Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hey guys..
Long time Rangie owner... Looking at getting a Hilux for general bush duties and DD...
Just how bad is the IFS compared to the solid front....
I have a locker for the rear if needed (I run Toy diffs in my Rangie) ...
Considering we dont have much rock here in Melbourne... how bad really is the IFS.. I am not looking for an all out crawler.. will only be running a max 34" tyre offroad..
Just something capable..

So if anyone has pics of how bad the ifs is.. it would be great..

The only time i have been stopped offroad is bottoming out on the front cross member... and thats only with ~30" Road Grippers... if you are prepared to spend the money and do some R&D it is possible to make the IFS work well, however if u want to run 34" tyres you will definately need to look into front locker of some sort and after market CV's.... this will make the front centre stronger (it is only a 7.5" ring gear as apposed to the 8" solid axle centre) If you are running lockers, you will certainly get further with less damage..

What model hilux are you getting? prior to the new shape/front suspension set up you could do a 1" light (no torsion bar windup) using spacers for $200 (buy the kit of a bloke on surf forum), this will allow u to run a 3" lift and still retaining reasonable up/down travel. You can then go front sway bar d/c and this combined with lockers should see u doing most stuff.

For a DD/tourer should be fine....

looking at around a 2000 model...
but all depends on what I can find a Turbo Diesel for..
I have Longs in my Rangie.. not sure if they will fit the IFS front.. dont think so !!

Yeah, will only be a DD/Tourer with a little hard work.. but I have a winch to transfer to the Lux.. so could always just drag myself through the sh1t ..

I always swore by SAS, until I got my current truck (89 4Runner) I've found it more stable that the SAS on and off road. Yes, the wheel travel is limited, but all you're going to do is lift wheels. A locker will overcome the traction problems associated with lifting wheels. I've been through things that lifted and locked cruisers and pootrols have got stuck on due to diffs/suspension components getting hung up.

Don't write off the IFS, set it up right and learn how to drive it properly and you'll get through anything.

Definately lock the front, loc-rite or arb, either way. The front diffs grenade easily with anything over 32's if you lift a wheel, spin then get traction.
I did 3 diffs before I locked mine, not 1 with the locker. Never did a CV, ever.
Then I bent idler arms (3).
Other than that, they are great in mud, general driving and going up, but suck going down over rocky terain as the car falls into holes due to the lack of travel. They are a nice ride on road and DD duties though.

Dont be afriad of the IFS, just lock it.

Alec

I am happy enough with mine. Always get where I want to go 4x4 and it handles great on the road.

Getting front & back ARB lockers next Month..... yippeee . I am expecting that to be a vast improvent.

Ricky

the cv's are strong.
The diff is weak as have been through 2 in the same amount of weeks I run 35s and like rocks as for travell you have about 50mm. The diffs cost about $400 from a wrecker or about the same for a new crown wheel and pinion. After you have done 4 of them. Why dont you do a Solid Axle Swap on the rig of your choice?
Personally you cant beat a solid axle/live front end as I have seen solid axle rigs have no problems doing tracks that my IFS struggled and smashed diffs on. If you are going to run big tyres you dont want a wheel in the air spinning and then comming down hard If you have a solid front end there is less chance of this happening.
The choice is yours for mud they is good but so is HQ with mud chains

just looking around online..
are all 2dr Hilux's steel trays or can you also find then in a styleside/SR5 side type..

much prefer a proper tub than a steel/alloy tray ..

hiluxdave on here runs front and rear air lockers on his ifs hilux, ask him what he reckons.

This is Mudmacca`s last drive with IFS
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v466/ ... rly007.flv

You can get Style side single cabs but they are few and far between. I had the dollars but still settled on an older model lux for the solid front axle. My mates IFS 4runner is quite capable, but takes 3-4 attempts ( with different lines ) at what I get through first hit

That is the death of an IFS 4runner


And only a few minutes before me an unlocked live axle lux walked up

Here are some pics of my old Disco, it has a 3" lift with Bilsteins, and both Swaybars are removed.



Heres a picture of my parents Prado (Soon mine when they move back to Canada), it has a 2" lift with Bilsteins, and both Swaybars are ON the truck.

[/img]

Dude thats a pebble

mudmacaca wrote:Dude thats a pebble

BWHAHAHHAHA.. GOLD..
Yeah sorry dude.. that shows me nothing except your ugly King Springs in the Disco

Yeah I know, both Vehicles are setup for the touring, and have extra heavy duty Suspension.

