Hey guys,
I did a 50mm lift on my hilux reciently and the new spring pack was thicker than the old one on the drivers side. I got a flattened ubolt for that side so the steering doesnt foul, but it still does (just).
Any sugestions as to how to fix this problem?
The lux is an 87 DC LN67 NZ model, leaf spring all round.
I had thought about one of those drop drag link type things, but am opent to suggestions.
Heath
Steering arm problem
Hi Heath - the problem is the extra angle the link is on now from the lift.
A couple of thoughts:
1. have the ball in the J arm renewed - these wear out over time and the arm can drop a little lower than it should.
2. Do the balljoint mod. Take the J-arm off, have the ball that the drag link attaches to pressed out and have a new taper to suit an IFS steering balljoint machined in up the other way. Then have the draglink cut and a 17mm metric thread machined on to it. Take a tie-rod from an IFS surf, unscrew the longer tierod end and screw the drag link in then bolt it all back together. I haven't got a photo of mine handy, but this puts the balljoint on top of the J arm, gives WAY more flex ability and flattens the link out for lifted trucks, reducing bump-steer.
Steve
A couple of thoughts:
1. have the ball in the J arm renewed - these wear out over time and the arm can drop a little lower than it should.
2. Do the balljoint mod. Take the J-arm off, have the ball that the drag link attaches to pressed out and have a new taper to suit an IFS steering balljoint machined in up the other way. Then have the draglink cut and a 17mm metric thread machined on to it. Take a tie-rod from an IFS surf, unscrew the longer tierod end and screw the drag link in then bolt it all back together. I haven't got a photo of mine handy, but this puts the balljoint on top of the J arm, gives WAY more flex ability and flattens the link out for lifted trucks, reducing bump-steer.
Steve
Actually, you can just see the balljoint on the end of the J arm in this pic... Feel free to badger me for more information, or pay me for a setup if you want one 
For a J-arm, modified drag link, balljoints etc ready to just bolt on you'd be looking at $400 + GST. You can just have yours machined locally to do this of course...
For a J-arm, modified drag link, balljoints etc ready to just bolt on you'd be looking at $400 + GST. You can just have yours machined locally to do this of course...
On another train of thought how have you handled the increased height and your dif locator on the front? Is it worth getting an adjustable one? I noticed that when I put the lift in the axle was a real bitch to locate on the spring (used ratchet tie downs to get it in place) so am concerned that it may be forcing the axle too straight and lessening the king pin angle. I thought that at static height on flat ground the diff locator would be just sitting there with no force excerted at all.
Heath
Was that $400 your price?
Heath
Was that $400 your price?
Hi Heath, yes it would require certification... but on the bright side you are making mods using all standard Toyota steering components so the cert process is fine. There are several trucks running that setup down here.
The torque rod does actually force the axle to sit is a certain position in order to maintain correct castor angle. as the truck 'squashes', it forces the axle to stay in the same plane to keep it correct through the travel of the suspension.
It also stops brake-steer. If you want an example, take it off and drive slowly down the road, then stomp on the brakes - the truck will swerve as the axle rotates under braking. On a crossover steer system this would have little or no effect at all, but due to the single-side push-pull steering the Hilux uses the steering is forced to move as the axle twists on the springs.
You might be able to see (its painted red, just under the steering drag link), I moved my torque rod mount from the side of the chassis rail to the very front then lengthened the rod considerably. This has helped the axle droop quite a bit, but it made the rod about 5mm too short meaning its not under as much force at truck-rest so it is a bit vague under normal driving conditions.
Hope that helps
Steve
The torque rod does actually force the axle to sit is a certain position in order to maintain correct castor angle. as the truck 'squashes', it forces the axle to stay in the same plane to keep it correct through the travel of the suspension.
It also stops brake-steer. If you want an example, take it off and drive slowly down the road, then stomp on the brakes - the truck will swerve as the axle rotates under braking. On a crossover steer system this would have little or no effect at all, but due to the single-side push-pull steering the Hilux uses the steering is forced to move as the axle twists on the springs.
You might be able to see (its painted red, just under the steering drag link), I moved my torque rod mount from the side of the chassis rail to the very front then lengthened the rod considerably. This has helped the axle droop quite a bit, but it made the rod about 5mm too short meaning its not under as much force at truck-rest so it is a bit vague under normal driving conditions.
Hope that helps
Steve
Sir Steve, I have been reading your posts and since I noticed you are a Toyota Hilux guru, I need your help.
I recently re-did My Left Hand Drive 1990 LN-106 Hilux. It has a 5-inch Skyjacker lift, Downey shackles, factory rear locker, detroit truetrach front LSD, and 5.29 gears. I run 35 Cooper Discoverer STT's. I run the 2.8 3L engine with a 2.4 2LT-E turbo.
I cant get it to handle right. I get a left pull on downhills, deceleration, and under braking. I have checked and re-checked the brakes and they are okay.
I just remembered the adjustable front track bar got dismantled for zinc coating, and I dont know if it was adjusted right.
How do you properly adjust it.
Another thing, whats a nice toe-in/toe-out value for this truck?
Thanks in advance.
Paul Azcona
Philippines
I recently re-did My Left Hand Drive 1990 LN-106 Hilux. It has a 5-inch Skyjacker lift, Downey shackles, factory rear locker, detroit truetrach front LSD, and 5.29 gears. I run 35 Cooper Discoverer STT's. I run the 2.8 3L engine with a 2.4 2LT-E turbo.
I cant get it to handle right. I get a left pull on downhills, deceleration, and under braking. I have checked and re-checked the brakes and they are okay.
