1988 LWB Sierra Need help and lots of it

[leary393]

Hi there Been playin around with my sierra for a while now and i have many questions which i can't find the answers to, so here goes.

Rear diff. (just re-built with detroit locker)
Seems to have heaps of back lash. Is this Common.
(could it be 33inch tyres, locker, or something else.
when you put the hand break on it can role forward or backwards a foot.)

Heaps of Stuff i want to buy. Cant find the rite place to buy.
Seems to cost same to buy from USA and ship here as what it does to buy
in AUS.

Shocks: I want to put the hoop kit on and longer shocks
Can't find anywhere in australia that knows what shocks to use,
Or where i can get them. Shock hoops, Is it better to bring them in from
th US or is there somewhere in AUS that sells them at a reasonable Price.

Heavy Duty Axles: i want a set of 4 front and rear.
Can't find anywhere that does both. Whats best value for money

Wheel Spacers? US or AUS. So much cheaper in US

Bushwacker Flares: Cant find them in AUS

Ext Brake lines, Where do i get the best ones

is there somewhere which sells all this stuff in australia at a good price

Soft tops: Is there a company that makes a soft top for a LWB Sierra

[just cruizin']

[quote="leary393"]Hi there Been playin around with my sierra for a while now and i have many questions which i can't find the answers to, so here goes.

Rear diff. (just re-built with detroit locker)
Seems to have heaps of back lash. Is this Common.
(could it be 33inch tyres, locker, or something else.
when you put the hand break on it can role forward or backwards a foot.)

Heaps of Stuff i want to buy. Cant find the rite place to buy.
Seems to cost same to buy from USA and ship here as what it does to buy
in AUS.

Shocks: I want to put the hoop kit on and longer shocks
Can't find anywhere in australia that knows what shocks to use,
Or where i can get them. Shock hoops, Is it better to bring them in from
th US or is there somewhere in AUS that sells them at a reasonable Price.
BBM, Superior Engineering both sell hoops or you could get them made to suit, both can help with shockies as well. The size of the hoop will define the shock length. Could try Locktup in Perth too

Heavy Duty Axles: i want a set of 4 front and rear.
Can't find anywhere that does both. Whats best value for money Import from http://www.lowrangeoffroad.com/ or BBM

Wheel Spacers? US or AUS. So much cheaper in US

Bushwacker Flares: Cant find them in AUSImport or BBM

Ext Brake lines, Where do i get the best onesany brake place can make them to suit, even mobile guys that will come to you

is there somewhere which sells all this stuff in australia at a good price

Soft tops: Is there a company that makes a soft top for a LWB Sierra
MU Canvas

[sierrajim]

Welcome aboard. nice zook.

Soft top - Cockatoo Canvas - Paul on 0409 092 741 cheap and VERY good quality.

oh yeah, we try to keep things filed nicely around here to make searching out info all that little bit easier. Tech in the tech sections and members info/builds in the members section. We'll leave this here but feel frree to start a members thread showing updates on your car in the members section.

Cheers

[v840]

Nice zook, love the LWB.


http://www.locktup4x4.com.au/


Have a look round that sight. Should have everything you need and they are in Aus too. I can highly recommend lowrange too.

[leary393]

Thanks Heaps for all your help

for once i'm gettin answers to all my questions. Muchly appreciated

One more question has any1 herd of sum1 putting a toyota supercharger on a 1.3ltr

Carby, Compression Ratio, Intercooling, ETC?

[just cruizin']

Much easier to get the whole Toyota engine and make that fit. It's really not worth the nightmares.

[v840]

Thanks Heaps for all your help

for once i'm gettin answers to all my questions. Muchly appreciated

One more question has any1 herd of sum1 putting a toyota supercharger on a 1.3ltr

Carby, Compression Ratio, Intercooling, ETC?

Have a look for MART's thread in members. I agree with JC though.

Also, look for MUcanvas (sp?) on this board (maria) for soft tops too.

[germo]

that is a tidy LWB zook!

with your backlash issue, have you check your unis lately. you should have a transfer case hand brake and that will just stop your tail shaft from turning, so any slack in unis is felt!
just a thought

ashley

[leary393]

Thanks finally an answer to that Queation.

