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Post by holden on Apr 26, 2009 14:04:09 GMT 11
Hi all,
Lately I have been thinking of get a cheap more then likely stuffed Isuzu Bighorn with the long IFS control arm's and wider rear axle. The plan on the front is to swap the long control arm's, tie rod's, CV's and maybe the swaybar off the Bighorn and put them on my MU. And for the rear cut all the coil stuff off and weld tab's for the leafs on. This should hopefuly give me a wider truck, Better CV angle, Maybe a better swaybar, Drum handbrake.
So what do you guy's think?
Does anyone know how long Bighorn control arm's are?
Is the Bighorn chasses wide at the front then a MU?
Kane
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Post by holden on Apr 26, 2009 15:54:09 GMT 11
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Post by vinceandrobyn on Apr 26, 2009 17:27:15 GMT 11
Our original MU had bighorn suspension fitted, for the same reasons as you have mentioned. We did still break cvs though :-( We never fitted it ourselves, we purchased a rolling chasis so not sure I can answer any technical questions. This is probably about the best photo we have of the underside of our old truck.  |
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Post by holden on Apr 26, 2009 17:47:20 GMT 11
Hey
I know you want know much but did it seem to be much wider then other MU's? And would you know if it was a Bighorn rear axle?
Kane
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Post by geeves on Apr 26, 2009 19:17:37 GMT 11
For the disc/drum rear It looks like a bolt on swap to your diff (just 4 bolts each side. As far as Im aware everything else is the same. Much easier than modifying diff housings. For the front the UBS55 bighorn is identical to the MU suspension but the UCS69 Mu with the 3.1 engine has the bigger brakes up front. I have a Mu stub axle in my bighorn.
The pic of the UBS69 looks like it will fit but I would be taking a lot of measurements to be sure. I took 7 different measurements on the Mu stub axle and still got caught out on the brakes.
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Post by vinceandrobyn on Apr 26, 2009 19:30:07 GMT 11
Std MU rear diff. The front was a fraction wider. We had trouble with the length of the axles(the bit running through the centre of cv), they were a bit long, the wide body ones were even longer. We think this could be why the cvs smashed, as the back of the cvs were hitting the main axle comming out of the diff. The std MU ones were too short due to mods (ball joint flip, top arms bighorn, bottom arms MU, front diff lowered 65mm) so the cv was getting ripped right out of the axle. Sorry we can't find any further digital photos, hope I haven't completely confused you.
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Post by dasnoboarder on Apr 26, 2009 20:11:39 GMT 11
If Geeves says some of the bighorn's front suspension are the same as the MU's, it's probably much cheaper to get a set of super wide offset steel rims to get the wide stance you're after. I think a standard landcruiser size is -28, and I have seen -44 at www.4wdbits.co.nz (could probably get wider), these would give a very wide track on a MU, as long as the guards and certification doesn't cause issues.  |
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Post by geeves on Apr 26, 2009 20:48:18 GMT 11
Widening the track with offset rims puts a huge strain on the wheel bearings and can result in the tyres hitting the guards at full lock. The result is unlikely to be reliable enough for off road. Doesnt help cv breakages either
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Post by holden on Apr 27, 2009 7:07:56 GMT 11
For the disc/drum rear It looks like a bolt on swap to your diff (just 4 bolts each side. As far as Im aware everything else is the same. Much easier than modifying diff housings. Hey Geeves, What truck would this axle be out of and would it be any wider then a MU axle? kane |
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Post by geeves on Apr 27, 2009 12:09:12 GMT 11
95 and later Mu with the 3.1 engine as a complete bolt in diff or 3.1 bighorn 92 onwards for the bits
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Post by holden on Apr 27, 2009 12:12:34 GMT 11
95 and later Mu with the 3.1 engine as a complete bolt in diff Would that axle be any wider the the one I have now?? |
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Post by geeves on Apr 27, 2009 13:26:32 GMT 11
no but you do get the good handbrake. Keep thinking about this mod myself but dont fancy another trip to the certifier.
What are you trying to achieve? The Mu has a good fairly wide stance anyway They dont roll that often. If you keep the swaybar you negate a lot of the potential gains from the longer possible travel. I think the UBS69 bighorn does have a wider chassis than the Mu or earlier bighorn in which case things like cv joints will end up the wrong length as vince says above.
I cant see the gains being worth the work except for the handbrake
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Post by mulover on Apr 27, 2009 13:55:30 GMT 11
If you are trying to avoid breaking cv's then lower your diff 20mm and lift your foot a bit when you get air borne, and you shouldn't have too many problems. I have thought about making longer half shafts and custom a-arms similar to those used in the toyota set up, but i think it would be easier to just do a sas and be done with it, plus gain a heap of travel.
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Post by vinceandrobyn on Apr 27, 2009 18:21:45 GMT 11
Yes I agree with Mulover, much easier to do a SAS and bigger gains in travel. Cost us $1450 to do our beam axle swap, plus 1.5days labour for two guys, which we did ourselves. It still has to be certified.
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Post by mulover on Apr 28, 2009 13:55:52 GMT 11
Wow, thats the cheapest SAS I've every heard of!!! now that there has been a few of them done and there is a bit more info around, I am seriouly thinking about doing it when i move back to nz. might have to change the motor to the commodor v6 or lexus v8 before i do that though, save doing the drive shafts twice!!!
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