- Joined
- Sep 9, 2004
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I am sure this will get some good replies! I know where I am and I know 99.9% here are Toyota fans. I am a Toyota fan too.
Recently a buddy was looking at a Y60 Safari to import. I know Patrols so he was asking me a bunch of questions. Thing is I don't know Y60s real well since I have only been around and in them a few times. For you Aussie guys this is the GQ Patrols, I am sure you know that though.
So I go looking at a bunch of pics I have on my PC and start comparing the Y60 Patrol to the 80. We didn't get the Patrols in the USA but they are the main competitor to the Cruiser and always have been, worldwide.
So I am comparing the suspension side by side. And while I love my 80, Nissan sure does seem to have done a better job designing the suspension. Both trucks are a radius arm front and a parallel 4-link rear. So as far as geometry, handling, flex and so forth they can't be all that much different. Where I see the major differences are; Nissan has the radius arm mounts outboarded on the frame. They are also a pin with bushing type like a Ford has. That is at the frame side. On top of this the radius arms don't hang down like on an 80, they are basically inverted over the tie rod which is behind the axle. To me this seems and looks like a much better radius arm design. If nothing else it gives way more ground clearance. Seems to me you could also cut off the frame side mount and rotate it however you like to deal with lift and caster or pinion angle issues. On the rear the lower control arms are also outboarded on the frame. Otherwise they are the same as an 80. What that does though is give much better ground clearance and nothing to hang up on. As far as the rear uppers, basically the same as an 80. Both trucks the panhard set up is virtually the same.
On top of this the Patrol has a flat belly from the factory. Combine that with the lack of suspension hanging low and you have a much better set up. Nissan went one step farther too. They put the rear shocks behind the axle. As most people know who wheel their 80's, that is much better.
Any ways, what do you think about all this? Am I just tripping in thinking the Patrol is much better as far as the set up and design of the suspension? I can post pics of the Patrol set up if anybody is interested.
Cheers
Recently a buddy was looking at a Y60 Safari to import. I know Patrols so he was asking me a bunch of questions. Thing is I don't know Y60s real well since I have only been around and in them a few times. For you Aussie guys this is the GQ Patrols, I am sure you know that though.
So I go looking at a bunch of pics I have on my PC and start comparing the Y60 Patrol to the 80. We didn't get the Patrols in the USA but they are the main competitor to the Cruiser and always have been, worldwide.
So I am comparing the suspension side by side. And while I love my 80, Nissan sure does seem to have done a better job designing the suspension. Both trucks are a radius arm front and a parallel 4-link rear. So as far as geometry, handling, flex and so forth they can't be all that much different. Where I see the major differences are; Nissan has the radius arm mounts outboarded on the frame. They are also a pin with bushing type like a Ford has. That is at the frame side. On top of this the radius arms don't hang down like on an 80, they are basically inverted over the tie rod which is behind the axle. To me this seems and looks like a much better radius arm design. If nothing else it gives way more ground clearance. Seems to me you could also cut off the frame side mount and rotate it however you like to deal with lift and caster or pinion angle issues. On the rear the lower control arms are also outboarded on the frame. Otherwise they are the same as an 80. What that does though is give much better ground clearance and nothing to hang up on. As far as the rear uppers, basically the same as an 80. Both trucks the panhard set up is virtually the same.
On top of this the Patrol has a flat belly from the factory. Combine that with the lack of suspension hanging low and you have a much better set up. Nissan went one step farther too. They put the rear shocks behind the axle. As most people know who wheel their 80's, that is much better.
Any ways, what do you think about all this? Am I just tripping in thinking the Patrol is much better as far as the set up and design of the suspension? I can post pics of the Patrol set up if anybody is interested.
Cheers
.
