Latest on Landcruiser IFS... Just the facts:
1) While Toyota have not acknowledged any problems with the retention of the Independent Front Suspension arms, there have been various
articles and pictures in reports out there; and magazine
articles showing that they can be damaged in extreme 4x4 activities. Hence the rumor mill runs, and a few people have been concerned about it. But this should be taken with salt, as anything can be damaged in the extremes if you run it too hard...
2) ARB have offered a suspension upgrade on the IFS for some time now, that involved some mechanical reinforcement of the lower control arms.
3) No
Bushtracker Customers have had the problem, at least as is reported to date. This is more of an issue for people that might be doing 4x4 Gymkanas, Rock Climbing sorts, extreme of off-road exploration or rally types that might hit cattle grates or jump ups a bit fast, or the extreme of Fossickers like gold hunters going up old fossilized creek beds in search of the motherload in the Pilbara, that sort of extremes. If this is not you, dispel the myths, it does not seem to be a problem.. So don’t worry about it…
4) The latest development on the “Lower Control Arm” as reported to me: The new IFS Turbo Cruisers have substantially more weld on the connection points in question. When there was a failure, rock climbing or going airborne or something that made the suspension over extend to the downside, this was the point of failure, then the only thing that held it in place was the Upper Shock Mount, which can fail as well. Now I have not personally seen this, but I have been told about it from a number of sources and seen the pictures. Not only does ARB have a fix for the early 100 Series IFS, but the latest ones are substantially reinforced now by Toyota: Problem solved… If you have the latest IFS Cruiser and hear the story about the “Lower Control Arm”, don’t worry about it. If you fit the descriptions above in extreme use of your 4x4, then the fix from ARB is not very exxy. I have been told with a suspension upgrade it is only a few hundred dollars.
In summary, if you own one I would forget about it. It does not relate to most
Bushtracker tow vehicles, and not happened to any of our Owners to date. Sweep it under the rug, that is unless you have the first four years or so of the IFS and are going to do the extremes. If you do then do the synopsis of Carnegies book “How to Stop Worrying and Start Living” and prepare for the worst and then forget about it and carry on. The fix is not that expensive, but possibly also not necessary as it has not happened to date to any of our big extended
Bushtracker family… And Toyota, have substantially reinforced it on the latest Production.
The Landcruiser continues to be our most common, and most popular tow vehicle, even up to luxury sizes of 20-21’. They continue to be one of the toughest, and most reliable, and nicest to drive 4x4 vehicles in the world. Despite my personal needs for a larger tow vehicle, because of my larger van; I have an older 370,000 km Sahara in mint condition given to my Son, and my wife is driving a 100 Series. Within their capability, they continue to be my own first choice as well..
Happy Trails from the Lone Ranger..
