With not long to go (a week as I'm writing this! - the Sunday before the event!) to the first Jimny Meet, 2011...

On Saturday the 4th of February (the event is the 20th) I was outside "Halfords" (a UK car parts Super-Store) eating a bag of chips whilst the store assistant was making new plates for the Jimny -

And I decided, spur of the minute (like I do!), that the Jimny should have a Trail Master suspension kit fitted ready for the Jimny Meet event!

So, when I got back, I faxed an order over to Dennis at Trail Master on Saturday afternoon... first thing Monday, he sent me an order acknowledgement, and I was sat outside my local branch of the NatWest bank at 10am ready to wire the payment over to Germany...

Wednesday morning, 9:10am, the couriers DPD delivered a big box from Trail Master!

Opening the box, on top is the recommended Steering Damper...

And below, are four new shock absorbers...

I went for the "Comfort" shocks, rather than the "Sport / HD" shocks, as the Jimny is my daily driver, and doesn't (generally!) see much offroad use, it's more a day-to-day transport, and used as advertising for the ever-increasing range of parts I sell...

And in the bottom are the four new replacement lift springs!

A full set of instructions, and a TUV approval certificate.

Similar inside the Steering Damper box... full instructions and another TUV certificate.

And, so, Sunday the 13th of February, exactly a week before the Jimny Meet event, I started fitting the kit...

The picture above is the lift I originally had on, Bits4Vits spring spacers and Rough Country shock absorbers...

Took out the original Suzuki spring, and compared it to the Trail Master...

Longer, thicker wound, and more twists per length...

Luckily!, I'd stored the original spring seats in the garage... since these had been replaced with the spring spacers...

Front nearside replaced... luvin' the sexy orange colour... Bits4Vits signature colour!

Very nice components, if I do say so myself, now there's a compliment!

Looking good!

I then did the offside to match, and then turned my attention to the back...

I was a bit concerned how close the rear shocks were to the spring seats...

So I spaced them out with four washers a side...

Note the replacement bolt, as I stripped the threads on the original when fitting the spring spacer lift..

Rear offside done...

And the nearside done as well...

Note by now it's started raining, so the Trail Master box doubles up as a useful mat!

Nearside... note the old components lying on the drive behind...

Nearside.

Fully extended, tyres on the ground, and the chassis supported by axle stands... should be plenty of flex!

The shocks are the perfect length for the extended shocks, the springs just remain on the seats with the shocks at full extention.

Parked outside the Jones residence, plenty of lift...

And a nice even space around the tyres in the arches.

Note that the tyres are standard size (205/75/15) Maxxis Trepadors chunky mud tyres.

Nice... good lift, and an excellent new plate... I think we're ready for the Jimny Meet at Tong now!

These pictures were taken after a ten mile test drive, over various driving conditions... speed bumps around the block, excellent!, some rural windey roads, excellent!, and then onto the Expressway and wound it up to 70mph... driving at various speeds, there was no sign of the notrious "Jimny Death Wobble", and overall it drove really, really well... no wobbling at all!

Back into the drive, and time to fit the Steering damper...

Now, I must admit to being a bit of a sceptic... none of my Vitaras over the past 15 years of (ab)using them, has ever had - or as far as I've been concerned - needed a steering damper, I've quite honestly never seen a need, or a point to them... but Trail Master had recommended fitting one, so there was one delivered in the parcel...

... so, on the ramps, and the Trail Master "mat" was once again laid down to keep my back dry!

... to fit the steering damper...

Again, easy-to-follow comprehensive instructions, made it easy to fit...

Bolted up and ready to go...

Wider shot of the front with springs, shocks and steering damper...

I then went for a similar test drive, and was gob-snacked! the difference can definately be felt, and I think I might try one on "Stealth", my offroad-toy Vitara!

Overall, an easy to fit lift, excellent on-road manners, just like driving the original Jimny!, but with a 2" lift!

So, what's it like offroad?... hmmm, we'll know in a week at the UK Jimny Meet 2001!