i dont want to dump more than 4k into my cars mods and right now im liking that she is still " all montero" so im kind of opposed to a SAS.
Sounds a 3" body lift and a separate set of rims with 37"s is the way to go.
Im having trouble with this forms search function. Could anyone give me a link to the post where Dat50? fits 37's
The 'All Montero' is great. Until you have to spend every other weekend replacing stuff and tracking down parts instead of wheeling.
I understand "I can't do a SAS because I can't", but "I won't because I want to keep it all Mitsu", I don't.
In the last year I finally had to replace my rear Currie D44 and rebuild my Ford front D44. Both have essentially been untouched and trouble free since 2002 through 400+K miles. Most, if not all, of the parts are less than the Mitsu equivalent and are a LOT easier to find.
I just received my new Stockton 17x9 steel rims and they weight almost 40 lbs apiece. Add another 68lbs for the 35x12.5 tire and the tire/wheel is 110 lbs. A 40x13ish is going to weigh in the realm of 120-130 lbs + a 40 lb rim is a tire/rim combination weighing in at over 160lbs. OEM IFS/RFS just isn't engineered and manufactured to cope with the stresses that kind of weight will produce off road. Not just the CV joints, but the brakes, bushings, steering components, axle shafts, bearings and a box full of other things.
I love my Mitsus - I have four
- and I'm definitely not slamming on the quality 'cause they're built a lot better than most other brands, but I have 14 years and 600K (its also my DD) on my '97 Sport SAS driving and wheeling in CO and UT and WILL NEVER go back to seriously wheeling/expedition driving the OEM drive train and suspension.
I know a lot of guys that have rolled $1000s of dollars into suspensions - especially IFS 'cause this is always what the Toy guys do - to decide a couple years latter to do a SAS because they finally figure out that frankly the IFS stuff sucks in comparison to even a mediocre SAS.
Anyway, JMHO. If its going to be a mall crawler, body lift it, lift the suspension a couple inches and put whatever you want under it. But if you're going to seriously wheel it - at the point where you actually want/need upwards of 40s - don't even bother with the stock drive train/suspension. That's just a black hole to toss your money down. Save your cash and do it right the first time.
now where did i put that fire extinguisher??
Edward
