Extended link pins

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

There is no optimum length. It all depends on your shock length.

As I said before, look in my rig build as it has a thorough write up with all my findings and how I made mine.

Cheers Andrew

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

So you have looked at these?

http://www.superiorengineering.com.a...10_923_100_915

No relation except Superior supplied the ones on my 150. Yes you could easily make them up if you are handy with a welder. Iam. I am also lazy and just had them fitted when the suspension was done.

I was surprised that the link wasn't something that was offered with the lift as an option and was told that almost no one ever asks for it. Putting the bar back where it should be softens the ride a bit but also helps flex. It also takes some load off the sway bar mount rubbers. To work out how much to extend look at a standard rear suspension though hopefully one that hasn't sagged and check the position and angle of the sway bar. That's what you are after.

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

Wow a lot of helpful info to take on board. Thanks to all.
I will start started looking under Prados and FJ Cruisers in shopping centre car parks to measure up link pins and the position of swaybars. I wonder what the owners will say if they come back to their vehicle and see this shady looking character with vernier calipers and a tape measure crouched by their back wheel. If you don't hear from me for a while you will know I am either in jail or in hospital.
The Superior Engineering catalogue has everything covered but costly. I started off with a strong desire to make this a do it myself project using only the tools I have on hand. I have a hacksaw, a 125mm angle grinder, a file, a set of metric taps and dies and the usual common hand tools and spanners. I also want to keep cost way down. Since starting this thread I mentioned my plan to make extended link pins to a mate of mine who races a huge Jaguar v12 coupe as I thought he would know about swaybars and link pins. As well as preparing his car he also builds race cars for other owners.After a 20 min discussion and a look under my Prado his opinion was much the same as the suggestions you have given me. The project is worthwhile even if the only benefit is better alignment of the link bushes and realigning of the swaybar so as to eliminate any binding and premature wear of the bushesthat may occur. I would at least get a smoother ride and longer life of the bushes. As I tried to explain to him what I of course think is my brilliant way to extend the links his eyes glazed over. His comments on my project "Just bring it around to my race car workshop". I do have to get the locations of the swaybar and link pin of a standard Prado for him.Again this was suggested to me in your post So as I said your posts are very much the same as what he said. This conformation of in put from experienced people has been great. I now have a starting point and the ultimate of low costs. A mate who will do it for nothing. Well I won't be wearing my tools out but part of me still thinks my plan of how to extend the link pins would work using only the tools I have onhand. I will post the measurements once I have them. After I pick up my extended link pins I will post some photos.

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

Here is one of the link pins that came in my new kit from Jason, sitting next to the standard one.

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

I also thought about taking some photos of stock prados (wheels,suspension,links) to see what the original angle was.
1 person risking their life is enough so if you end up getting some pics/measurements could you post them here?

Wow a lot of helpful info to take on board. Thanks to all.
I will start started looking under Prados and FJ Cruisers in shopping centre car parks to measure up link pins and the position of swaybars. I wonder what the owners will say if they come back to their vehicle and see this shady looking character with vernier calipers and a tape measure crouched by their back wheel. If you don't hear from me for a while you will know I am either in jail or in hospital.
The Superior Engineering catalogue has everything covered but costly. I started off with a strong desire to make this a do it myself project using only the tools I have on hand. I have a hacksaw, a 125mm angle grinder, a file, a set of metric taps and dies and the usual common hand tools and spanners. I also want to keep cost way down. Since starting this thread I mentioned my plan to make extended link pins to a mate of mine who races a huge Jaguar v12 coupe as I thought he would know about swaybars and link pins. As well as preparing his car he also builds race cars for other owners.After a 20 min discussion and a look under my Prado his opinion was much the same as the suggestions you have given me. The project is worthwhile even if the only benefit is better alignment of the link bushes and realigning of the swaybar so as to eliminate any binding and premature wear of the bushesthat may occur. I would at least get a smoother ride and longer life of the bushes. As I tried to explain to him what I of course think is my brilliant way to extend the links his eyes glazed over. His comments on my project "Just bring it around to my race car workshop". I do have to get the locations of the swaybar and link pin of a standard Prado for him.Again this was suggested to me in your post So as I said your posts are very much the same as what he said. This conformation of in put from experienced people has been great. I now have a starting point and the ultimate of low costs. A mate who will do it for nothing. Well I won't be wearing my tools out but part of me still thinks my plan of how to extend the link pins would work using only the tools I have onhand. I will post the measurements once I have them. After I pick up my extended link pins I will post some photos.

