X-Link on Safari

[Shane]

A friend has had a X-Link sent over from Oz last week and just had it fitted this week.
X-link help's the safari flex in the front which is one of there weak points,most of that is due to the front trailing arm design(bushes to far apart)

The only suspension mods are 3" springs,longer shocks and the X-link,all suspension arms are std apart from a spacer on rear of front trailing (12mm)to stop 35" tyres rubbing on guard.

Some pics

X-link



Vehicle SWB Safari



X-link fitted



Some flex shots









Shane

[Bulletproof]

A friend has had a X-Link sent over from Oz last week and just had it fitted this week.
X-link help's the safari flex in the front which is one of there weak points,most of that is due to the front trailing arm design(bushes to far apart)

The only suspension mods are 3" springs,longer shocks and the X-link,all suspension arms are std apart from a spacer on rear of front trailing (12mm)to stop 35" tyres rubbing on guard.

Some pics

X-link





X-link fitted



Shane

Hi Shane
The Idea looks good but looking at the picture it looks like it hangs down below the bottom of the diff which would more than out weigh the better flex. It might just be the angle of the photo. Does it hang down ?

Richard

[SV1K]

Stupid question, where does the tab hanging off the center bolt go to?

[hosehustler]

Stupid question, where does the tab hanging off the center bolt go to?

http://www.downunder4x4.net/forum/showthread.php?t=6693

http://www.dobbinengineering.com/

[Shane]

Shane

Hi Shane
The Idea looks good but looking at the picture it looks like it hangs down below the bottom of the diff which would more than out weigh the better flex. It might just be the angle of the photo. Does it hang down ?

Richard[/quote]

Mate I had to laugh when you ask about that,I almost put in the writing at top that ground clearance was not sacrificed for Bulletproof.I should have done it
Sits pretty much level with diff tube,when flexed one side moves down but cant see it being a problem 99% of the time,diff pumpkin still lowest point nothing changed there...

[Bulletproof]

Hi Shane
I think one of the main problems with the front suspension is the Panhard rod because it binds in the bushes. If you disconnect the panhard rod and jack it up you will find it greatly improves the travel

I cut my panhard rod and rotated the bush so it is not stressed half way through the travel and it it greatly improved it.

Currently I am looking at putting a rotating bush on the diff end. I might use the rotating radius rod rubbers or a tie rod end. Still looking at options.

The other thing that is very important is to use the genuine rubber radius rod bushes and not the after market urethane ones.
Cheers Richard

[Shane]

First test was with 2" springs and caster correction bushes(this set up has been in the vehicle for a few years)and shocks to suit.
Front flex was 100-120mm

(measured from rubber flare on guard to top of rim when flexed then minus the small number from one side from the large number on the other side(wheel drop side)pretty simple way of checking,seams to work o.k

With the X-Link 3" springs and longer shocks front flex was 400-460mm (gets 460mm when backed up ramp)
Lower rear shock mounts need to be lifted which well give a bit more drop in rear and the front top mounts need to be lifted so shocks wont get punched.

Springs are still very tight in spring saddles so you could get more out of it again if you were a flex junkie which was never the goal,main gain of the X is to get more flex from the front and better balance the front flex with the rear,Tony hasent been on the trail yate which I'm sure well change very soon

Shane

[Shane]

Hi Shane
I think one of the main problems with the front suspension is the Panhard rod because it binds in the bushes. If you disconnect the panhard rod and jack it up you will find it greatly improves the travel

I cut my panhard rod and rotated the bush so it is not stressed half way through the travel and it it greatly improved it.

Currently I am looking at putting a rotating bush on the diff end. I might use the rotating radius rod rubbers or a tie rod end. Still looking at options.

The other thing that is very important is to use the genuine rubber radius rod bushes and not the after market urethane ones.
Cheers Richard

Try removing the left front trailing arm bolt(24mm)and then flex it up and compair with bolt in,be interesting what change you get being a completely differant vehicle to the Nissan with same suspension.

