top drive

top drive

Well-Known Member
As Part of my rebuild im fitting the gwyn lewis challenge kit ,+5 shocks and a 2 inch lift.

Ill need cranked rear arms i understand for articulation or the bushes will get stressed and the arms will limit travel -as well as high articulation a frame ball joint

Im a bit confused as to wether i need i need castor corrected radius arms up front ? - surely i need cranked radius arms rather thancastor corrected as im not lifting high ? Although i do understand some folks need them with a 2 inch lift but not all ?

And on the same notion - props. Will i need wide angle props for the extra articulation of the challenge kit or not because ive only lifted it 2 inch lift springs? Im not really under standing - some say i do some say i dont as the relitive height of the diff doesnt change during the articulation it only changes due to the lift of the springs.

Any advice appreciated
 
You will need cranked trailing arms if you don't want to limit travel.

With a 2" lift but 5" shocks, it might be worth looking in to some taller shock mounts to get a bit more up-travel.

As you said Castor corrected arms are not needed by all - you won't be able to tell until it's installed. If you feel the steering isn't quite right then you might want to invest in some.

Prop shaft wise, you will be able to get away with standard props however they will not likely last quite as long with the 2" extra lift. Being only 2" though it shouldn't be too much to worry about just make sure they are well greased and check for play in the joints. In off road conditions, the axles can drop and therefore put greater angles on the props, especially with long travel shocks.

In case you haven't thought about it already, you might also need some extended brake lines if you don't want to be ripping them out under articulation.
 
Cheers mitch , on it with the brakes already , fitting new copper lines throughout.

Challenge Rear Shock Mount, Single Position

Fitting those shock mounts.

Im a bit puzzled on wether i need extended bump stops , surely thats the point in having long shocks - that you can make good the whole travel , are extended bump stops not for those using shock shocks to stop the shock bottoming out under compression ? I guess like all my other question its a case of - build it and test it ?
 
top drive said:
Cheers mitch , on it with the brakes already , fitting new copper lines throughout.

Challenge Rear Shock Mount, Single Position

Fitting those shock mounts.

Im a bit puzzled on wether i need extended bump stops , surely thats the point in having long shocks - that you can make good the whole travel , are extended bump stops not for those using shock shocks to stop the shock bottoming out under compression ? I guess like all my other question its a case of - build it and test it ?
Click to expand...

Yep that's what you'll need to do. If you find the tyre is hitting the arches and could cause damage, you could trim them but if you don't want to compromise the look of the vehicle, you will most likely need to get extended bump stops. Have you considered taller shock turrets at the front?
 
I have indeed considered upping the front turrets , im just in the process of fixing up the bulk head , then the next part is to pull the front axel and see whats needed suspension and axel wise...

I know for a fact it needs shocks / springs and turrets so its probably going to get the gwyn lewis kit for the front anorl unless anyone has better suggestions. - it also needs swivel balls :( least it doesnt need the diff pan replacing like the rear :(

Cheers again
 
top drive said:
I have indeed considered upping the front turrets , im just in the process of fixing up the bulk head , then the next part is to pull the front axel and see whats needed suspension and axel wise...

I know for a fact it needs shocks / springs and turrets so its probably going to get the gwyn lewis kit for the front anorl unless anyone has better suggestions. - it also needs swivel balls :( least it doesnt need the diff pan replacing like the rear :(

Cheers again
Click to expand...

Ok glad I could be helpful
 
I have the same +2 front and rear shock mounts as what Gwyn Lewis makes and i run + 5 OME shocks and springs with extended bump stops and i can't fault it one bit.I did put wide angle props on as it was eating UJ's on the rear.I see ****part are doing a wide angle A frame ball joint now as well so may be worth a look.
 
When I bought mine off gywn he said I dint need the front arms I'd be wasting my money but if I wasn't them he will sell me them
 
Well my existing radius arms are going in the dip tank at work on thursday or friday depending on when i can get the van off the mrs to take in my pile of rusty bits for derusting. Will get em painted and back on

Looking out for new axles atm , need new diff casing , all new brakes and front needs new brakes and swivel balls and housings. If i can find axels in even slightly better nick it has to be a winner

Although what could snooker me with that plan is if the new axle has wide bush radius arm mounts- that would be a bollocks.
 
front end options .

looking at the gwyn lewis front end challenge kit - the turrets/dislocation cones are a bit (ok alot) bogging.

are they just +2 shock mounts?? - so i could use any HD tubular turret that is +2 with a separate dislocation cone and achieve the same effect ?
 
2 things, Gwyns stuff is good quality all hand made by him and tried and tested and developed by him he's a genuine honest bloke and very helpfull

2nd I bought some stuff off that company in the link, broke within 6 months and was told he had seen me off road and that voids my warranty even tho I bought them for off road use and that's what they were advertised as, most of there stuff ****part aswell
 
I agree i spoke with him last week when i ordered the rear.

I know its not all about looks but , its about looks :) his front challenge mounts do look a bit gash,

How ever they do look to be great value so i might just buy em etch em and paint em. Wont see em from the cab anyway
 
This is Gwyns set up,

BA67C9CE-94CE-4243-9AB9-9DAC42422650.jpg

2627DCB3-DC59-49F5-8CE7-FA4233661155.jpg

1D3998B7-18EE-40DB-946E-8AC00B4AE882.jpg
 
Looks tasty warrior.

Same colour too :) hope mines looks like that one day haha , although it will be a truck cab.
 
Warrior, what extended hoses did you go for ? I guess it would have to be plus 5 if thats what the max drop is.

Will see what gwyn sells him self when i call up the morn.
 
Mine had the breaks lines on when I bought it, think the rest is only plus 2 and wasn't long enough, I made a new bracket that hold it on the rear axle to move it up towards the chassis bin fine since then
 
ben at gwyn sorted me out with lines - and i got the challenge front kit / shocks/ and rear trailing arms on their way too .... pricey.
 
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