Johhny Joints / Prado Radius Arms

[kbushnz]

Hi All

Has anyone used the Johhny joints
I have some factory radius arm bushes about to let go on my KZJ78 Prado....Square truck.
Its the bush that attaches to the chassis end.

The Johnny Joint in 2 inch is a very near match...
Might need to sleeve or tack weld in....Yeah yeah cert issues...



Thoughts

Changing to a heim joint style will also stop the annoying Bang-squeak at near full articulation when the bush sleeve rotates against the chassis mount.

Cheers
Calvin

[jeremy]

Do it Calvin, and let me know if it works

[kbushnz]

Hi Jeremy

Nah mate its your turn to do something new !!!


Calvin

[jeremy]

Haha, yeh you're probably right, but its much more fun when someone else is the test dummy!

Just out of interest - what sort of mileage are you getting out of your radius arm bushes?

[kbushnz]

They are still factory... 198000 (if the clock hasn't been wound back) Thats the single one which attaches to the Chassis.
The pair on the diffs.... My rear are stuffed....Just awaiting funds to replace. (Been flogged out for the last two WOFS but WOF man happy just)
The front were changed for off set nolethane bushes when I got the truck some 7 years ago....But have been stuffed for the past couple of years. And were replaced 6 months ago.
The truck has been daily driver and club run during the last 7 years but not had much off road use in the last few years.
Probably one run a month or so.

Want to try the Johnny joints on the chassis joint to stop the terrible bang when it articulates. Has done it since I had it... Grease the bolts and bush...Goes a way for a few trips then starts up again ARGGH.

Going to heim style joint will probably help with flex.... Let it move more easily.

Only thing that concerns me is Cert.....
All I have done thus far my WOF man has been happy with.... But will probly need to Cert it soon and capture all I have done.

Are you still spitting out bushes in the Pocket Rocket ?

Cheers
Calvin

[jeremy]

No, I think the bushes are holding up ok (although I'm too scared to look as the list of things to fix is long enough at the moment!). You've had your prado a lot longer than us, so I was just curious what sort of mileage we can expect.

[kbushnz]

I dont think mileage will be the issue with club / winch trucks.
I think all that articulation will be the wear factor and for the rear ones all the torque from that Lexus.

Going to see my WOF man about Johnny joints

Cheers
Calvin

[Heath]

Just started to drive round with windows down and radio off enjoying the warm weather and the bushes on this wagons squeak like a bag of mice. Really annoying now I have heard it and now I cant stop hearing it. Mainly around the front wishbone bushes I think.

Gave the front shocks a bit of a shove to see if it was them and now I think I may have a stuffed (or not good) shocky on the drivers side front - Bounced and rocked about 5 times before settling.

[axel]

Hey, was reading through this and found it quite interesting. Did you guys get this issue sorted? I also have this "loud banging" noise while articulating on my kzj78. I was wondering if theres anything that can be done?

[Heath]

Just started to drive round with windows down and radio off enjoying the warm weather and the bushes on this wagons squeak like a bag of mice. Really annoying now I have heard it and now I cant stop hearing it. Mainly around the front wishbone bushes I think.

Gave the front shocks a bit of a shove to see if it was them and now I think I may have a stuffed (or not good) shocky on the drivers side front - Bounced and rocked about 5 times before settling.

New struts (were fecked and grooved where the top bush had started to eat the shafts) and new lower arm bushes fixed mine (IFS though).

[kbushnz]

Hey, was reading through this and found it quite interesting. Did you guys get this issue sorted? I also have this "loud banging" noise while articulating on my kzj78. I was wondering if theres anything that can be done?

Turned out my rear radius bushes were flogged a bit, they looked o.k
Put new ones in and the clunk was gone.
It did come back after a day of articulation...
But two bolts had come loose (slightly) and a little elbow grease and all fixed again.

Calvin

[axel]

Thats good to hear. I was thinking it could have been a CV.