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

Saturday went to the Local Toyo dealer. They had a good looking 120 on a stand. Yes I could take measurements. Cool it's at the right height so I don't have to get on the ground. First peak and it just did not look right. It's an air bag model! So I cruise the car park across the road and there it is a std height 120 on level concrete.
Center of lower link bush to ground Std 120 385mm
My 120 440mm
I would expect some sag and a difference of 40 to 45mm is a likely resultnot 55mm. I sit beside the two vehicles probably on CCTV. Being Saturday they probably don't read the CCTV till Monday. Surely they would not mistake a tape measure and a Vernier calipers for ?? I try to figure this seemingly crazy result out. I idly read his tyres as I think maybe one vehicle is over or under inflated or both. Then I see 265 65 17 and realize mine is 265 70 17. Therefore while this result is comprised by a combination of these factors it is understandable. At a guess it is about 10mm in excess.
I measure the wheel arch to centre of rear axle. Std 120 530mm
My 120 580mm
I measured all these distances several times. The results are within a range of 45mm to 50mm. A steel tape and a ruler are not going to give exact readings but I am satisfied with a difference of 45mm. I close my book on these measurements for my 120.
Now how does this 45mm relate to the link pin extended length? It will require a 45mm extension to move the swaybar ends to their original location relative to the ground. Going for too long an extension especially at full compression on the bump stops and full rebound could raise unforeseen detrimental issues where as too short is a safer plan. I am thinking that a 30mm extension will be about right.
Your suggestions please.

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

I think you are overthinking it kitbags.

AJ120's endlinks are 30mm longer, MDSimpsons are (at a guess) 15mm-20mm longer, I simply extended mine by 15mm but placing a nut below the bottom bush - all are running longer shocks and have no issues with handling.

Have a look at AJ120's (over-engineered) version and my (under-engineered) version for some ideas.

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

I think you are overthinking it kitbags.

AJ120's endlinks are 30mm longer, MDSimpsons are (at a guess) 15mm-20mm longer, I simply extended mine by 15mm but placing a nut below the bottom bush - all are running longer shocks and have no issues with handling.

Have a look at AJ120's (over-engineered) version and my (under-engineered) version for some ideas.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]10670[/ATTACH]

Could you take a photo of the link's angle? If it's not too much to ask?

I'm guessing you're running the 60004 shocks? What a great idea, the little shaft can be de-attached from the bush (just read that again and it sounds bit wrong but you know what i mean).

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

here is the best I can do - its raining now and the iphone camera is not the best...

this is with the rear sitting at around 815-820mm

not sure what you mean pjorek, the nut is simply spacing the end link down by sitting over the thread (if that makes sense)

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

here is the best I can do - its raining now and the iphone camera is not the best...
[ATTACH=CONFIG]10674[/ATTACH]
this is with the rear sitting at around 815-820mm

not sure what you mean pjorek, the nut is simply spacing the end link down by sitting over the thread (if that makes sense)

Thanks that helps a lot, my links hold similar angle so I'll leave it as it is

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

The alignment of the top link pin bush is incorrect when the suspension is raised. This bush on even a 2in lift is no longer sitting at right angles to the chassis bracket. On my Prado the top bush is at a noticeable angle being compressed at one side and lightly contacting its chassis mount on the other. This must cause premature wear and eventually failure of this bush. Corrugated roads and extreme articulation will hasten this. I refer to previous threads where the benefits of correcting this situation by extending the link pins are a better ride by eliminating binding.
The link pins need to be extended by that amount that gives correct alignment of this top bush.
Again threads mention that the length of this extension is a specific amount for the particular amount of lift a vehicle has. My Prado has a a 50mm lift so my first priority is to establish the link pin extension that restores correct alignment of this top bush to the original swaybar position. To do this I took measurements. My next step is to disconnect the lower link bushes. With the links in correct alignment, measure the new link length to the repositioned sway bar. This will I hope confirm my estimate of 30mm derived from my previous measurements.
The specific advice I have received on this subject has convinced me that this is the starting point to determine the specific amount of link pin extension that my particular vehicle needs.
I have looked at AJ120's excellent extended link pins. These adjustable length links could be fitted then the length simply adjusted until the top bush is correctly aligned then lock in that position.So simple it is brilliant.

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

Okay... have finally had a bit of time.

Have been doing a little looking in to these.

The ones i had for these are 127.5mm from the centre of the Ball Socket at the bottom up to the step on the link where the first washer sits.
The new ones i have are 160mm long using the same measurements.

I would like someone to be a Guinea pig on thees if someone is up for it. I will supply the parts for free if someone is willing to pay the $15.00 for an airbag to send them out.

All i ask for in return is some pics and feedback on clearances on them.

Regards, Jason.

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

Jason,
I can pick them up from you since I'm in Sydney and do a test fit with photos.

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

Any chance of trading the old ones for the new ones

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

Jason,

I have a 2" lift with original link pins so happy to assist with photos and data as well.

Hazza