New here. BJ73 curiosity (1 Viewer)

[Bleizbreizh]

Hi, First post.

Just bought my first Landcruiser. Its a 1988 BJ73 in reasonable and tidy condition, drives well and has a sweet engine that someone has added a turbo.

Looking over it I noticed a curious modification to the front spring shackles. Each inner shackle has a piece of angle bolted too it and between them is a flat blade of steel. The effect is to tie both front springs together: as the spring shackle swings under spring load it is forcing the shackle on the opposite side spring to move in the same direction

I can't think of any advantage to this at all. Any ideas?

 

[peterb]

BadBreath
Welcome to 'Mud! It would assist us in helping you if you would post a picture of the front shackles of your truck.
Thanks
Peter

 

[Bleizbreizh]

I forgot to take any photos and dont have the cruiser with me but in this pic you can just see the angle on the sides of the shackles and out of sight at the top is a flat strap of steel that connects the two. Hope that makes sense

 

[coldtaco]

is this added piece of steel just on the shackle? Looks like someone who thought he knows something thought this was a good idea for what ever reason? Or someone talked him into it?

 

[cruiserpilot]

Hi, First post.

Just bought my first Landcruiser. Its a 1988 BJ73 in reasonable and tidy condition, drives well and has a sweet engine that someone has added a turbo.

Looking over it I noticed a curious modification to the front spring shackles. Each inner shackle has a piece of angle bolted too it and between them is a flat blade of steel. The effect is to tie both front springs together: as the spring shackle swings under spring load it is forcing the shackle on the opposite side spring to move in the same direction

I can't think of any advantage to this at all. Any ideas?

I'm curious, please post a couple of better pics.

 

[hoser]

Perhaps shackle reversal?

 

[crikeymike]

Maybe it was part of a towing system that has since been removed, and they were pulling between both springs? Like a flat-tow system, but custom made.

 

[roscoFJ73]

Needs a better pic , but if its what I think it is, I would be out with the angle grinder straight away. There is no logical reason to tie 2 leaf springs together. I suspect they were (mistakingly) trying to fix a problem.

 

[AirheadNut]

Some sort of home-brew anti sway bar perhaps?

 

[Bleizbreizh]

is this added piece of steel just on the shackle? Looks like someone who thought he knows something thought this was a good idea for what ever reason? Or someone talked him into it?

Yes, it is a bit of steel probably about 2 1/2 inches wide and 1/4 inch thick that goes from shackle to shackle and is not attached to the chassis in any way

 

[Bleizbreizh]

I'm curious, please post a couple of better pics.

It will be a few weeks before I get back to the truck but will post a pic when I do! Kicking myself for not taking one when I had the chance

 

[Bleizbreizh]

Some sort of home-brew anti sway bar perhaps?

I wondered this but can't see that it would actually work. It's been on there a lot of years but I think that I will be taking it off as my first job

 

[Uzjgaspowered]

We need pictures of the whole truck including the interior !!!!

 

[hotgemini]

The described mod used to be a commercial product from some mob in Australia in the 80s, functions as a swaybar. Does drive better on the road by third hand reports, but you wouldn't see me fitting it in a hurry.

 

[roscoFJ73]

Its hard to see how it could work for long. The torque on the suspension shackles trying moving independently would crack the welds.

 

[Bleizbreizh]

Meanwhile, the whole truck

 

[Bleizbreizh]

Finally got back and took a photo! Looks easy enough to unbolt, a task for when the rain stops

 

[Delancy]

Pretty damn crafty for a home brew sway bar, however janky it may look.

Probably take longer to unbolt the shackle than it will to cut it off with grinder or plasma.

 

[Bleizbreizh]

While I am back on the laptop, here is a photo of the turbo set up. Done a long time ago by the looks of it and maybe exhaust manifold turned upside down? I would be interested in any opinions...

 

[coldtaco]

Sure is creative