Got the frame extended 11" in the front, and 5 in the rear... Mounted up stock XJ springs front and rear, so that the short ends of the springs are at the ends of the frame... Looks like about 95" altogether with the front being stretched 8" and the rear 7" or so... Inboarded the rear springs to 30.5" center to center on the springs, and outboarded the fronts to 29.5" (stock Toyota Housing spacing)... Things are coming together really well... Just a few questions though...

Has anyone had stabilitiy issues with the rear springs inboarded under the frame, and if so, what shocks are you guys using to combat this? I know fatkid has some *Bling Bling* coilover shocks on his rig, but that may be pricey for me, keeping the whole build up inder $2500 hopefully... The springs are going to work really well i hope, 51 3/4" long when flat... (Had to run em over in the driveway with my VW to find out though) :beer: :beer:

Otherwise the buildup is going really well, i only get 2 days a week to get at it, but so far so good... Hope to be up and going in the spring...

I posted a very similer questiong about 2 weeks ago....

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=94267


I'm running stock mounting in the front and about the same in the back. I basically boiled it down to this....

The stock zuke perches are real narrow and assuming your still running the same tub/frame etc... If the mounting is at least what it was then you should be no worse of than before but with maybe more leverage...... Theoretically speeking..... Good luck

-builder bobs step child... earl

No way in hell the stock mounts would work, i would have gotten 20" of stretch if I did that... Built a Shackle Reversal in the front and redid every last mount... The front shackle mounts are just behind the stock Body mount and the spring mount is right at the mid-body mount area as welll... Had to set the rear shackles out past the stock tub, so I guess Ill cut it up and go Half Cab... Just currious about the inboarded bit...

Originally posted by punkskalar

Has anyone had stabilitiy issues with the rear springs inboarded under the frame, and if so, what shocks are you guys using to combat this? I know fatkid has some *Bling Bling* coilover shocks on his rig, but that may be pricey for me, keeping the whole build up inder $2500 hopefully... The springs are going to work really well i hope, 51 3/4" long when flat... (Had to run em over in the driveway with my VW to find out though) :beer: :beer:

Otherwise the buildup is going really well, i only get 2 days a week to get at it, but so far so good... Hope to be up and going in the spring...

I don't remember what FK was running for shocks, but Kong's sells the gas charged Bilsteins for a reasonable price, I think they are very competitive with the RS9000's (if not cheaper, haven't priced them lately). JackA took the plunge and bought some of the 5100's, he was happy with them (I'll let him speak for himself). I ended up buying a set two days later to replace my 3 year old 9000's. The ride is somehow smoother, hard to describe and hard to believe since these shocks have enough pressure to lift my rig an inch to a half inch! My decision to purchase these was largley driven by wanting a shock absorber that would dampen in both directions (to help keep the suspension from bottoming out at high speeds), the old 9000's really only affected the rebound, not compression. Oh, and you can't forget the bling factor :grinpimp:

i run the yj springs under the frame in the rear on mine. works good. my rear flexs better in the rear than my buddy who has the same setup but the springs out side the frame rails. i run pro comp 3000 shocks. there a little stiff though.

So tell me more about the Bilsteins AZ... I respect your opinions, as i know your rig sees lots of hard use compared to most... They are adjustable for compression and rebound? What stroke do they have... Im not up on my shock technology as of late... Your rig is lightweight like mine, so thats why I ask what model you are running and such... Thanks

Hugh

Originally posted by Azrckcrawler
wanting a shock absorber that would dampen in both directions, the old 9000's really only affected the rebound, not compression.I agree completely. A buddy of mine was running four rancho 5012s at each corner. That's 16 shocks. :eek:

...Before you go screaming "POSER!" I should mention that this was on an arena truck (aka "tough trucks"). He ran it that way because they had little damping on compression. Before, after every jump it would bounce back into the air on landings. After he did that, it would hit, slap the bumpstops, and stay on the ground, allowing him to get on the gas immediatley after the rears were down.

I've noticed the same thing on my Toy. Going over a speedbump at speed is enough to hit bumpstop... and the dial really only adjust how it returns to ride height AFTER hitting a bup.

Originally posted by Azrckcrawler


I don't remember what FK was running for shocks, but Kong's sells the gas charged Bilsteins for a reasonable price, I think they are very competitive with the RS9000's (if not cheaper, haven't priced them lately). JackA took the plunge and bought some of the 5100's, he was happy with them (I'll let him speak for himself). I ended up buying a set two days later to replace my 3 year old 9000's. The ride is somehow smoother, hard to describe and hard to believe since these shocks have enough pressure to lift my rig an inch to a half inch! My decision to purchase these was largley driven by wanting a shock absorber that would dampen in both directions (to help keep the suspension from bottoming out at high speeds), the old 9000's really only affected the rebound, not compression. Oh, and you can't forget the bling factor :grinpimp:

Alright Show us the goods! Pictures AZ.. Pictures!

Originally posted by punkskalar
So tell me more about the Bilsteins AZ... I respect your opinions, as i know your rig sees lots of hard use compared to most... They are adjustable for compression and rebound? What stroke do they have... Im not up on my shock technology as of late... Your rig is lightweight like mine, so thats why I ask what model you are running and such... Thanks

Hugh

The 5100's are not adjustable. I was a little worried that the ride would get harsher, especially after Jack said he installed them and his Toy was lifted a good inch. I got some 10" travel shocks for the back, originally got the 12" for the front but took those back for the 14" model. I believe the Rancho 9012 was actually 13" travel. I should have stayed with the 12", the 14" is really hard to get mounted in a Zuk since it's so long. First break in run was the Parker Desert Splash. Onroad these things feel pretty tight and controlled, body roll is diminished (compared to the 9000's set at 4) although at 4psi I get some good sidewall flex going around corners on the pavement :eek: I can't evaluate them in the rocks till I run some trails I ran with my 9000's. Here's a picture of my rig going up the Launchpad, I think the extra force that these shocks exert on the springs helped keep my back end from dropping as far as it could have.

http://www.azrockcrawler.com/_images/2002/11-02preschoice/Dscn4089.jpg

Here's a longer wheelbase rig on the same obstacle:

http://www.azrockcrawler.com/_images/2002/11-02preschoice/Dscn4098.jpg

One other thing Mark@ Kong's had mentioned is these don't loose their dampning abilioty (due to heat build up) like the Rancho's do on extended hard useage (high speed driving down washboard roads). We'll probably be running some stuff out on Table Mesa this weekend so I'll get some runtime in on them on familiar terrain.

hey chris does kongs have a web site?

I had some issues with body roll, the charged shocks worked well for me.

I have had 9000s in the past and am running the Bilstiens now and I love them!

Originally posted by High5
hey chris does kongs have a web site?

Kong's website. (http://www.kongs4x4.com/) . Not everything they carry is listed yet, so call if you don't see it.

7100 Bilstiens

7100's ...., COME AWN! with remote reservior .....for her pleasure!!!