Tracy Jordan suspension specifications [Archive]

BJ On Roids

10-06-2002, 02:05 PM

im after information on tracy jordans suspension, and also on don robbins' suspension

is it true these guys both run spring under axle fronts (leaf springs) and compete quite well? i am aware that they both place highly in calrocs!

why do they run SUA fronts? any specifics or particulars?
any nice close up pics....

yeah i used the search and saw action pics...but i want info now too!

what springs are they using? and why?

tia

rob

rockmutt

10-06-2002, 02:35 PM

contact ROCKRACER, he is Tracy Jordans spotter.

yes they both are running spring under in the front, i think they are doin that to keep the machine stable on sidehills and let the rear flex.+ they have the cool hydro setup at each wheel

BrettM

10-06-2002, 02:48 PM

Dude! that guy has a tire ramping on his ass, he must be freakin strong!

Strange Rover

10-06-2002, 02:54 PM

Originally posted by peeJ
contact ROCKRACER, he is Tracy Jordans spotter.

yes they both are running spring under in the front, i think they are doin that to keep the machine stable on sidehills and let the rear flex.+ they have the cool hydro setup at each wheel

Are these guys allowed to use the hydro suspension in comps??

With everybody doing SOA its amazing that this rig is setup spring under. Didnt Tracy Jordan win the calrocks series just finished?

Sam

Lance

10-06-2002, 04:14 PM

Tracy runs Skyjacker FJ40 springs up front, SUA. He runs coil overs in the rear. He has hydraulic rams at each corner, so he can lower and raise each wheel as needed. Yes, he may use the hydraulics in competition. In RCAA however, he can only do front and back, he isn't allowed to do each wheel individually. Without his hydraulics, his rig wouldn't work so hot since the front sits very low (no approach angle whatsoever!). His rig really is a POS (can you say ZERO maintenance? ;) ) and he amazes me at how well he can drive it. He's an AWESOME driver. He has a new Twisted Customs Paulie-built rig for next year. It has a Toyota Matrix front clip on it, and it will be pretty. He's a little nervous about driving it, but at least he'll look good. ;)

BJ On Roids

10-06-2002, 04:22 PM

so without forced articulation, as the pic above describes it doesn't flex real flash!

hmmmm

how about this don robbins guy, is he in the same boat as far as front suspension?!?!

what wheelbase are these guys at?
is there a reason that these guys run leafs springs up front...
specifically, apart from they just didnt convert to links?! like a definite reason they kept the leaf springs up front?!?!?!
did he thin "shorten" the frame a little to get better turning radius? i notice his bonnet is a lot thinner than standard, is his frame standard width or thinner?

thanks for the info

keep it coming!

10-06-2002, 04:28 PM

so in rrca you can use the hydraulics only to make it see-saw? can you also use it to tilt side to side?

elf_cruiser

10-06-2002, 04:32 PM

The hood, bonnet, and tub have been narrowed about 6", but the frame is stock width. I would guess the wheelbase at about 104". Personally, I don't know why he kept the SUA, although i'm sure it is just his personal preference. He sure gets hung up on it enough, though.

KrustyKruiser

10-06-2002, 04:58 PM

Tracy told me he likes the spring under in the front because he claims it does not "unload" like a spring over does on Steep climbs. There are 4 hydraulic levers to controll each wheel, they are all located where the center console would be. He can also have all valves open so that the suspention works normally and does not ramain rigid. When the wheels that are being hydralicly forced are rigid. If you watch the Cal rocs video from Battle at chimney rock you can see how when don robins(who has the same suspention) corrected his roll because of the hydraluics, but then because they were all locked in it caused it to hit stiff on its wheel then roll another 2 times. Still bitchen though. Tracy told me he wanted to build a cruiser for the trail at home using four wheel sprun under just like his rig used to be, and use hydraulics. Wheel see though after he drives His new rig because it sounds bad ass

BTW Lance i would not call it a POS, because it may not have been maintianed much but he wheels the snot out of it And it shows like it would whith any vehicle. It is at least mechanicly reliable for all wheeling and would not leave him stranded although it may not be pretty. Which to me does not define a POS.