This one is on the ramp when pic taken,you can see how much the arm moves when the bolt is removed.

[Bulletproof]

This what I intend to do to mine. Very rough drawing but it might give you some idea

This way it will take the stress out of panhard rod and it is also very important to have a level panhard rod. With 75mm drop my one pulls the axle 30mm to the right as the left wheel drops



Cheers Richard

[turoa]

dont you need to keep the panhard rod angle as close as possibly to the angle of the drag link?

[Shane]

dont you need to keep the panhard rod angle as close as possibly to the angle of the drag link?

Correct

[Bulletproof]

dont you need to keep the panhard rod angle as close as possibly to the angle of the drag link?

Correct

Yes that is right but at the moment my panhard is slightly down from the drag link and because it is shorter than the drag link the angle increases as the wheel drops so what I intend to do will improve that as well.

What I can't understand Shane is why it had so little movement before, because when we do club ramp tests the standard nissans are always up top.

Cheers Richard

[Pedro]

dont you need to keep the panhard rod angle as close as possibly to the angle of the drag link?

Correct

Yes that is right but at the moment my panhard is slightly down from the drag link and because it is shorter than the drag link the angle increases as the wheel drops so what I intend to do will improve that as well.

What I can't understand Shane is why it had so little movement before, because when we do club ramp tests the standard nissans are always up top.

Cheers Richard

probably cause you have uprated springs that stiffen the suspension, you can hit the lumps and bumps harder than the standard vehicles can out on the trail, standard springs are a compromise between comfort and performance, softer spring = more flex, with the harder spring they can take more impact or a higher loading for same travel slowing the suspension down quicker for the same bump.

no doubt i will get shite for the above thats the way i understand it.

Pedro

[NJV6]

What I can't understand Shane is why it had so little movement before, because when we do club ramp tests the standard nissans are always up top.

Cheers Richard

Also the castor correction bushes mentioned hinder travel somewhat.

[Bulletproof]

Why are the holes in the castor correction bushes in the same place ? Effectively they are not doing anything except retricting travel

Richard

[Shane]

Why are the holes in the castor correction bushes in the same place ? Effectively they are not doing anything except retricting travel

Richard

If you are refering to this pic,that is a vehicle from Oz some were just plucked it off the net(should have said)it has std rubber type bushes,not CC ones.It has drop box's to correct caster which you can see in picture.



Tony's vehicle with the X-link has removed the CC bushes and replaced them with std nissan ones,you adjust the caster when fitting the X-link,so you can set it to what you want then weld it on(cant change once welded)

Near std nissans flex very well in the back which helps make up for not so good front esp with longish shocks,when on the ramp were traction is good you can force the bushes/arms to flex that little bit extra which you cant always get on the trail.I Have only been to one ramp day,the nissan that did well there had rear spring out of saddle approx 40mm(nothing wrong with that if they have a guide cone I prefer to have spring captured)
RTI index can give SWB a better number than a LWB given the same mods(same make/model vehicle)

Shane

[Bulletproof]

Here are a few pics of mine with std rubber radius bushes and no castor correction and a modified panhard rod.

The other mod hopefully will improve it some more and remove some of the stress

I couldn't get far enough up the loading ramp to lift the front wheel so there was more travel than shows. The pics are showing a little over 800mms articulation.











Cheers Richard

[doddzee]

Another thread about bulletproofs hilux

That looks cool shane, wouldnt mind on in my truck as the front flex is pretty average like most nissans.

Has he had a chat to a certifier about it? Are they happy to pass it?
What is the road handling like now?

[Shane]

Here are a few pics of mine with std rubber radius bushes and no castor correction and a modified panhard rod.

The other mod hopefully will improve it some more and remove some of the stress

I couldn't get far enough up the loading ramp to lift the front wheel so there was more travel than shows. The pics are showing a little over 800mms articulation.

Cheers Richard

Did you measure from guard to rim on both side?

