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opinions needed on suspention ideas! (long)

766 views 5 replies 4 participants last post by  W.C. 
#1 ·
Ok, I have researched until my eyes are 'bout ready to bug out of my head. I am trying to plan a new suspention for my project YJ.

The front is definatly going to be SOA using RE's 2.5" SOA springs. It is the rear that I'm up in the air about.

I know 4 links are "in" and they do provide awesome amounts of flex. I want to use regular coils w/ mine. They also have some downfalls, such as rear stear, and at times can be unpredictable. I think I can build one, as I have some plans drawn up and the tools and knowledge to do it.

The other option is to use leaf springs. If I do this I will use XJ springs SOA and build a rear crossmember like what infernox drew up to allow for the extra length of the springs. I will also have to use a track bar to keep the wrap under control. I like this idea because of the simplicity and the pradicatbility, but the cool factor isn't there. I think this would flex better than a conventional SOA, but I don't know.

I will try to streach my WB to 100" with both setups. I know the other pitfalls involved like driveline and shocks that must be adressed. I've seen both 4-links and SOAs preform and do it well, but I have never wheeled either setup my self.

This jeep will have d-44's front and rear (for now - 60's to come when funds available) a 258/tf999/300 combo and turn 36" SX's. It will be expected to run the rocks of South Dakota and maybe Moab (if I ever can get out there). It must function well on both the street and trail.

I know this is like opening a can of worms, but what are peoples opinions? Why are all the pros going to links? Some say it is pressure from sponsors. Are links the magic setup? How much flex (and will it be noticable) will I give up using XJ springs in the rear over links? Oh the humanity!!
 
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#2 ·
I have personally ran lifted springs, SOA, 4-link with air shocks, and have built 3 and 4 links using coils and 1/4 elliptical.
I had quite a bit of flex in the rear of mine SOA and spring packs I built, I could use all the 14" of shock I had. I went on a couple day runs with friends that I had built/ or helped build various link set-ups and was amazed at the performance, and how each style system reacted differently and kept going back and forth for awhile myself. Currently I have a little more flex than before (about 2" do to shock mounting location) with the 4-link and air shocks, but I was more after the performance difference of the link set-up, and the flex was secondary. With the link set-up I was able to tailor it to what I wanted and the way I drive. Turns out the rig does exactly what I want it to do, has no axle wrap, and rides better than the SOA.
From what I have found, SOA or a link set-up can both flex great and work reliably, or they can both be crappy. It really depends on how well it is built and what is used.
Longer, thinner leafs flex better in SOA, and tinkering with other leaf packs you can get some great spring packs, the downfall on them is axle wrap, so a traction bar is used. With four links you can get huge amounts of flex depending on shock location, have no axle wrap, but if built wrong you can get some strange handling issues, and rear steer is possible with any link set-up but can be lessened. My rig has an extremely small amount of rear steer throughout it's full range of travel.
 
#3 ·
If flex was secondary, what performance objective were you shooting for? Better ride? I guess what I am getting at is that axle wrap should be neutral between the two setups if one is using a traction bar. I want to go with the link setup, I am just trying to justify it. Like I said I have never driven either, just seen them run. Both made it to the top of the hill. What gives the link the upper advantage?
 
#5 ·
The thing I like about link set-ups is the fact that they can be built to suit the wants/needs of the driver and wheeling they do(more or less squat, more or less flex, climbing or jumping, rocks, trails, etc) and depending on set-up the overall ride. For example a buddy and I had almost identical rigs as far as wheel base, tires, gearing, power, driving style, etc. and both made a climb. The difference was the way they both made it, the linked rig crawled up easily and felt more stable due to the way it was configured, and the SOA rig had to work at it more, and felt as though it wanted to flip backwards.
Sycho15, not air bags, the FOX nitrogen charged shocks are called an air shock, basically a coilover w/o the coil, the spring rate and curve are varied via n20 charge and oils levels.
Here is a pic of the air shocks, and if you look closely at the framerail above the axle, there is a chalk mark that shows the axle centerline when at full compression.
 

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#6 ·
As pbmcauliffe mentioned, setting up a 4 link can be done with little or no rear suspension steer. I did mine in a "double tri" and the wheelbase changes only 2" at full droop to full compression,,,,,,,, With over 30" of
travel.

BTW,,,,, those Fox Air Shocks are very cool,,,,,,,,to bad I already bought the coilovers.

 

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