VX Lowering Kits

[vt_maverick]

Thats true, I know I have done some crazy stuff to mine, but it is all to enhance offroad performance, what it was meant for. ...

On the other hand, lifting a VX does provide increased performance in terms of ground clearance and allow for installation of larger and more agressive tires. That is - it improves the capabilities that it was designed for.

I don't know if I totally agree with those statements. I remember commercials of the VX rocketing across the desert, and magazine articles showing VX's in dirt and snow, but I don't remember any ads or photos of VX's doing heavy duty rock crawling, mudding, etc. If that was in fact "what it was meant/designed for" why would Isuzu give it IFS, no full-size spare (like the Trooper, Rodeo, Amigo, or even Axiom), etc.? Sometimes I think the offroad-focused nature of this site leads people to think that Moab and other places like it are the VX's natural habitat. I think it's pretty clear that the VX was designed as an all-purpose vehicle, combining nice handling on the road and good capability in the dirt/snow, but without being amazing at either. You can certainly build up a VX into an amazingly capable off-roader, but that potential doesn't mean "that's what it was meant for" out of the box. I think there's a big difference between slamming a dually vs. lowering a PUV.

I'm not saying I would like the look ( ) but I think criticizing it because it doesn't enhance one half of the VX design is a weak argument.

[Marlin]

I understand what you are saying, but the marketing of the VX (the slat flats ad) was not a good idea, it is not fast by any stretch of the imagination, maybe in 99 it was quick, but certainly not now. That is how they marketed it...not a very good strategy IMO.

[WormGod]

Here we go again.... I think I am gonna start pissing and moaning when someone lifts their VX.

If you live in the midwest or southwest, anywhere but here, more power to ya. Reach for the sky. In and around Washington, DC, the best I could do is crawl over a mall curb. Little to no snow, but when it does, we are such a pu55y area that everything shuts down anyways. Plus, we actually have painful laws restricting vehicle height when it comes to lifting. In any case, lifting just is not a popular thing here. Hell, looking out my office window here at 10:30am at the Capital Beltway, it's rainy and gridlocked. Again, welcome to the concrete jungle.

If I had the opportunity to lower mine just a bit, I probably would. I would only go as low as I could keeping everything functional. Being the owner of a slammed STi, it's really not that much of a change for me (not that I would "slam" the VX). Sorry, lifting just isn't my thing, and around here, lifting is typically linked to Dixie flags and white hoods anyways.

[tom4bren]

I repeat

... we'll have to agree to disagree

[WormGod]

I repeat

I disagree with your repetition.

BTW.... sure wish I caught a picture of the lifted VAN that I saw on I270 yesterday evening. Matte black w/ perhaps a 7"-10" lift and what appeared to be 33" rubber. Had like 10 CB radio antennas. Included, it had a sticker on the back window that said "A Country Boy Can Survive". Just goes to show ya.... anything is possible.

[vt_maverick]

Sounds more like the A-Team...

[vt_maverick]

Btw, I saw a convertible Dodge Caravan running around town the other day. Like most crazy stuff in this area, it wasn't a newer model but one of the original body style Caravans, circa 1986. Truly awesome.

[tom4bren]

I disagree with your repetition.

BTW.... sure wish I caught a picture of the lifted VAN that I saw on I270 yesterday evening. Matte black w/ perhaps a 7"-10" lift and what appeared to be 33" rubber. Had like 10 CB radio antennas. Included, it had a sticker on the back window that said "A Country Boy Can Survive". Just goes to show ya.... anything is possible.

& a bumper sticker that reads: "Caution - Driver chewing tobacco"

[WormGod]

& a bumper sticker that reads: "Caution - Driver chewing tobacco"

It was a treat seeing that on the Clara Barton Pkwy. Usually it's nothing but Mercs and Beemers at that time, but THAT made my day. A unicorn to be sure.

[Marlin]

As much as it hurts me to do this, there is a very easy way to lower the VX, would take less than 30 minutes, pending rust.
Crank the torsion bars down to desired height. You can get the spring compressors at pepboys for like 30 bucks. I lowered my honda civic with those when I was in highschool, drove it that way for 4 years, no problems...and you would have to cut the rear bump stop...

[don moore]

[vt_maverick]

With those rims it starts to look reminiscent of a hatchback/roadster... or maybe a larger PT Cruiser.

[RamAirZ]

Here is mine when I got it:



I think lowering it just a tad, turbo'd, 5spd swap, would be one hell of a fun toy. There's a difference between lowering and slamming. Doesn't need to be tucking tires but hovering the tops of the tires with the right wheels/tires would look killer. I'd just trim the rear springs a bit and remove the isolators and lower the T-bars up front.

[RallyDude]

I've lowered mine 3"-4" with no problems at all. I just took out the lift kit the PO installed. For my uses, the stock height works best. While I am an avid off-roader, I still enjoy riding the twisty pavement as well. As a PUV, I appreciate that the VX is capable both on- and off-road. The stock height is a great compromise that performs great for me. Raising a vehicle doesn't automatically make it better off-road either. On off-camber trails, a raised VX is more prone to tip over; and sometimes you need to drive under obstacles as well.

We all chose a Vehicross as it is unique, so it shouldn't surprise us that owners want to make it even more unique. When I first read the post, I too was like "what the hell". Then I saw the lowered white VX posted above. While it's not what I would do with mine, I can appreciate all the work and attention to detail that it's owner obviously had when creating his own version of the VX. Did you notice what looks to be motorized retractable running boards?

As far as this site being off-road oriented, it only makes sense on a vehicle that has low-range 4WD stock. That however, isn't the only application that the VX excels in. If we all had the same vision and all wanted to do the same mods, this would be a very boring site. So I say go for it. Show us your vision of the VX, and while we may not want to do it to our rides, we certainly can appreciate yet another unique VX, and a job well done.

p.s. The quickest way to lower it is to put a few bags of cement in the cargo area and start dating fat chicks.

[Marlin]

Having just finished the IFS install, I don't think lowering the VX without major front end changes is practical. I had my front pretty low after the IFS kit install. It rode like garbage. Even with rancho9000s at 9, it was a verysquishy ride. The lower the front, the less tension in the torsion bars, therefore a much softer ride. It would defeat the purpose of lowering it. The only way I can see to go would be a shorter torsion bar mounted to a new, closer to the front crossmember. Its doable, but not easy.