[losfer]

Ok so i feel a bit strange ASKING the questions on here so here goes if any of you can point me in the right direction.

So i have this LJ 50 here in the shed im working on and it requires a lot of brake work (as posted in my wtb thread everything is seized)
Now ive done the disc front upgrade in the front before on lj's , but not only that the steering is shot.

we have sourced the parts for the disc upgrade from another member on here and some other parts (and im sure he wont see the last of us).

Re the steering he has supplied an sj steering box to upgrade the steering . Now i personally have never seen or heard of this done.
The problem with the steering is of course the part which i refer to as the "bell crank" (suzuki call it a center lever or something) is shot . not only that the drag link from the box to the bell crank is shot.

in the past i have machined out the center of the bell crank to accept bearings and a crush tube. currently i do not have the facilities available to me to perform this task.

So regarding the sj steering box upgrade , i have done an extension search not only on here and google to no avail. I have found 1 or 2 pictures showing it mounted to the chassis rail but not any how to's or you require this from the steering column to steering box etc. i also assume you have to cut some of the original steering mounting brackets for the bell crank to mount the box. so any help on this would be appreciated.

secondly , for now .

gear lever bush is missing .because the parts list for the lj50 isnt available , and im using the lj80 parts list , it shows 2 part numbers for this bush and i assume im using the earlier pre a certain vin number bush - 28115-64001 (suzuki show 2 of these in stock and none of the later 28115-78001)

Thirdly and i have searched for this as well.
the banjo bolts on the oil feed lines , what are people currently using to seal these . i was personally thinking about dowty washers which require a very low force to achieve a good seal.

if you would rather call me than posting a long winded reply on the interwebs feel free 0487146020

Cheers
Dave

[losfer]

gear lever bush is the 64001 confirmed , apparently the only diff between the part numbers is one is white and one is black, anyone else confirm this ?

[MrRocky]

I used sierra steering box, nt panhard/draglink combo. Had to grind bits of, box/plate chassis, grapht sierra/lj steering column and get creative with the drivers side engine mount.

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=54162&start=60

[303zuke]

First question back at you: Is this going to be a road registered vehicle or a comp truck/paddock basher? If you want to have this vehicle registered, the steering change you propose is a significant change that will need an Engineer to sign off on (technically so too is the disc brake swap, but we won't look at that!). Before you do a thing, talk to the engineer you plan to use and discuss it with them first, because if there is a single tiny thing they don't like, you'll have to rip it out and start again the way they want.

But before we get to that point, there is nothing stopping you from rebuilding the stock setup. The LJ50 used the same steering and gearshift as the LJ80, but both changed for the LJ80-II (aka Stockman).

The draglink between the steering box and bell crank is still available new (48900-63201).The LJ50/80 bell crank used a bonded rubber bush in the centre (48760-63230). This may still be available from Suzuki Japan, but it was also manufactured in Australia back in the day by both Mackay and Motherson. I don't have their part numbers, but a call to them with the bush dimensions could work. The LJ80-II bellcrank used a different design with a upper and lower roller bearings and upper and lower oil seals used standard off-the-shelf parts. If you can find a donor Stockman, this whole bellcrank is interchangeable with the 50/80 one and is probably a longer life/strength design. It should be noted too that the usual way of doing the disc brake conversion using a hybrid of Sierra and LJ steering rod relies on the stock bellcrank location. If you go to a Sierra steering box, you will also have make up new steering rods to suit.

The gear shift bush is specific to either the 50/80 OR the LJ80-II Stockman shifter designs. Bush 28115-64001 must be used with Cover 28180-63000 (LJ50 and LJ80), while Bush 28115-78001 goes with Cover 28181-75100 (LJ80-II Stockman). Can't mix and match.

Sealing washers for the oil lines: Soft copper washers. Dowty washers are an expensive overkill, as the oil injection system is not really all that high a pressure. Copper washers are available in multi packs from Pirtek/Enzed or most bearing supply shops. Motorcycle shops should also have them. 2 washers required per banjo fitting: upper and lower.

Now can I have my ears back?

