Okay! Got the rear all linked up...Sorry no pics (damn bastard at work didn't want to let the camera out of his sight Thursday)...Anyway, I'll have some this Friday (or sooner if I can sneak it away for the evening).

The question is, how much spread between the uppers is best for lateral support of the axle? The LR frame-rails are pretty tight to begin with....And (as most of you know) for the uppers I used JJ's at the diff cross-over, and poly at the frame....For the lowers, heim's at the frame and poly at the axle tube (a'la' SG HD trailing arms).

All mounting brackets are 1/4" A36...All hardware is 9/16th's (with the exception of the heims at the frame which is 3/4).

For the uppers I simply used the stock LR upper link/x-member and mounting holes…I fabbed a gusseted plate with mounting tabs for the poly bushes....

I've got about a 13" spread from the JJ's at the diff x-over and the frame-rail/bushes. What has me a little worried is that with the poly bushes, I *might* get too much bushing flex to keep the axle centered...I know if I'm really worried about it I should double up the JJ's, but I really like the idea of having the cushion of the poly's...Especially since the majority of the hardware is 9/16's...Not to mention one poly bush is $11. I dunno'...Maybe I'll just burn everything in and decide once she's been beta' tested...

So far she flexes great...But it was getting dark and as I was lifting one side to full ”stuff" the truck shifted on the jack stands a little! :eek: No binding, but I had the 42's on the axle...And the as the tire on the ground was dragging inward, it shifted on the stands...<gulp> The next test will be with the tires off the axle such that I can check everything with as much droop and compression I can get un-sprung...Which looks like it will only be limited by the misalignment angle of the 3/4 x 3/4 heims at the frame...Which has me thinking of putting JJ’s at the axle too…I might just do that one anyway…I think Shane was experiencing some issues with heim binding at the frame with his SG HD trailing arms and poly bushes at the axle…Shane?

It sucks that I didn't have more time to pull the tires and really twist her up...O'yea...And take some pics! :flipoff2:

By looking at the heims on the frame end of my TL you can see that they are at their maximum as the ball is completely clean. I also have misalignment washers for a little extra angularity.

I would highly recommend the JJ on the axle end and will be adding them to mine in the future.

As for trianglulating the upper links I think that I would just go as wide as possible on the frame end considering the narrowness of the frame rails. then as narrow as possible on the axle end.
Not much choice.
One benefit of the heims is the adjustablity of the length of the link. I've seen the JJ's with a threaded end for adjustment also.



PS: Are you reusing the stock A-arm mounting brakets?
If not want to sell me the a-arm and stock brakets?????

The JJ's that I'm using have a 1" x 18? pitch bolt welded to the casing...Only a $10 option on the 9/16ths JJ's...

Maybe I'll re-think the JJ's on the axle end then....

Sure I'll get rid of the A-arm...PM me and we'll discuss further...

--D

hey doug i gotta ask why arent you going with a double triangulated four link? way less chance of bending a control arm, it fits in a smaller area, better axle control, and (IMO) easier to fabricate.

Centered pinion, offset t-case output...

--D

OK Doug just a couple of quick calcs.

If you got a 13in spread and guessing the mounting point on the chassis is 36inches forward of the diff (tell me if im wrong) then your links will be about 36.58inches long


Then.........

If the poly bush could compress by 1/4inch (which is a lot but it depends on the thickness of the poly) then I get the axle moving sideways by 1.5inches (which is also a lot maybe??? nah on second thoughts over your overall width (which you are still going to tell me) of about 90inches its not much)

If the poly compresses by 1/8inch the the axle moves sideways by 3/4 inch which is not worth worrying about on an off road machine.

Did the calc using the old pythagarous (sp?????) theorem (you know the square of the hypotunuse (sp??????) equals the sum of the square on the other two sides in a right angle triangle)

I think it will be fine. Just get the stiffest polly you can get.

Sam

Thanks Sam! I think I'm gonna' run with the bushes at the upper link tie-in to the frame...And keep the high misalignment JJs' at the x-over. That will keep shock and bending moment (shock) forces to a minimum, and give me a little "cush" during the high speed romps I wanna' do. If I notice the rear end wandering away from me during cornering and such, then I'll re-do the mounts.

I'm really pleased with the progress, and the simplicity of the whole system. Heck...I've only got about 40 hours into her now...I'm thinkin' of taking a week off work to really get a bite out of it, finish the front and get rollin'.

BTW, a guy from 4Wheeler wants to fly to Santa Fe and do a full write-up on the rig...All this via word of mouth (none by me)...I really don't care, but it sure pushes the motivation button!

--D

Well at least you got someone with a camera who can document this for us...oh and you too!!! Looking forward to the writeup!!

Johnathan

D-

for the write-up the truck doesn't really need to be 'done'. Hehe. Mine *STILL* isn't done!

I want to see some pics of that rear link setup. Sounds curiously interesting. Also some pics will show how far you've gotten on the front axle and sheet metal (the stuff we REALLY care about).

Keep it up man! Projects are a pain!!!! (you know that tho...)

M

Originally posted by Serious One
Keep it up man! Projects are a pain!!!! (you know that tho...)

M

Yea...The truck needs to be done...But IMO, getting in mag's is cool and all, but after it's all said and done it really doesn't light my fire...I'll take up the offer though!!!

This project (so far) really isn't a pain at all...Now that it's building rather than destroying. I'm doing every tab and bracket, measurement, and all that...It's really fun actually. Great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. However, I'll be at a point (soon) were I'll rather be wheelin' the beast rather than measureing, drilling, grinding, welding...Bla, bla, bla...Once she's sprung in the rear I'll be half way there!

--D

Originally posted by RockRover


Yea...The truck needs to be done...But IMO, getting in mag's is cool and all, but after it's all said and done it really doesn't light my fire...I'll take up the offer though!!!

This project (so far) really isn't a pain at all...Now that it's building rather than destroying. I'm doing every tab and bracket, measurement, and all that...It's really fun actually. Great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. However, I'll be at a point (soon) were I'll rather be wheelin' the beast rather than measureing, drilling, grinding, welding...Bla, bla, bla...Once she's sprung in the rear I'll be half way there!

--D

You get to the point when you want to wheel instead of build when you can actually get in it and wheel. (this is where mine is at at the moment still got lots to do but it goes so I wheel it instead of building :D )

Take the week off for sure. If you got all the pits and pieces you need to do everything then take the week you will get so much done.

If you havent got everything you need then wait till you do before you take the week cause nothing wastes more time then chasing bits.

Man!! You would have to be bloody excited to actually be starting to get into some of the big progress (axles and shiat) after a year of her sitting there.

Do the magazine for sure. It might not make any difference to you but for me it would be a blast (and I would guess for anyone else that knows you)

:bounce: :bounce2: :bounce: :bounce2:

Get that machine wheeling!!!
:smokin:

Sam