Wizard Bolt In 5 Link....

[JemmyBubbles]

Howdy folks,

I am thinking of whacking a wizard bolt on 5 link kit on my Shortie GQ. I was also thinking of going a TJ Jeep cause of the 5 link setup all round, but then I woke up to myself...

Now I have heard stories of people having a BAD time with five links I think the word castor slap ? (I am not sure) was used. Ne wayz I have heard stories of really really bad vibrations ie; unriveable.

What are the key considerations to getting one of these things setup for a daily driver. I have heard stories of you needing to have the panhard rod and draglink horizontal and parallel ??

And also is it worth it (The five link). At the moment with 4 inch coils my front 3 link does next to nothing, it would be handy to have the front actually flex or perhaps it is just for coolness value. Am I honestly just better off whacking in dual lockers and learning to drive the thing with the setup I have.

Any Ideas folks ?

[ludacris]

Go the lockers first.

[Bartso]

personally i will be getting a wizard 5 link as well as lockers it depends on what you want to use it for i reakon 5 links are more for the slower off road like rock crawling just my thought

[stool]

Go for it mate Mannell did mine and is very good no road much better than the standard with big caster plates. but with extra body roll the only down fall. but could be the no sway bar`s as for off road it work`s quiet well but mostly down hill mabe my springs are to hard but overall its a goog set up. But have good think about those billet dropped front control arms and lockers oh and don`t foget about the price of a engineer %500 smacks is half a locker. good luck Steve

[bru21]

i have one and i love it. your spring / shock / sway choice is more important to drivability in all conditions. you can set up the five link for all comps. i think brents is weak compared to some others. ask cheezy what he can come up with. that said mine is still ok. see what the obc does to it next year!

cheers bru

[Deano]

I'm thinking of 5 linking the front of my GQ too. Only thing stopping me is I've heard that they are very vauge on the road. Even though I dont do bulk road km's Id still like it to drive through the mall OK

Im going to try and take a 5 link GQ for a spin soon to check for myself, but I'm sure it depends on the kit and the setup.

For those that have em, what is your current setup?

Spring Rate - std/softer/harder
Spring Height - +How many inches
Shock - Type
Swaybars - Yes / No?
Shortie or LWB

Cheers, Deano.

[stool]

RS99009 `s with pin to eye
Dobbin coils I think med to soft
4way coilover steering damper
bolt on mannell kit
no GAY bars

[XFACTOR]

my dad has one and its good except every now and then the bolts seem to loosen themselves...

i'd rather have lockers first though

[bigbluemav]

How do the 3rd's Productions front suspension arms compare with the various types of bolt on (and weld on) five links??

Design wise they are more similar to the original set up. At the moment both are roughly the same price.

What are the pro's and con's??

[Bartso]

well 3rd's productions front arms are closer to stock they provide more articulation than standard arms but 5 link will get most articulation remembering your articulation is limited to the length of your shocks personally im getting a 5 link

[stool]

Shock length`s is probly more important with the 5link than standard because of the extra travel means the shock`s need to do some work

[Bartso]

Shock length`s is probly more important with the 5link than standard because of the extra travel means the shock`s need to do some work

thats right i'm saying that the thirds may get you the same travel as a 5 link for a 4 inch lift but using the same shocks if you put longer shocks on with the thirds then you might not get any more travel i can't see how you can? With a 5 link the length of your shocks thats the amount of travel you get

[big red]

brent drove his ute with a frame and five link to the cape and back with no problems or wobbles.
he even had 38 swamper SX's on it

[JemmyBubbles]

Interesting....

When I was chatting with the 3rd's Production bloke he was basically saying that handling was damn well excellent with his billet front control arms.

I never intend going any higher than 4" coils in a shorty as the front end gets pretty floaty as it is. So I guess the bind issues that are inherent with the front 3 link would be negligible if you were to purchase the 3rds production arms. I got a Big Testicles Tough Dog kit ( ) the shock lengths are matched and I am happy with the rear flex sooo each too his own...

Also I can't weld. So I am bolt on queen and that scenario would suit me quite well. Albeit they aren't engineered yet But I wouldn't but em until I have seen them in use on a shorty w/ a 4" lift and have talked to the guy who owns the truck etc etc etc cause 1495 is a bit too spend on making that front end move a bit...

How much ground clearance is compromised with getting a bolt in 5 link. If I look at the photos of that GU Nick Mannel had with the five link everything is mounted on the top of the diff housing, I am assuming that is the weld in design. So obviously the bolt in design utilises you standard radius arm mounts on the diff housing end ???? And there are brackets for the Chassis end ??

It is really kind of funny cause I wonder how much cash nissan invested into planning and designing the front end setup of a nissan - or the entire suspension geometry for that matter. And we spend a couple of grand on the thing and wonder why it wobbles ...LOL

It's because of the above that I have decided not to go a bolt on 5 link. I would rather have something like that be built and engineered properly esp because it is my daily driver. I would rather have an apointment with Cheezyracing for a 5 link and A- Frame + Wheelbase stretch than accidentally dick something up and die...

Thats my spiel anywayz

[bru21]

5 links only wobble with incorrect panhard angle (which a bolt on can't fix). this is due more to height than 5 link - how many 2"-4" lifts do you see gettin around with five's. brent makes drop down brackets for you front radius arms for ~$400 wich are adaquate for a 4" lift, and your car wont suffer any handling issues as your lift is ok with panhard angle, and your carstor will be spot on. it is the best cheapest, safest method for daily drivers!

i have a """""7inch wizard kit"""" which i measured to be 81/2" front and 9/12" rear and i have had SOME issues after 5 link install.

the kit just (cough die grind cough) bolts on - but every gq is different. it hangs down as castor plates would (look similar)- about 3/4 inch front and about 31/2" at the chassis end. the chassis brackets go under your transfer case cross member, and through the radius arm holes with spacers.

if you go the five link on a 4" gq you need to tighten your swivel hubs to 15lbs, adjust the castor, and thats about it.

i had to do the above, drop my panhard to match my drag, play with castor like 5 times on my own (test drive) after i realised wheel alignment joints have no idea. dropped back to 8" rims with 35's which fixed my wobble - turned out to be tyre pressure which affected it - so i went back to my 10"'s with 22psi front 18 rear (extra cab ute), new steering stabiliser !!!!LAST!!!! once you have fixed it not before - don't fix bad geometry with a shockkie! got it approved in qld for $132

i would steer clear of 3rds or five link setups for a 4" lift as
there is little point or benefit over the dropdowns in your case.

cheers

bru

brents dealer is north coast 4x4 in maroochydore scott will sort you out