its not the fact that they are not from here, its the fact that they are slutty shocks. The more they get passed around and sold, the more the cost goes up (plus shipping over seas). Now, you can get a shock that has 9 settings for the same price of one that has one setting. Ive heard from a few people they are great shocks, but....

kevan

Honestly, are just planning on using the truck on the street?

I know its a 2wd, but mine is jacked too, BUT, I abuse mine..

The calmini UCAs are nice for bringing the front back into spec(or getting it closer), BUT, there have been problems with the increased downtravel with our Rack & Pinion, too much downtravel, pouts stress on the rack, adn blows seal and such(havent had that problem with either of mine, BUT, I didnt mess with the downtravel)...

As far as the rear links go, if they have a bent one for the uppers, i would say get them, because it will drive you nuts when you hit a big bumo or dip, adn the link bounces of the gas tank....

Shocks, what are you looking for?

Firm ride, yeah go with Nitro shocks..

cushy ride, go with cellulars....

My 2 cents

Chase

Nooooo, not just for the street. But one of the reasons for the upgrades is for much improved handling on road, way too squishy as we all know. Probably the most off road will be logging roads, jeep trails etc in hunting type areas, but nothing that I'd need 4x for now. Don't want/need cushy certainly looking for firmer ride and don't tow a lot, once a year maybe.

Through my searches and your input, it sounds like there is not a lot I can/need to do to the front other than brake lines and the T-bar crank (and of course alignment).

I know it's all about opinion and trying what you want, but you guys (and gals) have been doing the mods for a bit now. I guess one of my concerns is voiding my warranty (+40k left), but with doing less, it makes less to remove if I have a problem. Plus I haven't really looked forward to trying to do the Calmini UCA myself due the hardships most seem to have.

Ok, so I'll go with this...
OME 912's out back, rear brake ext., crank the T-bar, see how it rides for a bit. Get the OME shocks (firm in front, soft in back?), see how that rides for a bit. Think about replacing the rear link later. Sound about right?

Thanks for your continued input Chase.

Well, I have the trooper coils in the back of BOTH my rodeos, and the t-bar crank in the front.

Serious imporvement on ride and handling witht he factory shocks, still havent put the pro comps on the 4x yet, in a few weeks....

The aligntment wasnt off enough to notice on my 2wd, and the 4wd was worse, BUT it was maxed out as well....

HTH
Chase

I hope somebody else jumps in here, but somehow it is majority american made and assembled, I think the "assembled" has a lot to do with it also, but I know I have a sticker in my window that says it too.

(There is something there with import taxes too I think, that is one reason Isuzu was able to keep prices down)

Send me an email and we can meet up, I'm free Sunday afternoon. I've got Rancho 9000s and the 3 inch lift from independent 4x. I'm in Arcadia, CA. We could meet half way.

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I can guarantee you that's not the case -- perhaps the pictures used by CALMINI seem to indicate that, but the 98+ vintage is SIGNIFICANTLY longer than the earlier. If I hold my 1st-gen spares up against the 2nd-gen, I can see at least a 4-inch difference between the cups on the CV's, if not longer. The Trooper CV's (3rd-gen) are even longer than that. I don't really recall, but I thought the front shocks on the 1st-gen were loop-loop shocks as well. The 2nd-gen are stud-loop. Actually, thinking back, I'm almost positive my 90 Amigo shocks were stud-loop, but the app chart said they should've been loop-loop.

Anyway, I'm pretty sure this just confused the issue even more... But I don't want you to go out and buy anything without all the info...

HTH,
Chris

ok, so chris are you saying that you think that the calmini arms should or should not be used. Phone conversation with Matt indicated that he thinks there is no real difference wih the stock v calmini arms and thus not really needed. I gather the only real benefits gained are an easier alingnment and maybe a little travel added, but I don't really need to find any extra susp travel. Ultimately then, which method puts the less stress on the rest of the suspension; calmini+tbar or just tbar crank?

I think that my solution is going to be to just add the 912's in back and crank the tbars and get an alignment. This way, restoration to stock is easy if I do run into any problems of any sort or if I have anything that needs to be addressed under warranty (lots left)

Well, I don't really have an opinion on that, never used the CALMINI a-arms or even seen one (at least, not off of a truck). I know that people have done it both ways, with mixed results. Without the arms, alignment is more of an issue, but I believe it can be done -- just might require more work...



It's the other components of the CALMINI lift that give you more travel, not the a-arms themselves. They will help with alignment, tho. The travel is still limited by upper and lower snubbers, although the CALMINI kit uses some parts that change that geometry and therefore give you more travel.



Should be equal stress, however, the change in droop snubber and/or bumpstops would allow more stress due to the extended travel range. That being said, tho, you can increase the travel with or without the arms, so that added stress wouldn't be a direct result of using the CALMINI a-arms. You can also use the CALMINI a-arms without increasing travel by not using the altered bumpstops. Given that you have the 2000 with the Rack & Pinion, your biggest concern will be overextending the rack, so whatever option you go with, I would recommend leaving the range of travel stock.

HTH,
Chris

Well, letÆs seeà

(1) I have no personal experience with any Calmini products.
(2) I have no personal experience with any ARB/OME products.
(3) I have a set of Rancho 9000x shocks, but there are already plenty of favorable testimonials.
(4) I own a 1st Gen Rodeo, so most of my practical experience doesnÆt apply anyway.
(5) Much of the remaining off-topic subject matter thatÆs been covered appears to be wrought with explosive peril, like an abandoned mine field full of Moderator intervention just waiting to go offà


Come to think of it, maybe we should just pretend I wasn't here.


Wowà wouldùyouùlookùatùtheùtime! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Gotta-go!-Bye!


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