gen1 was, then you should be able to find something on it's suspension setup. if you want that much of a lift, then yes i would suggest doing the same, longer struts and you can contact TIEN for custom springs if you can't find any that will fit, i think they charge roughly 300 per set of custom springs, a set being one pair of front or rear springs.

[ogerdgonz]

I know you can do an inch or two wwith spacers and more than likely be safe. You can also make hockey puck body lifts work if you drill them out and sleeve it but in the end is it the safest method?

If I am offering a suggestions to someone about modifying their car I am going to suggest something safe and how I would do it.

If you are looking to lift the car 4-5 inches you are not going to be able to do it with just longer springs...

This is all that is needed in order to lift a Suzuki Sidekick 4". I chose this because other than your car not having a driveable rear axle the suspensions are similar and the vehicle weight is similar.

Your average cost for a mass produced 4" suspension lift for a vehicle with independent front suspension is $1000 plus installation. Now that you are looking at a custom one off you could be looking at more for parts due to trial and error and also much more labor.

You could try something like this for 2 inches and could be alright. You have to look at your cv joints and axles to make sure that at the new angle they would not be rubbing on anything.


This would not be my choice but it is your car. Link to someone who makes them for Suzukis and may be able to make them for your car if you had the diameters needed.

For the amount of lift you are looking for the air ride kit would be a good option.

[CrazyMPG]

wow...cool project if this gets done!

[yoshi86]

cool i would love to see it if u do it

[marty2495]

that would be awesome! i recently saw a gen1 like that but i didnt think it worked to well.