No definately not uni's with hand brake on move car backwards and forwards without any movements in uni's.

Ive even had the wheels off tailshaft disconnected.
you can turn the tail shaft back and for alot ( well i think its alot compared to what i have felt on other cars) Without moving the input shaft.
Don't know if its the locker or what.

Has any1 had similar issues?

[leary393]

One more question

Hilux diffs Vs Heavy duty axles. price and value for money

where do i find this info, i can't seem to get anythin when i go search

[Bad_Zook]

you'll find that locktup4x4 will have most things or be able to get them to you directly via lowrange.. you can also buy directly from lowrangeoffroad.com... they are both very good to deal with..

it sux if you want to build up/modify your suzi at the moment because our dollar is worth bugger all..

[v840]

One more question

Hilux diffs Vs Heavy duty axles. price and value for money

where do i find this info, i can't seem to get anythin when i go search

That's a very subjective question.

What sort of wheeling do you do mainly?

There's a lot more fab involved in lux axles $$$$$.

[leary393]

Well i do a bit of everythin. just week end stuff. i'm the sorta guy that see's sumthin wild off the track and tries to go up it(My Mrs hates it).

lately i've been to scared to do any of the tuffer stuff coz i don't wanna break another axle.

there is alot of loose shailey rock where we normally go. one hill i'm one of 2 people that have driven down it and back up it (and then drove home). at least what i know of. thort my ooksi would do it know worries but i'm to scared to until i do sumthin with axles.

i wiould give anything a go if i new my vehcle was upto it
i've scun enough nuckles already on this old girl. want stuff that won't break. at the rite price obviousely. want to avoid a complete rebuild as i know how quickly they blow out

the latest trip. off the beaten track


Mrs Loving life stuck on a log


2 Zooks. 1 mine other my mates

[leary393]

Ok diff backlash needs to be solved. any advise muchly appreciated.

with the wheel off and tail shat disconected you can turn the axle back and forth 30 to 50mm without turning the input shaft. its causing a clunk in between gear changes when it takes up and also taking off.

i've checked my other diff at home (no locker) and its about the same
crown wheel and pinion clearances are spot on. is this a zook problem.

as 30 to 50mm at the axle converts to nealy a foot at the out side of 33's.

front diff doesn't have no where near as much back lash. when i put it in 4wd. no clunk smooth clutch and takes off fine.

its like the front diff takes up strait away which allows the back to catch up.

[just cruizin']

First and foremost FIX YOUR STEERING, get rid of that Z link and get a hi-steer knuckle. Do not spend another cent on the thing untill you have done that.

That said, most auto unlockers tend to have more backlash in my experience, this may not be the correct setup but it's true to what I've seen. However you will end up twisting splines etc.

For what's you've got, I'd be just getting some CrMo axles and CV's but this will just move the weak spot. You want the cheapest easiest thing as a weak spot, CV's are generally the best answer, unless you do heaps. If you haven't got gears and run 33's you'll do lots.

Where'd you get the wheels?

[germo]

another thing to consider if you go lux diff.
you have rather big deep dish rims!
your truck will be a fair bit wider

wms - wms
(wheel mounting surface)

NT = 49 inches
WT = 52"
hilux = 55.5"
MQ = 58"

if your narrow track its 6.5" overall width increase.

I agree wiith just cruizin get rid of the z link and go a high steer!

but remember that will be the main cost of going to lux diffs, getting the steering sorted ie high steer.

so you will have to do the maths and whether you can do the fab work or not. but you will get lux diffs for cheaper than the chromo gear and you should allready be forking out for a high steer kit
you will need a new steering box with power steering.
you have a wide range of standard diff gears.
you can then get chromo gear for them and run 40" on you zook!

they are however not as light
require fab work (scares alot of people)
is not suzuki (people have an issue with this too!)
they need to be engineered

ps your not driving hard enough because your sills are straight!

ashley

[tassietoyuki]

That is a very nice rig you have there. Go the cromo axle stuff. Having the lux diffs under my vehicle I think you will be much happier with the zook axles in the long run. Unless your plans are for big engine etc. Please fix your steering and also please tell of your wheel supplier

[lay80n]

