Prerunner TB?

[dalute84]

Has anyone on here gone prerunner style suspension for their trailblazer? I have searched my local custom shops and all have basically told me it is impossible. I would like to lift it approx. 5" front and 4" rear but believe I will need longer control arms and such to acheive my goal. If you have done this could you please send me a link with some info? I am not completely new to lifted trucks but the prerunner style is new to me so any info is greatly appreiciated.

Thank you in advance for any and all help.

[The Roadie]

Nobody ever has done that. I predict nobody ever will. We're too heavy, and a 2wd would be the only design without the evil front differential design.

Have you spent any time looking at your current setup?

Welcome, btw!

[dalute84]

Yes I have spent a lot of time looking at it. I knew it was something that would be very difficult. I did figure the weight would be an issue but just figured I wouldnt be doing any big jumping. I was hoping for a challenge and something different but I am not any master mechanic or fabricator so I suppose I will have to settle just lifting and no long travel. I do need to start replacing the front end as my bushing are getting very worn. Any suggestions as to which direction to go? IFS is kinda new to me and I am gathering the TB front end is rather "special".

Also thank you I am learning a lot already from this site.
(never been on a car forum before)

[Trail X]

If you're willing to sink some coin into it, instead of going with a prerunner style, do a solid axle swap. It's pretty much the holy grail of lifting this truck. If you are good at fabricating - or find a place that is, a long arm (front and rear) SAS would be pretty good for high speed whoop-de-doops, and should handle the weight better than a fully custom long arm job. It just might be a little more uncomfortable on the highway.

[The Roadie]

The Toyota "Prerunner" optioned Tacoma is 2WD, IIRC. The whole idea of "prerunning" is to allow Baja race teams to have someone go over the course in a cheaper vehicle before the real race is run with the 1/2 million $ 4WD trucks with the 24" travel IFS. Only way you get 12-16" travel in a cheap truck for prerunning is not have a front diff and CV shafts.

So if you already have places to go to suit the prerunner suspension style - I'd say go out there and watch the other trucks and see if a modified GMT360 could even do what they're doing. I just never seem to see prerunner-modified Explorers, Yukons, etc. I think it might be a truck without a mission.

[Trail X]

So if you already have places to go to suit the prerunner suspension style - I'd say go out there and watch the other trucks and see if a modified GMT360 could even do what they're doing. I just never seem to see prerunner-modified Explorers, Yukons, etc. I think it might be a truck without a mission.

Curious why you think the TB platform is any worse than a toyota for this sort of driving? I think they key to any good prerunner is plenty of custom suspension work, so that really only leaves our body and frame to take issue with.

I'd think that a SUV with more even weight distribution could potentially be better for prerunning... but that's just the engineer in me talking - not experience.

[dalute84]

So if you already have places to go to suit the prerunner suspension style - I'd say go out there and watch the other trucks and see if a modified GMT360 could even do what they're doing. I just never seem to see prerunner-modified Explorers, Yukons, etc. I think it might be a truck without a mission.

There a group of guys that live by me that 2 have prerunner 4WD Eplorers and 1 with an Explorer sport track also 4WD there is also a girl who drives a Honda Pilot prerunner. I have only spoke to them very little bits at stop lights guess next time I will find out where they go and get more info.

[v7guy]

There was talk about this on the board a couple years ago when dodge got the 930 cv axle made. I suppose you could get more lift if someone took the inner cv and made the 930 fit. Would still have to deal with the upper ball joint. But by the time you get a 930 inner to fit using our spline count the upper arm would be no big deal.

Kinda getting into the territory of just dropping the front diff and using something stronger... or a SAS.

[The Roadie]

Curious why you think the TB platform is any worse than a toyota for this sort of driving?

Tacoma is about 3200 lbs curb weight. Trailblazer 4500 IIRC.

[HARDTRAILZ]

Rangers and explorers have pretty good aftermarket support as prerinners. Offroad magazine seems to favor prerunner builds so you may look up there online stuff

[That1Guy]

The Toyota "Prerunner" optioned Tacoma is 2WD, IIRC. The whole idea of "prerunning" is to allow Baja race teams to have someone go over the course in a cheaper vehicle before the real race is run with the 1/2 million $ 4WD trucks with the 24" travel IFS. Only way you get 12-16" travel in a cheap truck for prerunning is not have a front diff and CV shafts.

So if you already have places to go to suit the prerunner suspension style - I'd say go out there and watch the other trucks and see if a modified GMT360 could even do what they're doing. I just never seem to see prerunner-modified Explorers, Yukons, etc. I think it might be a truck without a mission.

Boom







Pre runner style trucks are not something very many people on this site are into. I think it could be done, but would be pretty tough and quite expensive and more than likely would not be able to keep 4wd. Me being already 2wd, this is something I have and am interested in looking into down the line if I have the means.

[JCrayton99]

There was one made that I saw. I think the best bet would be a 2wd with the G80. And you would still have to build a whole new front suspension. I think it would be pretty coll looking.

[fishsticks]

There was one made that I saw. I think the best bet would be a 2wd with the G80. And you would still have to build a whole new front suspension. I think it would be pretty coll looking.

G80s won't lock up above 20mph. Plus they are terrible for any sort of high-shock application.

[Mudwheelin]

If you have the cash to go crazy with this, I say do it! It would look bad ass. Like you said, "I'm not looking to do any big jumping". So let's pull together and figure out a way to do it rather then saying it can't be done. After all, isn't that why were all here to help each other out?

[JCrayton99]

Things I dont know by not having one. But you would need a differential with a G80 to but in a different locker correct? And it has to be a 8.6" because no one makes another locker for the 8"?

[Trail X]

If you want to get an aftermarket locker, I believe the conclusion is to get an open 8.6" rear end. The G80 only unnecessarily complicates things.

[DirtyBacon04]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong here, but if you tried to swap a 8.6 w/ g80 for a LR, then you would have to redo the backlash. As opposed to using an 8.6 open, you can just drop the LR in the carrier in 10 min and be done with it.

[fishsticks]

A LockRight just plain won't fit into a G80 carrier. Different internal widths, not to mention the G80 carrier walls are VERY thin compared to the open carrier.

[JCrayton99]

Glad I verified this now instead of later.

[Trailblazin Ahead]

Anybody remember Larry Ragland. Oh prerunner Trailblazer. Baja winner in his Trailblazer