Rear lower control arms

[jonheld]

So the Metal Tech lower control arms came in while I was away for work. I had a chance to look and caress them last night and realized that they are adjustable. So what is the correct length from eyelet center to eyelet center for a stock 80 (and yes I would measure mine if they weren't already bent) and how does it differ from a 4" lifted truck?

 

[landtank]

Got a private message from Jon as to what the stock length measurement is and what the length would be for 4".

Amazing!

 

[jonheld]

Got a chance to mount up the Metal Tech arms yesterday. Pretty impressive product. We'll see how they hold up on the rocks, but for now it's nice to know that my rear axle is pointed it the right direction.

Oh, and BTW, if anyone ever needs the information, the length of the stock arms is 27 1/2" from bolt center to bolt center. Give or take an 1/8.

 

[Overland Tailor]

Jon,

Thanks for sharing the information. That will help if I try a cut and sleeve...

Best,

John


...half a turn before it breaks

 

[Box Rocket]

Looking at doing a cut-n-sleeve on my rear arms and I'm considering adding a bit of length as well. I've probably got somewhere in the 4-5" lift range with OME J's and 1.5" spacers. Can anyone give me an idea what the proper length should be for pinion angle?

 

[baldilocks]

Looking at doing a cut-n-sleeve on my rear arms and I'm considering adding a bit of length as well. I've probably got somewhere in the 4-5" lift range with OME J's and 1.5" spacers. Can anyone give me an idea what the proper length should be for pinion angle?

Do you have adjustable at the lower position only? I installed adjustable uppers as well and used the lowers to maintain wheel base and the uppers for pinion angle.
I have J's and a 1" spacer in front and 863 with 30mm spacer in the rear. My lowers are set at 27.75" and can't remember exactly how long I set the uppers.
I used the Pythagorean theorem to figure this out. Honestly, I was not super concerned about pinion angle due to the fact I never really had rear shaft vibration any way so I set the uppers length as a percentage of the amount I extended the lowers and then minuses 1/16". It's amazing how much 1/16" can affect pinion angle. I hope my rambling makes sense and helps.

 

[Box Rocket]

I don't have adjustable uppers (yet) but I do have a set of spare uppers that will get modded into adjustable ones too. For now I'd like to correct what I can with the lowers.

 

[baldilocks]

Then it looks like it may be a trial and error process because, as you know, all Landcruisers have their own idiosyncrasies. I would start of with a small amount like 1/8" longer. As I mentioned before, one thing I noticed was that a small change to the lower arms renders significant rotational movement of the pinion.

 

[newtomelx]

I extended mine by 3/8" for my 4" lift (Slee mediums) 10mm trim packer in front and it has worked great for my LX as it has re-centered the rear axle in the wheel opening!
Hope this helps!

 

[Box Rocket]

Thanks. I figured it wasn't going to take much.

 

[george_tlc]

Years ago, a friend modeled the rear suspension of the 80 and we came out at around 1/4" longer on the LCA for a nominal 4" lift. Unlike the front end that rotates the pinion a lot when lifted due to the single arms, the rear upper/lower links work quite well to keep the pinion angle fairly constant through the working range of the rear suspension. That minimal pinion angle change is also why the rears of the 80 rarely have vibration issues due to lifting them.

cheers,
george.

 

[inkpot]

If you may ever consider running 37's in the future, you don't want to move the axle rearward. It will not clear the trailing edge of the fender well.

 

[bugsnbikes]

3.5" Frankies springs and 1/4" longer Landtank LCA's dont rub with 37" Toyos and 1.25" spacers on sequoia rims.

 

[inkpot]

3.5" Frankies springs and 1/4" longer Landtank LCA's dont rub with 37" Toyos and 1.25" spacers on sequoia rims.

Are LT's lca's longer than stock?

 

[bugsnbikes]

1/4" longer- Inkpot you might want to check your rig for straightness if its rubbing

 

[inkpot]

Kisses the bump at the rear and the top/inside fenderwell when totally stuffed. Best way I know to clean out the mud! Same on both fenders.

 

[Tools R Us]

3.5" Frankies springs and 1/4" longer Landtank LCA's dont rub with 37" Toyos and 1.25" spacers on sequoia rims.

I only run OME, and Coopers, rubs both sides enough to take the paint off. Maybe the Toyo's are slightly smaller, but I couldn't run longer arms. If I felt the need to change the pinion angle, would shorten the uppers.

 

[bugsnbikes]

iirc the LT's added length is simply to return the wheel to center when the lift has moved it forward in the wheelwells.

The adjustable uppers are to compensate for pinion angle change.

 

[Box Rocket]

Ideally, adjustable uppers are the better solution for correcting pinion angle, I realize that. I'll be working on that solution. But since I have some spare lower arms and plan to beef them up a bit to prevent bending, I figured I might as well consider adding some length to recenter the axle and possibly help with pinion angle too. The more I think about it, I'm leaning toward just leaving them the stock length and beefing them up, and doing the adjustable uppers at some point.

Also, I am definitely considering 37's in the future so I appreciate the input regarding that.

 

[JohnnyOshow22]

I boxed in my lowers with 1/4" plate after I bent one. Easy and strong as hell, wont be bending any time soon.