help:sas or ttb?

[bmxking5]

The stock radius arms should work, you just have to figure out where they will mount on the frame. There are many people that get extended ones or extend thier R/A's for better flex though.

 

[95offroadx]

ahhhh! so many ideas running through my head! and i keep changing my mind, now im going towards leaf springs and either a dana 30 or dana 44, which ever is easier to find. it doesnt matter what axle i decide because im only going to run 35's and do mild wheeling, and the leaf springs seem easier to do, but do i need a trac bar or radius arms?

 

[bmxking5]

Leaf sprung axles are easier to set-up. If you choose to go with a leaf sprung front 44, you can look for a Waggy front axle. They had leaf springs, dana 44, etc. There are two widths (what I've heard) and the skinnier of the two is really close to 8.8 width.

No you won't need radius arms for leaf springs. Also, a trac-bar isn't manditory for leaf sprung axles, like it is with coils.

 

[95offroadx]

thanks for the info bmxking5, it looks like ill be going to the junk yard tomorrow do see if i can get some parts

 

[bmxking5]

No problem, you can also check on some Jeep forums. This axle is fairly popular for swapping into TJ/YJ/etc. so they are up on forums a lot. (atleast they are on alot on southernjeeps.org) Jeepforum.com(?) is another one of the MANY heep forums.

Good luck at the junkyard.

 

[95offroadx]

well it rained in the morning here soo i didnt get to go to the junkyard, i made up a parts list let me know if i have everything i need.

dana 30 or dana 44 axle
4 pairs of shackles
all the steering linkage
a pair of jeep front leaf springs
4 new shocks

but for the lift im gonna do a soa and get 1 or 2 add a leafs, so it will put me at 7" of lift or so. and im gonna hook up the front sway bar
also 4.56 gears and a rear locker
this will probably be done by mid july, thats if i find all the parts i need

 

[CodePoet]

why leaf's? serisouly you have coils now, it's easier to setup up for coils not leafs (yeah i dissagree with bmx). They only thing you need is a track bar which can be bought or built for alot less effort than leaf spring mounts. As far as coil mounts just find a coil sprung bronco or f150 at the yard with a solid axle, pull the axle, and take the buckets. On top of that you can make them flex better with less work. James Duff sells a set of mounts (for a decent price) that let you mount the ra's pretty easy. And i'd really try to find a hp d44...stronger than the d30 hp or not

Code

 

[95offroadx]

why not leaves? if you think about it early wrangers and wagoneers had leaf springs, also i dont need great flex. just better flex than i have now, im looking for a dana 44 but if i cant find one im gonna get a dana 30. but if i can get a dana 44 im gonna try and see if i have enough pennies saved up for 37's and 4.88's

but thanks for the advice

 

[CodePoet]

More work, less function. Your going to have to fab 4 mounts for the leafs, hell you can use the stock buckets to get you started on a coil setup (not the greatest but it'll work). Only one company make a leaf spring setup that I know of and it isn't that great from what i've heard. Early wranglers and waggy's did have leaves but the expo isn't a waggy, even if you got a full waggy front end your not going to be able to just bolt it in, there will be alot of fab work. Enough in my opinion to make a coil setup more desirable.

But hey, it's your rig, if you want leafs that's that...i'm sure it'll turn out good. Do your homework though there's a great book i'm reading called chassis engineering by herb adams that has really helped me out. It's not offroad oriented but the info is good and will give you a background in how each type of suspension works.

ANYTHING flexes better than the stock ttb lol.
code

 

[95offroadx]

i was talkin to the local 4x4 shop, the mechanic there said that i could pull the leaf mounts, steering, and the leaves from a wagoneer, but i would have to pull the axle from a wrangler or xj, he also said that i would only have to fab shock mounts and the sway bar mounts

i plan on going to the junkyard friday or saturday to see if i can get axle and some other parts

codepoet- you make a good point but i see people on here used leaves soo im gonna try it out

 

[j602]

So the stock Explorer buckets could be used with a coil sprung D44? What's the main advantage of using donor vehicle buckets? Mounting them lower? Moving the axle forward?

 

[410Fortune]

oh goodness...

the stock coil buckets can be used if you cut down the full width axle.

The main advantage of using the buckets from a donor, or custom buckets is you can widen them from the frame to allow the coils to line up with a full width axle, also you can adjust their height, allowing you to fine tune your spring and lift height selection for the SAS.

Don't forget even a leaf sprung front end uses a trac bar to locate the axle, so a trac bar and mount must be fabbed as well.

The Gen I Explorer is an IDEAL candidate for a COIL sprung solid axle.
leafs can be done fairly easy, but IMO coils ride better and are EASIER to setup on this truck.

There is no solid axle out there that will be a bolt up deal and require no fabrication and welding, just isnt going to happen.

 

[95offroadx]

quick question, on the sas im going to be doing the soa in the front with the leaves, how much lift will this give me?

 

[bmxking5]

It all depends on what springs you go with. I said that the easiest would probably be leaf sprung, but I'd go with coils. If you go for more lift, you'll need stiffer springs so you'll have more lift. Trckmagik just converted one of his Explorers back to TTB because his leaf sprung front axle was too stiff of a ride. He said he could have gone with softer springs, but then he'd have trouble with sagging in the front. It's up to you, but there is no doubt in my mind as to what I should put in the front. If I didn't put coils in the front, I'd go with coil overs. The coil sprung SFA has been done SOOOOO much that if you put the 3.5" coils in coil buckets that are mounted the same place as everyone else, you'll have 6-7" of lift. With 5.5" coils you'll have about 8-9" of lift. Since it's been done so much, in my eyes, it's the best set-up for someone with little experience on this such as yourself (and me ). Not to mention how many write-ups there on this site alone. Tons of info. Up to you though.

 

[95offroadx]

ok guys im back again because im got all new questions, ok there is a 1971 bronco at a local wreckin yard, it has the dana 44 and all the front susp. parts and steerin parts, he only wants $600 for it(its been wrecked in the rear) and its been sitting for 15yrs now, could i use the coil buckets, shock mounts, track bar mount, and steering linkage from it? would i have to rebuild the dana44 becuase its been sitting for so long?

 

[unclemeat]

I may have found an old grand wagoneer. I have not called the guy but the the sign says $1500. It has flat tires and out of dated stickers, been sitting 1 to 2-years, so I am sure you could talk him down. A mechanic buddy say $ 800 if it runs $400 if not. If you are interested I can give you the phone #.

 

[FROADER]

ok guys im back again because im got all new questions, ok there is a 1971 bronco at a local wreckin yard, it has the dana 44 and all the front susp. parts and steerin parts, he only wants $600 for it(its been wrecked in the rear) and its been sitting for 15yrs now, could i use the coil buckets, shock mounts, track bar mount, and steering linkage from it? would i have to rebuild the dana44 becuase its been sitting for so long?

Look up DB_1. I believe his is from an Early Bronco that he has on his Ranger.

 

[95offroadx]

unlcemeat- thanks for the help, but i dont have a way to get that up hear, but thanks for looking, ohh i also see your in to mud boggin, did u ever go to the buck motorsports park in pa?

 

[95offroadx]

i cant seem to find any info on db 1, can someone help me out