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Evilmudder

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Well i am thinking about building some long arms for my 96 zj over the winter. I am planning on making a crossmember similar to what claytons sells and running a 3 link front. I am looking in to using a flex joint and a rubber bushing on the lower arms. Would i be better off putting the rubber bushing on the frame end of the lower arm or should i put it on the axle end?

Also, just wondering if it is possible if you could run a radius arm setup in the rear? To me it looks like it would work out fine. It is still keeping the pinion in the same spot just like it would work on the front. Does anybody see any problems with building the rear like this?

Thanks,
Ben
 
I would stay away from a rear radius arm setup...I am not a super bad @$$ link suspension professor like all the tards over on Pirate, but after a few years of studying long arm links on TJ's this is what I feel would result.

1. Example...RE or Clayton front LA...uses radius arm setup...so does TnT...all a re good well built suspensions but they ALL have a bad tendancy to unload climbing...if you read around here or Mallcrawlin you will also see that good or bad the radius arm tends to chew up and spit out bushings....just a fact of life.

2. transfer this same setup to the rear...rear LA links tend to minimize some of the antisquat, or lack of squat....I suspect that it would be a very spongy rear on climbs and just in general....also the tendancy would also be for that rear alxe to try and "Walk" under the Jeep....with full length straight or triangulated upper links much of that is negated...

So on the rear IMHO no....I wouldn't do it...but hey opinions are like @$$holes! lol. (By the way I just bought a Clayton 6" for my WJ...wish they made the 3 link front like they do for the TJ)

Will
 
Would i be better off putting the rubber bushing on the frame end of the lower arm or should i put it on the axle end?

Thanks,
Ben
Rubber bushing on frame and joint on the axle. Just about all LA kits do this to isolate the arms from the body mounts, similar to stock design. If you put a "fixed" end on the body, you will likely get a lot more vibration and noise in the cab. I would imagine it puts a lot more stress on the body mounts as well, but if you built them nice and sturdy and can handle the vibes, it should be alright. Most pre-runner trucks with 4-link rears have heims on the frame, so it is possible.
 
I am actually getting ready to build a rear radius arm setup on mine using front ford radius arms, cut and stretched to around 40". I think it will work great I know a few people that run a similar setup and really like it! I also have stretched ford radius arms with heims going under the front of my rig in the next month.
 
A radius arm setup sounds interesting... how are you going to keep the axle from moving side to side? Trying to imagine what this looks like. Any links on write ups or someone that has done it? I'd like to see pictures of yours when its done.
 
I will run a tracbar in the back just like it already has. I think the best build I found was over on pirate a guy built a similar setup on the rear of a lexus and was very pleased with it. A friend of mine, hefty fab works is going to do about the same setup on the rear of his fs bronco and convert to coilovers and such at the same time. Coloradofullsize.com has the starts of my build on it. Its in the jeep section same username. I was hoping to be done with the front by now but I took on a project on my father in laws grand so of course my stuff got put on hold! Once his is done ill get back on my own it'll be done this spring so I can get some trail time before we head to the rubicon in august. A lot of people knock it but hardly anyone has acually tried it. Nth degree suspensions are a 3 link rear with a track bar and work beyond awesome rubicon express now has a rear radius arm system out for tjs as well.
 
why not do a triangulated 4 link? works better, no track bar, and if you're gonna go to all the trouble of welding up custom stuff might as well do something thats proven to be a good design.

also, if you're making a front, make a true three link and not run a radius arm up front.
 
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