Offroad-Express

Eventually I'd like to coil sas my vzn130. Just wondering best models to use for diffs and if I was to shorten the the wheelbase would I be better off changing the diff and suspension or the whole front half of the chassis?

Cheers in advance,

Karl

Prado front axle works well. Prado pitman arm also fits the Surf steering box.
Shortening the wheelbase could be a mission tho as the wheel arches wont line up.

Yea shortening would involve a changing to single cab i guess. What model prado is the 3link? I've been looking on trademe but can't see what setups they have in them.

Karl

Why on earth would you shorten the wheel base? Better off (from a usefullness point of veiw anyway) making it a bit longer. Unless you are turning it into a trials wagon of course.

What model prado is the 3link? I've been looking on trademe but can't see what setups they have in them.

They all run radus arms (dont really flex at all ) with a panhard rod. I build a 3link to suit which flex's like crazy

rokhound
Post subject: Re: sas diffs?

Why on earth would you shorten the wheel base? Better off (from a usefullness point of veiw anyway) making it a bit longer. Unless you are turning it into a trials wagon of course.

Couldn't agree more. If you do the sas you can push the front axle forward 100mm. Much better approach angle.

Not only that, but you can make the link setup work much more efficiently as the numbers are on your side. Dialing in AS over a much broadrer range is a big plus to a 4wd that see's differing terrains.
The AS numbers on a swb Patrol for insatnce, are atrocious, and this is bourne out by the way they climb (or don't as the case may be) with masses of wheel hop. This is an issue with any SWB, but not as much of a concern on a trials rig as COG is kept very low

Cheers for that guys pretty helpful and makes alot of sense really.
Canterbury may be a bit far from Te Awamutu to have the work done but I like what you've been doing at TomsOffroad.

Karl

Just been to the wreckers today and all prados were ifs coil spring. Could anyone tell me which models were beam/coil setups.

The older pre 96 ones that are square shaped and look muck like the older cart sprung Landcruiser,except for the front guards, grill/lights and bonnet.
In fact they are called a Landcruiser Prado. They are coil sprung all round and have the solid axle in the front.
They are either LJ -71 (SWB), -78 (LWB) or KZJ -71 or 78.
LJ is 2lte 2.4 litre powered and the diff radius arms mount slightly differently at the chassis end. These ones have the 4.88 ratio diffs. What you require for 35's.
KZJ are 4.3 ratio diffs and are post 89, and have the 1KZ-TE 3 litre motor.

Some of the KZJs have the e-locker in the rear. Worth buying too if you can afford them. ECU for this in LHS kick panel near the floor. My KZJ - 71 has this. It is strong and reliable. They fit in any Hilux style housing.

I know of a prado coiled front diff down here if your interested?

Why are all the good parts always down south? My wrecker said when he gets one in I can have the front end for $600 which sound pretty good.