Noobie VX owner

[DaveM]

Well, I've done it, finally bit the bullet and bought a manual VX.
Paid more than what it is worth (nothing new for me ), but got sick of looking (hopefully it doesn't bite me in the butt)

Will have to get the handbrake sorted (can't see how it passed its wof today) and get new rotors for the back, as I see one has a crack in it (I notice the pads don't contact the full disc like my Safari, is this normal, theres a 5mm or so gap either side, only contacts the centre of he disc)
Are the later model larger rotors/calipers a straight bole on mod?

Also need to find a myterious clunk from the front end when turning in either direction which wasn't oticed when I took it for a test drive.

Beats the Safari hands down for on road comfort (although it runs a 3-4" lift so wanders a bit, so will add shocks, alignment to the growing list of "to do's"), and more room for the dog in the back, so he doesn't jump on the misses lap while we are driving (so far)

Haven't made the full transition from Nissan, as I will see how this goes for reliabilty for now, as I have a LWB safari lined up if I don't like this, or run into problems, so the next few weeks will tell.

[tallsam66]

Awesome Dave....welcome to the world of Toyota !!!

[DaveM]

Awesome Dave....welcome to the world of Toyota !!!

Was a tough choice going back to Toyota, but hopefully the right one.
Hopefully I don't get hassled too much for making the change from mates.

Just need to use it now!

[skid]

it never happened without pics dude

as a new toyota owner you will soon learn we need lots of pics

congrats on the purchase dude

stay out of rivers

[DaveM]

it never happened without pics dude

as a new toyota owner you will soon learn we need lots of pics

congrats on the purchase dude

stay out of rivers

Thanks, will get a pic up soon, nothing flash, just a VX, but ugly since it hasn't got the spare wheel on the back

I was tempted to cross a shallow river today, but luckily I remembered your mishap, otherwise I probably would have just cruised in and done the same as you

Ordering some superior flex arms and new shocks in the next week or 2, and getting a new bullbar, made when money allows.

Oh, and on the off chance that someone reading this is tempted to buy the VX on TM from Blenheim(well set up with winch etc etc) be wary, as I'm pretty certain that its the one that was put on its side in a creek a few weeks ago

[red-devil]

cum on dave need pics of your vx

shell we go dowm the macley track again so u see the differance in comfot

[mudlva]

Also need to find a myterious clunk from the front end when turning in either direction which wasn't oticed when I took it for a test drive.

check out the sway bar mounts and shick mounts my bros truck had noises similar to your discription removed sway bar altogether and new rubbers onto the shocks and all sweet now.

just a thought

cheers

[red-devil]

="DaveM
Ordering some superior flex arms and new shocks in the next week or 2, and getting a new bullbar, made when money allows.

all really i as looking at those after i was on the ramp.

if you do get them let me know how well the extend the travel

jono

[DaveM]

check out the sway bar mounts and shick mounts my bros truck had noises similar to your discription removed sway bar altogether and new rubbers onto the shocks and all sweet now.

just a thought

cheers

Thanks, might as well do the bushes anyway I guess, look fairly old.

I noticed a pipe/tube on the back left that runs to the rear diff, and the top control arm hits this at full travel (sits under the arm). Anyone know what its for? Will try to get a pic.
Also, greyish smoke when started cold, and slight miss (starts first pop, with very little glow), something to worry about?

I'm looking at getting the bigend bearings done asap, anything else I should look at as preventative maint?

Bound to be plenty more questions (I've searched, but can't find too much info here), but quite impressed so far, apart from only getting 400km from 3/4 tank cruising at 100km.


Cheers,
Dave

Oh, and if the superior arms make a big difference, I'll be keeping it all hush-hush

[DaveM]

Just noticed my front shocks are pin/eye type, thought they are normally pin/pin?

[wopass]

apart from only getting 400km from 3/4 tank cruising at 100km.


Cheers,
Dave

after giving my mates vx the nessesary tweaks to make it go like it should his went from 450km to a tank to just over 600km to a tank, so more power and better economy cool eh!!!

