1994 80 series 3.5kg towing upgrade

[tuff_89zook]

would anybody out there know if a 1994 1fz auto has the same brakes as a 1996 model?
reason im asking, im looking at upgrading the towing capacity and the later model towbars have the same part number as the early model just a different capacity
talk to an engineer and this is what he said :

Earlier model manuals had smaller front brakes and a smaller brake booster. Those would have to be upgraded to the automatic/later specifications.

From memory, the towbars are the same except for the rating on the plate. I'm pretty sure that Hayman Reese will supply a replacement plate for their towbars for a small fee, but Toyota won't.

[sup8pdct]

There was an update in 92 to larger brakes. Also larger wheels (from 15" to 16" rims).
That is the only brake upgrade i know of.
I have read about some guy in townsville who took pre and post 96 cruisers to an engineer who measured both and found no difference between them, then issued a blue plate to upgrade towing capacity.

James

[tuff_89zook]

That's what I want to hear I work across the road from a Toyota dealership so gonna go quiz them and I'll post up what they say
Any chance u know the guys username?

[sup8pdct]

Check out this thread.
http://www.lcool.org/forum/viewtopic.ph ... e&start=60" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

James

[dirty harry]

when i worked in a tow bar shop eveyone with a 80 series asked this,
haymen reese told me there is no difference,
toyota just changed the rating from 2500 to 3500, 10/96 on 80's to keep up with others.

[Shadow]

when i worked in a tow bar shop eveyone with a 80 series asked this,
haymen reese told me there is no difference,
toyota just changed the rating from 2500 to 3500, 10/96 on 80's to keep up with others.

the brakes are different

you cant put 15" rims on late 80 series as they foul on the front calipers...

[TheBigBoy]

when i worked in a tow bar shop eveyone with a 80 series asked this,
haymen reese told me there is no difference,
toyota just changed the rating from 2500 to 3500, 10/96 on 80's to keep up with others.

the brakes are different

you cant put 15" rims on late 80 series as they foul on the front calipers...

No they don't! Everyone keeps saying that. 15" steelies fit fine on the late model front. It's the REAR they foul on the calipers.

[Hamo]

That's what I want to hear I work across the road from a Toyota dealership so gonna go quiz them and I'll post up what they say
Any chance u know the guys username?

Dont bother talking with toyota, They wont help you.
Talk with your haymen reese dealer & tell them your having it enginered for 3.5t. They will weld on the new plate (for a fee)
You then need to have an enginer sign of on it to make it all legal.
You do need it enginered for insurance puposes if your towing & you want what your towing insured (caravan ect).

Not sure about the brake upgrade, But you will need the bigger brakes & wheels.
Hamo

[evanstaniland]

when i worked in a tow bar shop eveyone with a 80 series asked this,
haymen reese told me there is no difference,
toyota just changed the rating from 2500 to 3500, 10/96 on 80's to keep up with others.

the brakes are different

you cant put 15" rims on late 80 series as they foul on the front calipers...

No they don't! Everyone keeps saying that. 15" steelies fit fine on the late model front. It's the REAR they foul on the calipers.

I disagree
I've got late model 80s diffs under my bundy, 15" rims fitted on the rear but had to shave the front calipers to get then the 15" wheels to fit!

[TheBigBoy]

If it fits the rear, it's not a late model. 15x10 neg44, 15x8 neg22, steel wheels fit the front of the 80's. Post 92 you can't get 15's to fit the rear at all, as it's the caliper body itself that binds. So it's not just a case of trimming the edges off. I've just put 15x11 alloys on my truck and had to trim the front calipers edges to fit. But, steelies fit straight on.

[dirty harry]

when i worked in a tow bar shop eveyone with a 80 series asked this,
haymen reese told me there is no difference,
toyota just changed the rating from 2500 to 3500, 10/96 on 80's to keep up with others.

the brakes are different

you cant put 15" rims on late 80 series as they foul on the front calipers...

i didn't say they weren't different,
they had bigger brakes in 94/95 but can only tow 2500.
my 1996 has bigger brakes but can only tow 2500,
because its early 96 not after 10/96

[evanstaniland]

It is a late model!

[TheBigBoy]

It cant be. Go measure them. pre 8/92 312mm rotors. post 8/92 336mm rotors. Although all the rear calipers on cruisers are the same, the rotors and caliper possitions changed.

[CRUZAAMAD]

Had a dig in post section found this pretty quick, as i sent a reply, AGES AGO but this guy doesnt get on here often, or at all. never replied.

please if going through this process detail required work and costings. and post up.
thanks

TITLE TO SEARCH IS BELOW.

GVM Upgrade finally done in NSW




Fri Apr 27, 2012 7:07 am

GVM Upgrade finally done in NSW

Hi,

I live in NSW and I have a 1995 80 series with the 16 inch wheels, disk brakes on rear etc but rated to only tow 2500kgs and gvm of 2960 kgs.

After about 2 years of searching I have been able to upgrade towing to 3500kgs and gvm to 3350kgs. Finally I will be legal and won't have to worry about insurance problems.

I have no financial interest etc, etc but the engineer who passed it was John Wilson at http://www.vehicleengineering.com.au/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
based in Canberra/queenbeyan.

He uses common sense and was easy to deal with without stupid changes. I will post this on other sites as well.

I hope this helps others who want either of these upgrades.
Tony

[stilivn]

would anybody out there know if a 1994 1fz auto has the same brakes as a 1996 model?

Yes they are the same from 93 right through till they stopped making the 80 series. Have you modified your calipers as I notice in your Sig you are running 15x8 rims, this could give you some grief with an engineer.

[tuff_89zook]

Went to ISP in islington today the guy informed me that the only towbar
Haymen Reese sell for a 80 series landcruiser is now rated for 3500kg
He gave me the number for Haymen reese to call and confirm I'll do this tommorow
He told me that you can apply for new plate on the Haymen Reese site

[tuff_89zook]

Seems the only way possible is get a letter from Toyota and they wont do it :@

[MUD000]

Spoke to the engineer mentioned above yesterday & he said with a 2 inch lift & 285's it pretty straight forward but no go for mine as its to high 2 + 2 + 2 suspension BL & tyres & I would have to do the swerve test.
Cheers Dan

[MADSHORT]

Evanstaniland :your wrong with your brakes speak to whoever sold them to you cause they lied
Bigboy : is right about brake sizes
and if you think u can just fit bigger tow bar go for it cause when there is a accident and you kill some one your 4x4 is defected your in jail
the cruiser was up graded to 3500 kgs towing capacity from 2500 kgs in 1996 there are 2 mods done by toyota to give it a greater towing capacity
the mods were actually done in 1995 but not upgraded till 1996 but you can get your cruiser upgraded if you do these factory mods with a engineers cert
cheers
Gordon

[evanstaniland]

did check, it was the rear that was shaved not the fronts (my bad)
i can get 15x8" to fit front and rear with the shaved rear calipers

[diby_2000]

the cruiser was up graded to 3500 kgs towing capacity from 2500 kgs in 1996 there are 2 mods done by toyota to give it a greater towing capacity
the mods were actually done in 1995 but not upgraded till 1996 but you can get your cruiser upgraded if you do these factory mods with a engineers cert
cheers
Gordon

Just for the ill informed, what were the 2 mods that Toyota performed?
And do you know of en engineer that will sign this upgrade?