Feedback on the UZJ100's

[natharmstrong88]

I'm looking at buying a 98 model uzj100 GXV, I'll be flying to brissy next weekend to check it out, just wondering if there is anything I should be weary of. It has 250,000 kms on it.
Thanks in advance,
Nathan

[oldmate]

Check for cracking around the front upper control arms where the torsion bar meets. They are known for that when driven hard offroad, or just rough outback roads.

Other than that they are a solid truck.

at 250k though you'll have to look out for the usual wear items. Alternator, starter if it's been a city car. Suspension bushes, shocks, brakes etc.

[VooDoo]

Check for cracking around the front upper control arms where the torsion bar meets. They are known for that when driven hard offroad, or just rough outback roads.

Other than that they are a solid truck.

at 250k though you'll have to look out for the usual wear items. Alternator, starter if it's been a city car. Suspension bushes, shocks, brakes etc.

Dont you mean the lower arms? Thats where the torsion bars connect. ARB do a strengthening bracket for them but its usually the diesels that crack not the V8's but its cheap insurance in any case. Stock torsion bars are pretty crappy. I put toughdogs in mine and a 2" lift and it did cape york with ease. Haven't had a single issue with it so far.

[GO79]

If that's the rig your after and you can go for one a lil newer with the 5 speed auto , the 5 speed autos are a fair bit beter on fuel and just seem to have a perfect ratio

[ferrit]

$24 each for the ARB brackets, and about 2hrs to pull both lower arms off, bolt the brackets on, weld the inners of the arms and brackets to the arms.

Cheaper than having to get the thing towed out of the desert with a smashed lower arm sitting on the bump stops!

[natharmstrong88]

Thanks fellas, I ended up getting a 2005 model Uzj with the 5 speed auto. Picked it up on Sunday. And drove it back from brissy. It's a nice vehicle to drive, I'm starting to do some research now as to whether or not anyone makes full replacement A-arms for them, as that would be the most reliable solution. Any recommendations on what brand has the strongest torsion bars? As the standard ones have been wound up a bit but are still fairly tired I think.

[GO79]

i wonder if someone makes shocks with spings as one like coil overs set up style, same as the prados and new hiluxs , if you could get something like this it would take some stress of the torsion bars

[natharmstrong88]

Yeah I have thought that, but there isnt much room and the gain probably wouldn't be worth the effort. While I was under there this morning sussing out a noise ive found that the drivers side inner cv is stuffed, does anyone know if someone makes aftermarket CV's that are stronger that factory?

[GO79]

Did you check your front wheel nuts arnt loose behind the centre caps,
best thing you can do to ur 100 is put on some pacemakers and 3" makes a heap of difference power wise , some cars repsond well to better exhaust system some don't the 100s are ones that really benifit and they sounds crazy , have done this on old mans 100s

[natharmstrong88]

I can see the wheel nuts without taking the centre caps off, haha, all tight. Yeah I've worked on a few with exhausts before while I was mechancing it up at the toyota dealership in town here, they do sound sick. Just gotta save my pennies, hah.