ORBIT EYES

Post by **ShortyMQ** » Sat Apr 12, 2003 10:24 pm

realux wrote:Richard at 4x4 engineering Acacia Ridge in brisbane is using them on a hilux fitted to the fixed eye of the rear springs combined with superior 4wd shackles they leave no strain on the spring whatsoever.
Richard is using a smaller type purchased from bigballs offroad.
There is a bigger unit on the market approx 70 mm od available from calbah engineering. There is a set of these fitted to a 75 series cruiser with Superior 4wd shackles and the articulation is awesome.This is combined with a ladder bar and so far no signs of spring strain or flattening.

The 50mm ones i am using are from Big Balls, I believe they are the smallest ones you can get

Post by **realux** » Sat Apr 12, 2003 10:49 pm

If you use the orbit eyes or jonny joints (same thing different size) you will have to get new mains made wider at least the width of the orbit eye and to approx 49mm so as you have a press fit tolerence . If you want these items to work properly you will also have to fabricate wider fixed mount spring hangers. the overall width will need to be wider for articulation and you will have the hole size in the hangers for the bolt to suit whatever id your orbit eye is.I n brisbane carrolls springs ph :07 3892 6166 ,talk to charlie they have made a few sets now to suit orbit eyes and jonny joints.
depending on where your grease nipple is located you will probably have to drill a hole in your main so as you can retain the grease nipple.
If you are having your mains remade you should go longer at the same time and make it worthwhile.
The vehicles that i have seen work awesome but they are no no means running standard springs. They are running longer mains by approx 200mm no wraps very light springs, ladder bar, modified bumpstops,approx 34 inch shocks,superior 4wd shackles.
The only problem that has occured is that the jonny joints move sideways in the mains, maybe a good dose of bearing retainer may solve the problem or tack a small peice of steel either side of the main to stop them moving.

Post by **ShortyMQ** » Sun Apr 13, 2003 2:33 pm

I don't mean to be rude but you obviously haven't read the whole post as i have already fitted the bollock joints with longer mains etc. I made the mains myself as i own a springworks in toowoomba.

Post by **realux** » Sun Apr 13, 2003 4:23 pm

Sorry about that, but no i did not read the complete post.
Just trying to be helpful.

Post by **ToNkA** » Sun Apr 13, 2003 4:30 pm

realux wrote:i did not read the complete post.

Lesson Number 1. :finger:

Post by **hypo** » Tue Apr 15, 2003 12:05 am

ToNkA wrote:
realux wrote:i did not read the complete post.

Lesson Number 1.

Post by **N*A*M** » Tue Apr 15, 2003 12:12 am

it's still good tech. all succinctly compacted into one post.

Post by **cplux** » Tue Apr 15, 2003 5:36 am

ShortyMQ wrote:No.4

This is a pic of my almost finished front hangers with an eye in it so you can see the angle the eye goes to

what width are those hangers ?? 89mm, whats the width of your spring and is there any rubbing??

Post by **toymad** » Thu Sep 04, 2003 11:29 pm

Some pics of my 60" hilux springs with orbit eyes custom made by Superior Springworks in Toowoomba. :cool:

Post by **toymad** » Sun Sep 07, 2003 5:09 pm

Put the lux on the ramp.

Post by **toymad** » Sun Sep 07, 2003 5:14 pm

More pics

Post by **hypo** » Sun Sep 07, 2003 6:08 pm

looking good Gazza

Post by **MUSS** » Mon Sep 08, 2003 5:46 pm

wa did you mean by " they are noisy on the tracks" arent they lubed with moly grease or somthing :roll:

Post by **ShortyMQ** » Mon Sep 08, 2003 9:27 pm

JAKE wrote:wa did you mean by " they are noisy on the tracks" arent they lubed with moly grease or somthing

They are greasable and make no noise at all

Post by **MUSS** » Tue Sep 09, 2003 10:51 pm

awesome i want some :twisted:

gotta a ptrice yet?

Post by **V8Diesel** » Wed Sep 10, 2003 1:38 pm

JAKE wrote:awesome i want some gotta a ptrice yet?

Jake I sell these and have them on my vehicle. Come and see me and I will show you.

Post by **Kev80** » Wed Sep 10, 2003 7:54 pm

Toymad,

I see you still run the centre bearing tailshaft, ever had problems due to the lift ?

My brothers 2nd set flogged out within 2 months.....now with single shaft !

Post by **toymad** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 10:44 pm

It's not to bad, will be going 1 piece when i get the dual cases.

Post by **toymad** » Sun Sep 14, 2003 10:39 pm

Went for a wheel today with Shorty GQ to try out our latest mod's.
Have to say mine rides a lot softer with the longer springs, but has only slightly more body roll with the orbit eyes ! No prob's at all on the trail worked extremely well. Handled the side slopes, climbs, etc. The springs have virtually no twist on them at all so should last well.

VERY HAPPY

Gazza

Post by **hypo** » Sun Sep 14, 2003 10:49 pm

toymad wrote:Went for a wheel today with Shorty GQ to try out our latest mod's.
Have to say mine rides a lot softer with the longer springs, but has only slightly more body roll with the orbit eyes ! No prob's at all on the trail worked extremely well. Handled the side slopes, climbs, etc. The springs have virtually no twist on them at all so should last well.

VERY HAPPY

Gazza

sweet, have u fited a track bar ?? does it rap much ??

Post by **toymad** » Mon Sep 15, 2003 10:44 pm

Ben it has the track bar fitted, got a good workout yesterday, felt fine.

Another poser shot

Gazza

Post by **greg** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 3:40 pm

toymad wrote:Has'nt anyone on this board actually used or know someone who has orbit eyes? Do they work! Are they a waste of money, Surely someone has an opinion on these! Tony , B.J, Anyone,..
Calbar make 40mm ones which would be good for hilux's was going to try some with the new 60" springs im getting do you think these would work

I've just been doing some investigating these sorts of orbital bushes. I called up Calbar Engineering (as mentioned above) and chatted to the fellow there.

The specs of the ones they sell are:
50mm OD x 65mm pin (width) - $60 - $80, or
70mm OD x 67mm pin (width) - $?

They also make these at their factory, but when I asked about getting some made with an OD of 40mm (so it would fit in a stock leaf spring for a sierra) the fellow explained to me that it would be possible, but the limited amount of material that would be left in the component would mean that it would be pretty weak. However, if i wanted, they could custom make them and i was quoted approximately 160 per unit.

Does anyone know of any other joints of similar design that would be available in a 40mm OD?

Thanks

Post by **N*A*M** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 3:48 pm

just go 50mm greg

Post by **greg** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 3:58 pm

N*A*M wrote:just go 50mm greg

50mm = custom main leaves

40mm = existing main leaves

I think it's worth checking around to see what people have.

Post by **fatassgq** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 4:36 pm

I think you will find (in my case this is true) that even if you get an orbit eye to fit into your existing main leaf you would get very little result anyway because you have to have enough room in the spring hanger (fixed eye mount) for the orbit eye to rotate.
just a thought

Post by **N*A*M** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 4:43 pm

also people using 50mm joints are making 49mm main leaf eyes for a press fit.

even if you found a 40mm joint, you might need to make sure it stays in the 40mm eye. it may be a non-issue though.

Post by **greg** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 4:49 pm

fatass75 wrote:I think you will find (in my case this is true) that even if you get an orbit eye to fit into your existing main leaf you would get very little result anyway because you have to have enough room in the spring hanger (fixed eye mount) for the orbit eye to rotate.
just a thought

Sorry Fatass,

It all makes sense when you know the full story... The plan is to do a 3/4 conversion on the back of the sierra. This will already involve fabricating the chassis to spring mount anyway as we are moving it inboard so it won't really make much difference if we have to make the mount 50mm or 75mm (for example) wide(r) in order to get the orbit eye to work.

I figure that once made properly, there isn't too much chance of destroying the chassis mount, and if i do, then it won't be too hard to make it again.

The springs and the orbit joint however are something that i would consider far more likely to be destroyed or at least more likely to wear out and this is why i am trying to find simple off-the-shelf items for these rather than custom items - because if there is one thing worse then breaking something and having to pay for it again - it's waiting 6 weeks to get a replacement. Right?

Post by **fatassgq** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 4:49 pm

mine were a press fit for my truck but we still tacked small pieces of flat to the side to stop the spring moving at all. I had heard of a guy in brissy who had not done this and his move around a bit. Apparently you have to watch the grease nipple as well cause they rotate 360 degrees also.!?
He may not of had a tight enough hole! :lol:

Anyone had any dramas with the longevity of these things in leaf spring applications????? Mainly the nylon bush part I spose

Post by **fatassgq** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 6:21 pm

Sorry about that I did not know the full story and you beat me to it with the last post. Sounds like you are going full on with the zuk.
good luck sorry for my ignorance :oops:

Post by **greg** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 6:25 pm

fatass75 wrote:Sorry about that I did not know the full story and you beat me to it with the last post. Sounds like you are going full on with the zuk.
good luck sorry for my ignorance

no worries mate - i'm not sure what you are appologising for, but i'll accept it anyways

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ORBIT EYES

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