Ian-

rockmutt

10-06-2002, 05:06 PM

rockmutt

10-06-2002, 05:10 PM

don robbins rear hydros

Lance

10-06-2002, 06:30 PM

Originally posted by KrustyKruiser
BTW Lance i would not call it a POS

I would... And so will he. Ask him. :p

BEHEMOTH

10-06-2002, 07:49 PM

So what the hell is he going to do with the cruiser? now that he has a new competion rig. At Donner I watched him walk a section two other competors pointed out on. Why get rid of a good thing? even though it looks like shit it work well

Chris Geiger

10-06-2002, 08:07 PM

http://66.12.181.251/2002moonrocks/0051.jpg

10-06-2002, 10:22 PM

I recall when I first bumped into Tracy and his rig at the Table Mesa Rd. area in Phoenix about 4 years ago, his rig really hasn't changed much at all since. Now, still, it's not all high tech and highly modified, but functional. He's a good example of driver skill, rather than high dollar gadgetry making up for experience. If I recall back then he was running 4" Skyjacker springs SUA all the way around w/sawzall upgrade to make the tires fit. :D Robbins rig has come a long way. I remember when he first started competing, the rig and/or he didn't do too well. Nothing seems to be holding him back now.

skinny

10-06-2002, 10:36 PM

the rig works bitchen, the leafs are there for stability and simplicity, the rams help but not as much as everyone thinks, mostly just to raise the front up so he doesnt get hung as much, and yes it is a pos and he will be the first to tell ya, but he will also tell u that there is no other rig that "crawls like that rig" and he can just flat out drive, u could put it on coilovers or leafs or 1/4 eleptic whatever it wouldend matter, its not the truck that wins its tracy

Strange Rover

10-07-2002, 03:12 AM

OK then so whats the deal. These guys are top 10 rigs easy.

Tracy Jorden won the calrocks this year??? and Don Robbins was second overall in ARCA last year.

Seems like the hydraulics dont really do that much (because of the way they are allowed to use them and that when they do the suspension locks up solid - correct me if im wrong here)

So WTF is going on here. These rigs are SUA and they are kicking arse. Driving ability only goes so far and at the end of the day its the rig that just has to be capable and no driver is going to make an uncapable POS be competitive no matter what.

Whats the go with SOA being the be all and end all for leaf spring front ends with these rigs running around.

How many rigs compete in the top level comps with SUA front ends (and linked rears). Cause if these are the only two then I think everybody is missing something.

Or are these guys just plain lucky??

Sam

Go2Guy

10-07-2002, 06:56 AM

It is simple and reliable but these guys can drive and their spotters are no slouches either. My rigs a POS too, but it works.

If it's reliable and well driven/spotted you can hang with techno buggies- IMO.

Rockracer/Jerry- never realized that was you.... last I heard the new Jordan ride was going to debut this week????

You'll have to tell me about your signature ride at the SC- Good luck to you guys.:D

morpheus

10-07-2002, 07:04 AM

hey Ken, you ever have a problem with those ends on your rear susp. failing. Correct me if i'm wrong but were they not Tie Rod ends ?

- jack

Go2Guy

10-07-2002, 07:19 AM

Yes and no- I'm using those ends on my panhard, steering links and the rear uppers on the diff.

I just broke the one on the panhard in a comp 9 days ago. Looks like it had been cracked beforehand, took a good sidehit bouncing around up a fast hillclimb- still finished the climb with secont fastest time- so its a fast POS.
Looks like my machining had something to do with it too- I did not run the tapered reamer far enough in so more leverage is there and the tapered body does not bear the load as some of it gets put to the first few threads- which is where it cracked and failed.

I inspected all the others last week- all holes machined deeper, no cracks. 2 new spare ends in the truck to be sure.

Ends are from a 80 chevy 4x4 drag link, cheap, in stock everwhere, lifetime warranty, lots of misalignment and stout.

I have seen those ends break on 6000 lb trail rigs though when used on rear uppers and 42" TSL's with 4.3 Atlas and 5.13.

morpheus

10-07-2002, 07:27 AM

thanks for the info Ken. It was the rear uppers on the diff that I saw when you were at the comp here in AL a few months back.
I've seen others use the big Tie Rod ends too. just never knew any of them to know about the longevity of using them.

you're rig is definitely a quick and finely tuned POS :D

- jack

BJ On Roids

10-07-2002, 04:36 PM

Originally posted by Strange Rover
OK then so whats the deal. These guys are top 10 rigs easy.

Tracy Jorden won the calrocks this year??? and Don Robbins was second overall in ARCA last year.

Seems like the hydraulics dont really do that much (because of the way they are allowed to use them and that when they do the suspension locks up solid - correct me if im wrong here)

So WTF is going on here. These rigs are SUA and they are kicking arse. Driving ability only goes so far and at the end of the day its the rig that just has to be capable and no driver is going to make an uncapable POS be competitive no matter what.

