[landtank]

Originally Posted by FJBen

I'm pretty sure that X-link is installed with factory arms.

I know of a few homebrew installs that do.

from the picture they don't look like stock arms to me. But I'm not up on this mod either.

[alkaline747trio]

It does look like the front bushing sits higher up on the axle than stock doesn't it, Rick.

[FJBen]

The one thing I like about this setup is the fact that you can "pin-it" and have it drive completely stock. If you could get flex and then stock performance...well it doesn't sound to bad.

A 3-link is a bit more work than this, and potential for some problems if not setup ie geometry right.

The negatives are the the look/clearance, housing mods and who knows what else, oh arms if those are seperate.

[Tapage]

Mmm .. new hi luz SAS .. ! thought hey use the 8" hi pinion ..

[Walking Eagle]

Originally Posted by FJBen

btw: if anyone can get an X-link into the US, I'd test it out

call them - Dobbin Eng. not ATS - I contacted them about it and they were very willing to sell to me - don't know what the shipping cost would be like, the $$ US wasn't to bad either - less than a set of Slee arms anyway. My dog ended up having a surgery that would have paid for this mod, so I didn't pursue it further.


There is no need for the caster correction bushing ATS is using if you use the x-link as you set the caster when you weld the front bushing mount on.

As far as I know, it uses the stock arms. Some that have high lifts (6"+) and have done their own homebrew versions use stock arms flipped on top. It's a sound design, and allows more articulation without creating some of the issues that a 3 or 4 link will.

[landtank]

Now that I went to the Dobbin site I can see that it uses stock arms. The panhard bracket on the left side through me.

[ats4x4dotcom]

Originally Posted by FJBen

That second set of arms is reminding me of the Early Bronco arms slightly.

Could you just run some longer arms to help with the flex? I"m assuming that would help you gain some flex without completely redesigning the suspension.

I agree a good spring/shock combo is first. Without a spring that can handle the droop/stuff it's just not going to work as good.

We have tested arms 200mm[8"] longer with standard bushes, moving the chassis mount backward, and found we gained an extra 7" of free travel by doing this.

So if we can make longer arms, and use the X link as an example, but seperate per side, and "control" the movement, we should be able to use the extra length, without the down sides of a 4 link, because the amount of flex is more important in the front, than the amount of "travel" and with alot of 4 or 3 links, they tend to flex more before the rear does, which is nomrally the opposite of what you require.

We have also played with longer rear lower arms, which free the rear up as well, and improve rear traction or "squat" to push the tyre into the ground.

From all acounts, the x link drives in between standard set up and 4 link, for sway, though I have not driven a vehicle with this set up, and would be hesitant to got to a single front mounting to keep the diff from dissapearing out the back while on the road.

The hilux pictured has a 80 front housing and steering box to convert it to SAS.

[ats4x4dotcom]

Originally Posted by Walking Eagle

call them - Dobbin Eng. not ATS - I contacted them about it and they were very willing to sell to me -

Thats correct, x - link isnt something we would supply, we have only looked at the concept, as part of our plan for "rooby", not to try, or fit one, and we havent tried one, to say we want to sell them, at this stage.

[concretejungle]

I was going to ask about sway. In the pic provided, it appears to be in the process of a nose dive? are you worried about that at all?

[ats4x4dotcom]

Originally Posted by concretejungle

I was going to ask about sway. In the pic provided, it appears to be in the process of a nose dive? are you worried about that at all?

The first pic of that hilux woth SAS shows it leaning, and spinning the inside front tyre, yet it hasnt really lent on the outside tyre at the front, as the sidewall isn really laying over, like it should, as it transfers load to the outside, whilst turning.

This says to me the front shock, and /or sway bar arent working as well as they could be, which may, or may not also be related to the x link set up.

We tend to set up with more castor, and neg camber, to aid turn in, and tyre wear, like my patrol [very similar front end set up to 80] which we will also do with "rooby". In the pic below, running 12 psi in the 37"s, it still turns in like it should, and doesnt have the tyre "tuck under" or promote under steer, but if the shcok/coil/sway bar isnt up to the extra force you can submit, by better grip/turn in, then the vehicle leans more to go with it.

[lockee]

Went and visited today.

Looking good.

37's look just right.

Chrome rims are....

My visiting Japanese Suspension man didn't see the jump over the railway line was coming up.

[ats4x4dotcom]

That would explain why he didnt want me to take him for a ride around the block in vehicle No 2 yesterday

[ats4x4dotcom]

Well, been doing some work on ROOBY, got the short bus bar on, and the slidersteps, winch will be added this week.



slidersteps are my design we do for afew models, more user friendly than sliders, but same protection





the slidersteps bolt on with u bolts at the rear, and with a weld on plate and studs/nuts on the front.

We also fitted the cup holder, and dvd/fm/cd player this week and icon 400 pro UHF



And the big news is,

the vehicle mascot has been added to the front now



And the rear storage frame is started, for the container and 60 lt engel to fit, along with a 55 lt water tank and pump




And I will details the hand brake material and dog bone mods we do as well this week.

[pint]

Looking good!

