Installing Drop Boxes in GQ LWB

[curly12]

One question, do the arms have to be taken off the axle or is it just a case of rolling the axle forward to get the rear of the arm out???

[GQTROL]

Undo front shocks at one end or even remove them and then roll diff forward. First side goes in the drop box easy, other side is a prick, but you'll get there.

[curly12]

Cheers

[DaveM]

I took the tie rod off (need to remove shocks) and undid the front radius arm bolt (did one side at a time), this allowed the diff to twist to get boxes on. Just needed the jack under the radius arm, as when you jack it up, the diff twists back into place to get the bolt back in.

Thats the way I did it on the old GQ anyway, so will attempt the same on the GU when I get the new arm sorted in oz next week

[Shane]

I took the tie rod off (need to remove shocks) and undid the front radius arm bolt (did one side at a time), this allowed the diff to twist to get boxes on. Just needed the jack under the radius arm, as when you jack it up, the diff twists back into place to get the bolt back in.

Thats the way I did it on the old GQ anyway, so will attempt the same on the GU when I get the new arm sorted in oz next week

You getting one of the super flex arms?

[DaveM]

Yeah.
I was going to get the set, but instead I'm going to run one standard lift flex arm with a factory arm, and drop boxes (I sold my set of drop boxes to Curly, then found out I could do this )

Main reason I'm going this way is weight (getting it back on our flight), and the Safari's climb better with drop boxes vs drop arms. If it was mainly for off road, I would have gone xlink, or 5link (especially on a more stable lwb)

[Cloggy_NZ]

At the risk of looking like a complete and utter idiot....what on earth is a "drop box"

[curly12]

At the risk of looking like a complete and utter idiot....what on earth is a "drop box"

Due to raised springs the axle has moved back and twisted. Drop boxes remove the twist and corret the castor angle. They also drop the gearbox by 10mm to aline the drive shaft cv's and then move the axle forward 16mm to clear the guards.
Means it won't wander all over the road, due to the wheels having the wrong castor and not self centering and also means that the diff will lift when hitting a bump instead of moving back then up

[Cloggy_NZ]

So it is some kind of adapter which drops the mounting point of the radius arms where they attach to the chassis?
But then it drops the gearbox as well? I'll have to have a nosey under your truck next time I see it. Got me intrigued.

[DaveM]

Yeah, dropping the gearbox is what helps eliminate the driveline vibration associated with lifts, especially in a swb.
Most people try to reduce the driveline angle after lifting, which is wrong, as you need to get the angle of the uni's at each end as near each other as possible. Its the angle difference which causes the vibration.

Also helps running shorter top radius arms, or longer lowers

[Shane]

Yeah, dropping the gearbox is what helps eliminate the driveline vibration associated with lifts, especially in a swb.
Most people try to reduce the driveline angle after lifting, which is wrong, as you need to get the angle of the uni's at each end as near each other as possible. Its the angle difference which causes the vibration.

Also helps running shorter top radius arms, or longer lowers

I made some longer lower arms for a mates shorty,he has now removed the gearbox spacer and no vibrations at all(did have to trim the rear of the wheel arch so 35's didnt rub)

I know another Guy who's fitting a X-link to his shorty in next few weeks,that well be interesting to see how it goes.

Shane

[DaveM]

Is he in Christchurch? (guy fitting xlink)
If I had my old GQ I would've gone for the xlink, but I'm not too keen on fitting one to the GU.
If he is in ChCh, would be interested to see the extra articulation he gets over the superior setup, and driveability on road, as the xlink are cheaper, and should have quite a noticable difference in travel

[Shane]

Is he in Christchurch? (guy fitting xlink)
If I had my old GQ I would've gone for the xlink, but I'm not too keen on fitting one to the GU.
If he is in ChCh, would be interested to see the extra articulation he gets over the superior setup, and driveability on road, as the xlink are cheaper, and should have quite a noticable difference in travel

X-Link ready to be fitted





Vehicle to be fitted to



Yes is in Chch area,should be fitted by next week or so