[DaveM]

I must pop in on my way through next time for those tweaks!

[DieselBoy]

Just be carefull, all of Wopass's "tweaks" involve increasing the fuel delivery.

He run's an intercooler, 3" exhaust and a boost controller on his truck so has the capacity to compensate for the heat created by the increased fuel delivery.

With out increasing the boost and running an intercooler you could find your egt's increase beyond acceptable level's, and if you have the 24 valve motor, you don't want to go near anything cylinder head related!!!!! One injector is worth $1200 alone

Best to let it breath with a good air filter and a free flow exhaust, tune out the stupid emissions control with the off boost compensator adjustment, and go a max of 1/4 of a turn on the fuel metering screw. Go more if you can increase the boost to match

[DaveM]

Mines only the 12 valve, and being a 1990, seems to be a mix and match of old and new.
Happy enough with it being part time 4wd, although coming down a hill in the rain yesterday was interesting, not used to having power when accellerating out od a corner

Anyone know what this pipe/rod is running under the control arm? As you can see, at full droop, the arm hits/bends this.

Havent had a decent look, but hopefully someone knows what it is?

[red-devil]

ill have a little read in the manual for you


its the load sensing proportioning valve arm . for the brakes

[DaveM]

Thanks, went to Repco after work to buy a manual, but they don't stock them

Picked up new rear discs and full set of pads for it today, can't believe the price of Bedix pads now, $240/set!

Also got a quote for labour to do the bigend bearings.......$750 plus parts

[chevrolux]

isnt that the load sensing thingy for the brakes? im no expert but i think thats what it is

[NJV6]

Looks like the rear brake compensator thingie that alter's the amount of braking going to the rear wheels when there is a load on board.

Is it a VX with part time 4WD? I would have thought being a VX it would have full time. I think the Oz and NZ one's were DX's with the part time 4WD.

[DaveM]

isnt that the load sensing thingy for the brakes? im no expert but i think thats what it is

Yeah, that was my first guess, similar to the Safari, how do you get clearance from the arms?

[red-devil]

still waitin on pics dave

[skid]

wot they all said

you got adjustable top arms dude

[red-devil]

i would go a an take a pic of mine but the wife has the truck at work

[DaveM]

Sounds like I may have got an in between version, it uses the vacuum setup to activate 4wd hi, and normal transfer for lo

Front shocks and steering damper mounts are different to any VX I've seen too

[Heath]

The bit its hitting looks like a proportioning valve for the rear brakes (changes bias as the rear gets heavier) and that turnbuckle thing looks like a tramp rod to stop the axle rotating forwards or back under acceleration/braking.

But didnt these have a 4 link rear? Sorry dont know but it doesnt look factory. Maybe with the lift they bodged something to get the rear drive shaft angles better or has it got adjustable rear links?

[chevrolux]

yea dont know how to clear it. the experts will know. Just get a lux nothing obstructs the one under mine

[skid]

Dave, just went out and lay under mine for a sec


front shocks are pin/pin

rear shocks are pin/eye

my proportioning rod thingy has exactly the same amount of droop that yours shows

1991 VX


anything else ya need to know, will gladly go lie on drive again until it starts raining

[DaveM]

Cheers Skid, mine are pin/eye front, just hoping this runs the VX diffs, and not some in-between trial setup from a Prado

Couple of pics, not sure what size lift, but only got 32's on it, and Rancho 9000 shocks (to be replaced) adjustable top control arms and panhards.

[mudlva]

yep REd Devil is right you willo need to adjust the arm settings if you do a big suspention lift
cheers

[zephyrheaven]

nice

was oogling that myself, i have 4 customers all wanting VX's and nil in a sensible price range

[DaveM]

nice

was oogling that myself, i have 4 customers all wanting VX's and nil in a sensible price range

Exactly! I paid more than what this was worth, mainly for the manual box, but should have settled for a auto with difflocks instead