It's just that the IFS Prado with Swaybars Prado made it up to the same height, as the Solid axle Disco with no swaybars.

I'm just saying the the Prado has less done to it and has about the same amount of travel. I think the Shocks where limiting the Down travel on the Disco though.

ANdy

Anyhows jokes aside from the pebble shot you can see that the discovery has heaps more because there is no angle on the chassis/body

The Disco does have more room from improvement and would kill the Prado the some more motification, I was going to GQ rears and 80 front shockies and extend the brake lines, but I was able to sell my Disco for what I bought it for, then buy the Prado for only $3000 more. Oh and the Disco had it's LPG tank in the back, so it wasn't the greatest for touring.

Plus I think a Hilux with a heavy duty 2" suspension lift wouldn't have the same Travel as my Future Prado. but I could be wrong.

Andy

What you going to do SAS it

I reckon a SAS'ed Prado would be cool..
has anyone done one yet ??

landy_man wrote:I reckon a SAS'ed Prado would be cool..
has anyone done one yet ??

Good idea for a thread different rigs that have been SASed

Drop the front swaybar off a prado, and they really flex a heap for an IFS truck (surprising really!)

That said, when i ramp my solid axle 2.8D hilux on a pile of clay, its a meter higher up the pile than the prado is before it runs out of traction.

That given, id MUCH rather drive the 3.0TD prado than the 2.8NA hilux! OVERTAKING! WOW!!! WHAT A NOVEL EXPERIENCE!!!!

mudmacaca wrote: If you are going to run big tyres you dont want a wheel in the air spinning and then comming down hard If you have a solid front end there is less chance of this happening.

Like this hey Harley?

Yep a lot like that what wonderfull flex on that ifs rig o mine.
Did 4sum4s pics work for you?
That is the last time I change a IFS diff just about to get a 60 series cruiser to tide me by till I find a 85 runner to build.

How the big smoke treating you?

That given, id MUCH rather drive the 3.0TD prado than the 2.8NA hilux! OVERTAKING! WOW!!! WHAT A NOVEL EXPERIENCE!!!!

just time the run up right and you'll get past in a 2.8 (ALWAYS LATE IN A 2.8 still stands tho) mine has extractors and sports exhaust setup and has a fair amount over other N/A 2.8 even beat my mate with the 3.0D N/A lux raced off the lights mild up hill.

mudmacaca wrote:
How the big smoke treating you?

It's alright. Easy life back in with Mum + Dad for a while. It does mean that watagans is another hour away and an extra $20 to get to

Ah well, work is sweet so life's good I guess!

No need to SAS a prado, those buggers seem to go everywhere anyway, set of 35 simex and two lockers and we are struggling to find anything in warby, willowgrove, nerrim, woods point, put him back in his place. Least modded vehicle on most trips and seems to be the most capable

quiet as a mouse too, those V6 don't make any noise at all, very boring after all the V8s who got stuck!!


Back on Topic:
IFS needs a front lokka or equivelent to strengthen the diff or you will break them off road if you run anything larger than stock tyres.
IFS needs lockers to be capable off road, with lockers will keep up no problems at all.

Man I run 33s on an IFS runner.
Unless you are going mungo I can't figure out how you break the diff (or anything else).
The farkn things crawls up just about any incline in low second and when you bung it low first it will just about climb a wall.

4WD is all about controlling the rig and picking the best lines not hammering so hard shit breaks.

Any way I have yet to be stopped by lack of flex, the 4 runner seems to have heaps of flex in the rear end to compensate for what I think are the small issues with the IFS.

From what I have read the prado's are very capable 4x4s and don't they have coil springs up front

Anyways if you are breaking a 4 runner then you do need something with SA for the big time 4bying you are doing.

Cheers Struth.

Struth wrote:4WD is all about controlling the rig and picking the best lines not hammering so hard shit breaks.

One day you will break something and you will quickly realise you don't have to be "hammering so hard shit breaks" for things to break. Things will let go when they decide they want to let go.

So true r0ck_m0nkey. No matter how much you maintain something it will still wear out and break. Broken a cv in a staraight line and i had been babying it with 31's because it was a stock one. Driving it hard just wears it out faster.