Hi Guys,

I'm new to tinkering with these Samurais and I have, what will probably sound like a simple question for most of you. I plan to use my Sami some of the time for traveling and wheeling on dirt roads and trails while hunting but also want it to be real streetable for getting around town as well. In order to be able use some more aggresive tires I decided to to add a 2" shackle lift with new polyurethane bushings. Well, I was pretty disappointed when I went for a ride............could hardly keep her on the road..............wandered all over the place! I readjusted the toe-in, which I found was set incorrectly, and not much improvement. I did notice when I installed the shackles that the front axle downward travel seemed to be limited by the stabilizer bar. ( I disconnected the shocks to make sure they were not the problem) Is there an additional modification needed to help this situation? Any suggestions? Maybe the shackle lift is not the way to go but everything I have read made this simple modification seem quite minor and wouldn't cahnge the mechanics of the suspension too much. Also, does anyone know what is the largest tire size that can safely be mounted on the stock rims?

Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions guys!

Welcome to KCZuks!

Put the shocks back on, and take off the stabilizer.  Nobody I know runs with a stabilizer bar unless they're stock.  The best way to make room for bigger tires is to move the springs over the axles.  There are kits for this, but some reuse the stock parts for a no-cost conversion.  You will also need driveshaft spacers, so the driveshaft does not pull out when it flexes.  If you have a stock front bumper, some modification will be required.

I've seen people put tires as wide as 13.5 on stock 5.5 rims.  I'd like to watch them put them on though!  I've used up to 9.5 with no problems.  If you use tires that are too wide, you'll have to get new wheels or spacers or the tires will rub on the springs at full turn.  The most embarrassing way to break an axle is to hang the tires up on the springs.

As your tires get bigger, your low gear gets higher.  At some point you have to change some gears to compensate.  Consider some 235X75X15 tires with stock gears and rims.

Do the new longer shackles have a bar welded between them or are they just two longer flat straps?

When you install longer shackles on the front, your changing your castor angle. You need to install shims to move the castor back to stock position...

Oh, I guess I forgot to mention that I did have the shocks on when I went for a test drive. I only removed them while i was installing the shackles to determine if they were the reason the travel was limited.  I agree the a spoa lift would be best, I just don't want to take this Sami that far away from stock. thanks for you response!

I have the Calmini Shackle Reversal on this one and I run 235s with no other mods.

The shackles that I have do have a reinforcing bar welded between them. What you have there looks like just what i am after SJ410Kelly. What is the Calmini Reversal all about? I can't really tell what it is from the photos.  THANKS !

Without the bar they will flop side to side and drive like crap so its good yours have them..
http://www.puresuzuki.com/shackle_reverse.htm

There is the kit and its all bolt on.

that is a poor shot of the front



That will let you see a bit better  its all bolt on and the rear is just good lift shackles.

You may find a used kit because someone went higher after this kit.

Thanks for the additional photos SJ410Kelly. I looked the kit up at the Calmini website and it sure looks like the way to go. I sure wish I had done some more research before I went and bought the shackles and new bushings. Oh well. I actually removed the shackles and now with the new polyurethane bushings and the stock shackles back on, the ride and handling is much improved and will work out until I get my hands on a reverse shackle kit. A used kit would be the hot tip because I don't need the bushings.

I really like the look of your Samurai. In my eyes it sits just right for what I intend to use mine for. Are those the stock 5" wheels that you have those 235's mounted on.

Thanks again for all the info, you have been a huge help!

Glad to help.....those are some really rusty chrome spokes I painted. They are 15X7s but I'm not sure on the backspace.

I don't want to go any higher right now as I use it to deliver mail when the roads get really bad.