[Bulletproof]

Did you measure from guard to rim on both side?

Hi Shane
No I didn't . The only reason I put those photos in the thread is because mine is a standard nissan set up apart from the modified panhard rod and I'm getting miles more than the 100-150mm you were talking about and couldn't understand why he had so little.
Please don't think I am trying to take the thread over. I'm interested in any way I can improve my front end.

The X -link certainly releaves the pressure on the radius rod bushes. My only concern is the way it drops down at the front making it suspectable to damage , especially with big boulders.

By putting this thread on here you have inspired me to do that other mod and I've been working on it all morning.

Cheers Richard

[KiwiBacon]

So now you've removed all the roll stiffness from the front end, how does it handle?

[SMOKEY]

Another thread about bulletproofs hilux

That's not a very good way to treat a member who has got more to offer this forum than most of the other dribblers on here. Richard does after all have Nissan control arms on his HiLux, he is constantly looking for ways to improve his vehicle and is ready and willing to share information. I find his," is there a better way attitude" to be the reason that a lot of us read these topics and thus get to modify our own vehicles.
I'm following this topic with interest the same as i followed your build topic.

BE NICE TO OTHERS AND IT WILL COME BACK TO YOU,

FITZY.

[Pedro]

Did you measure from guard to rim on both side?

Hi Shane
No I didn't . The only reason I put those photos in the thread is because mine is a standard nissan set up apart from the modified panhard rod and I'm getting miles more than the 100-150mm you were talking about and couldn't understand why he had so little.
Please don't think I am trying to take the thread over. I'm interested in any way I can improve my front end.

The X -link certainly releaves the pressure on the radius rod bushes. My only concern is the way it drops down at the front making it suspectable to damage , especially with big boulders.

Cheers Richard

it looks like it made of of 16mm or 20mm plate, while it could bend it would be well supported by the radius arms themselves, if you go plowing into boulders with a standard set up i think you would be inclined to be worse off, this acts almost like a bull bar for the diff, the concept is good, how ever i think it could be lightened using a RHS or similar to run across the front

[DaveM]

I've got my Superior flex arm sitting in the back of the rental car at the moment, so hope to compare with the xlink at some stage when I get back if possible

[swampa]

keeping a keen eye on this as i have been looking at this as well( dont rerally need any more travel though, just looks cool) my query is what will the cert guy say about this?

[Shane]

Another thread about bulletproofs hilux

That looks cool shane, wouldnt mind on in my truck as the front flex is pretty average like most nissans.

Has he had a chat to a certifier about it? Are they happy to pass it?
What is the road handling like now?

Tony may have spoken to a certifier I'm not sure,he's of to Oz this week to see Mr Dobbin,may be the new supplier for NZ should know by the end of this coming week.

I havent been in truck since its been done,with more flex comes more body roll as a general rule.
Tony says it not much different but he hasnt driven that far when I spoke to him last.

I cant see your beast getting stuck too often more flex is always good though

Shane

[MudBum]

Hi Shane,what was the cost of the X-Link?? can we get locally???

[SMOKEY]

Hi Shane,what was the cost of the X-Link?? can we get locally???

If Shane was thinking like me , there will be a Template , for back up purposes only .

AN OPPORTUNITY MISSED IS AN OPPORTUNITY LOST.

FITZY.

[Bulletproof]

Has anyone considered slotting the rear radius arm bush down and fitting a heavy spring under it to relieve the pressure ?

Richard

[Cloggy_NZ]

Has anyone considered slotting the rear radius arm bush down and fitting a heavy spring under it to relieve the pressure ?

Richard

Nice "outside of the square" thinking there Richard.
Also who ever designed or first thought of the X-link is a clever chappie as well. This is the first time I have ever seen anything like this.
My only questionable practice is the welding of the hinge pin to the diff housing. There seems to be some pretty heavy welding involved. Would this not warp the diff housing? OK on an off-roader but not something you'd want on a truck which might see a fair few highway miles getting to and from play grounds.