What to do? Hilux modification.
Submitted: Wednesday, Sep 13, 2006 at 14:33
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Twinkles
Hi all. I've purchased an 04 SR5 turbo diesel dual cab Hilux. I had almost the same 99 vehicle. I did 200k in it and now my daughter drives it. Still going great. I like the Hilux except for the IFS off road. I've asked here before about changing it to live axle and coil and rung the place in
Melbourne that does it.
Would improving the
suspension (lift and better shocks) and adding diff locks be as effective as altering the front end? I did a lift and shocks on my old one but still waved
wheels in the air on rocky tracks. The articulation wasn't improved enough either. Found it a bit hard riding too. Had medium load springs, new tortion bars and shocks.
I prefer the idea of keeping the
wheels in contact with the ground, but don't want to lose features like inside hub locking.
Reply By: Scoey (QLD) - Wednesday, Sep 13, 2006 at 14:53
Wednesday, Sep 13, 2006 at 14:53
It's a Hi-Lux. Ride will generally be rough and you'll lift
wheels on rutted tracks. I don't know how much it will cost to do the conversion you speak of, but maybe a set of diff locks would be a better option? That would help when you lift
wheels, won't do anything for the ride but!
Cheers
Scoey!
AnswerID:
194344
Follow Up By: Twinkles - Wednesday, Sep 13, 2006 at 15:07
Wednesday, Sep 13, 2006 at 15:07
Hi Scoey,
If I were to change the IFS to live axle and coil I would keep the
wheels on the ground more often. Cost about $6,500.
To upgrade existing
suspension (keeping IFS) $2000 + $3500 for diff locks front and rear.
FollowupID:
452253
Follow Up By: GaryInOz (Vic) - Wednesday, Sep 13, 2006 at 17:02
Wednesday, Sep 13, 2006 at 17:02
+ replacing broken CV's and DOJ's every few months if you really take it "off road". + inconvenience/qty of work needed to change a broken joint.
Replacing a CV on a beam axle is a hell of a lot simpler to do out in the sticks than reducing the front end of an IFS to rubble to replace a shaft, boot or joint... IFS has four weak spots (all exposed), beam has two (covered in most beam axles with the knuckle).
Getting one wheel airborne with a locker in an IFS is going to put a lot of strain through the DOJ/CV of the axle on the ground...two cups of shrapnel loaded and waiting to explode.
Going to beam axle will give you more articulation in the front = better stability
FollowupID:
452278
Reply By: Big Woody - Wednesday, Sep 13, 2006 at 17:06
Wednesday, Sep 13, 2006 at 17:06
Hi Twinkles,
Have a look in the latest copy of 4WD Monthly and you will see a brand new Hilux with a live axle conversion using a front end from an 80 Series Landcruiser.
I can't see it being worth the dollars though. It would be cheaper to buy a wagon with a live axle front end and convert it to a dual cab ute.
Cheers,
Brett
AnswerID:
194365
Reply By: Member - Shane D (QLD) - Wednesday, Sep 13, 2006 at 17:27
Wednesday, Sep 13, 2006 at 17:27
Twinkles,
theres's not a real lot you can do to improve off road performance with IFS
you could spent mega $$$$$ and still not be happy with it,If you pay to get it changed,It then will become a real bastard to get fixed out in the scrub becuase of the bits of unknown origin that now litter the front of your vehicle.
My opinion is to bleep it off,and get something that has got a full front axle if that is what u really want
AnswerID:
194373
Reply By: Twinkles - Wednesday, Sep 13, 2006 at 21:22
Wednesday, Sep 13, 2006 at 21:22
I have read 4WD Monthly. The place in
Melbourne does the same and puts in an 80 series front axle.
I decided to get another Lux because overall I really liked my old one, I need/want a ute and dual cab. The Lux has better fuel consumption and isn't so big to drive as a Patrol or Land Cruiser. I contemplated a cab chasis Patrol for a bit, but want the dual cab. I owned a Patrol for 7 years and prefer the Lux to drive. This is my third Hilux.
Has anyone out there kept and modified the tortion bar
suspension and put in diff locks? Any problems?
AnswerID:
194429
Follow Up By: TUFF IFS LUX - Thursday, Sep 14, 2006 at 23:00
Thursday, Sep 14, 2006 at 23:00
which place in
melbourne does the IFS - live axle swap? could you provide details and possibly the cost for such a conversion drive in and drive out.
thanks mate
FollowupID:
452637
Follow Up By: GaryInOz (Vic) - Friday, Sep 15, 2006 at 00:20
Friday, Sep 15, 2006 at 00:20
Several
places do the conversion, but one I know of is Cheezy Racing
Better off talking to them about the cost as it depends a lot on what you want done (ie coilovers or standard Toyota spring/shock set up).
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