Lifted 200s: CV angles
- Thread starter THEROK
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Atwalz
Civil Engineer
On my tundra CV axles lasted about 90K miles which has about 3" lifted and part time 4x4. I explored the cv axles options for that and not much choices in the after market. There is RCV axle but very expensive. They currently dont have axle design figured out for new LC. CV axle design is a good one on LC and only boots become issue on lifted trucks. Did you do a front differential spacer kit to compensate for lift?
THEROCK: I suggest you do a search on the subject of CV breakages in this forum and Lcool.
Cons: Very slight reduction in diff ground clearance (25mm). This is obviously negated by lift and bigger tires anyway.
Pros: Huge improvement in CV angles therefore obviously less stress on shafts, cvs etc.
Cons: Very slight reduction in diff ground clearance (25mm). This is obviously negated by lift and bigger tires anyway.
Pros: Huge improvement in CV angles therefore obviously less stress on shafts, cvs etc.
I made my own kit following the instructions compiled by Steve and to which a link was included in his post.
I note this link is no longer working. I have a copy however so if you send me a PM with your email address I will send you back a pdf of the instructions to assembe and install the kit.
Its no big task to put together and install. A dead blind man could follow the instructions. Cost me bugger-all. Maybe $70 bucks all up. I used T3 engineering grade aluminum for the packers and had my local sheet metal company cut me the bits up and drill them. However if you are not so inclined they are readily available on Ebay now. I think maybe Slee offers them too.
I note this link is no longer working. I have a copy however so if you send me a PM with your email address I will send you back a pdf of the instructions to assembe and install the kit.
Its no big task to put together and install. A dead blind man could follow the instructions. Cost me bugger-all. Maybe $70 bucks all up. I used T3 engineering grade aluminum for the packers and had my local sheet metal company cut me the bits up and drill them. However if you are not so inclined they are readily available on Ebay now. I think maybe Slee offers them too.
I'm not yet, but it's on the list for sure.
I doubt you'd be a ginea pig but in any event the kit offered on Ebay looks like good gear. They are only packers afterall - not exactly hi tech - and all you are doing is reducing the shaft/CV angles back to something closer to factory.
I believe there are more than a few up there in the US with DDs and certainly plenty of us down under.
I'd think perhaps the modification is more important to owners who do a fair bit of off road wheeling and who subsequently have lifted rigs. The CV breakages to my knowledge have almost all been associated with lifted rigs.
The obvious (although not yet proven) culprit appears to be the massive power and torque of the engines fighting against the excessive Atrac braking system which freezes a free spinning left front wheel. Combined this characteristic with a worn, stressed and weakened cv joint - perhaps due to the extended travel of the shafts caused by the body lift - and an inexpensive diff drop begins to make a lot of sense. My imperfect understanding is that reducing the angle of the drive shafts allows the shaft splines to mesh further down into the CV tulip - to something close to factory angle depth.
An alternative solution are diff lockers - but these are much more expensive. Lockers do not improve the drive shaft angles or necessarily eliminate spline/bearing wear but do increase the capablility of the cruiser immensely. The relevant side benefit however is that they will reduce cv breakage risk since the Atrac system is temporarily disabled - no differential wheel spin across an axle. If you go down this road I'd recomend E-Lockers. Absolutely brilliant gear.
Good luck.
I believe there are more than a few up there in the US with DDs and certainly plenty of us down under.
I'd think perhaps the modification is more important to owners who do a fair bit of off road wheeling and who subsequently have lifted rigs. The CV breakages to my knowledge have almost all been associated with lifted rigs.
The obvious (although not yet proven) culprit appears to be the massive power and torque of the engines fighting against the excessive Atrac braking system which freezes a free spinning left front wheel. Combined this characteristic with a worn, stressed and weakened cv joint - perhaps due to the extended travel of the shafts caused by the body lift - and an inexpensive diff drop begins to make a lot of sense. My imperfect understanding is that reducing the angle of the drive shafts allows the shaft splines to mesh further down into the CV tulip - to something close to factory angle depth.
An alternative solution are diff lockers - but these are much more expensive. Lockers do not improve the drive shaft angles or necessarily eliminate spline/bearing wear but do increase the capablility of the cruiser immensely. The relevant side benefit however is that they will reduce cv breakage risk since the Atrac system is temporarily disabled - no differential wheel spin across an axle. If you go down this road I'd recomend E-Lockers. Absolutely brilliant gear.
Good luck.
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That eBay kit looks legit out of AU? Probably where I'll get mine given the lack of options.
- Thread starter
- #16
Bill - tremendous input as usual.
steen -
I emailed that ebay aus seller and if someone told me to make a bet, i'd be fairly certain it'll fit our US 200s just fine, but though they state in ad it'll fit ALL 200s, 1:1, they retracted a bit (i.e. need to verify myself aka guinea it).
based on this premise alone (not fully vetting their product), i'm not prepared to spend $200+ on their kit ($60 or so shipping alone).
steen -
I emailed that ebay aus seller and if someone told me to make a bet, i'd be fairly certain it'll fit our US 200s just fine, but though they state in ad it'll fit ALL 200s, 1:1, they retracted a bit (i.e. need to verify myself aka guinea it).
based on this premise alone (not fully vetting their product), i'm not prepared to spend $200+ on their kit ($60 or so shipping alone).
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