IFS travel gain

[ats4x4dotcom]

instead of trying for quantity of inches, what about simply improving the quality of it? i4c4lo has the goods. I think he got more travel but not sure- that is not what he was aiming for. His strategy, I believe, is getting the maximum quality out of what he has.

Darren, I'm impressed w/ the new IFS setup- why the horizontal uniball? Interested to know the benefit compared to the vert. ones sold here in the USA.

amando's 100 in progress picture...

We have looked at this set up, ideally, with coil over, but needs a new top arm to do so, as it hits the coils at full droop. [looked at cnc alloy arms as well]

This could also fix the ball joint angle issue, with horizontal uniball, so articulation isnt limited, like with a vertical uniball, and they are easily maintainable, and swappable.

 

[bjowett]

How about keeping the stock torsion bars in place, and running Fox Air Shox in place of the stock dampers? They take big hits extremely well... always important, but even more so when you have travel on the short side.

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

which is only .6" more than a 'normal" shock.

You must have jealousy issues or something?

 

[uHu]

How about keeping the stock torsion bars in place, and running Fox Air Shox in place of the stock dampers? They take big hits extremely well... always important, but even more so when you have travel on the short side.

Sounds like AHC...

 

[FirstToy]

Darren,
Thanks for the info. Yes I can easily see how the space is too tight for coilovers on the 100.
The horizontal uniball is very interesting, thanks for the additional pix on that.

Maybe the front can be thought of in seperate parameters-
1. stockish or OME lifted w/ high quality "bottomless" feeling dampners - quality over quantity

2. additional travel + quality = full meal deal (custom install, a-arm, coilovers, etc)

After reading some thoughts by Christo, I am more apt to look to balanced suspension w/ quality dampning as I am not convinced additional IFS travel on a lightly modded 100 will give real world benefit... even if you got .3 inches or whatever, maybe the focus should be on quality?

Now, full meal deal is a different story where all bets off...

 

[DirtyHarry]

2. additional travel + quality = full meal deal (custom install, a-arm, coilovers, etc)

I don't even think coilovers are going to provide much additional travel because the CVs become the limiting factor. So you need longer axles or CVs that accept a higher angle, and if you get the longer axles you need wider fenders to allow the uptravel... it never ends!

I think that Amando is on the right track, the Stock Class desert racing teams are having remarkable results from using custom valved high end shocks with stock IFS. Not a cheap option but the ride quality is worth it.

 

[FirstToy]

Harry,
I think you are right. Amando really thinks things thru and goes for practical, real world upgrade benefits. The FOX seems to be a huge improvement according to him

 

[wngrog]

Are those Fox shocks a bolt on item or did he have to modify the mounting points? Anything else need modifying?

I would think that is a 10" shock, but I don't know. Anyone know?

 

[ats4x4dotcom]

You must have jealousy issues or something?

Simply stating data from your measurements, Im not trying to convince anyone here of anything.

Can you say the same?

 

[ats4x4dotcom]

Darren,
Thanks for the info. Yes I can easily see how the space is too tight for coilovers on the 100.
The horizontal uniball is very interesting, thanks for the additional pix on that.

Maybe the front can be thought of in seperate parameters-
1. stockish or OME lifted w/ high quality "bottomless" feeling dampners - quality over quantity

2. additional travel + quality = full meal deal (custom install, a-arm, coilovers, etc)

After reading some thoughts by Christo, I am more apt to look to balanced suspension w/ quality dampning as I am not convinced additional IFS travel on a lightly modded 100 will give real world benefit... even if you got .3 inches or whatever, maybe the focus should be on quality?

Now, full meal deal is a different story where all bets off...

Correct, and what we have done pretty much, our shocks we have worked on have the best valving, and best bushes to last in the front of a touring 100 ifs, which Christo has a set of on his truck at the moment.

If I was going Fox, I would go twin bypass adj, so they were easy to tune to suit the vehicle. triples would be overkill on such a short stroke, but having said that, and built shocks for the front of the 100, improving the Bilstein valving we use would be tiny, if any IMHO.

Ordering the Fox shox with the correct valving would also be hit and miss to begin with.

Also, the Fox would need to be correct length, or run a limiting strap to ensure the top ball joint cant over extend, as they snap off, when they do.

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

Simply stating data from your measurements, Im not trying to convince anyone here of anything.

Can you say the same?

Measure Shmeasure. So far there's been 3 folks with OME 100-shocked Cruisers that have compared their 100-shocked non-lowered bumpstopped setup to my N74L with 2" lowered stops and the unanimous decision is that I have a very notable advantage.

So, measure schmeasure.....take your 0.6" "spec" and ?????

