SAS'd MU going coils

[SupraLux]

Well, damn MU keeps stuffing leaf packs (mainly due to over-flexing I believe, but at $175 per pack, I can't afford to trash em this often... this is the 2nd pack on this side stuffed and I've only had it on the road for a few months):


And its just too inflexible... I need more flexiness... and a softer ride... so coils it is.

The Plan:
I have a new 2nd hand Surf wide axle housing coming, to which I will attach some new products... so new they don't even have pictures yet... namely, link tabs: ie the nice 5mm plate tabs you weld to axles to mount links, and beefy-arse links (Al, you will be pleased to know: NISSAN GQ bushes ) with either 5 or 6mm wall thickness, approx 1000ish mm long mains and 700ish long uppers, triangulated off the top of the diff housing.

I'll use 50mm lifted Surf coils at this stage, because they are cheap, plentiful and the weight of the rear of the MU will be similar to that of a Surf. I can easily get surf coils made to suit whatever length I need as well.

The shocks, I'll probably fit some GQ rears straight up and down for max travel. The ones I have in there are longer by a few mm, but are leaf-spring shocks and will probably be too harsh.

Into the new axle I will fit a standard open 4.88 diff, with Lokka - the LSD I'm using is just not diong it for me... so its for sale, 1 V6 carrier heavy duty and recently rebuilt Hilux LSD 4.88 diff... PM me offers, make em sensible.

Updates to follow... slowly, but in time for the mudplug

Steve

[mudchuka]

what do you think of the mus abilities? is it worth all the modifications? i have been using 1 for work a 2 seater 2.6 petrol model, is good on the road but i dont think it would make an off roader, things are built light like steering gear and fuel tank hangs too low at the rear,it is also tricky to work on, i replaced the clutch master cylinder and slave cylinder and it was a prick of a job.

[rokhound]

The shocks, I'll probably fit some GQ rears straight up and down for max travel.

Dude, you will get longer shocks in and hence have more travel from your them if they are on an angle (assuming you have room to do it)

Your'e going to get busy on the old girl again,

goooooooooodoooooooonyahhhhhhhhhh.

[De-Ranged]

Now the IFS thread makes sense.... you looking at doing the IFS hub swop as well ??

Cheers Reece

[Rangielux]

Steve, why is the spring around that way ? (in the photo)

[JTop]

So you see Krawler you were wrong, even South Islanders can see sense in the long run
J Top

[SupraLux]

what do you think of the mus abilities?

Depends on who's driving it, like any 4WD. I know some guys who swear by them, and others that hate them... stock its a very nice road vehicle, but I never thought much of them offroad myself. I like the shape, I like the value for money, I like the power.

is it worth all the modifications?

Yes. Definitely. Best 4WD I have owned now... It looks great (IMHO ), It goes like a haunted s%&thouse, even on 36's, it handles pretty well and it seems to go most places I point it.

i have been using 1 for work a 2 seater 2.6 petrol model, is good on the road but i dont think it would make an off roader, things are built light like steering gear and fuel tank hangs too low at the rear,it is also tricky to work on, i replaced the clutch master cylinder and slave cylinder and it was a prick of a job.

All 4WDs have their PITA's, but I wouldn't have called the steering "light" - its actually pretty heavy duty in the whole front end assembly, apart from the CVs which have a reputation for blowing with big tyres fitted.

Personally, I like it. I like it more now its been modified because its infinitely more capable... before it was a basic 4WD, now its capable of playing with the big boys and holding its own. That was the design brief, and its achieved that... Now I'm just working on making it more reliable and comfortable

Steve

[SupraLux]

The shocks, I'll probably fit some GQ rears straight up and down for max travel.

Dude, you will get longer shocks in and hence have more travel from your them if they are on an angle (assuming you have room to do it)

Your'e going to get busy on the old girl again,

goooooooooodoooooooonyahhhhhhhhhh.

Room is an issue, the tops of the shocks are pretty close to the floor as it is... I'm thinking of doing a body lift just to fit lon ger shocks in, front AND rear... but I may just cut and raise the area in the back over the axle and cut through the guards in the front... I don't really want to fit a body lift to it if I can avoid it - its high enough

Steve

[SupraLux]

8) Now the IFS thread makes sense.... you looking at doing the IFS hub swop as well ??

Cheers Reece

Yes, eventually... I have 27mm spacers on the front axle as it is... was also looking at a Dana44 front axle from a J20 Jeep... nice and wiiiiide... but he wants too much for it and the ratio is 3.something... way too high.

Steve

[SupraLux]

Steve, why is the spring around that way ? (in the photo)

Cos thats the way they go in a MU... the overload clamp is forward facing... wierd, huh?

You can't get the leafs around the wrong way, as the front of the spring has a great big bush in it, and the rear has a small one.

Steve

[SupraLux]

So you see Krawler you were wrong, even South Islanders can see sense in the long run
J Top

*insert blowing rasberry sound here*

I figure its worth a try... if it works, then I'll move to the north island, shave my legs and drink lattes like all you guys up there do

Nah, its just trial and error... if it works, well and good, if not then I'll go back to leafs and probably fit some falcons to it

Steve

[Rangielux]

Cos thats the way they go in a MU... the overload clamp is forward facing... wierd, huh?

You can't get the leafs around the wrong way, as the front of the spring has a great big bush in it, and the rear has a small one.

Steve

Not on a hilux axle tho

uuummm.... then maybe you could try and spin around that bottom over load leaf. Reason: I used to remove the bolt from that brackety thing to try and let the spring "open" and was always breaking and bending packs. I now leave the bolt in and have'nt bent a pack since It looks like like that pack bent under torque reaction - is it worth a shot ? -try a old set you've got lying around the back of ya shed

[SupraLux]

is it worth a shot ?

Nope... settled on coils Good point tho, this engine has heaps of torque so its probably a combination of torque and abuse

Steve

[Rangielux]

Nope... settled on coils

Steve

Thought so .... heard it in you're voice. Just my way of trying to defend the leafs - as a North Islander too

[Petemcc]

so whats on the go at the moment Steve. sounds like you have been working on something?? did the bighorn sell? give us some updates

Pete

[SupraLux]

haha... watch this space... well, not quite this space... watch that space over there... (points off in a random direction)...

Can't say too much, its a secret - but I'm no good at secrets so I'll probably post about it shortly

Steve

[Petemcc]

I look forward to it, hurry it up
Pete

[rokhound]

Uh oh , what are you up to now Steve? I wanta know as well

[Steve_t647]

Hmm Rokhound and Supralux doing rebuilds at the same time? I wonder if the TAB would put up odds on who finishes first?

This will be interesting the two most well known south island trucks undergoing a rebuild at the same time.... Who is going to finish first, and Roc that doesn't mean still welding wearing 3 pairs of sunnies on the riverbed

It will be interesting to see what you guy's come up with, or is it a north vs south thing with Jaffa's project?

And here is me ooking at the weather going Nah its still too cold in the garage!