4-Link, 3-Link, Radius Arms???

[rpenner54]

Okay those with any of the above on a SA Explorer post up the pics. Specifically the 4-Link and the 3-Links. I am looking for ideas...

 

[james t]

Go with stock Ford arms and wrist them. Its IMHO the cheapest/easiest way and you get massive travel. You can get weld on C's from James Duff or Wild horses so you can run them on any axle.

Save this link

 

[Derrick C.]

Ya know I hate to follow James..........BUT hes got a good point.

 

[rpenner54]

Yeah I have thought about that... I just figure mine *might* be a bit differn't but we will see how much so...

The only *problem* with it is that no matter what I still have to buy all the parts and pieces. I am starting completely from scratch on this project. That is why I want to see what all my options are from what others have already done... Copycatting.

 

[offroader_69_me]

just get that beast rollin so we can do some wheelin!!!!!!!!!


by the way Hi guys nice to know you are alive still, so are we HAHAHA!

 

[hvac man]

You can buy a kit from me that is totaly inclusive minus the axle and all you have to do is bolt/weld it on for around 1500.00

BTW: mine is the radius arm style but not the ford radius arms. I use a custom made rubicon express TJ long arm kit.


Good luck!

 

[Maranda]

just get that beast rollin so we can do some wheelin!!!!!!!!!


by the way Hi guys nice to know you are alive still, so are we HAHAHA!

Yeah no kidding! It's like we're all busy or something!!!

We could be back in the game by late summer/fall. Stoopid HOA wants everyone to have a complete backyard by July 1st so now we're having to dump money into that... it's always something! The beast has been down since March 2003.

 

[Maranda]

This is really Ryan... 1500 is way way to much right now. I would much rather try to find something in the $500 ish range if possible.

 

[CodePoet]

james thanks for that link I'm planning on doing an sas in the next couple years and i've been wondering about wristed arms.

Later
cp

 

[offroader_69_me]

ryan just go to a junkyard and pickup a complete front end from an f-150 or Early bronco (hard to find) and use all the stock arms and stuff, then you can cut it if you want, and always up grade later, I may have a connection on a full width HP D44 if you want me to check on it I will!

 

[rpenner54]

Already have the axles. I have a HD D44 out of a 79 F250. It's setup for leafs and I don't want to run leafs up front. If I could get the stock stuff for cheap I would do it. However the wonderfull junkyards around here are a bit expensive.

 

[Robb]

Keep an eye on eBay for a lot of the other stuff. Radius arms are on there all the time, and sell for +/- $30. There are two pairs of them on there now, one at $20, and another at $8, both with less than a day to go. Just search for "radius arms" there, and you will see them.

After a quick look, I didn't see any coil buckets or lift coils, but both are often on there. I got my coil buckets off there for about $25 shipped, and got my WH 5.5" coils (directly from WH) on there for about $100.

Radius arm to frame mounts are hard to come by, because they are a PITA to get off. I would hold off on those anyway, until you get the axle under there and see if you want any kind of drop mount.


As you can tell, my vote is for the Ford radius arm setup also.

 

[rpenner54]

Cool I will search and see...

I am not sure which coils I am going to use yet... I am thinking some ZJ ones but EB ones may work too.

 

[offroader_69_me]

i have a set of JD 3.5"vr coils and a set of 5.5" i forget who both for EB's
anything I can do let me know!

 

[rpenner54]

i have a set of JD 3.5"vr coils and a set of 5.5" i forget who both for EB's
anything I can do let me know!

Oh yeah? How much you want for them? Or are you just trying to get rid of them?....

 

[offroader_69_me]

I dunno I paid like 100-120, each if I could get like 50 for the three and 75 for the 5.5" I would be happy! but you know they are just laying in the basement so talk to me if you want either, and we can work something out

 

[NOTAJP]

I vote for Ford RA too. It's the easiest SAS to do. It's almost as if the Exploder was made for the EB setup.

I did my Father-In-Law's Bronco II with the EB coil setup. Two things to do differently:
#1, Weld the wedges at 7*. DO NOT make drop brackets for the RA mounts. Keep them as close to the frame as possible.
#2, Do not use any coil from a TTB setup. They will not flex and ride like .....


3 and 4 links take a lot of engineering to get everything lined up just right. If you don't...good luck driving on the street.

 

[glfredrick]

I vote for Ford RA too. It's the easiest SAS to do. It's almost as if the Exploder was made for the EB setup.

I did my Father-In-Law's Bronco II with the EB coil setup. Two things to do differently:
#1, Weld the wedges at 7*. DO NOT make drop brackets for the RA mounts. Keep them as close to the frame as possible.
#2, Do not use any coil from a TTB setup. They will not flex and ride like .....


3 and 4 links take a lot of engineering to get everything lined up just right. If you don't...good luck driving on the street.

TTB springs are almost twice the spring rate as SAS springs due to the leverage length of the arms. (Short arms - need MORE leverage compared to a full length axle - doesn't always make sense initially, but it is pure physics) Ranger TTB's from the factory spec out around 520# rate. In comparison, BDS lists Jeep TJ's at 152# - XJ's at 240# and their Ranger 4" lift springs are 420#. Keep in mind that you have to push AND pull coil springs for good flex. They have to be able to hold up the truck - yet also extend when the axle moves downward. One of the kicks against the TTB is that they have no downward force except the spring rate becasue they are hinged against the frame instead of the opposite wheel.

BTW, my son has an entire early Bronco frame setup for sale (minus the axles) for anyone interested. He will also sell the entire truck rolling for the right price, but for now, it looks like he wants to keep the axles.

 

[rpenner54]

I dunno I paid like 100-120, each if I could get like 50 for the three and 75 for the 5.5" I would be happy! but you know they are just laying in the basement so talk to me if you want either, and we can work something out

Cool... I am using some 4-door leafs for the rear-end so its going to just be that plus the soa. I have no idea what length coils I would need. Which ones did you use?

 

[410Fortune]

If you want alot of rtavel from the ford Radius arm solid axle the wristed arm is a great way to get it.
Otherwise the sky is the limit on what you can put on a Explorer frame...4 link is more difficult by far, but if done right = lookout.....