Couple questions on a Triangulated 4 link:

1) How much did all your materials cost? (tubing + rod ends + brakcetry, etc...)

2) Can you MIG weld into the centersection? (What if it's a 9"? I know some Toy housings are stamped steel so you can weld those...)

3) Assuming decent MIG welding skills. is there anything that you didn't/couldn't do yourself?
----->Thinking like threading on the tubing to attach the heims, any bending, etc...How much did it cost???

4) Ends: Heims Vs Johnny Joints Vs RE Joints
-----> Where to get/How much/strength/reason to go with one over the others?

5) Reccomend it for a daily driver that has drive 500 miles to get home??? Vs a 5 link (w/track bar)

6) Anyone got any pics???? (on trail, on driveway, on cinderblocks...)

Thinking this is how I'm gonna fix my Bag-O-Crap ProComp Coil Conversion, but need to know what I'm getting into before I start.

By the way, this is for the rear.

Honestly, and I'm not being a smart ass (like half of the people on this board), but if you are asking these questions, you should not be attempting a triangulated 4-link conversion.

In actuality, the work involved is not worth the small gains realized over a properly set-up stock 5-link (with proper parts, of course).

I hope this saves you a LOT of headaches.

Lemme elaborate: I currently run the Pro Comp Coil Conversion, which is crap. The arms don't flex b/c they have poly bushings for ends.

How close am I to doing the triangulated 4 link? Not very. But I need some info regarding price/PITA so I can consider it among other options.

I understand the principals behind the traingulated upper arms keeping the axle from moving side to side. I spend every wheeling trip I go on watching my buddie's TJ with the Currie Four link rear walk all over everything...

What I needed to know are some of the specifics that can make it a dealbreaker for me. There are a lot of swaps/projects that everyone claims are "so cheap," But when the shooting's done, the little things that you had to buy along the way and the couple of things that you need someone else to do add up.

I'm a college kid with not much time/money on my hands so I can't have the rig sitting in my garage (try UCSD parking lot) all torn apart. Thus, I would do something like this over winter/spring break and would have everything set up before I put a wrench to my car.

Sorry to rant....:emb:

Hellbender, you say it's a lot more work than a 5 link, why?

I would probably have to re-work a bunch of the PC brackets to make new jointed arms fit, so either way I have to screw with that...

You could try and emulate the Currie TJ triangulated rear.

Talk with Jeff Arabia down by Safeway in Los Gatos. My mate Phil has a TJ with this setup and he is also a mate of Jeff's.

I am long arm triangulating my TJ rear suspension this winter.

I live in the Los Gatos hills. Drop me a line if you want to hook up for some ideas.

Cheers

DS

If you are truly a starving college student take off that coil setup and go spring over axle with leaf springs, it works great for tons of people out there don't see why it won't work for you. Oh yeah don't let your freinds vehicle make you think you need a trick setup to work great.

If your set on keeping coils relize it is gonna be alot of work/time/money. I would not try to work off any of the coil conversion parts (well maybe the coil buckets) and look at the back of a Rubicon Express long arm kit, or copy your buddies currie setup.

Yeah, that's what I needed to know. I guess I figured out what I need to know. I think my best bet is to go springover and hang onto my parts in case I wanna get technical and complicated :rolleyes:

Originally posted by wrangler40
Yeah, that's what I needed to know. I guess I figured out what I need to know. I think my best bet is to go springover and hang onto my parts in case I wanna get technical and complicated :rolleyes:

I don't know how serious this is but you said you need little down time and sounds like you expect alot out of your suspension, I seriously doupt a shadtree mechanic could pound out a nice coil suspension in a week or two and have the bugs worked out in time to go back to school. It could be done but I hope you have someone experianced with link type suspenion on hand or have a good understanding of the geometry involved in a link type suspension. I figure if your gonna do it do it all out, don't bother trying to fudge the pro-crap to get you by, you would be happier with a SOA swap to get you by. seriously I don't mean to be a dick but it doesnt sound like you fully understand what goes into a properly working link supension

Heck i have a TJ and im considering SOA (leaf). The DC engineers are not fools and if you really wish to improve apon what they did at normal height for street driving plus offroad you need to expect an immense amout of calculations each effecting the others, and some related to info you probably dont have access to. im still up in the air though.

I have successfully completed a long arm 4-link triangulated TJ rear and can't imagine life w/o it. It was not that difficult, and you don't have to know as much about geometry as everyone warns you. Yes, they are just looking out for you but it is not super critical. And yes, I do know I'm gonna get flamed for that statement.

