Calmini 3" Lift - Holden Frontera

Submitted: Tuesday, Jan 17, 2006 at 23:21
ThreadID: 29815 Views:7582 Replies:2 FollowUps:2
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Hi Frontera Owners,

I just finished fitting the Calmini 3" lift to my 2000 Frontera S with great results. If any other Frontera owners want the good oil, I'm happy to give feedback.

I imported mine direct from the US and it only took a couple of days to install.

Cost about $1,800 all up and delivered a full 3" over factory. (In fact, better than that because the car is 5 years old and the suspension had sagged somewhat. Leading edge on the fuel tank went from around 200mm to 295mm!)

Haven't had much of a chance to get it dirty yet, but the system is nice and tight and on-road handling is good despite the higher centre of gravity.

Cheers,

Benn
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Reply By: Brian B (QLD) - Tuesday, Jan 17, 2006 at 23:53

Tuesday, Jan 17, 2006 at 23:53
Hi Benn,

That sounds great. We just got rid of our 2000 Frontera but I would be really interested to see how you go off road with the changes you have made. Should be heaps better. That bloody fuel tank is a pain on that vehicle and at times it acts like an anchor.

Hope it all goes well.

AnswerID: 149270

Follow Up By: BennHW - Wednesday, Jan 18, 2006 at 17:24

Wednesday, Jan 18, 2006 at 17:24
Hi Brian,

Yeah, the fuel tank is a pain. The guard on my Frontera has a few dings in it from the fire trails up around Mt Mee.

I haven't had a chance to get back up there and test the suspension properly, but I reckon I won't be dragging the belly over nearly so many lumps.

The rear diff is now the lowest point - so 31" tyres is the next step.

All the best,

Benn
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FollowupID: 402659

Reply By: Member - Mozza (NSW) - Wednesday, Jan 18, 2006 at 11:33

Wednesday, Jan 18, 2006 at 11:33
BennHW
very interested in the 3inch lift mate.. got any pics of the installation ?
did you do the install ALL yourself ?
amount of lift soudns VERY good, like brian said the level of the standard fuel tank is the killer for clearance on the Frontera.
how/who did you deal with in the US ? any problems ?.. how much ? how long did it take ? etc etc
AnswerID: 149356

Follow Up By: BennHW - Wednesday, Jan 18, 2006 at 17:53

Wednesday, Jan 18, 2006 at 17:53
Hi Mozza,

No pics yet I'm afraid. Haven't got a digital camera and I just finished the install a week or so ago.

The only part of the install I couldn't do myself was removing the bushes from the front factory upper control arms (to remove the fulcrum pin).

Wound up taking the pair to a local engineering firm to get them pressed out and have the pins and new bushes installed in the new upper control arms. Cost $66 to get that done.

Oh, and had to get the wheel alignment done professionally - another $86 at Pedders.

Time spent under the car was about 2 days - but the whole process took longer because I had to wait on the engineering firm to do the work on the upper control arms. (Would've been quicker too if I'd been smarter about getting the front ball joints out. Wasted time stuffing around with that!)

The kit cost around AUD$1,100 (including a new heavy duty track bar) - plus another $310 to get the kit sent over by FedEx. (Calmini arranged this.) Customs duty was about $260.

I dealt with a guy at Calmini named David Kampa. He was a big help. (All by e-mail.) Payment was by an international money transfer through my local bank branch. Easy enough to do.

Slowest part was getting the kit through Customs. Only took 4 days to come from the States - but another 8 days to clear Customs!

Only real problem I had with the install was the front brake lines. Couldn't get the old ones off - but they're the same length as the replacements - so it's no big deal.

With the right tools it was relatively easy to put in - and the instructions were pretty good. Just needed a good set of metric sockets and open-ended/ring spanners, trolley jack and some stands - and a hammer and tyre lever (to get the ball joints to let go).

Well worth it from my point of view, and the kit is great quality and everything fit perfectly. (The only thing I didn't like was the shockies - too small bore in my opinion - so I paid extra to get a set of bigger bore gas shocks from Pedders - but that was my choice.)

I was actually a bit surprised by how much lift I got. I though maybe 260-270mm at the fuel tank - but wound up with 295mm. I've measured it a couple of times to be sure. Too good to be true :-)

Let me know if you have any more questions.

Cheers,

Benn
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FollowupID: 402669

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