SUA vs SOA: A Comparison

[410Fortune]

It looks as if he was doing a 3 link setup using the trailer ball method, but decided on heims in the end.

I believe that is considered a 3 link setup as well since both the upper links connect atop the diff.



There are alot of desert style trucks that run leafs under the axle, and rely on good springs (like deavers) and a good shackle and shock setup to get alot of travel.

I havent seen anywhere that when you go SOA your center of gravity is raised a little more.

So lift does not = flex

But going SOA really gains some clearance for rocks on the already groudn clearanced challenged Explorer (especially the spring hanger)

So it really depends on what you use the truck for, trails and low range 4x4ing = SOA

High speed whoops, etc.....SUA

My BII was SUA stock and I can see why they made the Explorer SUA in order to improve the ride of the stock vehicle. A properly setup SOA will not effect the streetability much, in fact my truck is about 10 times better then stock and I am just getting started for the rear axle

I am going to do:

Deavers
Shackle reversal
extended shackle (possibly depending on ride height)
and some resevoir shocks through the floor with a cargo area cage (cant call it a bed cage in a BII
limit straps

 

[TheRookie]

oh, and if you want more flex AND keep the stock leaves SOA then just get a set of the BC bronco's spring rockers. they'll give you about 1.5" more lift and make just about any leaf flex like mad. they are not ramp-queen junk and have been proven offroad. axle wrap can be taken care of easy if its causing a problem.

Can you explain this? spring rockers?

 

[james t]

i cant link directly to it, but go to www.bcbroncos.com and click on suspension. like i said, they arent a gimmick like revolvers.

 

[james t]

...

 

[TheRookie]

intresting. now i am wondering how well they work

 

[TheRookie]

DIRect link

 

[james t]

Originally posted by TheRookie
intresting. now i am wondering how well they work

i have seen them in action and they flat out work. they are not a "ramp" mod like revolver shackles or 3/4 elliptic that makes great flex but sucks on the trail. also, there are alot of guys on my EB forum that run them, and ive never heard of any complaints other than you wouldnt want them on a full street/daily driver.

 

[410Fortune]

James: I have seen them used on a daily driver, you can make a simple locking device so they are not allowed to pivot until disconnected prior to hitting the trail.

Also you could use some upper links, or a drag link to locate the axle for street use and disconnect prior to the trail. This would control the side to side movement the leaves and these pivots would allow.

OKay I am dont talking myself into some of these suckers
If all goes according to plan on my truck I wont need them, but they may make a nice finishing touch for that extra little bit of flex.

 

[james t]

true. ive seen the home-made lockouts before, and they work just fine.

 

[Byrd91]

Adding a trac-bar to a leaf setup isn't a bad idea in the first place. ZR2 S-10s come with them, maybe all S-10s, and front leafed vehicles have them often.

Just a clarifying question. I've always heard the suspension shown on the first page as a 4-link, because there are indeed 4 links. If you connected them in a wishbone with one link on the diff it would then be a 3-link. I could be wrong though. Granted the handling of the two designs would be very similar. To me its like having the frame ends of a 4 link very close together, which makes it much like a radius arm, but they're still 2 separate links. Just technicality I guess.

 

[Ryan1]

Robb I belive that these are the "anti-wrap" perches some one spoke of.

Dead Link Removed


Ryan