Auto lockers by there design will have a bit more play in them than other diff centres (air lockers, open etc). You need to confirm that the backlash is acutally backlash, that is working clearance between the crown wheel and pinion teeth. It is quite possible that your RW&P backlash is fine, and you have a bit of play in your locker setup. Did you do the install yourself? If so, were teh side gears correctly shimmed? You are noticing the difference between the open front diff with Vs the auto locker. Auto lockers usually have a bit of extra "play" in then. One of thier downsided.
As for importing parts, it is pretty much always better $$$ wise, depending on the strength (or lack of these days) the $Au. Extended brake lines can be made up custom buy most brake shops, or as mentioned by mobile people. Be careful if you buy them from american places, as they will not be ARD approved therefore illegal.

Basically what everyone has said so far is good advice, especially the high steer advice. Z-Links bring teh suk.

Edit - What rims are they. I like
Layto.....

[leary393]

Settle settle every1. it steers like a bitch.

I've only had the car 2months and its come along way in that time just havn't got around to it. Nothing is engineered on my car yet as The guy before me has attempted the spring over him self and made a mess.
still tyding things up. looks like diffs out again

I wanna wait until i know everything i want and then do 1 order from the states to avoid payin more shipping.

i'm thinkin of goin chromoly axles instead of lux diffs. but which is the best stuff to get are they all pretty simailar. i seen the ones on ebay for 280US. that sounds good to me but are they as good as the more expensive ones. as for rear axles. will the ones off lowrange be strong enough (Calimni or sumthin.)

is it worth goin through locktup4x4 to get stuff off lowrange or just order direct.

power steer kit is there sumwhere doin a bolt on kit. less hassle the better.

i'm looking into rims. i'm tryin to find the guy i bort them off. got them with tires off ebay for 1200

Any1 like my bullbar made it myself fits my 9000 just perfect

sills are strait coz i have taken it off road twice now. first time came back with a broken axle. second time brake problems. Still ironing out teething problems. and scared to break another axle

[VR Rodeo]

is it worth goin through locktup4x4 to get stuff off lowrange or just order direct.

Locktup get their stuff directly from the US supplier same as Lowrange does, they dont order from Lowrange unless they are having problems getting the stuff directly, as far as I am aware. You can PM Chris ( Locktup ) through Outers or email him straight through the Locktup website, he is usually very prompt with enquiries.

[rpm]

Those rims are 15 x 10's. I know the guy that used to run them on his zook. He offloaded them cos he kept busting axels, cv's, diffs and wheel bearings all of the time. I was considering buying them off him, but decided that they were to heavy for standard sierra driveline. He went down to 31 inch mongrels. They are awesome rims and tyres tho... They measure 34 inches... I calculated the offset at the time, i think they were -25mm. I decided to stick with my eagle alloys as they're -30mm offset.

I'm currently in the process of changing my front and rear axels to double toughs up front and calmini axels in the rear. I can't comment on the longevity and reliablity of the upgraded axels, but i wanted to stick to suzuki gear and not have to go toyota axels /diffs. Apparently the Calmini rear axels are 30% stronger than standard axels. Hopefully that will fix my axle dramas...

Hope this helps make your decision a little easier...

[hyzook]

One more question

Hilux diffs Vs Heavy duty axles. price and value for money

where do i find this info, i can't seem to get anythin when i go search

Hi, your question is a hard one, I drove with standard diffs and axles (CV's had birfield rings on) BFG 33's for close to 10 years so yes it can be made reliable. I have broke a few standard short side axles and a set of the Calmini ones (both sides with in two months of each other). If you mod the backing plates or run rear discs the spare axles are easy to carry.
I drive mine pretty hard and also run lockers which place additional load on the axles. I also have started towing a light camper and since then the rear diff couldn't handle it. Looking at your car it probably only weighs around 1150kg so you should be right if you drive sensibly ( don't let it hop biting for traction, if it has traction go easy on the pedal etc) A new car or recently modded one takes quite some time to learn how to drive it to get the best out of it and not destroy it, smooth calm driving normally produces the best results.
An axle wrap bar (if not already there) should also be on your list.

