Hilux suspension mods

Post by **batcho101** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 6:39 pm

Hi can anyone help me i have an 84 model hilux with a 4inch sprinf lift but the springs are heavy duty. So far i have just removed the 2 thickest springs but i still have nearly no downwards flex :cry:

. Does anyone have any suggestions of where to start to get some more flex? :?:

Post by **NICK** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 8:43 pm

what type of shocks? whats the shuckle angle like?

Post by **eliteforce32** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 10:25 pm

Shuckle? whats that nick? is that a new one for shackle? :finger:

Post by **batcho101** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 8:04 pm

The shocks that i have at the moment are jsut some ###### heavy duty ones but i am upgrading them to rancho rs9012 with climax shackles and extended brake lines. What else would be good to start with

Post by **spazbot** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 8:31 pm

LOCKERS

Post by **STUMPY** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 8:58 pm

removing leaves will help slightly with downward travel but bugger all. i'd open up the spring clamps first

Post by **batcho101** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 9:05 pm

lockers will be coming in the future as i am still at school there is not much funds coming in but how do i open up the spring clamps and how does this affect normal driving? i am tryign to keep all the mods as legal as i can so if i get pinned they can be easily changed back for inspection. Would u recommend a locker for the front or rear because i wotn be buying both at the same time?
is anyone runnign climax shackles? if so how woudl u rate them?

Post by **STUMPY** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 9:14 pm

batcho101 wrote:how do i open up the spring clamps and how does this affect normal driving?

i don't have any spring clamps on mine and still drives exactly the same

batcho101 wrote:Would u recommend a locker for the front or rear because i wotn be buying both at the same time?

go a rear locker first

Post by **STUMPY** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 9:15 pm

batcho101 wrote:how do i open up the spring clamps and how does this affect normal driving?

i don't have any spring clamps on mine and still drives exactly the same
just cut them off with an angle grinder

batcho101 wrote:Would u recommend a locker for the front or rear because i wotn be buying both at the same time?

go a rear locker first

Post by **batcho101** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 9:30 pm

What kind of gain did u get from cuttign them off?
Woudl i get picked up for nto having them on for road worthy?

Post by **spazbot** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 9:34 pm

if you open the clamps uo use and oxy to heat the clamps and bend em open dont cut em off

i cut mine off and regret it as my front flex's way to much now

Post by **batcho101** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 9:58 pm

So did u just bend them out flat so that they can be bent back later? I woudl only be doing the rear's because the front has a bit of flex in it already because of heavy diesel engine and steel bullbar. Do u find that your leaves separate now?

Post by **beebee** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 11:19 pm

I used to cut or open up my spring clamps. I'd never do it again. Flex is not everything. I have also been given a defect notice in the past that stated that the spring clamps had been opened up. If you open up the rear clamps on your back springs, you will be inducing axle wrap. Same goes for the rear of the front pack. Leaving the clamps on the rear of the front pack also helps to reduce the chance of the front driveshaft uni binding.

So in summary, if you really want to, I'd suggest you only remove the clamps from the front of each pack. You'll find that this will have little gain in the rear as the second leaf should still have the military wrap which will hold it in place. Doing the front will be more successful.

Good luck.

Post by **ausyota** » Tue Nov 16, 2004 6:46 am

The other option is to make some spring clamps with a bolt through the top but leave a bit of room for the springs to open up a bit.
You get the best of both worlds you have full clamps and you can decide how much you want to let your leaves separate.
Paul.

Post by **batcho101** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 10:10 pm

Thanks guys but do any of you have any suggestions for what i should do to the rear suspension for around 2 grand the springs are already 4 inch lift ones. Would climax shackles be the way to go with rancho 9012's with changes mounts?

Post by **DAWSO 4x4** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 6:06 am

i would put in softer springs and the ranchos in if you need to carry any weight you can just put the shocks on hard and if your going to spend money on shackels i would get the superior shackels instead hope this helps you a bit

Post by **endo** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 1:05 pm

STUMPY wrote:go a rear locker first

Why do people persist in recommending a rear locker first?

Have you ever driven a car with either just a front or just a rear locker?

I moved my locker from the rear to the front and now its like driving a totally different truck. It climbs over, and pulls through more obsticles a hell of a lot better then it did in the rear.

Now I'm not trying to say im an expert or anything, but from the types of 4wdin we do, its quite obvious to me that front is the only way to go on a single locker.

I can really see little point in running your only locker in the rear, unless your idea of 4wdin is finding a flat spot out in the bush and trying to do 2 wheel burnouts.

my 2c

Post by **83 lux** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 1:42 pm

mainly because you brake less sh*t if its in the rear

Post by **batcho101** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 8:04 pm

I was thinking of goiing with the superior shackles but there is no way i can get them legal on queensland roads so i was thinking towards the climax ones because they dont pivot and they should be able to be engineered.

STUMPY
i was also thinkin of a front locker first because my dad has a front Lokka in his patrol and that makes a huge difference it climbs anythign u point the wheels at now.

Post by **Samuel** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 8:28 pm

Heaps of flex is over rated anyway, just get the back working as good as the front. Then spend that 2g's on a locker. For two reasons;

1. If your worried about Mr Plod or the Mermaids, a locker is 1000 times more legal than a 4inch lift.

2. A locker will get you 1000 times more places than a bit of extra flex will.

Post by **batcho101** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 9:34 pm

I am putting a locker in the front and i want the back to flex so it gets traction without having to spend another 630 on a Lokka because at the moment ther is no flex so some climax or superior shackles will be doiing the job

Post by **endo** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 7:31 am

I have a similar rig as yours (86 hilux sr5), i dont have extended shackles (yet), with a front diff lock.

I lift wheels, of that im sure. But it hasnt stopped me climbing up just about everything i've tried.

Pretty much do the same sort of driving as everyone else I suppose. Up the rock garden at Gembrook was fun, bog holes, etc.. etc..

I'd even go as far as saying, forget the lot and fork out just for an ARB air locker in the front. I wish i could turn mine off

Post by **batcho101** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 6:55 pm

An arb locker is a fair bit out of my price range i will just go the front lokka because they are priced at 630 so that will start me off.

ENDO
Have u ever had any troubles or breaks with the lokka in the front?

Post by **Area54** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 10:15 pm

Dude if youre still in school, I wouldn't even be thinking of mods, just get out there and wheel the thing. Don't get hung up on this or that mod, there are plenty of places you can go without needing heaps of mods, learn how to drive first. Learn how to pick a line and how to hold it, lockers or not.

You'd actually be surprised how far you can go on a trail if you know how to drive.

Just trying to help someone from joining the 'all the gear and no idea' club...

Post by **batcho101** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 10:27 pm

i have been 4wdin for abotu 3 years now so i know how to hold a line and all that stuff. I am not going to go over board with my lux i am jsut doiing a few mods and wouldnt be spending more than 2grand on suspension and lokka. I've already taken my lux out on many ocassions and i have pretty much no wheel travel in the back and i am talking abotu only 2 inch compression and no drop. so that is why i am finding out what can be done without having to go by trial and erro myself.

So thanks anyway but i havent changed my mind

Post by **endo** » Mon Nov 22, 2004 7:49 am

batcho101 wrote:ENDO
Have u ever had any troubles or breaks with the lokka in the front?

Nope. Nothing yet. Let you know after Tassie in a few weeks

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