Fuds 64

npca-big red · Post by **npca-big red** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 12:26 am

Fud, looking at the photos of your 64 it seems as if the front end is not working. The rear end is ok, but the front looks to me like it has a few issues. Are those shocks on the front too long? If so it would limit the travel. You did say you rebuilt the suspension, maybe it just needs to be broken in. Just wondering as I'm starting to try a couple of things on may 78.

npca-fud · Post by **npca-fud** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 12:52 am

Good eye! The suspension is rebuilt completly but I feel there is a few issues as you say in the front. It flexes ok but not near as well as the rear. I believe this is due to several things...#1 the Rancho 5000's may be bit long for the front as they were a very tight fit, #2 the front leafs are re-arched and they regained height but are very stiff while rear leafs are new Nissans, #3 the bushings are all new in the sway bard, shocks and limiting rods. I think the limiting rods are definatly limiting travel in the front and it would be nice to have some quick dissconnects for the sway bards as I hear this works well. I feel that the 40 year old leafs and tight fit Ranchos is the main probs right now with flex in the front end. My solution is to simply fit a lift kit that just arrived so the leafs in front will be new. I will remove the limiting rods in front as with the lift travel will be about 1" with them in. I do not like re-arching and will not go this route again. That is about it...what kind of things you doing to your 78? What problems or concerns have you encountered?

npca-fud · Post by **npca-fud** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 1:32 am

I do not think "not working" is very good description...I looked at the pics I took other day agin up close and zoomed in in detail. The rear is on bump stops in several spots and can flex no more, the front is also and the limiting rods are fully extended. So if the front travel goes to end of limiting rod and also touches the bumps stops then it is not that bad. this can be clearly seen in the pics. The shocks are not preventing it from reaching it's limits but in front wit the combo of the shocks and limiting rods travel does seem to not be as it should. When compressed the front spring will be flat while in rear while compressed it still retains arch. In the front it simply seems that the spring does not allow the axle to drop enough but does compress fully, in one of the pics I can see the limiting rod is fully extended and thus limits the axle from dropping more on this side. The Ranchos could be effecting it but do not stop the suspension from reaching either the bumps stops compressed or the limiting rod while extended. I will compress it and flex it more and not shoot pics but take a closer look at my limits of travel in the front end. I can even try it with the limiting rod removed but like I say I am fitting a new lift kit soon, this suspension was put on here because I had it around at the time and wanted to test it. Yet, this is a 40 year old Nissan, how much travel should it have with stock suspension??

npca-szoszi_poland · Post by **npca-szoszi_poland** » Sun Sep 28, 2003 6:21 pm

; can you sand me the photos suspension nissan patrol ; gr?; mazaj@wp.pl

npca-big red · Post by **npca-big red** » Sun Sep 28, 2003 10:54 pm

Sorry it took so long to respond, I'm between houses and can only send e-mails at uni and i'm not there every day! Didn't mean to offend you or your Patrol, I just wanted to help as I'm a Patrol nut as well. Ok so the length of the front shock at full travel on mine is 446mm (about 18 inchs) and at full compression is 271mm (about 11 inchs). I would say that it is the same in yours as they didn't change the front diff assembly. I have also removed the sway bars because at full travel they where actually hiting the shochs (front and rear), and removed the limiters. I didn't know there real name and yours might not have them at all, but they work the opposite to the bump stops, in that they stop the down ward travel.Also how many leafs does yours have on the front? Is it 5 front and rear? Mine had 5 in the front and 8 in the back. What i did to the rear was remove 2 leafs and cut 1 leaf shorter so it can flex, (I used to be able to carry a full ton in the back with out it saging!!!). But you should see how much travel i get. I have a couple of photos of it on full travel (need a scaner to put them on the web) and every one who sees them is shocked! Just seen your reply then, and i'm wondering why you didn't like the re-setting of the springs? Where they to stiff?

npca-fud · Post by **npca-fud** » Sun Sep 28, 2003 11:22 pm

No worries, you didn't offend me or the rig! I think it is working though for stock suspension. I emailed you so a lot of info in the emails but to keep this public in conversation I will post small response here. The suspension is new in everything except pins and shackles as they were fine on the rig. It has a stock set up and flexes as a stock truck. The front re-arched springs are just as stiff as before just regained some lift. Nope I do not like them as they ride crappy compared to the new Nissan rears. Maybe I just had some bad springs in front to begin with that I then had re-arched. The Nissan fellows had front springs on B/O for me for about 10 months....looking like they are not available anymore as it only toook 4 months to get the rears! I am not sure on the Rancho 5000's fitted to the truck as far as travel goes but the ones they replaced travel 9". The difference from yours is that they go from 21" to 12" but this still 9"...now that is the old ones, the Rancho's I will have to measure. Stock regular duty Patrols as my 64 and nearly all in the USA have a 4 stock in front and 5 stack in rear if stock. A "H" model or heavy duty Patrol had a 5 stack in front and 8 stack in rear, 9 in rear if you had a pick-up. This is the same no matter where in the world you are and pretty much was this way for the 20 year run of the 60 series. I think that is it for now......