live axle front end conversion

[kendo Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close kendo]

hi guys i have just brought my 2003 v6

i have been told by people that when you put a lift kit in the ifs it puts strain on the front drive train
it has been suggested that i sell the prado and buy a live axle front end car or convert the prado to a live axle front end
can anybody give me advice on this
how much it would cost?
are they right about drive train strain?
how much lift could i go?
and anything else i should know?

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

Re: live axle front end conversion

I wouldn't bother but if anyone can do it Mark can http://www.cheezyracing.com.au/

[andrewh Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close andrewh]

Re: live axle front end conversion

Hi Kendo

Some people have some very limited ideas on what makes a good 4WD, and think that the only way to go offroad is with live axles. If you want to go in the offroad challenges or do the really serious rock hopping, the live axles will be better than IFS because you can do the the really serious lifts. On the other hand, if you just want to do some good 4wd'g like many of us and a 2" inch lift will do, the Prado will do you well.
There are many of us who have the 2 inch lifts and it is widely recognised that this is safe for the Prado without putting stress on the driveline.

[kendo Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close kendo]

Re: live axle front end conversion

thanks for the advice guys

so how is the articulation with the 2inch lift

[boof Member Find all posts View Profile Close boof]

Re: live axle front end conversion

thanks for the advice guysso how is the articulation with the 2inch lift

As said above live axle has some advantages those being articulation and in a lot of cases extra strength from larger diffs etc. I drove my Hilux as IFS for a long time and did plenty of hard tracks without damage. Unless you have absolutely no regard for the well being of your Prado a 2" lift and dual lockers will see it more than capable of where you would want to take it. I sassed my Hilux and it does has its advantages but I dont think I will ever do it to the Prado ( Well maybe in 10 years time :twisted: )

Heres my wifes 120 with a 2" lift King springs and Bilstein shocks.







Heres my sassed Hilux as you can see there really is no comparison but having said that I would never take the Prado down the tracks I take the Lux, and to drive the two is chalk and cheese.

[1MadEngineer Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close 1MadEngineer]

Re: live axle front end conversion

hi guys i have just brought my 2003 v6

i have been told by people that when you put a lift kit in the ifs it puts strain on the front drive train
it has been suggested that i sell the prado and buy a live axle front end car or convert the prado to a live axle front end
can anybody give me advice on this
how much it would cost?
are they right about drive train strain?
how much lift could i go?
and anything else i should know?

don't rush into this mod, there will be other options available in the next few months. I am working on some hardcore upgrade components which will hopefully make the front ends as strong and any of the live axle counterparts. But at least it will keep the nice handling and ride!

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Re: live axle front end conversion

don't rush into this mod, there will be other options available in the next few months. I am working on some hardcore upgrade components which will hopefully make the front ends as strong and any of the live axle counterparts. But at least it will keep the nice handling and ride!

Can you keep us up to date on this.... I am at the limit of my front suspensions articulation :roll: and have been looking at some of the gear out of the US. My top wish bone hits the spring and the CV is at a terrible angle at full droop.

Mick

[boof Member Find all posts View Profile Close boof]

Re: live axle front end conversion

hi guys i have just brought my 2003 v6

i have been told by people that when you put a lift kit in the ifs it puts strain on the front drive train
it has been suggested that i sell the prado and buy a live axle front end car or convert the prado to a live axle front end
can anybody give me advice on this
how much it would cost?
are they right about drive train strain?
how much lift could i go?
and anything else i should know?

don't rush into this mod, there will be other options available in the next few months. I am working on some hardcore upgrade components which will hopefully make the front ends as strong and any of the live axle counterparts. But at least it will keep the nice handling and ride!

Greg great to see you on here, let me know when you want to look at the Playdo for measurements etc, I am really keen to see what you come up with. Going on past work it should be top quality as always.

[jcas24 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close jcas24]

Re: live axle front end conversion

hi guys i have just brought my 2003 v6

i have been told by people that when you put a lift kit in the ifs it puts strain on the front drive train
it has been suggested that i sell the prado and buy a live axle front end car or convert the prado to a live axle front end
can anybody give me advice on this
how much it would cost?
are they right about drive train strain?
how much lift could i go?
and anything else i should know?

don't rush into this mod, there will be other options available in the next few months. I am working on some hardcore upgrade components which will hopefully make the front ends as strong and any of the live axle counterparts. But at least it will keep the nice handling and ride!

Greg great to see you on here, let me know when you want to look at the Playdo for measurements etc, I am really keen to see what you come up with. Going on past work it should be top quality as always.

This sounds exciting. The hardcore upgrades sound more driveline based, or is replacement style arms & struts similar to whats available for 90series?

IFS eliminator kit? :twisted: :twisted:

[boof Member Find all posts View Profile Close boof]

Re: live axle front end conversion

I have a good indication of what he is planning but am not sure how much he wants to disclose. All I will say is it should give more strength and still retain the Prados great on road manners.

[1MadEngineer Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close 1MadEngineer]

Re: live axle front end conversion

I have a good indication of what he is planning but am not sure how much he wants to disclose. All I will say is it should give more strength and still retain the Prados great on road manners.

as Boof said ^^^. I am really only starting my 'IFS' journey, you can be assured i will come up with something special :twisted: . From my point of view i don't feel it really necessary to go to a SAS ATM. Prado's drive extremely well, and it would be crazy to wreck that feature, even after years of driving wild comp rigs I still feel a well balanced IFS setup is fantastic as an all-rounder. I am intent on coming up with a new modular front diff housing, cost and availabilty are the only real constraints. My initail data is really only focussed on providing a well built front diff that would be comparable in strength to a Nissan GQ/GU as these are really only good for approximately ~4500-5000ft/lb of tq. I have quite a few joint/axle options which are capable in std for over ~5500ft/lb and the 300M chromoly upgrades good for ~8000+ft/lb. ATM i will be concentrating on the terrible steering strength issues on the earlier models, so please be patient...... (feel free to annoy me , with any other ideas for upgrades though )

cheers
Greg

[joey Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close joey]

Re: live axle front end conversion

sounds very interesting and i will be following this thread to see the progress...

joey 8)

[AJ Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close AJ]

Re: live axle front end conversion

sounds very interesting and i will be following this thread to see the progress...

joey 8)

Sounds like you've just spend the $10k you'd saved up

Cheers,
AJ

[joey Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close joey]

Re: live axle front end conversion

No that 10 is for lockers , stainless water tank and new sliders....

the IFS works for me atm,, but i am curious about the conversion to see what the boys come up with....

joey

[boof Member Find all posts View Profile Close boof]

Re: live axle front end conversion

As Greg said it wont be a sas. It will basically be a stronger driveline to allow us to use the Prado a little more confidently. I will no doubt do the upgrade to mine, and will be interested to see how it goes dual locked, with lower gears and a stronger driveline to handle the use. With the sale of my Lux happening I will need to strengthen the Prado before would feel confident enough to use it hard.