I'm a newbie to the forum, but not new to Jeeps. I've just getting ready to do my 1st SOA with full width D44 (chevy front) and 14 bolt rear.
Has anyone tried the Avalanche Engineering Full Width CJ axle kit? Does anyone have any feedback? Or know of anyone who has tried it?
I haven't outboarded springs or changed spring perches or done any heavy mods (other than bolt-on kits) to suspension for that matter. I don't want to screw anything up and think that the AA Full width kit may be an easy solution.
Any ideas?

I haven't tried their kit myself, but I remember at least 1 person on here who has and liked it. Judging by his reports and my impressions of pictures I've seen, like their other products it seems to be a well made, good quality kit. Once nice feature is that the rear spring hanger bracket allows for multiple hanger positions, so that changing spring lengths and adjusting shackle angle is just a matter of turning the wrench. However, like their other products, it's a bit pricey for my taste. Also, I believe that with this kit you must cut and weld new spring perches on the rear axle. This is something that you'll probably want to do anyway, so that you can set your pinion angle.

IMHO, this is a good kit if you either don't have a welder, torch, etc. (or a friend that does :D), or don't have the time necessary to do the fab work/figuring required. Outboarding springs really isn't that hard. Search both in here and the General 4x4 forum, and you'll find more than enough info. to get you going. Take your time, do it right, and you'll have a setup that's just as good for a whole lot less money.

Good luck with your project, and :flipoff2:

Originally posted by Cajun
I haven't tried their kit myself, but I remember at least 1 person on here who has and liked it. Judging by his reports and my impressions of pictures I've seen, like their other products it seems to be a well made, good quality kit. Once nice feature is that the rear spring hanger bracket allows for multiple hanger positions, so that changing spring lengths and adjusting shackle angle is just a matter of turning the wrench. However, like their other products, it's a bit pricey for my taste. Also, I believe that with this kit you must cut and weld new spring perches on the rear axle. This is something that you'll probably want to do anyway, so that you can set your pinion angle.

IMHO, this is a good kit if you either don't have a welder, torch, etc. (or a friend that does :D), or don't have the time necessary to do the fab work/figuring required. Outboarding springs really isn't that hard. Search both in here and the General 4x4 forum, and you'll find more than enough info. to get you going. Take your time, do it right, and you'll have a setup that's just as good for a whole lot less money.

Good luck with your project, and :flipoff2:

Umm the kit does not have anything to do with the rear axle. In the rear I would just move the perches in since the diff. is centered.

I saw a CJ with outboarded springs at Avalanche when I stopped by there. I'd imagine the brackets they used were basically the "kit" or based on it, and they looked good. It wasn't anything that many people haven't put together themselves on this board a million times, but if you want to go with some that is pre-fab'd then it may be the ticket; otherwise do a search on outboarding and you'll probably find tons of pictures that you can copy a design from.

Here's my take on them... Yes, they looked good, they looked well made, however I have also seen the result of that kit twisting like a piece of taffy. Sorry Taft, no pun intended there:p

From how the story goes he some how hit the front bracket and it
pushed it backwards bending the bar and breaking the braket. We all agreed that the welds were not penetrating through the metal. I am not SLAMMING this company, however just telling of Tafts experience. I have outboarded springs before and yes it is tough to do if you don't have the equipment. Good luck.

Yep it peeled back like a tin can being open. No joke. I am the one who installed the kit, and the weld(not done by me, but by Av Eng) did not penetrate the hanger at all. I would build your own, or get with a local shop to do it. Support your local builders.

WTF!! NEWBIE ALERT :flipoff2: :flipoff2: :flipoff2: Forget your password :confused:

I agree with you Jim, Support your local builder and support his habit... a RedFJ ;)


Originally posted by RedFJ
Yep it peeled back like a tin can being open. No joke. I am the one who installed the kit, and the weld(not done by me, but by Av Eng) did not penetrate the hanger at all. I would build your own, or get with a local shop to do it. Support your local builders.

Originally posted by XtremeGod


Umm the kit does not have anything to do with the rear axle. In the rear I would just move the perches in since the diff. is centered.

You'd be right. For some reason I thought that the kit came with the adjustable brackets for both ends. Thinking about it now, I realize that would make no sense whatsoever. I guess that's what I get for posting before work.

So, like I said to begin with and XtremeGod re-iterated, you'll want to cut and weld new spring perches on the rear axle.

i have one and have been happy with it but be warned it does not bolt on. i had to cut and grind. i would go with the WMS one my friend got one recently and it went on in less than 2 hours

Just wanted to tell everyone thanks. I'm going to try to do it on my own. I did a lot of searching before and after my post, and I think I'll be happier with my own spring over. I also think that I can similarly duplicate AA's kit with a good welder. If anyone of you have kits or diagrams that you followed, I'd love to see them. You can email me at greg@motofrugals.com or I'll pay to have them mailed.

Thanks

I posted some of my pics here: (http://www.northeastonlinewheelers.org/yabbse/index.php?board=4;action=display;threadid=4216)

Newbie do a search these topics have been discussed here many,many times. :flipoff2: :flipoff2: :flipoff2: :flipoff2: