suspension upgrade/clutch shudder 105 series landcruiser
Submitted: Monday, Mar 27, 2017 at 13:31
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jack1971
Hi all
I've checked some old posts about
suspension upgrades on these cars but with no conclusion as to what people ended up with.
I am after a value for money (yes, cheaper end of the scale as it is near the bottom of the list of things to pay for with a growing family..). The car is mainly used for long distance trips, we are looking at buying a caravan and the car tends to sag at the rear with minimal weight on the back (5 pushbikes on a rack on the towbar).After an upgrade that will give us a more compliant ride and it rarely goes off-road.
Don't need/want a kit that will lift it more than normal-at most 50mm as it's high enough for the kids/wifey to in-out of - presume the car has the stock springs, have noticed there are rancho? shocks on it already and a pedder steering shock at the front but don't know how long these units have been on the car for - 290k.
Also, the clutch has a shudder when going into 1st gear and doesn't seem to get any better when used during a trip - l've read previous posts on this as it seems to be a common "trait?" but again, no apparent solutions, it does hop a bit in gears but just change down a gear and all is good. Assume the clutch is nearing the end of it's life,l assume it to be the original??- doesn't slip at all in gears while driving. Having the car checked out at a mechanics (general
check over, as we are heading to Uluru mid-year) in the next week, just thought to get a second opinion from those who have who have experienced these symptons.
Again, many thanks.
Reply By: Member - DingoBlue(WA) - Monday, Mar 27, 2017 at 19:03
Monday, Mar 27, 2017 at 19:03
Hi Jack,
I've a 105 which has travelled many thousands of kilometers off road including, CSR,
Cape York, Simpson etc.
I replaced the standard shocks with foam cells due to the corrugations, installed heavy duty coils all round and fitted air bags to the rear.
We tow a fairly heavy camper trailer and the vehicle is also a bit wieghty. The only issue I've ever had with the
suspension is the flogging out of the rubber washers on the top of the front shocks on the CSR. Very easily replaced and probably a worthwhile spare to carry if you expect long distances on corrugations.
AnswerID:
609732
Reply By: Malcom M - Tuesday, Mar 28, 2017 at 07:23
Tuesday, Mar 28, 2017 at 07:23
Clutch shudder does seem to be quite common in these but is not an indicator of clutch life. There are trucks out there at 450kkm's that still have the original clutch fitted.
Mine is original at 300kkm.
Lots of things can cause shudder from bearings through to clutch parts. Best get the opinion of a clutch specialist before you start spending up large.
Have you checked out the forums on
Lcool? You'll have to join but its free.
AnswerID:
609742
Reply By: splits - Tuesday, Mar 28, 2017 at 20:04
Tuesday, Mar 28, 2017 at 20:04
What size van do you intend buying and how much weight do you intend carrying? If you keep the car within its design limits then all you need is new standard springs. It is never a good idea to head off into the Outback with a car that is loaded outside those limits. They are the ones that keep the bush repair workshops going flat out during the tourist season.
Check the towing instructions in the car's handbook. Toyota says a WDH must be used over a certain tow ball weight on some of their cars. I have not seen all of their handbooks so it may apply to all models. These things lift the rear end of the car up off the axle and transfer some of the removed weight back onto the front wheels to assist with steering. The rest of the weight goes to the ground via the caravan wheels. Heavier springs can not take weight off the axle.
You may find these two links useful.
towing dynamicsweight guide
AnswerID:
609766
Reply By: jack1971 - Tuesday, Mar 28, 2017 at 22:13
Tuesday, Mar 28, 2017 at 22:13
Thanks for the replies
Will just go on the advice of the mechanic that will be giving it the once over for me, for he is a reputable mechanic who works on all types of cars and is proficient with 4wd's also. I know he no affiliation with any brand, rather just knows what works from experience from working on cars similar to
mine. So if it needs springs/shocks l can install them as they are not hard to do at all - save on labour. The foam cell shocks seem to be a good thing though.
We are looking at a Windsor "grand tourer caravan"-about a 15' and sleeps 5 comfortably and l have already checked the info in the handbook relating to weights and the like. The van is not what l had in mind rather a Trak Shak camper trailer but having 3 daughters and that they are willing to travel - it's all about compromise l guess.
Thanks for the tip about the washers on top of the shocks-good to know. Might
check out the landcruiser
forum and see what in there, thanks.
A 1HZ non-turbo and a largish van - l'll be taking my time regardless - still suprised how
well they go when one keeps everything in good order...
Ta again..
AnswerID:
609775
Reply By: scandal - Thursday, Mar 30, 2017 at 18:39
Thursday, Mar 30, 2017 at 18:39
I purchased a 2005 HZJ105 cruiser In 2007, soon after I bought terrain tamer coils and shocks. Bull bar,second battery and winch with steel cable made me choose heavy duty coils for the front , I initially wanted medium duty for the rear but when I went to pick up the parts they had supplied heavy duty instead, I took them anyway and fitted everything at
home.
I was after 50/75mm lift , I got closer to 100 and wasn't too happy, it looked ridiculous with skinny wheels and tyres, during the following weekend, I deliberately found mounds and gullys to try and compress and work the coils to get them to settle the height a bit, not to mention the front height completely stuff up the steering geometry .
I crossed the
Simpson desert loaded and found that the HD coils in the back was spot on for load carrying and travel, a little bit hard when empty and low on fuel,just full tanks is enough to take the kick of the bumps .
10 years and 240000ks later, the coils are still there, but the rear doesn't carry the weight like it used to, its still sits higher than standard, but when loaded it sags a little more than what I would like compromising departure angle.
The shocks handled the task adequately but have been replaced with the same brand, the first lot came with polyurethane bushes that flogged out pretty quick, I bought some genuine Toyota bushs and fitted them mid trip,
My clutch shudders when I first bought the vehicle with 80k , now about 320 it's still the same especially in reverse
Shane
AnswerID:
609817
Reply By: Batt's - Sunday, Apr 02, 2017 at 20:51
Sunday, Apr 02, 2017 at 20:51
If you get the correct
suspension to suit your needs it will last for yrs without needing to up grade it again. If you don't go off road on harder rough tracks where a lift kit will aid you I would stick to the standard
suspension height as they are a capable enough vehicle off road. You will need heavier springs to accommodate the overall extra weight and a quality shocks to suit but this doesn't mean you'll get a harsh uncomfortable ride at all. If the correct shocks are chosen then you will still retain a comfy ride when unloaded.
Don't know about the clutch shudder in you model vehicle but my GQ gets a shudder occasionally when taking off ever since I had a new heavy duty clutch installed 6 yrs ago. It hasn't been a big deal and it's not slipping so until something sus happens I keep it in.
AnswerID:
609866