Anyone done a tri-link front in a TJ ?

[DippStick]

OK, here's the deal.

I can get my draglink almost damn flat with my new hi-steer, but the trackbar has no chance.

It'll look something like this



So I'm thinking - why not throw the fawkin thing ?

Rockkrawler are already selling a front and rear tri-link TJ kit and Currie have had a tri-link rear for years, so what's so difficult ?



I could get Curries rear brackets and make long upper arms for the rear straight of the RE mount.

In the front I could do simillar or do a long arm variant of Rockkrawlers setup.

Any issues ?

Thanks

DS

[nasvik]

Issues? Your oilpan among other things. I'm sure it could work, but I think the engine is in the way. Not sure how it'd be steering and tracking.

Paul

[Money Bags]

Just a word for the wise, be carefull with the rockkrawler setup. I know of one person who has had on the road complications resulting in severe damage. Thats about all I can say since liability is at stake, but can put you in touch w/ the owner of the mangled TJ.......

[Zane Znamenacek]

I don't think the RockKrawler setup looks too bad as far as the design, but the parts look a little weak. I've heard about problems with the center joint breaking off of the upper A arm. Maybe if they had some gussets there or something.

[DippStick]

The rear will re relativley straight forward.

I plan to get some of Curries brackets that they use with their TJ tri-link system and then fab new uppers to go to the RE long arm mounts.

Up front I'm curious about RockKrawler's UCA.
I'd try and use long arms but if the engine is in the way could settle for using the stock UCA position.

I'd make the arms in a simillar shape to RockKrawler to help tracking and use 1/2" brackets and the biggest fawk off heim joint money could buy <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

I think it's 'doable' and I'm going for it this winter. I was just curious if anyone had done it up front on a TJ - apart from
RockKrawlwer.

DS

[JayH]

I don't get it. The pic I see has leaf springs...

[TDW]

Originally posted by JayH:
<STRONG>I don't get it. The pic I see has leaf springs...</STRONG>

I am assuming DS is using the pic as an example.

[DippStick]

Ughhh, yeah !

I've been exchanging emails with a guy @ RockKrawler.

He tells me they are no longer producing the tri-link suspensions since they were too difficult to install ?

He has then gone on to say that they are producing a radius arm setup which I suggested was simillar to RE.

This is his response

"Our
set is similiar but definitly different from RE. There geometry fights
articulation. The lower control arms in there front system inherently bind
when articulated. The factory axle attachment locations are too far apart to
be tied together and are out of plane from each other. When you cycle the
front end you are attempting to twist the axle-which cannot be done. The
axle is a rigid member. So your flex is limited to the misalignment that the
bushings will permit. Do you follow my explaination."

Here's a pic of my RE long arm kit with 37" tires at 30 PSI and the shocks disconnected to show how REs arms fight articulation <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">



DS

[peter33]

That doesn't look like so much fighting to me. <IMG SRC="smilies/shy.gif" border="0"> I have my long arm kit on order from RE. Can't wait to have the problem that you are having in this pic. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

[CJ Lagos]

Hey Dippstick,

Don't worry about putting your draglink up so high, you'll just kill yourself trying to build the trackbar to match. My suggestion is to use the your existing trackbar, put a stock pitman arm on and run the draglink to underneath the high clearance arm. That should match up decent enough to drive and handle well. If you want to get into serious mods, raise the axle mount on the trackbar some.

In terms of a 3link front, I'm not a fan. I'm not a huge fan of 3links period, a 4link is much more versatile IMHO. The trackbar up front keeps the truck very solid and makes steering much easier to build correctly.

Don't buy those currie brackets, they're just box tubing cut at an angle and then the bottom side cut off. Just take your RE skidplate, cut the UCA mounts off and build new UCA mounts where the old ones were. Then build arms to match, you might even be able to use your old RE arms.

I responded to your email this morning too.

CJ

[DippStick]

So what about triangulating front and rear using 4 link ?

I like the way Currie do it and would 'borrow' their idea front and rear, i.e. rigid non-flexing bushings at the frame end, johnny joints at the axle end and the arms angled inwards to some brackets angled out to mate with them.

This would be safer than a pure 3 link design and the rigidity of the frame mounts should keep the axle centered good.

Thoughts ?

DS

[scouter77]

Fawk the shock and swaybar discos where can I get one of those spring disco kits? <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

[DippStick]

Scouter,

You'll have to run that one by me again - I haven't got a clue what you are talkin about <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

DS

[vvws3]

Scouter Wrote

Fawk the shock and swaybar discos where can I get one of those spring disco kits?

Ditto and some quick disconnect shocks
<IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0"><IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0">
<IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

[P&T Jeeps]

Every thing I have seen w/ the RockKrawler is complete crap! My buddy has had nothing but problems w/ his setup. I must say their customer service is good though... They have sent replacment parts for everything he has broken so far which was everything. He has at least one whole+ kit in the driveway broken.

I have also seen their supposed "radius arm". Looks a bit sketchy to me, but they are not finished designing it yet.

But DS, I havn't done the front yet but I have completely redesigned the rear suspension into a unconventional 3-link. Breakdown:

-Cut off every stock rear bracket
-got RE brackets, welded lowers to top of axle and uppers to bottom/mid
-beefed up trackbar bracket and raised it 6" over stock location (tilted fwd a bit)
-built bracket that sandwiched frame rails from the inside
-built threaded long arms from frame brackets to top of axle; tera uppers kick off of square upper for pinion angle adjustment (sort of upside down RE long arm)
-adustable track bar

flexes like a mofo (enough to drop the rear springs out, fixed now). very little rear steer, and the perfect amount of anti-squat.
I am very happy w/ it.

