Whitey
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Hey all,
There have been numerous reports of the 120 series front factory sway bar links failing and tearing CV boots, so I’ve been interested in making a pair of after-market front sway bar links that are stronger, and that also utilise heim joints.
I’ve managed to find a local solution using Roadsafe components, and here is my recipe;
Step 1: Purchase x2 sets of LH rear GU Patrol adjustable links part# STB8833ET. The components in one set will look like this;
Step 2: Cut one connecting rod into three pieces as in the photo below. The threaded rod sections should end up being 85mm long. These two threaded sections form the new connecting rods for the front links.
Step 3: Depending on the quality of the machining, you will likely need to run the thread out near the cut on both 85mm long threaded rods so the 14mm nuts go back on the thread easily.
Step 4: Purchase four new bolts, all M12, two are 55mm long (to connect to sway bar), two are 70mm long (to connect to hub arm), as in the photo below. Also get x4 M12 locnuts.
Step 5: The misalignment spacers need to be machined on the lathe, and their ID must be increased from M10 out to M12 so they can take an M12 bolt.
Step 6: Take an 85mm threaded rod, two of the M14 nuts which come in the STB8833ET kit, two heim joints, one 55mm M12 bolt and one 70mm M12 bolt, two M12 locnuts, and four M12 spacers, and a new link can be assembled as below.
Step 7: Put rubber boots (M14 to take 14mm OD on the spacer) over the heims and punch a hole for the grease nipple. Make sure you warm the boot up first in some hot water so it stretches easily. Rubber boots are on ebay at http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Sealing-B...567&rmvSB=true
Step 8: Make sure the heims are at 90 degrees to each other, and set the center to center distance at 140mm to match the factory length. Don’t forget to add a dab of loctite for the 14mm nuts so they don’t ever back off.
Step 9: Put them on the Prado.
All up the final cost was around $240 (x2 STB8833ET = $158, x4 boots = $37.60, x4 bolts and nuts = $10, machining = $30).
I also installed some sway bar relocation blocks to take some of the load off the links at full droop.
Best
Mark
There have been numerous reports of the 120 series front factory sway bar links failing and tearing CV boots, so I’ve been interested in making a pair of after-market front sway bar links that are stronger, and that also utilise heim joints.
I’ve managed to find a local solution using Roadsafe components, and here is my recipe;
Step 1: Purchase x2 sets of LH rear GU Patrol adjustable links part# STB8833ET. The components in one set will look like this;
Step 2: Cut one connecting rod into three pieces as in the photo below. The threaded rod sections should end up being 85mm long. These two threaded sections form the new connecting rods for the front links.
Step 3: Depending on the quality of the machining, you will likely need to run the thread out near the cut on both 85mm long threaded rods so the 14mm nuts go back on the thread easily.
Step 4: Purchase four new bolts, all M12, two are 55mm long (to connect to sway bar), two are 70mm long (to connect to hub arm), as in the photo below. Also get x4 M12 locnuts.
Step 5: The misalignment spacers need to be machined on the lathe, and their ID must be increased from M10 out to M12 so they can take an M12 bolt.
Step 6: Take an 85mm threaded rod, two of the M14 nuts which come in the STB8833ET kit, two heim joints, one 55mm M12 bolt and one 70mm M12 bolt, two M12 locnuts, and four M12 spacers, and a new link can be assembled as below.
Step 7: Put rubber boots (M14 to take 14mm OD on the spacer) over the heims and punch a hole for the grease nipple. Make sure you warm the boot up first in some hot water so it stretches easily. Rubber boots are on ebay at http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Sealing-B...567&rmvSB=true
Step 8: Make sure the heims are at 90 degrees to each other, and set the center to center distance at 140mm to match the factory length. Don’t forget to add a dab of loctite for the 14mm nuts so they don’t ever back off.
Step 9: Put them on the Prado.
All up the final cost was around $240 (x2 STB8833ET = $158, x4 boots = $37.60, x4 bolts and nuts = $10, machining = $30).
I also installed some sway bar relocation blocks to take some of the load off the links at full droop.
Best
Mark