- Joined
- Oct 3, 2018
- Messages
- 24
- Age
- 51
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The Official PCK Thread
I wanted to take minute to explain at length my experiences with a lifted 3rd gen and how the PCK (Panhard Correction Kit) affected handling. First I am no expert and everything I have done to my truck was for me. Should any of it kill me, that’s my fault. If you listen to me, remember that. Second, this product was never about centering the rear axle after a lift. A longer bar will accomplish that no problem. The PCK is meant to correct the change in roll center for the rear axle that is permanently altered when you raise the resting height of the truck. Simply put, to return things to as close as the Toyota engineers intended for them to be. Lastly you can dig deep in other forums and this has been discussed at length by others. This is MY take on on it.
Part of my write up here is how does anyone really know HOW a 3rd gen should drive after it is lifted? I think everyone (regardless of lift) can agree it drives different at the very least. Sure it may look better and have better ground clearance, but would anyone honestly say it handles better after it has been lifted?
I ran the stock suspension for 350,000 miles (replaced rear shocks at 250,000). I know this truck. I drive the same basic paths to work and home and my kids school. And I drive aggressive. I like to say the rural 15 mile drive to my kids school that no one in a truck like mine can do it faster. I could tell the differences with every change I made including these: all stock, bald tires, 265/75/16 all season versus AT’s. With and without the front sway bar on stock suspension. With 265/70/17 AT tires. After installing the SS1.2 kit. And then realizing how bad everything else was (ITRE, OTRE, LBJ, rack bushings, LCA bushings) and how it drove after all those were changed. Then with 285 MT tires. Then with 1.5” spacers. Then after installing the SPC UCA. And how different camber/caster settings affected things since I do my own alignments. And finally after installing the PCK by eimkeith.
I bought my PCK first. Like I was the second guy (behind Keith) to say I want one. But I didn’t get around to installing mine for over a year after I paid for it. So I drove 20,000 miles with the 1.2 kit, no front sway bar, and stock UCA. And I was overall pleased with the results. The only underlying “feeling” was the tightness of the rear end and the “tippy” feeling when turning. But hey, it’s lifted so that’s is just how it is right? I recently installed the SPC UCA’s so I could correct the caster/camber. The first alignment results yielded a driving experience I would call dangerous. Too much camber and too much caster. The 2nd go around I decided to simply get it back to factory specs. I would say that overall it actually handled better without the SPC’s. With the factory alignment specs it just seemed more aggressive. I figured without the front sway bar that’s just how it was going to be. So finally I decided to weld in the PCK.
All I can say is that, FOR ME, the difference with the PCK is amazing. It is the most noticeable change in drivability out of everything I have done. It made that big a difference for me. The biggest improvement is at highway speeds. Before it was borderline sketchy at times. Now it is nearly like a stock truck. This product is a no brainer for any lifted 3rd, 4th, 5th, FJ, GX, or Sequoia. The fact that it is so well made is a bonus.
All hail eimkeith for his product!
Video Link for explanations.
So chime in. What do you think? And feel free to send me links to other things videos etc that help explain roll center and panhard bars.
The Official PCK Thread
I wanted to take minute to explain at length my experiences with a lifted 3rd gen and how the PCK (Panhard Correction Kit) affected handling. First I am no expert and everything I have done to my truck was for me. Should any of it kill me, that’s my fault. If you listen to me, remember that. Second, this product was never about centering the rear axle after a lift. A longer bar will accomplish that no problem. The PCK is meant to correct the change in roll center for the rear axle that is permanently altered when you raise the resting height of the truck. Simply put, to return things to as close as the Toyota engineers intended for them to be. Lastly you can dig deep in other forums and this has been discussed at length by others. This is MY take on on it.
Part of my write up here is how does anyone really know HOW a 3rd gen should drive after it is lifted? I think everyone (regardless of lift) can agree it drives different at the very least. Sure it may look better and have better ground clearance, but would anyone honestly say it handles better after it has been lifted?
I ran the stock suspension for 350,000 miles (replaced rear shocks at 250,000). I know this truck. I drive the same basic paths to work and home and my kids school. And I drive aggressive. I like to say the rural 15 mile drive to my kids school that no one in a truck like mine can do it faster. I could tell the differences with every change I made including these: all stock, bald tires, 265/75/16 all season versus AT’s. With and without the front sway bar on stock suspension. With 265/70/17 AT tires. After installing the SS1.2 kit. And then realizing how bad everything else was (ITRE, OTRE, LBJ, rack bushings, LCA bushings) and how it drove after all those were changed. Then with 285 MT tires. Then with 1.5” spacers. Then after installing the SPC UCA. And how different camber/caster settings affected things since I do my own alignments. And finally after installing the PCK by eimkeith.
I bought my PCK first. Like I was the second guy (behind Keith) to say I want one. But I didn’t get around to installing mine for over a year after I paid for it. So I drove 20,000 miles with the 1.2 kit, no front sway bar, and stock UCA. And I was overall pleased with the results. The only underlying “feeling” was the tightness of the rear end and the “tippy” feeling when turning. But hey, it’s lifted so that’s is just how it is right? I recently installed the SPC UCA’s so I could correct the caster/camber. The first alignment results yielded a driving experience I would call dangerous. Too much camber and too much caster. The 2nd go around I decided to simply get it back to factory specs. I would say that overall it actually handled better without the SPC’s. With the factory alignment specs it just seemed more aggressive. I figured without the front sway bar that’s just how it was going to be. So finally I decided to weld in the PCK.
All I can say is that, FOR ME, the difference with the PCK is amazing. It is the most noticeable change in drivability out of everything I have done. It made that big a difference for me. The biggest improvement is at highway speeds. Before it was borderline sketchy at times. Now it is nearly like a stock truck. This product is a no brainer for any lifted 3rd, 4th, 5th, FJ, GX, or Sequoia. The fact that it is so well made is a bonus.
All hail eimkeith for his product!
Video Link for explanations.
So chime in. What do you think? And feel free to send me links to other things videos etc that help explain roll center and panhard bars.
