Getting ready to put a 3" suspension lift on my 95 Rodeo. I'm steering towards making my purchase from Calmini. For $100 more (than indy4x), I get new upper control arms, a new crossmember, and braided front brake lines. Calmini also said that I can knock $100 off the price if I don't want their shocks (which I don't). Does anyone out there have any experience with Calmini's lift kit for a 1st gen Rodeo? Just want to make sure my $700 goes to the right place.

Sammy

I would just piece together a lift you don't need new torsion bars or control arms you can buy shackles and add a leafs from independent4x shocks are good to have but you don't need them to lift it.

the general consensus around here is that, the new crossmember and arms don't make that much of a diffreence compared to simply crankin the t-bars and gettin an alignment, most people also agree that the calmini shocks aren't up to par w/ their expectations, the front really doesn't require any purchases other than maybe snubbers, and the recommended manual hubs, which i think i remeber readin you already have, the back well you have lot's of options cause of your leaf spring set up, and to top it off purchase the shocks of your choice, i'd do a search on the shocks, based on your preference it'll be better than askin now, it's been discussed ad nauseum
i can vouch for matt that, when youd deal with him you get good friendly service and he'll tell you the truth, i'd reccomend matt mainly because he's great to deal with, most people also say the same of joe @ www.darlington-offroad.com but also do a search on calmini and you may find some discouraging news, compared to the reviews of matt and joe
good luck!

I have the Calmini lift on my Rodeo and I'm happy with it. I like the upper control arm made it a snap to have aligned. The directions for installation are not the easiest to follow and understand. But I did the complete installation along in about 16 hours which was about 6 hours more than a local shop quoted me at $85 per hour, most of the time was spent reading and rereading the installation instruction. I've had my set up for 4 or 5 years and liked the idea of purchasing a kit with everything in a box. The crossmember hangs lower that the stock one if you not purchasing the Calmini skid plates then the stock crossmember works great. I have no complaint about the performers of the kit. I only wish someone made a 5 or 6 inch suspension lift for the Rodeo.

Just make sure they have all your parts in stock and not on backorder.

PLowe

I've got the Calmini lift too. I know that Calmini has a bad rep for customer service, but I like the product. I never dealt with them personally, the kit was installed when I got the truck. But I have no complaints. I've had to repalce the upper control arm bushings
and the shocks. I agree about skipping the shocks. I recently put ProComp ES3000's on and am very happy with them. There is a clearance issue between the upper control arms if you get thicker shocks like the ProComps or Ranchos. I've got about 1/4" <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> I'll let you know how it holds up after this weekend <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" /> I don't have any experience with the flip on stock arms, but I've never had allignment issues. And I like having the heavy duty T-bars. I'm eventually going to add a winch and maybe a bumper. I think thats when they'll come in handy. I think I might prefer the spring upgrades from Darlington if I had my choice. The rear seems to be a little lower that it should be. I think the stock springs might be a little tired <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/baby.gif" alt="" /> Oh well, now I'm rambling <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/drunk.gif" alt="" />. Hope it helps. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Not meaning to fight the flow here Starchild, (wusuuuup?) but in my experience, the only item I used in my lift from Calmini was the shackles. They make a good, beefy shackle. As far as T-bars (crank-um) and control arms are concerned, O.E. Zu parts are probably going to be more than adequate for a 3.5" or less suspension lift. Chances are you probably could spend the bulk of that 700 bills on other items that will improve your ride characteristics (I.E. Tires, shox, manual hubz an intake, etc.)more than a Calmini control arm lift. (really!) If you are bent on new braided hoses, I would suggest Darlington Off Road's plastic-coated units... My 2 centz-

I hate these threads... we're comparing apples and oranges, and doing it POORLY. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> We tolerate the threads, because the question at the top is REASONABLE. The answers that follow, though... most are inseparable amalgamations of personal experience (which is welcome) and generalizations (which are not). I'm itchy on the delete key, as a result... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> I *HATE* deleting threads or posts, and this leads down that path... I rely upon our community not to force my hand. Many of the posts in this thread argue for its termination.

Apples and oranges?

Consider that one business grosses a million dollars per month business, markets products internationally, maintains a bank of call-staff, and fabricates most of its products on-site. Yet another business markets way more products, with only a few staff members... and little on-site staff. Which is better? YOUR call.

The products can be high quality from both sides, but the type of service will undoubtedly be different. Better or worse... YOUR call.

The products in many cases are different to start off -- a three-inch standard lift vs. a staged customizable set of components that can be configured to each level of a lift? What's better? What's worse? YOUR call.

Apples and oranges, folks. As long as you talk about YOUR apples and YOUR oranges, we're OK. Don't generalize... and don't advise... just speak to YOUR experience. Let other folks draw their own conclusions, please... Better or worse... THEIR call.

Post in this thread with care... and please consider editing your posts above if you have generalized. Provide your direct experience... and let the readers judge their responses from it. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" /> Please?

Randii

Thanks PLowe, Starchild and the rest. I'll probably end up getting the lift from Calmini and a set of Skyjackers from Matt. After speaking with both parties on numerous occations, I would have to agree that you can't beat Matt's customer service, and Calmini can be pleasant, at best, every now and again.

A question for PLowe and Starchild: Does that strait crossmember get in the way of oil changes, as others have mentioned may be the case? It looks like it would be almost perfectly inline with the drain plug.

Thank again for all the input,
Sammy

On my Amigo, the oil does hit the crossmember when I change it. I cut up a milk bottle to redirect the oil away from it into my drain pan.

I don't mind the inconvenience because the crossmember has saved my oil pan a couple of times from nasty bouncing rocks. I put a healthy dent in my oil pan when I was still stock because of a loose rock that bounced up and hit it. I'm also planning on adding a skid plate to protect that whole area and the Calmini crossmember has attachment points for just such a plate.

I have the Calmini and like it (UCAs and SAW torsion bars) - no service problems. The only thing, I'd do without is the cross-member (yeah, its lower and blocks the oil drain) and shocks (I wasn't given this option).

FWIW I run Procomp ES3000s in rear and ES9000s in front and like it. I bought another stock cross member (after tossing the orignial out <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />) and added a full skid plate from the front axle back to the mid-crossmember <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />.