Hilux Quality Control Issues...
Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 3:52 pm
Slight tongue in cheek for the title as the car is an '84 model but here goes:
Is it normal, and/or acceptable for a live axled all leaf sprung hilux to not be perfectly straight? My father the neighbour and I spent an entire afternoon last weekend measuring Dads rolling chassis, only to conclude that one chassis rail is 10mm longer than the other. The problem with this is the extra length is isolated to the front somewhere, with the distance between the spring bolts (chassis mounted ones) being 5mm longer on the passenger side. The most concerning factor is the slightly longer wheelbase on the passenger side of approximatly 8mm. This all apears to be manufactured into the chassis, as close visual inspection reveals inconsistant weld alignments on the two sides of the chassis.
These numbers are all over the show. If this was a fully independant sprung vehicle we would packing over this issue, however being a leaf sprung live axled vehicle we have an impression that the effect of the discrepensies that are showing up now on the vehicle, may be all but eliminated due to the crude nature of the Hilux suspension geometry?
I'm wondering what peoples oppinions are? Do you agree with me, that these tolorances are acceptable for the vehicle type? Or should we be re-doing spring mounts on the front to get this super precise?
If anyone can be bothered measuring their vehicles (meaning Hiluxes) for me to see if their's are perfectly straight (and also comment on any effects on steering tyre wear etc) that would be very much appreciated.
Thanks
Is it normal, and/or acceptable for a live axled all leaf sprung hilux to not be perfectly straight? My father the neighbour and I spent an entire afternoon last weekend measuring Dads rolling chassis, only to conclude that one chassis rail is 10mm longer than the other. The problem with this is the extra length is isolated to the front somewhere, with the distance between the spring bolts (chassis mounted ones) being 5mm longer on the passenger side. The most concerning factor is the slightly longer wheelbase on the passenger side of approximatly 8mm. This all apears to be manufactured into the chassis, as close visual inspection reveals inconsistant weld alignments on the two sides of the chassis.
These numbers are all over the show. If this was a fully independant sprung vehicle we would packing over this issue, however being a leaf sprung live axled vehicle we have an impression that the effect of the discrepensies that are showing up now on the vehicle, may be all but eliminated due to the crude nature of the Hilux suspension geometry?
I'm wondering what peoples oppinions are? Do you agree with me, that these tolorances are acceptable for the vehicle type? Or should we be re-doing spring mounts on the front to get this super precise?
If anyone can be bothered measuring their vehicles (meaning Hiluxes) for me to see if their's are perfectly straight (and also comment on any effects on steering tyre wear etc) that would be very much appreciated.
Thanks
. I've been trying to find a chassis diagram with tolerances like a certain Suzuki one I have, but no such luck. The only one I have has no tolerencing, just dual dimensions.