[chris77]

I looked into doing an sj steering box swap on an lj81 I had but I never started the project . Anyway my plan was to use a lhd steering box on the frame rail , it looked to me like a better fit for the steering shaft . I still have the box in the shed if anyone wants to try it .

Chris

[losfer]

MrRocky wrote:

I used sierra steering box, nt panhard/draglink combo. Had to grind bits of, box/plate chassis, grapht sierra/lj steering column and get creative with the drivers side engine mount.

http://www.auszookers.com/forum/viewtop ... 2&start=60

Thanks , i knew taking a look that some mods required doing to pass that engine mount .

i used every search term i could imagine and not find anything , i should of searched farm car , lol

[losfer]

303zuke wrote:

First question back at you: Is this going to be a road registered vehicle or a comp truck/paddock basher? If you want to have this vehicle registered, the steering change you propose is a significant change that will need an Engineer to sign off on (technically so too is the disc brake swap, but we won't look at that!). Before you do a thing, talk to the engineer you plan to use and discuss it with them first, because if there is a single tiny thing they don't like, you'll have to rip it out and start again the way they want.

But before we get to that point, there is nothing stopping you from rebuilding the stock setup. The LJ50 used the same steering and gearshift as the LJ80, but both changed for the LJ80-II (aka Stockman).

The draglink between the steering box and bell crank is still available new (48900-63201).The LJ50/80 bell crank used a bonded rubber bush in the centre (48760-63230). This may still be available from Suzuki Japan, but it was also manufactured in Australia back in the day by both Mackay and Motherson. I don't have their part numbers, but a call to them with the bush dimensions could work. The LJ80-II bellcrank used a different design with a upper and lower roller bearings and upper and lower oil seals used standard off-the-shelf parts. If you can find a donor Stockman, this whole bellcrank is interchangeable with the 50/80 one and is probably a longer life/strength design. It should be noted too that the usual way of doing the disc brake conversion using a hybrid of Sierra and LJ steering rod relies on the stock bellcrank location. If you go to a Sierra steering box, you will also have make up new steering rods to suit.

The gear shift bush is specific to either the 50/80 OR the LJ80-II Stockman shifter designs. Bush 28115-64001 must be used with Cover 28180-63000 (LJ50 and LJ80), while Bush 28115-78001 goes with Cover 28181-75100 (LJ80-II Stockman). Can't mix and match.

Sealing washers for the oil lines: Soft copper washers. Dowty washers are an expensive overkill, as the oil injection system is not really all that high a pressure. Copper washers are available in multi packs from Pirtek/Enzed or most bearing supply shops. Motorcycle shops should also have them. 2 washers required per banjo fitting: upper and lower.

Now can I have my ears back?

First of all yes this will be a road registered car .

The reason i am converting is because everything original was in need of replacement (swivel hub seals , king pin bearings , wheel bearings , wheel cyls and shoes) I didnt want to just replace the factory parts and still end up with shitty brakes.

Re the steering , i am now thinking it may be more cost effective to just repair the original setup.

my main objective is to try get him the best bang for his buck and in my eyes the disc upgrade is going to do that . I dont think the steering upgrade will now.

As for the bonded rubber bush as far as i am aware it hasnt been available for many many years now. i someone knows of otherwise please chime in. and yes i know that link between the box and lever is still available at about $140 plus postage.

And yes you may have your ears back - FOR NOW .. Thank you

[MrRocky]

Try steve on www.lj10.com he has quite a large stock of nos stuff. Even suzuki dealerships are quite willing to help if u get the right one.
I only went to the effort as i needed the extra room for the jimny 5spd box. A lhd steering box would have made things alot simpler, but postage was a killer.

[Gwagensteve]

Plenty of vehicles use an outside-the-chassis steering box - no need to import a LHD box. IFS Hilux one obvious choice. If you're interested in improving the drivability of an LJ, I think getting rid of the bell crank and terrible steering geometry would be a must. (did they design it deliberately to maximise bump steer?)

Steve.

[sideways]

It's not really bump steer but bump toe. I think it works just fine, the problem is how much play ends up in everything.

Lots of people have had a bronze bushing made to replace the one in the early type relay.