Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hi all,

Im a suzuki owner, but am considering an upgrade to a hilux. I'm sick of the lawnmower engine in the zuk. I would like to build a truck with a fair bit of flex, but preferably nothing too high, no more than 4 or 5 inches all up. From what i can find, the set up i will probably go wth is 2in springs, raised shackles in the front, climax drop shackles in the rear. Shock wise put extended ranchos in the front with hoops, and an inverted shock kit from snake racing in the rear (puts the shocks in a /\ kind of configuration). Perhapse top the setup off with a 2 in body lift.

Also, is there a better hilux year for building flexy suspension, or are all solid axles about the same.

Any ideas, comments, insults, or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Bushy

Allow for a crossover steering setup also in your budget if you want the front to flex without breaking stuff.

Im a suzuki owner, but am considering an UPGRADE to a hilux

also :
brake lines
longer front drive shaft

Depending on what spring you run to how much flex you get to some extent if you want the best drop shackels check out www.superiourengineering.com.au for example my front spring mounts on the rear axle have been moved 250 mm foward to run a longer spring with the drop shackles it gives plenty of drop it also runs a ladder bar to stop the diff twisting under power which would result in broken springs (Happend to a mate of mine one rough ride home on the bumpstops) also look at running a one piece tailshaft to stop the unis floging out because with that much drop the tend to reach the limit easly. check that site out.

Longer springs in the front would be no worries, except the budget. What springs can be used in the front, can the longer (i think) rear springs be used, or are custom springs needed. Also, is an engineers certificate required when installing different suspension mounts or relocating shockies.

Cheers, Bushy

why dont ya put coils in it, nice and comfy ride as well as good articulation

ahh, coils.

coils would by far be the best option for the suspension, better ride, awesome articulation. Only problem is fitting them. I plan to do most of the work myself, so id rather not have to install a 4 or 5 link system. I think its a bit beyond my capabilaties. Paying for this to be installed, i cant see it being much cheaper than 5k for the whole truck, and although the other suspension i have planed isnt cheap, i can do it in bits (sort of).

Ive never had to get an engineers certificate, and im not really too sure on how hard they are to get, but the last thing i want to do is butcher a perfectly good truck and not get it.

As well as this, i havn't got the lux yet, and if i was set on coils it would be much easier just to buy something with coils to start with.


However.... i have heard that a coily forerunner back can be butchered and put into a hilux relatively easily, and if i do all the work, its only around $300 for the switch, plus new speings and shocks.

Coils are an interesting option, but i just dont think its for me

Forget coils if you dont have;

1. Money
2. Patience
3. A place/tools to do it
4. The engineering knowledge to understand how the different link systems work.

You can get an ok ride with shiteloads of flex out of leaves in a hilux, and you dont have to lift it that much.

Of course coils are the ultimate but they arent the only effective way to go.

Oh and another thing, forget the climax shackles, save that money for airlockers.

Hearing of heaps of poeple running ifs or rear springs in the front of there solid axle lux's why not get a set from EFS or someting similer is the only advantage in the $pocket$

yeah, as for coils, i have the place to do it, understanding of how it works (studied engineering) and patience. Money however is definately not the strong point. At least with leaf springs i can use most of the original mounting points and perhapse some of the original suspension components, (maybie the rear springs in the front).

Im would like alot of articulation, and i have seen the difference between a good leaf set up and a good coil set up. Leafs look like they will have more than enough flex for me, so i will keep the leaf springs. I think the way to go is to put the IFS rears in the back. From what i hear that gives alot of flex.

As for drop shackles. i was planning on using them as an upgrade to improove flex if i get sick at the set up. I think lockers would be a very valuable addition. Air lockers are the best, but are pricey. Is it worth just locking one axle. If so, is it better to lock front or rear?