Fitting a lift kit to your Grand Vitara is one of the first modifications that most owners consider when they want to optimise their rig for off-road use. Like most new 4WD’s out of the factory, the stock Grand Vitara has relatively low ground clearance. Installing a lift kit provides many practical benefits when it comes to off-road capability, however when installing a suspension upgrade on your Suzuki Grand Vitara there are a few issues you need to consider.
Installing a lift kit can be detrimental to your vehicles performance. Suspension lift kits effect a range of things including steering, handling, and ride comfort. Excessive spring lift can also create issues within the suspension and driveline geometry, causing drive line parts like CV joints and drive shaft universal joints to experience shortened lives. Airbag compatibility should also be a consideration, with some systems becoming compromised should the incorrect lift kit be fitted to your Grand Vitara. This article takes a look at the benefits of installing a quality lift kit and the different suspension lift kits that are available to suit your Grand Vitara.
Why Fit a Lift Kit To Your Suzuki Grand Vitara?
Aesthetics
The reason for installing a lift kit usually comes down to a combination of aesthetic and practical reasons. Although many 4WD enthusiasts wouldn’t like to admit it, some of the motivation for a lift kit comes down to wanting a rugged look that you don’t get with standard 4WDs. Certainly adding a lift kit and big beefy off-road tyres creates some rugged appeal. Stock standard, the Grand Vitara doesn’t have the off-road look that many 4WD enthusiasts crave. Add a bull bar, lift kit and some fat off road tyres and now you’re talking.
Practical Benefits of a Suspension Lift Kit
The main practical benefit to installing a Grand Vitara suspension upgrade is to raise the height of your chassis to provide more ground clearance. This has a number of benefit’s including steeper approach and departure angles, increased ramp over angle and improved wheel travel. This truly does benefit the off-road capability of your Grand Vitara preventing bottom out on rough tracks and terrain. The second reason most drivers add a lift kit is so they can add bigger tyres to their 4WD, though often there is a compromise between lift gains and reduced wheel travel.
Many Suzuki 4WD’s can’t accommodate off-road tyres without some form of modification. The general motivation for wanting larger, off-road tyres is higher ground clearance and improved traction in rough terrain such as mud, snow and rocky terrain.
Issues to Consider When Fitting a Lift Kit to Your Grand Vitara
Fitting a Lift Kit
You can fit a lift kit yourself. Although it can be an intricate job, so it’s probably better to get a qualified Suzuki mechanic to take care of the job. Keep in mind also, that an experienced mechanic may diagnose potential safety or other maintenance issues which can be rectified during the fitting of the lift kit; including the fitment of castor correction bushes or bolts and performing a wheel alignment.
Performance and Handling
Fitting a lift kit and off-road tyres can drastically impact the on road performance of your Grand Vitara. Off-road tyres tend to wear faster, are noisier, can affect the gear ratio of your vehicle and will affect fuel efficiency. After market suspension lift kits also tend to create a stiffer ride, reducing comfort in some vehicles. Lifting your Suzuki also raises its centre of gravity, this can result in less stability on side angles.
Legalities
Some changes to your suspension may affect the legality of your vehicle on road in some states and territories. Check the regulations in your jurisdiction before modifying, or ask your qualified Suzuki mechanic for their advice.
Suzuki Grand Vitara Lift Kits
4WD Part Shop (a.k.a. Suzistore) stocks a wide range of lift kits to suit Suzuki Grand Vitara models, both short and long wheel base, and can provide custom solutions on request. All the lift kits available at Suzistore are designed at a safe and comfortable ride height and provide improved ground clearance without compromising safety. Suzistore stocks suspension lift kits by Dobinsons and Ironman, two excellent manufacturers who provide lift kits made specifically for harsh Australian conditions.
Dobinsons Suspension
Dobinsons suspensions lift kit coil springs are Australian made and meet ISO ISO9001:2008 standards. All Dobinsons lift kits to suit Grand Vitara come with Twin Tube Nitrogas shock absorbers expertly engineered and extensively tested before mass production.
Ironman Suspension
Ironman Lift Kits, Built tough for Australian conditions, will provide up to 40mm of lift. Each kit includes 4 Nitro Gas Shocks ad 4 Ironman coil springs.
Suzuki Grand Vitara Lift Kit Buyers Guide
Grand Vitara Model and Lift Kit
Suzuki Grand Vitara JB416 2005 – 2008 Motor M16A EFI 1.6L 4 Cyl:
- Ironman Suspension Lift Kit 40mm Short Wheel Base
- Dobinsons Suspension Lift Kit 40mm
Suzuki Grand Vitara JB419 2008 – On Motor F9Q-299 1.9L 4 Cyl Diesel:
- Suspension Lift Kit 40 mm – Four Dobinson shocks and coil springs
- Ironman Grand Vitara Lift Kit
Suzuki Grand Vitara JB420 2005 – 2008 Motor J20A EFI 2.0L 4 Cyl:
- Suspension Lift Kit 40 mm – Four Dobinson shocks and coil springs
- Ironman Grand Vitara Lift Kit 40mm LWB
- Ironman Grand Vitara Lift Kit 40mm SWB
Suzuki Grand Vitara JB424 2008 – Upwards Motor J24 2.4L 4 Cyl
- Suspension lift kit 40 mm – Four Dobinson shocks and coil springs
- Ironman Grand Vitara Lift Kit 40mm LWB
- Ironman Grand Vitara Lift Kit 40mm SWB
Suzuki Grand Vitara JB627 2005 – 2008 Motor H27A EFI 2.7L V6
- Suspension lift kit 40 mm – Four Dobinson shocks and coil springs
- Ironman Grand Vitara Lift 40mm LWB
Suzuki Grand Vitara JB632 2008 – 2012 Motor N32 3.2L V6
- Suspension lift kit 40 mm – Four Dobinson shocks and coil springs
- Ironman Grand Vitara Lift Kit 40mm LWB
Suzuki Grand Vitara SQ416 1998 – 2005 Motor G16B EFI 1.6L 4 Cyl
- Ironman Grand Vitara Lift Kit 35mm SWB
Suzuki Grand Vitara SQ420 1998 – 2005 Motor J20A EFI 2.0L 4 Cyl
- Ironman Grand Vitara Lift Kit 35mm LWB
- Ironman Grand Vitara Lift Kit 35mm SWB
Suzuki Grand Vitara SQ625 1998 – 2005 Motor H25A EFI 2.5L V6
- Ironman Grand Vitara Lift Kit 35mm LWB
Suzuki Grand Vitara XL7 2000 – 2005 Motor H27 EFI 2.7L V6
- Ironman Grand Vitara Lift Kit 35mm XL7