My budget 5 link front

[slowhilux]

As the title says, i am about to start building a 80 series 5 link. By "budget", i mean i wont be using heim or rose joints (to start with anyway), and i will be making all the mounting brackets myself out of 8mm steel. To start with, this weekend i will make up some templates for the upper arm brackets, out of 2mm steel. The upper arm brackets will be bolted in place of the front sway bar brackets that sit on the inside of the chassis rail just where the chassis ramps up towards the spring mounts...anyone with an 80 will know what im on about. New brake lines will have to be made up to make way for the diff brackets (on the passenger side at least), The upper arms will most likely be std 80 series rear lower arms, shortened, and made adjustable (not done by me), and have the SOFTEST bushes a can possibly have.

With the lower arms, i intend on using the factory 3 link arm mounts both on the chassis, and on the diff, using the holes on the rear of the diff where the 1st bolts of the 3 link arms bolt to. Tricky or expensive bit; im going to get some custom lower arms made up, most likely out of molly, so they can clear the POS Toyo drag link on full travel (the 3 link arms dont).

Its going to take me a few months, as im not in any ball busting rush to complete it, but i would rather take my tiome and do it right to start with. I will be posting pics as it goes on.

Phill

[Midget]

Phil
I have made my own 5 link for my 80 series very similar to this,You may have seen it in 4wd monthly,(it's silver)
I used rear upper arms (lengthened of course for my upper arms and stayed with the original arms already there for the lower,just removed the front bolt.
As for your brackets i think 8mm plate is a huge overkill,I made all my brackets out of 5mm,I have had no probs with the setup,I can sit comfortably on 120km with 38" swampers with no real head shakes.
I have found that it go's through bushed a little quicker,but i guess thats just what you get when you get so much flex out of the front.
But keep us upto date with your progress as you go mate.
Hope it all works for you..

Jamie

[slowhilux]

Jamie,
Yeah i remember your car. With using the standard lower arms on the front, how does it go for them hitting the drag link? Cos as mine is now, with the right caster set up (and no drop boxers for the 3 link arms), the arms bind up fairly badly at travel, to the point where the drag link hits the hi pinion (at extremes), and is starting to wear flat spots in the drag link from rubbing on the arms....if you know what i mean

Phill

[Midget]

Mine only rubs when it's at full travel,like the pic in the mag...
Apart from that,it's close but doesn't hit.

Jamie

[slowhilux]

Weel this idea was short lived. Been talking to a few people today, getting custom dropped front arms developed..........will be a few months away before they go into "production", so to speak

Phill