Whats the go with SOA being the be all and end all for leaf spring front ends with these rigs running around.

How many rigs compete in the top level comps with SUA front ends (and linked rears). Cause if these are the only two then I think everybody is missing something.

Or are these guys just plain lucky??

Sam

awesome, this is what i wanted to know

CMAWWN answers!!

MattS

10-07-2002, 10:32 PM

I don't know anything about the specs on Don's rig. I do know in some places it worked great, in others he was grabbing levers like mad and it looked like it didn't work. Here a few pics from Disney, OK. Everyone likes pics! :D

http://pirate4x4.net/mstevens/uploads/don1.jpg
http://pirate4x4.net/mstevens/uploads/don2.jpg
http://pirate4x4.net/mstevens/uploads/don3.jpg
http://pirate4x4.net/mstevens/uploads/don4.jpg
http://pirate4x4.net/mstevens/uploads/don5.jpg

BJ On Roids

10-07-2002, 10:37 PM

everybody does love pics

especially me!! :D

thanks dude...
what is going on with his tyre in that third last pic, is that an action shot...or is he showing off the active suspension? :eek:

damn, that thing looks awesome too!

wngrog

10-08-2002, 01:59 AM

Originally posted by G02Guy
Rockracer/Jerry- never realized that was you.... last I heard the new Jordan ride was going to debut this week????

You'll have to tell me about your signature ride at the SC- Good luck to you guys.:D

Rockracer is not Jerry.......different dude.

RKCRAWLER

10-08-2002, 07:46 AM

Originally posted by morpheus
thanks for the info Ken. It was the rear uppers on the diff that I saw when you were at the comp here in AL a few months back.
I've seen others use the big Tie Rod ends too. just never knew any of them to know about the longevity of using them.

you're rig is definitely a quick and finely tuned POS :D

- jack Morpheus, did we ever talk at the Al comp?? I was driving the blue TJ w/orange cage in front of ken.I am trying to remember if I talked to a Jack while I was there. Just wondering....

MattS

10-08-2002, 08:50 AM

Originally posted by BJ On Roids
what is going on with his tyre in that third last pic, is that an action shot...or is he showing off the active suspension? :eek:

damn, that thing looks awesome too!

Just parking it. ;)

morpheus

10-08-2002, 09:50 AM

Originally posted by RKCRAWLER
Morpheus, did we ever talk at the Al comp?? I was driving the blue TJ w/orange cage in front of ken.I am trying to remember if I talked to a Jack while I was there. Just wondering....

yeah, we talked. I have a 3-4" goatee if that jogs your memory. No one seems to forget that :D

- jack

BJ On Roids

10-08-2002, 09:57 PM

Originally posted by MattS

Just parking it. ;)

unreal, you could wave as your driving down the street or even save on tyre wear "at the mall" (j/k)

looks awesome!!

BJ On Roids

10-08-2002, 10:06 PM

Originally posted by morpheus

yeah, we talked. I have a 3-4" goatee if that jogs your memory. No one seems to forget that :D

- jack

so you dont look like the king of the hill guy?

:(

another misconception solved by pirate 4x4 :flipoff2:

BWAHAHAHA

Go2Guy

10-09-2002, 10:16 AM

Thanks for clearing that up about Jerry.

morpheus

10-09-2002, 10:26 AM

Originally posted by BJ On Roids

so you dont look like the king of the hill guy?

:(

another misconception solved by pirate 4x4 :flipoff2:

BWAHAHAHA

sure i do, Hank Hill just doesn't have a goatee :D

- jack

Mieser

10-12-2002, 10:38 AM

What kind of valve do they use for the rams? Is there any way to adjust how stiff the ram would act as a shock?

randii

10-12-2002, 03:34 PM

Don's truck
http://www.4x4wire.com/gallery/trailshots/4x4_Trailshots/Competitions/UROC/Cedar_City_2002/uroc_cc073.jpg

More here: http://www.4x4wire.com/cgi-bin/gallery/imageFolio.cgi?direct=trailshots/4x4_Trailshots/Competitions/UROC/Cedar_City_2002&img=60

Tracy's truck: http://www.4x4wire.com/gallery/trailshots/4x4_Trailshots/Competitions/Skyjacker_Womans_Rock_Crawling_Championship_2001/tracy1.jpg

Both these guys show off pretty well in the parking lot, and pay off pretty well on the obstacles. :cool: Cool. :cool:

Randii