Suzuki Samurai Suspension 101

[@SuzukiSamuraiofAmerica]

So exciting to see my company featured as a video sponsor on your video MY! Another great informative, educational video! Thanks for being awesome!!!

[@Zuksoffroad]

Thanks Brandon

[@alaskacanoe6837]

Nice Planing to start on my samurai this year It ran when I parked it It was a guys daily driver He sold it to me at a sad time .. He needed some cash to go see his mother …😢 and he would not allow me to just buy his plane tickets… this was happening due to He found out he had stage 4 cancer … he was a good guy a great guy.. well .. And didn’t make it …😢 sad.. The promise was he would get the rig back free if he could win the cancer battle… I never touched the rig since he parked it in my yard… other than clean the snow off the canvas top…. Well it’s time for my adopted daughter to start driving and she wants to drive the dirt roads in our remote area of Alaska and learn to drive the stick!!! She just loved this guy …. He worked at our campground his last summer and they became buddies. She was like 11 years old at the time … now she’s 15 and it’s time for the rig to get going … Hope to use your services getting this rig up and goin..

[@jfrazz08368]

Great stuff My! Love the Samurai in the. Background!!!

[@Zuksoffroad]

You know it! it’s yours

[@JWry-RazonandoBiblicamente]

This is by far the best, most informative and clear explanation anyone has made regarding the Suzuki Samurai suspension. Amazing. Thanks so much for sharing your wealth of knowledge!! You have a new subscriber from Bolivia.

[@Zuksoffroad]

I don’t believe this will have the impact it should but I say I am the last old guy left. The others have sold out. Very happy to have made these last couple of decades matter.

[@theeddieconnashow]

@@Zuksoffroad Dude, it matters. Your videos are great. THANK YOU for posting them.

[@ethandemello7569]

Great Video! keep it up Brother! I feel like I'm watching Jeff Bridges aka The DUDE every time I watch your videos :)

[@nickyp1432]

The dude cut his beard though haha

[@Zuksoffroad]

Goatee man it was on my chin. Growing full beard now.

[@sunset1300]

Thanks Myron. My Samurai with Toyota axles needs a complete suspension. I will be calling you when I'm finished with my other project ion a few months.

[@Zuksoffroad]

Please do! Be here to help

[@duane3897]

Enjoying your videos a lot. Your explanations and details help a bunch when looking at different suspensions. Thanks to you for making these videos.

[@Zuksoffroad]

Glad you like them!

[@richardwest2505]

Wow, I learned a lot. Thank you, Myron. Suspension is my next project

[@Zuksoffroad]

It’s always someone’s next project.

[@rogerbutch783]

Hello Myron nice to meet you. I have been watching your videos and I appreciate what you do thanks. I live in Georgia and I recently took my Sidekick to Florida to Extreme Zukes to have some work done and they are awesome! I asked them about a custom bumper that holds a winch and Cody said that they get them from you and i said awesome because I know you from your videos and that would be great so you can expect an order from them for me. And thank you. I will be needing some more things that you may be able to help me with so again I appreciate everything you do, keep up the great work.

[@Zuksoffroad]

Hello Roger! Always a pleasure to make your rig more loved!

[@jeffsexauer6799]

I’m new to the samurai world. Love the videos. Very educational, keep them coming.

[@Zuksoffroad]

Welcome to the Suzuki Community, it’s a cult car. Next tech video is Differentials 101.

[@ridgwalkerg]

Thanks for the great videos , my first was an 86 , my last one an 86 too. Love these little rigs

[@oczuk32]

My YJ kit is a mixture of different vendors.since I bought everything used from the forums or craigslist and help from many Suzuki owners. One of the best upgrades for the Samurai. One of your last videos of axle angle helped me my YJ angel set up.

[@Zuksoffroad]

Thanks for sharing!

[@garyking9908]

Thanks My! I put the sky's off-road yj kit on about 15 years ago and made a big improvement BUT it's definitely scary on road and thanks to you I think I have some ideas why

[@Zuksoffroad]

Done lots of Skys kits and not sure why you feel it’s scary. Let’s talk about that. You may simply need better shocks.

[@CORINKERSTEN]

Here in Australia we have washboard roads way way longer than 30 miles :) Great video thanks heaps!!

[@richardvalitalo3670]

Red sammy looks nice, I want coils in the front like a bronco.

[@Zuksoffroad]

Lots of ways to do that. Depending on why you want front coils hard terrain or just look awesome on the road. Link suspensions are top tier.

[@dccheek7495]

Great video and information Myron .

[@Zuksoffroad]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@LawlessOffroadAdventures]

Man. I'm trying to get ahold of ya. An make the winter order. Need to Trans mount Z bar you made? The hinge, It's not on the Canada site.. but I'll take a twin stick and a brass shifter bushing too

[@Zuksoffroad]

Never made a different trans mount. Trailtough makes one that hinges. Brass shift in t-case and twin sticks are not compatible. Twin sticks eliminate brass shift sheet. Call us direct if Zuksoffroadcanada.ca doesn’t have in inventory.

[@LawlessOffroadAdventures]

@Zuksoffroad I did see one out there, thank you brother for the right directions. I have the twin shifter coming for tcase, no brass insert installed or ordered good to no there is no need for it now. I am looking for the 5 speed Trans brass bushing. I still have a red rubber on my stick. I can't keep it in gear an have 2 hands on the wheel with this situation. Not offroad anyway

[@joelhinton6716]

Brandon!!!! Good stuff brother! We'll get together soon

[@P.Trim69]

Yeah buddy I had many of them other little stompers 4x4 1st gen,2nd gen hi n lo Growing up. Had track And favorite one was a orange with white top cj7. Nice stompers

[@BigStuism]

I'm surprised he never touched on any 4 link or coil lift kits, the good or bad about them. I put one in my samurai and the instructions were horrible and some of the parts were incorrect but I figured it out okay I think I just wish more people did it and talked about it so I knew where I went wrong on certain aspects. I kind of forget which company I bought it from 🤔 , rocky road outfitters i think. Handles good, wicked articulation.

[@BigStuism]

Pretty sure rocky road outfitters

[@jeales88]

@zuksoffroad. What should the castor angle be on an SJ70 in standard form? Im finding very conflicting information online.

[@Zuksoffroad]

If it’s a ball knuckle built by AISIN like Suzuki and Toyota axles in the 80s top bearing race is 2.5 degrees back.

[@scotfield3950]

Thank you!

[@Zuksoffroad]

My pleasure

[@kennygustafsson69]

How about schakle reverse?

[@Zuksoffroad]

I like shackle reverse. Had it on first Samurai and later in the Brutus buggy. It has some catch disadvantages I don’t like. I like how it extends and contracts wheel base.

[@Rey-vm9it]

im not extreme offroading but i still want it softer without adding hight... how bad would it be to remove 1 leaf out of the pack?

[@Zuksoffroad]

It’s normal to do that but you obviously will not have an old fatigued spring last long. Newer springs both short and narrow wide and long have weight ratings. Bolt on samurai has different lengths and squash weight. Front from rears. So you can take and make spring packs different by using the front eye leaf up front and maybe removing one leaf but replacing it with a shorter. That way they support each other. What you don’t want is a long spring with no support leaf under it.

[@Rey-vm9it]

@@Zuksoffroad Oh ok, thx for the advice, ill try it.

[@Dust1220]

Hey do u have any pitman arms for a 92 geo tracker ? I can not find any! Or do u know where I can find one ? Thanks!.I got alot of play in the steering wheel on thetracker. I just had the hole front end done. The idler was ok so I didnt change it

[@Zuksoffroad]

Try hwy83suzukisalvage.com I sold them a lot of tracker steering stuff earlier in the year.

[@clintwilliams8228]

Brand new samurai owner here - I have a bone stock 87' has only 55k original miles. If I were to just add the YJ suspension and keep the stock tires would it make a safer and more comfortable ride? would I have to have bigger tires? I mainly use it as a grocery getter and light off roading around my property

[@Zuksoffroad]

YJ makes for the smoothest ride you can keep it low flat YJs SPUA stock tires is still a great ride

[@robert1408]

Thanks Myron great detailed explanation as always now maybe it’s already been asked but why do so many Samurai owners have a 1/2 - 3/4” lean towards the passenger side? I have 5 pack yjs on the rear and my rig is slightly lower on the ps rear. I have swapped the rear springs and no change so Is it because the t -case, fuel tank, spare tire and battery are all on that side? Will 6 pack crowns lessen the lean? I also am running Dave’s shortened yjs on the front to give the full picture.

[@Zuksoffroad]

Believe it or not it’s mostly stiction from to the shackle bolts to tight. If you go to the top of the door and pull down either side the car should rebound exactly where it was. If the. Kits are to tight the bushings being squeezed for instance will cause them to lean. Also depends on which way the front tires are turned as the Ackerman steering angle tilts the front tires. If you been in ZOA for awhile you might remember Enno. His rig would stay hi or low depending on which way he turned by 6”. He had to crank those shackles together, lol.

[@robert1408]

Thank you! will do the test and check and loosen them to see if they rebound better. Met Enno once and he was a big boy from what I remember that probably liked everything guten tite! lol

[@WarrickJohnson]

I never hear the Suzuki Escudo mentioned as I have purchased one a 1988 imported from Japan. With 58,000 on the clock. Just like new Warrick

[@Zuksoffroad]

Suzuki models here in the USA 1986- 2004 is what I do.

[@copethehagen]

I run my Samurai on road quite often. I am considering going spring over with my YJ set up or 2" lifted yj spring under. What do you recomend?

[@Zuksoffroad]

Everyone has different uses for their Samurai I don’t believe in one kit fits everyone’s needs. I like to start with what tire size you plan to run and IF it will be offroaded to what degree.

[@copethehagen]

@@Zuksoffroad 31” tires. I want it to be able to use it for multi day trails like the Rubicon. But still be able to enjoy it around town and use it for fwy driving to nearby trails. Thank you

[@Zuksoffroad]

@@copethehagen for many happy customers I have done 3” arched spring under bottom of door to ground is close to 27”

[@GolfWithDirk]

Awesome!! Thanks 👍

[@Zuksoffroad]

Our pleasure!

[@charlieromeo5340]

Does these springs work on the suzuki excudo ( sidekick).

[@Zuksoffroad]

Sidekicks here in USA are coil springs unless the car is heavily modified. Can lead springs be put on a car? Money fixes somethings and can really screw up other things.

[@reneguay1347]

What would you charge to do that job on my 91 samurai ???

[@Zuksoffroad]

A suspension “job” can cost $900 to $4,000 depending on if you want an excellent ride or a rough ride. There isn’t an In between.

[@michaelantonio1367]

Thank you

[@Zuksoffroad]

Welcome!

[@nickyp1432]

Good morning!

[@Zuksoffroad]

Morning!

[@tiaanlyon4558]

thank you

[@Zuksoffroad]

My pleasure

[@pancontractors5491]

I'm interested on getting some parts for my sami from you guys to ship here to trinidad 🇹🇹 we having alot of issues availability now as our guys here have slowed down alot pass few years

[@Zuksoffroad]

Find my email at the website do not just let anyone contact you lots of scammers using my logo

[@rossco5995]

What transmission are you planning on using with the k series?

[@Zuksoffroad]

As you know adapters already exist for 2wd transmissions and that’s what people are using now. Ultimately, it has to work for now with our t-cases. Or until I make mine.

[@FLOORINGUNIVERSITY]

i own 3 sj 410 i want to do 3 1.6 swaps

[@Zuksoffroad]

You are in for some work there. I can give you advice but I do not support the 410 vehicle. You are better off with samurai drivetrain under a 410 body.

[@P.Trim69]

Yes Sir

[@gschimbeck]

I have old man emu on may baby and I think its the worst ride i have ever experienced out of the 4 Sammy's i have owned. I have always wanted to do the YJ setup but just haven't felt confident enough to tackle this project.

[@Zuksoffroad]

Can you do me a favor and look at your shackle and frame bushings? Are they buldging out from you tightening the bolts to tight? Not to worry if you have factory shackles as they stop compressing bushings when tight. If you have aftermarket shackles and they are tight you made sticktion. Shackles should pivot on frame and lead springs with normal push pull of swinging a hammer.

[@gschimbeck]

@Zuksoffroad I used the factory shackle to much of a cheapskate to upgrade them

[@FLOORINGUNIVERSITY]

smith a;berta canada here

[@Zuksoffroad]

Hello Canada

[@oczuk32]

The overweight girlfriend got me. 😆. It does make a difference when you add it up.

[@danielsplayhouse3804]

Another gentleman I have followed zuk4x4 sadly he has passed away from brain cancer. 😢😢😢 Loved the samri

[@Zuksoffroad]

Over the years so many Suzuki people left us for better trails.