MK Patrol with drop shackles

nz4x4 · Post by **nz4x4** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 8:06 pm

*Ignore this post*

Well i need new shocks and i want good shocks as they will be used for winch comps in the future (about 3 years time). My question is... are the Bilstein 5150 Series shocks any good? i am looking at the 14" travel shock, the part number is BF5-A198-H1

what the plan is. make new shock hoops that are 220mm longer than the ones in their now (i will have to chop body to do this) this will allow be to fit the 14" bilsteins which have a collapsed measurement of 517mm. and an extended measurement of 886mm.

my standard shocks have a collapsed measurement of 300mm and an extended of 430.

so, 430 (standard extended length) + 210 (extra drop shackle will give) = 640mm (total drop with original shock mounts)

300 (standard collapsed shock length) + 220 (extra height added to upper shock mount) = 520mm (collapsed length of bilstein 14" shock)

640 (total drop) + 220 (extra height added to upper shock mount) = 860mm (extended length need of new shock)

the bilstein measures 517mm collapsed and 886 expanded, a perfect fit i think (will put 40mm Tough dog lift springs in within the next year aswell)

or have i totally stuffed this up? any info is much appriciated

cheers
sam

1lurch · Post by **1lurch** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 9:47 pm

am i right in thinking you are going to use shackles similar to the 'superior' ones from oz or the 'revolvers' from the states ??

if so are you going on the road ?? would be keen to hear how you get on with the certifing engineer .

just give the guys at Advanced four wheel in auckland a call about the shocks , 092754850 . they are the rancho dealers and quite helpful .

cheers AL

nz4x4 · Post by **nz4x4** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 7:16 am

They are Superior Engineerings Rotating drop shackles. Certing shouldnt be a problem i am told becuase they are only 40mm longer than standard shackles when pinned up. Although i am going to need to get the new shackle mounts certed and also the new shock hoops that will go on.

nz4x4 · Post by **nz4x4** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 7:58 pm

The shackles are on, the shocks (tough dog foam cells) are going on now, travel has been limited due to increasing the height of the bumpstop to fit 35" tyres.
I have 10.3" of travel on the back, not sure about the frount, havent look at engineering yet. but have been told it should be ok as they are no differetn from extended shackles when pinned closed.

pics to follow

krawlr · Post by **krawlr** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 11:11 am

revolver shackles.............beware of the axle wrap that they give,and remember to allow heaps of slide in the rear drive shaft.

and i wouldent be using a long travel billy for winch challenges,id be looking at nitrocharged applications with added remote reseviors which are ideal for highspeed offroading(suited valving),youle billys will blow to bits otherwise,and at times with long travel shocks they work against you for winch challenging offering far to much down travel.

but hey this is just my opinion,but its youre wallet.

good luck with youre build up .

nz4x4 · Post by **nz4x4** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 4:42 pm

yea I'm not going to put the bilsteins on now, heard the same thing many times. i have tough dog foam cells going on

nz4x4 · Post by **nz4x4** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 7:05 pm

I got the truck back to day, here are some pics, need to test fit some 35's now.

fist pic is how i brought it, second is with 2"BL and 32" ET's, 3rd is as it sits now.

nz4x4 · Post by **nz4x4** » Thu May 11, 2006 7:39 pm

Got the truck back today, front end has shocks on, brake lines done etc.

I only have 7.6" of travel in the front due to a chassis crossmember being in the way of the driveshaft (couldnt modify chassis) . but still plenty.

here are a couple of pics

My suspension is now totally finished, and here are the final suspension specs:

Superior Engineering Rotating Drop Shackles on all corners
New Shackle mounts
Tough Dog Foam Cell 50mm Hilux rear shocks on the rear with custom mounts to suit
Tough Dog Foam Cell 50mm GQ nissan front shocks on the front (original mounts)
50mm bumpstop spacers on all corners
Extended Brakelines
Extended Diff breathers

Travel:
Front 7.7"
Rear 10.2"

4.6 diff ratios and some new 35x11.5x15 Simex ET's are needed now!

A good hard test is need now to see how they really are!

nz4x4 · Post by **nz4x4** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 4:07 pm

Thought I better post something here.

I have had the shackles on for about 6 months now and they are bloody great! Still have a low centre of gravity but ample flex (could get more still though with a few mods.

Sometime in the future (most probably in a couple of years when I pull it off the road for the major rebuild) I am going to modify the X-member that is in the way and get some new 12" Fox (Or King) shocks so that I get the most out of the shackles. But for now it will do, have had no problems with them unloading on steep hills nor any problems with spring wrap.

Here are some crappy flex pics before and after. Take into consideration that the rear still had 4" more of droop in it and the front about 1" only reason I didnâ€™t go any further up the ramp was because it was about to fall over :oops:

http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/modules.php?set_albumName=NZ4x4&op=modload&name=Gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php