New parts from Bits4Vits.com

I just ordered some new parts from the UK, I have strut spacers, transfer axle relocate brackets, rear pan hard rod relocate kit and a drive shaft (propshaft) spacer.

Strut Spacers - these items will allow me to use my coil spacers on the front with my OME lifted springs, I could not get the factory struts extended to reassemble with both spacers and lifted OME springs.

Front Transfer Case Kit, with the lifted springs and hopefully spacer kit I want to keep my CV joints working, this should be the fix I need.

Rear Pan Hard Rod - I have the XL7 lifted springs, may not need the coil spacers but do need to keep the geometry in line.

Drive Shaft Spacer, I have the one inch on order, this should keep me from pulling out a shaft while doing some extreme 4x4ing.

Lifted Struts

I located a set of OME springs from an XL7 and was able to get them in with no trouble, actually I had both the lifted spring and the spacer in but could not get the factory strut to extended long enough allowing me to reassemble vehicle so it became a parts search.

I have found Tokico and KYB for $60-$80 online - affordable - the OME were about $150 but out of stock, add the spacers to replacements and the OME are in line. As for a rebuildable I would guess $250??Here is what I found out from Monores web site (only site I could find a comparison)

http://www.monroe.com/catalog/documents/08_MountingLengthSheet.pdf

Factory 2001 Chevy Tracker (Suzuki GV 99-05, Tracker 98-03, GEO 90-97, Kick 96-98 - http://www.rockauto.com/, part 71591)

PART# BODY STYLE LENGTH COMPRESSED LENGTH EXTENDED LENGTH TRAVEL

71590 B7 12.25 8.75 15.25 6.5

71591 B7 12.25 8.75 15.25 6.5

171831 B7 13.25 10.5 18.5 8

The other alternative is a MONROE 171831 for a 88-96 Buick Regal, 90-94 Lumina, 88-97 Cutlass Supreme (does not have the brake line tab and picture shows a dust boot and two stud mounting cap)Also - Tokico said they are discontinuing the HB 3155 & HB3156 strut for this vehicle - but do have a few in stock

• I got the struts and they were about an 80% fit compared to the stock units.




• I had to remove the spring mount on the new longer Chevy Lumina strut, it required me to drill out the larger washer on the factory strut mount as the chrome shaft on new longer strut does not have the D style threads.




• I used the new large bolt and allen key to start the reassembly process, I also removed the longer struts rubber boot and foam cushion and replaced the original black plastic dust boot and larger support washer, everythinh fits perfectly into the strut mount.




• There are no brake hose mounts, rather than cut mine off and weld them back on possibly damaging the tube I am going to use double zip ties and hope for the best.




• The spindle mount is where this modification has a few holes in it. The bolt diameter on the new struts are approx 1/2" diameter holes where the original strut mounting holes are approx 3/8" in diameter and the new longer struts hole spaceing is about 1/16" too short to match the Trackers spinlde. I bolted the top of spinlde and used a drill to ream out the lower bolt hole to allow me to insert the second bolt.




• The new low pressurized struts clear the CV joint, clear the top of my 18 diameter rims by an inch or two and do seem to need the camber kit.




• Once I fix the passenger side brake line that I stripped relocationg in my body lift I will be able to road test vehcile and hopefully take if offroading for the first time.