 

[FirstToy]

Is it at all possible to leave Johns arse end out of this IFS thread, it seems it pops up in so many threads, lets try and keep this one to the IFS?

agreed
title of thread: ifs travel gain

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

agreed
title of thread: ifs travel gain

Grow up Toy! I have answered questions from another member. ATS (for whatever reason) continues to mislead members by playing a "measurement" game. He instigates and misleads real-world testing and results that have been found to be true by others who have compared.

As far as IFS improvements. Go for it. Some will benefit...though in the end...how much? For me...I'm just fine with the front of the 100. I don't jump dunes and run through the desert at 70MPH. The more I try extreme lines the more I'm convinced the 100 is 98% the wheeler an 80 is.

For four-wheeling capability you have a real simple mod with huge benefits that'll far outweight a tiny travel or dampening difference up front. We all should fix our rears FIRST. If we do that we'll be really patient on fixing the front. I won't say "I told you so".

I will say that I could have never done this obstacle successfully without longer than 100 travel shocks. I'd a been on my side. Show me some similar shots from the Rubicon Trail? Not just big rocks....like this where your slider keeps you from rolling over in insane climbs? I'd luv to see them!
http://shottscruisers.smugmug.com/gallery/1928333
(I know of only two 80's who have ever even tried this line)
(And no extra inch front travel's a gonna help ya here...the front wheels up 5')

 

[DirtyHarry]

As far as IFS improvements. Go for it. Some will benefit...though in the end...how much? For me...I'm just fine with the front of the 100. I don't jump dunes and run through the desert at 70MPH.

Then I guess this thread doesn't apply to you. Added travel or damping in the front would be a great addition at speed for the 100 series owners on this site who use their vehicles to travel down washboard and unimproved roads... whether they have L shocks or not.

I think that dual shocks on the front would likely be overkill, plus packaging would be difficult. A single remote reservoir shock should provide all the damping necessary for the short stroke. Looking on Fox's site it looks like 10" (9.93 actually) is the shortest stroke Nolen. Not sure what Bilstein, Sway-A-Way, or King offer.

I wonder if you could fit a set of air bumps up front...

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

Then I guess this thread doesn't apply to you. Added travel or damping in the front would be a great addition at speed for the 100 series owners on this site who use their vehicles to travel down washboard and unimproved roads... whether they have L shocks or not.

#1...it applies to me because I own a 100. IF...IF...somebody releases a revised front suspension to add lift height and/or increase travel WITHOUT compromising ride quality or reliability then I'll consider.

And yes...I agree with you on benefits for other driver's needs.

My point is that some members here are simply looking for added off-road capability benefits. Waiting for some IFS mod that offers little is a waste when the N74L mod offers such an increase in capability....and it's here today...no waiting.

 

[calamaridog]

I've seen top stem mount shocks from KING and Walker Evans Racing both. The rear of the newer Tacoma and FJC are top stem mount but I'm not sure if they are the same size stem as the 100 series.

As I've said before, if you have cash in hand, you can be the first to drop your truck at one of these shops and have some shocks made up that will bolt in.

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

I've seen top stem mount shocks from KING and Walker Evans Racing both. The rear of the newer Tacoma and FJC are top stem mount but I'm not sure if they are the same size stem as the 100 series.

As I've said before, if you have cash in hand, you can be the first to drop your truck at one of these shops and have some shocks made up that will bolt in.

Question: IF someone sent them a OME 100 shock, couldn't they make a bolt in replacement WITHOUT having the truck there? It would be nice to geta front shock that's a little more on the stiff (dampened?) side.

???

 

[ats4x4dotcom]

Then I guess this thread doesn't apply to you. .

And another thread that mr shotts has turned against himself.......

the tape measure doesnt lie John, and is certainly more respected in its accuracy than your scuttlebutt and heresay.....

No one said it didnt add more droop, its just that you spaced down the compressed side as well, so you dont actually have more travel [well, .6"] than you did.

We all get it, its time you did.......

 

[ats4x4dotcom]

Question:It would be nice to geta front shock that's a little more on the stiff (dampened?) side.

???

Christo has some of ours now which are.

 

[wngrog]

#1...it applies to me because I own a 100. IF...IF...somebody releases a revised front suspension to add lift height and/or increase travel WITHOUT compromising ride quality or reliability then I'll consider.

And yes...I agree with you on benefits for other driver's needs.

My point is that some members here are simply looking for added off-road capability benefits. Waiting for some IFS mod that offers little is a waste when the N74L mod offers such an increase in capability....and it's here today...no waiting.

Damnit man, would you STOP IT with this s***?