Front Suspension Research

[Hilux Max]

That Rod,

did end up contacting Timbren, heres what they said-

"The TOFTUN4 suspension enhancement system is 2 3/8 inches tall. This is
available for $210.16 USD + a freight cost of $119.44. The total amount
works out to $ 329.60 USD. "

interesting. to tell you the truth, I cant really decide what my next tyres would be, I love the 255/85 muddies that are around (especially the toyo's) and I love the big wide ones too.

makes you think but. alot of the Taco's run 255's for expedition and camping type of work. surprised this size isnt as popular here.

that bloke that did the SAS swap on his hilux, he was running 255's before the swap too.

[rodw]

Mmaax,

Try emailing lowrange offroad in the US
[URL]http://www.lowrangeoffroad.com/[/URL] and ask if they can source them for you. Their freight cost might be lower. I got parts from them for $40 postage in 8 days (maybe not as heavy).

Good to know Timbren can be sourced.

When my father who has lived in the bush all his life miles from any bitumen first say my Hilux, he thought my 11.5's were really wide. Spoke to a guy who lived 500km west of Alice Springs out there one day and he said the best performing trucks out there in extreme conditions were those with splt rims (eg. Narrow tyre). Don't know if that helps, but I think it points to width is not everything.

It is my understanding that your conditions are muddier down there than up here and the Jungle Trekker was created for rainforest conditions and everybody uses them in Malyasia in the wet rainforest!

Give those swamper radials a go and keep some better rubber for the street.. and you can curse me for the next 60,000 km if you don't like 'em!

Rod

[9W6VX]

Rod,

It's true that skinny width tyres allow you to dig into deep mud for maximum traction.

The wider tyres like 11.5 or 12.5" don't allow that as they tend to float (for want of a better word) and cannot dig into deep mud. That's why they are called floatation tyres.

I reckon 9.5 to 11.0" wide tyres are the maximum one should go if you like to play in the mud.

I used 235/85R16 BF Goodrich M/T on my previous Bundera shortie which is only 9.25" wide and 32" diameter. I later switched to Silverstone MT-117 280/85x16 military tyres for the ultimate in traction but they were slippery in wet on road conditions.

But in sand, the wider tyres allow you to float so that you don't get bogged so easily compared to narrow tyres.

Cheers

Brendon

[rodw]

Mmaaxx

Found your thread about timbren on TATORA
[URL]http://www.ttora.com/forum/showthread.php?t=103021[/URL]

After looking at the photos, I might have a bump stop extender that will work for you left over from the lift I was going to install in my Vitara.

Have a look at the pic below and look at the pair of shiny, circular bump stop extenders with the stud to the left of the blue diff drop brackets.



This is an OME Bumpstop extender for the Suzuki XL7 (Part number FK23 from memory) The centre stud is a 10mmx1.25 thread and they are 50mm in diameter and 20mm high. So all you would do is to unscrew the bump stop, cut down the bolt to 10mm (The instructions for this kit said you had to do that on the XL7) and screw it in.

RRP of this kit is $26 from ARB for the two extenders, and I'll post this brand new unused part to you for $25. You'd just need to check the thread on the hilux is a match, but if it was say 12mm, you could drill it out and retap it.

Rod

[Hilux Max]

thanks for your help. will let you know what I decide to do. atleast its another option I can use.

[ECAZ]

After fitting my bull bar the front end its not liftted like before the bull bar i got ome 883 coil spring my question is if i can make another ring like mmaax to get more lift i can put the 2 rings or i can make just one of 30mm and somebody knows whats its the exact size of the ring the diameter thanks for your help sorry about english the gramatical errors i am from Venezuela

[Penguin]

rodw,
Had a good crawl over and under a hilux the other day that had not long had the ront and rear suspension upgrade from Wizard including the replacement UCA's. Looked very impressive. Owner is heading off on a fairly long trip shortly so I will check with him when he returns to see what thinks and let you know.

[bj343]

Hi everyone just been told that snake racing are researching and making a new control arm so the camber is different allowing the snake racing strut blocks to be fitted without fouling the springs, which means standard lift with of say 40mm + block of 35mm = 75mm lift

[rodw]

penguin, Nice to heare. I got to find time to get down there to look and check it all out when Brent comes back from the US.

bj343, interesting to hear that Snake is thinking of doing something. Shame they are so expensive! The Wizard Diff drop kit if $55, Snakes is $150-$200 from memory.

Rod

[Hilux Max]

diff drop kit is waste of time and money. doesnt achieve all it claims to do, just "twists" your front diff half an inch and add's more problems to your front uni down the track, if you think you need the diff drop blocks, just lower your suspension that little bit more, or cut into the guards, or learn to live with it.

[david allan]

On the weekend was centralising the steering wheel & noticed the following

On ecaz pic above you can see infront of the yellow shocky a rod & rack end that runs from the wheel.
It is just below where it states "Ring" and the other end actually has blue marks on it.

Now, you can actually rotate the rod which it adjusts the end where the wheel is.
It moves the wheel side bush up or down.
Does anyone know what this does.
How do you know where it should be
Or is it just there for movement when you 4X4
Hope it makes sense

[KTM525EXC]

allen thats the tie rod end they adjust ur toe in and out, they are adjusted when ya get a wheel alignment.
Troy

[david allan]

ahh, thanks troy.

I was suprised how easy it can be adjusted.
It can be knocked out of alignment really easy when you 4X4

[Lately Lux]

orry to bring this topic up the front again but I am going to see Wizard again soon. I have done 80000km on the OME gear and think it has sagged a bit.
No point stuffing around with trying for warranty (can't remember what the warranty was anyway) and I would like a bit more height. I'll check out with QT about the exact legalities for lift height allowances, ie 50mm or 1/3 of bumb stop.

David, those tie rod ends do get knocked around easily. I get a wheel alignment done every time I do anything above medium offroad.

I went for an 'easy' run up to Ormeau on the weekend and have bent the right LCA front bracket a bit. Got rid of a noise I had at full lock though.

Brett

[Parr]

Lately Lux, i am also looking at getting the wizard setup done on mine within the next month or so. and i am interested to find out if it will be legal or not. also do you no what they so for the rear setup?

any one no the total cost of the wizard setup fron and back?? im hoping around 3k

[rodw]

Par and Lately Lux

You will be please dto know I got a call from QT today in response to a modification Applciation I sent them for the Wizard kit. They advised that there is no need to apply for a modification approval as it is legal to fit without mod plates and engineering approvals as it is a minor modification.

Rod

[rodw]

It will be a bit over $4k to fit the lot depending what you do at the rear. You could jusg get longer shocks and seset the rear sprigs and you might be close to the $3k mark

Rod

[Lately Lux]

I was told about $2450 to do the front. Thats replacement upper control are, coilovers and Diff drop. They suggested going to King Springs to see if they could re-set the rear to match the front. Wizard don't get into doing that stuff, they will either replace the leafs completely, or send it to Kings anyway.

I'm going to Kings today to ask about re-setting the rear end.

Also, am going to get Wizard to make up some bash plates for my Lower Control Arm front mounting point. I smashed it pretty good on a rock at Ormeau on Sunday , will be an interesting thing to make but they are willing to give it a go. Just said to wait until I do the suspension so they can use the measurementsa then to design the plates.

Brett

[Parr]

Lately Lux when are you looking at getting your done??? what shocks are you goin to run in the back???

be interesting to see how much the hole thing costs.

[Lately Lux]

Not sure what shocks to run in the rear, I'll talk to Wizard about it closer to when I can get the setup. Had a pretty slow month at work in July, so thats just starting to hit the cash flow now. August was pretty goos again and hoping September will be too so hopefully in about a month. Gotta go down to Victoria & Tasmania in a couple of weeks for a family holiday, maybe after we get back.

Brett