show us ya flex photos

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

Recently had a TJM XGS kit put in and thought I'd share some pics.




Must say Im very happy with it, the install has been a long time coming,
cheers,
Mike

[8608 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close 8608]

my Prado on a travel ramp. not the greatest flexing machine out there though.

[MidLifeCrisis Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MidLifeCrisis]

Came across this as I was going through my videos from the SA Bendleby Trip a few weeks back. Certainly shows the prado suspension doing its stuff! Thought it was relevant to this thread....

http://s990.photobucket.com/albums/a...do_Flexing.mp4

Yes that was a good little washout out hill. I see you were guided down by a pro. :P

[derek11 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close derek11]

Looking good there Steve, your SIK120 has some awesome flex, be interesting to what flex my 150 has after the suspension gets done, and what 33" tyres looks like.

[Joshy Member Find all posts View Profile Close Joshy]

Here's mine stock. Not the best pic but its just off the ground. Not much there, but hopefully just into the new year it'll have a decent set up!

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

Don't worry Joshy - we all started there!

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

No pose shots, just doing the tracks :-)
I thought it looked pretty cool so took a few snaps.

The first 4 are a spot in VIC high country where the playdo was leading 7 into a slippery difficult track we ended up backing out of :-)
last pic is an easy track in wombat state forest.

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

Looking at these awesome flex shots, can anyone tell me if extended rear swaybar links will increase rear wheel travel?
Also considering the diff drop option, will that add to any front wheel travel?
I am looking at ToughDog 40mm lift.

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

Extended rear sway bar links and a front diff drop will not give you more suspension travel, but they will allow you to utilize longer struts and shocks to give more suspension down travel and therefore more flex.

Extended rear sway bar links will reduce sway bar angle after a suspension lift is applied, but won't allow more down travel than the standard links unless the rear shock is longer than 615mm extended. The standard shock is 575mm extended.

A front diff drop will reduce CV angles at maximum suspension extension and is needed for any lift over 2". It also allows front struts up to 570mm extended to be fitted without the CV binding at full extension. The standard strut is 545mm extended.

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

Awesome, that helps alot.
So reading through this and other posts, I do not need to buy shocks specifically for the 120 Prado? I can buy shocks from a LC100, fronts and rears?



And I only ask as I have some serious flex envy right now... Lift is one thing, flex is another...

[Trekrider Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Trekrider]

Awesome, that helps alot.
So reading through this and other posts, I do not need to buy shocks specifically for the 120 Prado? I can buy shocks from a LC100, fronts and rears?

You don't have to buy 120 Prado shocks but you do have to research what you are fitting - both open and closed length. As an example AJ120 and I have both fitted OME LC80 Nitrocharger shocks to the rear to get extended downward travel. The OME Nitrocharger Sports shock for the LC80 has a longer closed length than the non-sports version and will bottom out unless you modify (extend) the bump stops on the Prado. I didn't want to reduce the upward travel so went for the non-sports version. If you go much longer than the LC80 shock that we have fitted you start getting a problem with the coil coming out of its seating (unless you do something to prevent this). I have extended my rear sway bar links by 30mm to increase travel. The other thing to consider are the brake lines from the chassis to the rear axle - these may need to be extended to allow for the extra travel.

I'm not an expert on the front suspension but I believe that if you want to get more than the 'normal' 2" lift you have to look at replacing the arms. I don't know if you can fit non-Prado shocks at the front. In any case, more than 2" lift and you have to fit a diff drop kit as Peter has said.

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

Apart from open and closed lengths, some shocks won't physically fit. A big bore 80 series rear shock will contact the diff housing and an IFS 100 series rear shock will need the shock mount drilled out to accommodate the larger top pin.

As a general rule, front and rear FJ cruiser and 150 series suspension components will physically fit the 120 series. 80 series rear shocks (not oversize bore) will fit the rear of a 120 series. Post 2005 Hilux front struts will also physically fit the front of a 120 series, but the spring perch is set 15-20mm higher. This will need to be taken into consideration when selecting spring lengths.

Also be aware that the valving and rates of non Prado shocks may not be suitable. There is a lot that needs to be researched, but it is rewarding if you get it all right.

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

Trek and Peter, thank you for the advice. I'll read more and see what I end up with...

Have a good long weekend.

[120D4D Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 120D4D]

The OME Nitrocharger Sports shock for the LC80 has a longer closed length than the non-sports version and will bottom out unless you modify (extend) the bump stops on the Prado. I didn't want to reduce the upward travel so went for the non-sports version. I have extended my rear sway bar links by 30mm to increase travel. The other thing to consider are the brake lines from the chassis to the rear axle - these may need to be extended to allow for the extra travel.

On this note, as I had access to some 'cheap' Nitrocharger Sports for the LC100/80 I put them in. The closed length is only 5 or 8mm (from memory) longer than the non-sport shock so I simply spaced the bumpstop down a plate. That said, with rear airbags (6psi) and on max compression I seem to still be a good 30mm from the bumpstop anyway so the spacer was a waste of time - for me anyway. Those without airbags may be able to reach the bumpstop so it would pay to check if using Sport shock.

Also, as Peter said valving may not be suitable and I can certainly feel these shocks over the 120 sport shocks so do your homework or test drive another PP's before you take the leap!

p.s my swaybars are only around 15mm longer by the addition of a spacer nut so springs are still firm in their seat and I still have some travel left in the shocks.

Here is a very average shot but shows what is possible with little investment...

[butane8 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close butane8]

once the GTG members get back this thread will look like a calender in itself .. less talk more photo's

cheers butane