I just remembered the adjustable front track bar got dismantled for zinc coating, and I dont know if it was adjusted right.
How do you properly adjust it.
Another thing, whats a nice toe-in/toe-out value for this truck?
Thanks in advance.
Paul Azcona
Philippines
Thank you for the compliment, I'm not really a "guru", I've just spent a lot of time working with these trucks. I'm sure there are members on here more qualified than I to answer, but heres my take on it:
I suspect the issue you are having is related directly to the torque-rod (the 'track-bar' as you call it). I would think its been done right up before re-fitting, and is too short.
You will need to adjust it to make it longer... which means probably (from what I can see in the pic) disconnecting one end and turning the rod-end out a few turns then tightening the jam nut back up and refitting it.
I expect you'll need to do this a few times until the handling is how you want it... Normally the are a bit of a pig to get in when they are adjusted correctly, and you will possibly need to jack the truck (body, not axle) up a little to get things to align properly.
Hope that helps - please let us know how you get on.
Steve
PS: Oh, and good work actually using the search function... there are long-time members on this board who haven't figured out how to use that yet
I suspect the issue you are having is related directly to the torque-rod (the 'track-bar' as you call it). I would think its been done right up before re-fitting, and is too short.
You will need to adjust it to make it longer... which means probably (from what I can see in the pic) disconnecting one end and turning the rod-end out a few turns then tightening the jam nut back up and refitting it.
I expect you'll need to do this a few times until the handling is how you want it... Normally the are a bit of a pig to get in when they are adjusted correctly, and you will possibly need to jack the truck (body, not axle) up a little to get things to align properly.
Hope that helps - please let us know how you get on.
Steve
PS: Oh, and good work actually using the search function... there are long-time members on this board who haven't figured out how to use that yet
Thanks Steve.
I dont have much experience with the torque rod as I completely eliminated that on my 1983 Hilux, as I installed a Pajero IFS steering box and did a cross over. My 83 has a Nissan RD28 diesel engine mated to the 4-speed Toy tranny/t-case, and runs on 33's.
As to this truck, I set it up for off-road, and a friend of mine set it up for a few car shows, thats why it looks like a show truck now. I dont want to convert anything as she still looks like a beauty.
As to the search function, Google pointed me to some threads, and I took it from there.
I dont have much experience with the torque rod as I completely eliminated that on my 1983 Hilux, as I installed a Pajero IFS steering box and did a cross over. My 83 has a Nissan RD28 diesel engine mated to the 4-speed Toy tranny/t-case, and runs on 33's.
As to this truck, I set it up for off-road, and a friend of mine set it up for a few car shows, thats why it looks like a show truck now. I dont want to convert anything as she still looks like a beauty.
As to the search function, Google pointed me to some threads, and I took it from there.
Sounds like an interesting setup for crossover... I've used IFS Toyota boxes of Surfs/4Runners for crossover before, but never a Paj one...
Yeah, I thought this truck looked a little too shiney for its own good... a show truck huh? Do you have some more pics of it finished... (preferably under-shots of the suspension work etc)
Steve
Yeah, I thought this truck looked a little too shiney for its own good... a show truck huh? Do you have some more pics of it finished... (preferably under-shots of the suspension work etc)
Steve
Here are some pics of the 1990 Hilux's underside
I have tried adjusting the torque rod by making it longer, and somehow the brake-steer has decreased a bit. I will try to make it a bit longer, and I will see what happens.
I have tried adjusting the torque rod by making it longer, and somehow the brake-steer has decreased a bit. I will try to make it a bit longer, and I will see what happens.
"Lifes Journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body... but rather SKID IN SIDEWAYS totally worn out shouting... HOLY SHIT WHAT A RIDE!!!
Damm Pablo thats one spanky underside 
theres been a bit of work painting that!
Whats the story with those diff gards and the outrigger bolts is it an attempt to strengthen the axles
Just a small thing to note if you crank the torque rod too far you will upset your steering angles (toe-in & caster) and make it feel nervous at road speed.... as well as a brake test throw it through a few corners
Cheers Reece
theres been a bit of work painting that!
Whats the story with those diff gards and the outrigger bolts is it an attempt to strengthen the axles
Just a small thing to note if you crank the torque rod too far you will upset your steering angles (toe-in & caster) and make it feel nervous at road speed.... as well as a brake test throw it through a few corners
Cheers Reece
De-Ranged wrote:Whats the story with those diff gards and the outrigger bolts is it an attempt to strengthen the axles
Axle truss - designed to stop the housing flexing and damaging the diff during airborne assaults on rough terrain
Hey thats just pretty - bring the truck over here and I'll introduce you to some good old Kiwi mud and rocks - although it might not be good for the pretty paint
Steve
You are right. The truck has been garaged the past 6 months, and I just brought it out this month.
I removed the body lift, installed 35's and I now use it daily. It will see a lot of mud when the rainy season comes. Hehehe
I removed the body lift, installed 35's and I now use it daily. It will see a lot of mud when the rainy season comes. Hehehe
"Lifes Journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body... but rather SKID IN SIDEWAYS totally worn out shouting... HOLY SHIT WHAT A RIDE!!!
Just an update.
I now have the torque rod adjusted and am getting 8degress caster angle with the truck sitting idle.
It now has very little brake steer and so far so good.
Should I add more?
I now have the torque rod adjusted and am getting 8degress caster angle with the truck sitting idle.
It now has very little brake steer and so far so good.
Should I add more?
"Lifes Journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body... but rather SKID IN SIDEWAYS totally worn out shouting... HOLY SHIT WHAT A RIDE!!!
