Need some Help on Flexing

[XplorerKid]

Change in game plan…...Need some help

As some of you know with prior lift plans, and modifications, all I cared about was Mud, Mud, and well more mud. Well I am going to be joining this local off-road club. And they do a lot of Offroading that’s not just mud. Sure mud is the popular thing at school and I enjoy it a lot, but after a few hours it gets boring. So I want to get into the better Offroading as I am going refer to it as. You know dirt, steep hills, flexing and all of the good stuff. Not just Mud. I won’t really build it for rocks since there really are not a lot of those here in Florida, but I want it to be able to flex pretty good. I know this is asking ALOT out of the Twin Traction Beam Setup. I know most of you are going to say Solid Axle Swap, or some of you might say Cut and turn. This is all good, but for right now, I am trying to do this on a Budget. I already have some 2” Skyjacker Lift coils I am going to install; also I will be running Shackles and Add-A-Leaf’s in the rear. I was talking with some people in the chat room, and one said that extended Radius Arms would help my Flex. Also I was wondering, would it help to run some 2” drop down axle brackets; would this help my flex at all? I also will be making quick disconnects for the front and rear sway bars. I would just completely remove the rear but I am not sure how my dad would react. Do I need to make some adjustments to my brake lines, I don’t know if there is enough slack after the 2” lift to let it properly flex. Is there a bracket I could make to like relocate the brake lines somehow or another?* Also I was thinking a Locker in the rear would be nice, it would make up for the lack of lift, and tire size. I am currently running 31” all terrains, but after the lift and everything want to upgrade to some 33” Mud tires; Wrangler MT/R, or TSL radial is what I have in mind. I was also suggested the Lock Rite. I was hesitant to a locker, as I thought I would have to have my gears all re set and everything, but I was told that I would not have to with the Lock Rite. So does anyone have any suggestions for me? I would appreciate any help. And before I get flamed for not searching, I didn’t really find anything that would help me.

Also my exhaust is also a concern to me. I currently have it 3” extra low, since I have not had it raised since my body lift. I was just going to raise it 3” so it would be where it was when I first got it done. But I was thinking if I the bumper was to drag going up a steep incline or something that there is a chance of screwing up my tips, or even closing them up and not letting the exhaust out. So I am thinking of maybe have it dump right about where the stock spare tire use to be. Does anyone see a problem with dumping it right there. I really do not want to get rid of my pretty tips, especially since I paid an extra fifty dollars for them (stainless steel) but I figure I could always sell them.

List of Questions/Concerns:
• 2” Lift Coils, will these help, or affect my Flexing?
• Extended R/A’s, Help Flex?
• Axle drop down brackets Help at all?
• Lock Rite, will I have to re-do my gears (like re-do all the shimming and stuff)?
• How bad will AAL’s and Shackles affect rear flex?
• Exhaust how should I do it?


Footnotes:

***** DO NOT Flame me, if you have something negative to say about my idea’s or about how stupid I am, please refrain from doing so. If it is that important Please PM me with your concern or remark. ******

* Yes, Dejello I went and looked at the link of the Ranger station but I did not completely understand it.
*** Yes this might be one of my first posts that there are no spelling errors, I typed this all up in Microsoft Word, and ran spell check.

Thank You for all the help. Any Advice is appreciated.

Caleb H.

PS- I might have more questions later, but this is all that I can think of right now.

 

[Crankcase]

Originally posted by XplorerKid



*** Yes this might me one of my first posts that there are no spelling errors, I typed this all up in Microsoft Word, and ran spell check.

Shouldn't that be "Yes this might BE one of my first posts......


Kid and I have a thing on-going in chat about his famous "oen" "soem" "noen" words LOL

 

[XonDubs]

the muffler i might raise up another inch or two :shrug: dont want it too low right?

 

[XplorerKid]

BAH... I hate you Crankcase.... Spell check did not pick it up I guess since it wasnt spelled wrong, just used the wrong word.

Also here is the Car Club I am going to join, Go to there Photos Section to see some of the pictures.

TRUOFFROAD

PHOTOS

 

[Redrig]

Keep us posted on how you come along with this. I am going to be trying to do something similiar as you are, and your ideas and experience will help. I will keep you posted if i make a mod and let you know how it worked.

 

[XplorerKid]

Originally posted by redrig
Keep us posted on how you come along with this. I am going to be trying to do something similiar as you are, and your ideas and experience will help. I will keep you posted if i make a mod and let you know how it worked.

Yes, I will keep you along with everyone else posted. IT might be a few months before i can get anything done. I really like mud, and thats what Florida is Popular for, but I am thining long term, mud is jsut going to screw me over, it messes up alot more stuff than just the regualr offroading. I will still mud some, but after an hour of mudding it gets boring, unless you have friends there, or someone gets stuck.

 

[jrgaylor]

If you go over 2" of lift you should get axle drop brackets to help with the alignment.
James Duff makes the best followed by Skyjacker this is based on what I have read and seen, James Duff will not sell any of thier parts seperate from the lift kit they sell unless you need a replacement part for a lift you bought from them PERIOD.
Extended radius arms are the way to go for more flex and better handling on the pavement, you don't need the heimed joint untill you have lots of wheel travel up front (like +15")
If you have extended radius arms and 2 1/2" of lift you need to get extended brakes.
AAL are not helping your flex, longer shackles will help to a point.

Read my sig for my current setup, what limits my flex now in the front is I need extended brake line (droop) and my shocks need more travel(stuff), I have bent my radius arms where my front shocks attach from stuffin'em.You can looking in my gallery and see some of my flex photos.

My setup in the near future is going to be SOA in the rear using the parts for the Dead Link Removed
in the front I am going to do my own version of this ghetto style flex mod
and use these extended brake lines

hope this is helpfull to you.

 

[XplorerKid]

jrgaylor-

Thanks for all that info. What is it abotu the AAL's that affect the Flex? The way it stiffens your springs? Is there another way i can get that extra inch? im going to run shackles, but do not think that would be enoguh lift. I would do SOA in the rear, but it would look Goofy, with only the 2" lift up front.

Unless i could find a good deal on a used Suspension lift.

Also that sucks that JD will nto sell there brackets seperate. I guess i would have to buy soem used ones or sometihng.

Plan B would be get soem 4" Brackets, and run these coils along with Coil Spacers.

Does R/A Drop down brackets affect Flex? does it hurt it, help it? I know Idea would be extended.

Thanks

 

[jrgaylor]

the R/A drop brackets help your alignment
the AAl stiffen your spring

 

[XplorerKid]

Originally posted by XplorerKid

• Exhaust how should I do it?

I had an idea for my Exhaust, i was thinking, when i build my rear bumpers, i could take and make a 3" box outta steel, and weld it to the bottom. And make the Tail Pipe exit through there. That way if i lay down on the Bumper the tail pip tip would be protected by the steel box.

Also for right now prolly, im gunan cut both pipes right behind the axle, does anyone see any problem with this? Could i expect any problems?

Thanx

PEACE