[ 08-29-2001: Message edited by: P&T jeeps ]

[Wheelr]

P&T,

So I take it your tj is red huh? Is your buddy with the rockrawler shit in the blue tj? I ride around in a white xj. Anyways, later.

Jared <IMG SRC="smilies/smokin.gif" border="0">

[P&T Jeeps]

Sure enough... My brother has the red XJ. You need to stop by the house sometimes, we've been having Jeep conventions almost every afternoon.

...before long were gonna have as many people from Lafayette as they do from Calfornia [yea right!]

[ 08-28-2001: Message edited by: P&T jeeps ]

[JasonTJ]

Originally posted by Rockkrawler1:
<STRONG>Scouter Wrote

Fawk the shock and swaybar discos where can I get one of those spring disco kits?

Ditto and some quick disconnect shocks
<IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0">
<IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"></STRONG>

Since you read this board, care to comment on the discontinuing of the tri-link, and the complaints of the weak parts.??

[DippStick]

P&T,

Sounds interesting - any chance of some pics ?

What's your thoughts on the front ?

BTW - this talk about the drag link and trackbar being at the same angle as each otehr doesn't convince me.

I drove my TJ home yesterday after getting the hi-steer done. The draglink is almost flat and the track bar is the RE long arm kit with lowering bracket. I din't notice ANY bumpsteer - at least nothing more than before the hi-steer. I deliberately hit as many potholes as I could at around 60 mph and it did nothing.

I'll wait a few weeks and see if I need to mod the front end at all now.

DS

[P&T Jeeps]

DS I'll mail you some pics tomorrow. As far as the front... I'm still working on that. I have seen plenty that I don't like or dosn't work so I'm trying to work around that, just not much room up there. And my other big problem, when I did my rear I might as well have done it blindfolded, I didn't know sh*t about suspension design.

Now that I am more knowledgeable about the subject I'm am hesitant on finalizing anything. Ironic isn't it!!??

[dreday]

I have the rockkrawler suspension and have had some problems due to axle misalignment from dynatrac. Yes I am the guy running sround in the blue Tj with 38's dana 44's f&r ARB's and everything else. I have put almost every suspension on the market on before and the Tri-link flexed the best by far. Now let's be realistic for a moment. Try running a brand new suspension with 38's and custom steering and tell me if you don't run into any problems. The people from rockkrawler have chosen to help me out and have been far more cooperative than any other company. if you want to run serious off road type wheeling like myself I recommend the rockkrawler severe duty lift. If there are any guestions regarding this lift or my jeep please e-mail me at dreday134@hotmail.com And in regards to anyone who thinks that the tri-link is crap those opinions are soley their own and I will speak to the guy who previously wrote about my lift.

[ 08-29-2001: Message edited by: dreday ]

[DippStick]

Dre,
But they discontinued the tri-link front, so what do they offer that RE doesn't ?

Anyway, I don't want to buy an off the shelf suspension anymore - I'm on my 5th between the XJ and the TJ.

I just want to augment what the RE long arm kits starts with, flexing isn't an issue - I get 1350 RTI on a 23* ramp with the shocks connected with 30 PSI in my tires. I don't see what anymore flex would buy me ?

The reason I'm considering triangulating to get rid of the trackbars.

BTW - making threats of violence on a public forum isn't very smart (it's illegal too).

DS

[ 08-29-2001: Message edited by: DippStick ]

[P&T Jeeps]

To clear things up, the opinions posted of RockKrawler's suspension are of my own not of Dre. As he mentioned he did encounter problems w/ the suspension but had it all welded up and is very happy w/ it now. Still, personally I would not run it but that is JUST me.

No need for anyone to get mad, this BB is made up of opinions, all manufacturers get bashed at some time or another. Yet most are still around. Hopefully they use this real world experience to better their products. Without opinions why would we read this? <IMG SRC="smilies/skull.gif" border="0">

[dreday]

DippStick
I personally understand your situation, but first off Rockkrawler did not discontinue their front Tri-link. You should get in touch with them because they would be more than happy to help you. Regarding getting rid of the rear track bar. Rockkrawler uses solid tubing and there is nothing iin the rear to get in the way. It will greatly improve your ride and is easy to install. I would like to know what problems you are having with the rear track bar because when I had mine it was a huge problem with any lift. regarding the front you obviously have plenty of articulation,and there is only so much useful articulation you can use if you drive it on the road. I personally know that guy very well and was just kidding, but as I am sure you know no one knows as much about your jeep as you and therefore no one should be speaking for you. His comments were reflected on me and as I said I have a good relationship with the people from Rockkrawler and those comments were jeopradizing that relationship.

[GOFER]

Originally posted by Money Bags:
<STRONG>Just a word for the wise, be carefull with the rockkrawler setup. I know of one person who has had on the road complications resulting in severe damage. Thats about all I can say since liability is at stake, but can put you in touch w/ the owner of the mangled TJ.......</STRONG>

You might as well say that the Hiem broke doing 70 on the insterstate. Weather it had anything to do with RK or not is up to the experts to decided it is a fact that it broke leaving him with no steering.
Damm good thing he wasn't killed dead!!!