I have a set of Spidertrax CV's and to date they claim no one has ever broken a set so they are a good option for the front, the other thing to watch for is jumping it or wheel stands with firm landings will bend the housing but once again knowing you vehicles limitations will save you a lot of money.

Lux diffs may sound cheap but to do it right is not cheap, a set from Ebay may only be $400 but then you need a Bunderra rear. Then you will need to get the right ratios to suit your gearing and tyres (for which you will need new rims) If you have lockers you will want them again so there is more outlay and the brake set up needs sorting as does drive shafts and spring set up. Steering is another expense as is flares to cover the extra width you now have.

Are you running NT or WT diffs? I will be selling my unneeded parts off in the next couple of months, I will send you a pm when I do as the Spidertrax CV's and another set with birfield rings are going as well as strengthened SPOA WT housings on NT spacings, rear disc kit, standard axles, high steer kit, warn winch, 88 (plastic) flares with mounts in dark grey 15 x 8 alloys and heaps more that you could use.

Just drive it for a while and go easy on it, tidy up the simple things and get a feel for the car. BTW Nice car and remember you only get one set of quarter panels and as they are long they should be respected [/i]

[locktup4x4]

you'll find that locktup4x4 will have most things or be able to get them to you directly via lowrange

We have multiple sources we regularly buy from. Sean at Low Range is not one of our suppliers but we help each other out when there is a need. Locktup 4x4 keeps stock in Perth. If we don't have it in stock we can get it through our suppliers. You can call Chris at 1 300 799 340, email at chris@locktup4x4.com.au or our web site http://www.locktup4x4.com.au/dealers.aspx

Jason

[just cruizin']

Go through Locktup4x4, they have been very helpful to a lot of guys of here.

But as I said before, don't worry about anything else until that steering is sorted. You'll kill someone with that crazy thing

[Guy]

i'm the sorta guy that see's sumthin wild off the track and tries to go up it

Pls don't do that. Thats at least part of the way tracks get closed.

Stick to the track there are plenty out there that will be more than a match for your Zuk .

[leary393]

thanks every1

Rear axle wrap bar. what are they? can i fabricate. If not where do i get them from.

HYZOOK: the front cv's you have, do they have axles aswell or just cv's.
or is cv's the weak point and not the axles.
I was well aware of the bits and peices that would need lookin at with changin to lux diffs. i was just wondering seein as it is a common conversion if sum1 was makin i kit that has everythin you need to do the conversion rite.

I'm running NT diffs. i'm very interested in most of what you have for sale. as most of it is stuff i'm goin to buy anyway. do your diffs have standard axles or heavy duty.

[/quote]Pls don't do that. Thats at least part of the way tracks get closed.

Stick to the track there are plenty out there that will be more than a match for your Zuk .

Respect for our tracks is one thing lacking in alot of our young people these days. where i normally go i know where i'm goin just don't choose the easiest path is what i ment to say. you can have extreme fun without rouinin it for others.

Diff gears? Just put rock crawler gears in 6.5.1 i think.
still no 5th gear. what ratio should i change my diffs to.

[leary393]

Is any1 goin to lend some advice on diff ratio's

Oh and the latest.

Some scumbags got into my lil ooksi and trashed it, stole my winch control, bent my uhf arial over, pulled the speakers out, bent my clutch pedal and accelerator pedal up.

what scum do things like this. so frustrating.
didn't even take the cd player or uhf.

[greg]

Is any1 goin to lend some advice on diff ratio's

I'm not sure if this was a question or not, so here's my not really answer.

pick your engine. determine what it revs at stock based on the gearing of the car it comes from. then determine what tyres you are going to run. then calculate what gears you can run to allow you as close as possible to stock gearing on the highway, and as low as possible off the highway.

[leary393]

what ratio diff gears would be best suited. I'm running 33' Jungle trecker II.

Just put rock crawler gears in 6.5.1 i think.
still no 5th gear. what ratio should i change my diffs to.

thinkin bout sellin my truck and upgrading to somethin to tow a camper trailer with.

I can't decide. build my ooksi up. Diffs, Engine, Paint, and soft top.

Or sell and buy a patrol. Install lockers, Lift and tyres

[just cruizin']

I vote sell it and buy a Patrol Patrol suits you by the sounds of it.