As I was doing my homework on the subject I noticed the huge variances b/t setups and geomterys. Some w/ short arms and large angles (Currie) and others w/ long arms and small angles (baja trucks). B/c of my lack of engineering knowlege I just combined the best aspects of the different types of setups.

Call it luck or just good use of logic but it turned out great. No noticable squat or anti-squat and no noticable rear-steer (even w/ an excessive amount of drop). It didn't cost a fortune to me (did it while in college), and only took 2 full days (not counting weeks of research). Find a welder who wants to work w/ you or your getting into a difficult situation.

Those are my thoughts, I'll give actual detail on how I have it setup if yoou are still interested.:skull:

I personaly wouldnt put the time, money ,and effort into building a long travel 4 link, unless your modifications are leading towards the very extreme. If you are hell bent on building your rig to where you will not be denied on almost any obstacle, then consider that you will need to design a wheelbase of no less than 100" into your geometry, or all that fancy suspension, will still be left at the bottom of elite climbs, or upside down and at the bottom. The fuel tank will need to be raised, or a fuel cell installed out of the way of the rear axles extended location, rear fenders will need be to cut away to allow the tires to clear from their stretched reposition. You will also want to keep your weight very low to take advantage of all the new swag.
Its a lot of work to get all of the potential from a long travel 4 link, and the reward will more than likely mean you will beat the piss out of your rig worse than ever before,.... I like the idea a lot, go for it, post pics.

I was lookig into a 4-link rear all summer and when i went back to school i talked to some people who have done it to their rigs. They really like what they have and it works great for them. But for me. I am a poor student like you and i need my rig to be running plus i don't have any where good to tear into it. After talking to some spring over guys and listening to how easy the spring over is (realativly). I have decided to do what everyone (even the 4-link guys) says will work the best for me (spring over). It is a basic design that is cheap and very effective. If you have time, money and knowledge of a 4-link (or want to spend a lot of time learning and perfecting) and want the flexiest damn rig out there than a 4-link is for you. If you want a straight forward flexy suspension that is very well proven then spring over is for you.

Good luck deciding, it is a tough one

4 Links kick ass. I think RRaker hit the nail on the head on this one.

I did an SOA on my Jeep and have to concur on the price tag and the build up. Not to mention that I have been able to do inexpensive mods/upgrades to it and experiment along the way. Really good bang for the buck and no reinventing the wheel. Save what ya got for later or sell it off. Also previously well stated is the fact that companies don't hire some fawkin' idgit off the street to design their shiot. But then you have master minds like :fj: Pen and Gozuki who can practically do it while sleepin'! :beer:s to ya both!! I am gonna be movin' up to the triangulated 4 link inna short while BUT I will have the time space for the proper tear down, prep, creation, and then unvailing. Best of luck Bro! Keep Jeepin' On! Tigger4X :jeep:

Originally posted by tigger4x
Also previously well stated is the fact that companies don't hire some fawkin' idgit off the street to design their shiot. But then you have master minds like :fj: Pen and Gozuki who can practically do it while sleepin'! :beer:s to ya both!! I am gonna be movin' up to the triangulated 4 link inna short while BUT I will have the time space for the proper tear down, prep, creation, and then unvailing. Best of luck Bro! Keep Jeepin' On! Tigger4X :jeep:


Its funny that you say that. I often have dreams about this shit. Sometimes it scares me :eek:.........Anyways, Trigger did you get that PM?

:fj: Pen, got yer PM, will block out some time to giva ya a ringy dingy. I'll have pen and plenny o paper to scribble on. My buddy might have some technicals to ask ya considering he is the fab tech/welder brains. Chat ya soon, T I G G E R 4 X :jeep:

say what about PigPens wet dreams about four links?:barf:

Originally posted by RockJock
say what about PigPens wet dreams about four links?:barf:

Accually last nights wet dream was about your..............MOM .:flipoff2:

:eek: D O H ! Another Newbie :barf: takes a poke in the eye!! :fj: Pen is just laying 'em out these days. :laughing: :laughing:
Did ya give her the ol' "rear steer":question: Here's a :beer: to set on her back if ya do!

When it comes to Link Suspension & Mr. :fj: Pen... I have seen the proof of the pudding in the pie! Now... how did he get the proof in that bottle of Jack:question: :laughing: