GQ 3link front end - how can I get it to work?

[tojoh]

Okay so I managed to get some 22inches or so of travel from the back end of my GQ, by using a 6" No block spring, spring sliders (so they don't fall out on extension), the second longest Rancho shocks available at the time, extending my bumpstops 100mm etc etc. The back works truly beautifully and I'm very proud of what I've managed to conjure up in my own head. (No thanks to Redlands 4x4 and their tight lippedness).

Now I'm getting into some seriously PRECARIOUS angles, and the front suspension isn't articualting, it's getting pretty scary, as the body follows the angle of the front diff very closely.

I've raised my front shock towers about 3" (allowing standard bumpstop heights on full compression) and fitted the longest pin to pin Rancho shocks available at the time. I have castor plates (about 5 degrees) and have just re-fitted O.E. rubber bushes in place of the non-flex A.R.B. castor correcting bushes (still on from 3" lift) and that gave a little improvement to front axle cross-articulation (up from abput 2 " to around 4").

Any thoughts on how to get that front end working, without fitting a five-link, would be tops.

Thanks Tony

could try making front arms that rotate.

[tojoh]

Do you mean arms that rotate, or a swivel in the diff housing?

Its the fact that the arms are trying to rotate the diff in the opposite direction to each other during articulation that seems to be the problem.

[patrol]

With a 6" lift on a GQ the Bushes on the rear of the caster arms are almost at there limit just sitting on flat ground.
you could try a rose joint etc on 1 end of your panhard bar this will help a bit.

[big red]

you could try to relocate the rear of the radius arm down below the chassis http://www.bigred4x4.com/truck/photos/img_DropBrackts2.html
this will give you another 5 or 6 inches of down travel and still leave the up travel.
you can buy them from www.wizardperformance.com.au
dont know price though.
shane

Making new front arms, which rotate in themselves takes the flex from the bushes, and if making a set of arms, I would make the chassis end like cruiser arms, and fit bollocks at the chassis end.

This could be done by buying the cruiser chassis brackets and attaching them to the ni$$an chassis, which mount lower than the ni$$an arm mount, and would aid keeping the arms as horizontal as possible as well.

Personally Id run coil overs with this arm set up to shock hoops, and make sure I got the valving correct for the car.

[Lotza MUMBO]

Making new front arms, which rotate in themselves takes the flex from the bushes

Patrol arms can allready twist due to the way they are mounted at the chassie with a pin rather than the cruiser which has a bolt and bush. The problem with a patrol is not that the arm cant twist its that the 2 bushes at the housing end on each arm fight each other as they try to rotate the diff housing in opposite directions.

When the left wheel drops the left arm tries to rotate the housing forward while the right hand wheel is compressed the right arm is trying to rotate the housing back. Causing the housing to try and twist.

There are a few fixes for this-
-5 link the front=$$$$ (all the kits i have seen getting around the arms are to short to work effectively) EDIT: Sorry they do work however with longer arms they would work better in my opinion.
-Drop the rear mounts down as Shane Suggested, This makes the bushes start in a more horizontal plane. It will also be nicer to drive on road.
-Drill the bushes at the diff end to allow more flex. This has been done on range rovers for years with great results. Slotted bushes are now available for Range Rovers. (I beleive patrol and cruiser ones are in the pipe line)
-Remove the front bolt on the LH arm when off road to allow the housing to twist with little resistance. (Personaly i would not advise this as it has other side effects)

Now as Darren suggested replace the rear mount with a cruiser style and fit a Jonny Joint. I only see this to help if you dont want to drop the factory style mount down. The problem with leaving the arm in the factory point while running a large lift is that the arm is allready pointing into the ghround which when the tyre comes up against an edge the arm tries to rotate under the vehicle rather than upwards and over the obsticale as it would if it was on a horizontal plane to start with.

[tojoh]

Cool Tips. Thanks for the info fella's.

[Lotza MUMBO]

Sorry to answer your question i beleive the best fix is to drop the rear mount as Shane suggested and then maybe drill your bushes or fit Slotted Bushes when they become available.

I know a guy that fitted a 5 link front and has now removed it in favour of a dropped bracket arrangement and still has the same flex.

[tojoh]

Tried removing one control arm to diff mounting bolt the other day and the result was impressive as far as extra travel goes. I would need to fit the sway bar back on a the body roll and control on the road becomes nothing short of dangerous. I suspect the 5 link front would have the same effect, so it's out. Sounds like drop down brackets and slotted bushes.

Thanks again
Tony

[cuttin loose]

i just got a 4 1/2in lift put into my Mav shortie..

when i was talking to the guys who installed it, they said that the due to the front having the 3 link, it's articulation was just as good as the back without changing anything.. is this false??

i've got the removable pins in the back for the sway bar, but not in the front as this wasn't needed on the ramp..

[YankeeDave]

sorry lachie, 3 link will never really have the travel of a 5 link. esspecially in a GQ where the front trailing arms mount on the chassis with a pin that dosnt allow much movement at all, especially when you lift it.

for more travel, get a 5 link , or cheaper yet get some drop down brakets for ur trailing arms

my company is currently designing and testing them, i'll let ya knw when their done, and if u want them soon, go to wizard suspension in qld

www.wizard.com i think is the webbie

[cuttin loose]

need some help testing them out???? ;D ;D ;D