[ats4x4dotcom]

We made the slidersteps with a slide in second step on the passenger side, to make getting in and out easier for the minister for war and finance, who has some medical issues from diabetes, and transplant medication, so we can not compromise ability of the vehicle by losing to much height.

The step just slides out, and I put it in the car, once Julie has boarded the "rooby express"

[FirstToy]

that is very cool. i need something like that for my minister-ess how does it hook onto the slider?

[ats4x4dotcom]

Originally Posted by FirstToy

that is very cool. i need something like that for my minister-ess how does it hook onto the slider?

We plasma cut 2 holes for some 1" pipe to go flush once welded and ground, with the outside pipe, so it made 2 x 1" holes for the 2 bits of 3/4" rod tha step is based on to slide straight into these holes, and they are clear out the back, so I can push anything that gets in there, out.

Made for a nice fit, once powdercoated on both surfaces.

[landtank]

I gave my wife a plastic fold-able stool with a rope attached to it. She climbs in and pulls it in behind her. Cost $12.00, doesn't rust and auto retracts.

[Beowulf]

Originally Posted by landtank

I gave my wife a plastic fold-able stool with a rope attached to it.

Pics please.

-B-

[cruiserdan]

Originally Posted by ats4x4dotcom

.. to make getting in and out easier for the minister for war and finance,

Ya gotta do what ya gotta do.....

[ats4x4dotcom]

Well, been burning some midnight oil on it starting at 6am to do some before work yesterday, and working on it until 1 30 am this morning, went home got a couple of hours sleep, and back at it at 630 am this morning again, and got plasma rope, SLEE fairlead, and winch on to the short bus bar, dual battery clamp we made for for the 880 cca 235 a/h 2nd battery, as well as wired in fridge, fitted snorkel during lunch today, etc etc.

24 hrs to leaving for its maiden voyage, so when my hands are clean, and I have had enough coffee to keep the camera still, will get some more shots, and details.

[FJBen]

Originally Posted by ats4x4dotcom

Well, been burning some midnight oil on it starting at 6am to do some before work yesterday, and working on it until 1 30 am this morning, went home got a couple of hours sleep, and back at it at 630 am this morning again, and got plasma rope, SLEE fairlead, and winch on to the short bus bar, dual battery clamp we made for for the 880 cca 235 a/h 2nd battery, as well as wired in fridge, fitted snorkel during lunch today, etc etc.

24 hrs to leaving for its maiden voyage, so when my hands are clean, and I have had enough coffee to keep the camera still, will get some more shots, and details.

updates?

[ats4x4dotcom]

Working on it right now, and to get some pics, so will update it in next 24 hrs.

Had to unload it, clean it, and its been 2 days public holiday while I was away in it, and waiting for some pics back from people who were on the trip with me as well.

[sleeoffroad]

The bigger questions is did the ShortBus bumper kiss a kangaroo?

[FJBen]

nice, we need some FLEX pics

[Tapage]

Originally Posted by FJBen

nice, we need some FLEX pics

X2 and a action video .. high mud standars !

[ats4x4dotcom]

Originally Posted by sleeoffroad

The bigger questions is did the ShortBus bumper kiss a kangaroo?

Not yet, but we will try and chase one down soon

[ats4x4dotcom]

OK, we got the front axle moved forward, to give us some more room in the front fender, where the mud flap mounts, using these brackets we made, which have a nib to fill the void of the hole in the original chassis bracket.



And here is a pic once installed and welded in place.



Also, some ramp shots as requestsd, we left sway bars on,a nd tried it as is, so we can document from where we are now, to where we end up as we make each mod.





We also need to amke a little room for the rear tyres when stuffed in the fender, as they just touch on the mudflap, but when we fit the SLEE rear bar and wheel carrier, the mudflaps will get modded then.



We also added a 235 amp/hr 800cca 2nd battery, designed for motorhomes, so we have plenty of fridge running power in reserve.



And we used a redarc solenoid to keep it charged, and also a switch, so we can link them as one battery when required.



And I fitted my trusty GPS in an easy to access place, so i can reach the buttons without taking a hand off the wheel, and can look at the screen without looking to far away from the road



And rear storage is operational, and now ready to be completed properly, we have water tank with surflo pump, and hose out the back to backfill the tank, and to dispense water out the nozzle, and it fits the 60lt engel, 300w invertor, and we are making a nice little table for the tailgate, which will be right angle double size when folded out.

[toyman317]

Too cool!!!

[ats4x4dotcom]

OK, ROOBY has now got the sliver fender colored in, to match the rest of the car, and we have added some more electrical items, and jet hot coated extractors and 3" system, preparing for the supercharger, and the diff gears are here, so i will do a diff build up inc solid spacers detail as we put in the diffs, ratio change, and how to make the front diff stronger, if you dont want to put in a locker.

I had to do suspension on a 200 sahara with KDSS this week, starting from scratch, so apart from go to the painters, and the exhaust place I didnt get to touch ROOBY.

My rear slee tube bar and carrier should be here by the time the diffs are done, so we can get that done next, 2 weeks left before its week away on drive 4 life.

pics coming.

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