Waggy 44 and lower control arm mounts

[fatwreck]

I'm starting to put my waggy 44 together. I got the coil buckets and one lower control arm mount done.

On the driver's side though....the spring perch for the waggy leaf springs is in the way. I'll probably grind that down some and modify my control arm mount a little to fix it, but what a pain in my arse. :wierd:

On a side note, I don't think that I am going to go with a hi-steer setup. I will probably run my draglink over to the passenger knuckle though. With this setup will I need to move my trackbar to the top of the axle?

[JnJ]

I'm starting to put my waggy 44 together. I got the coil buckets and one lower control arm mount done.

On the driver's side though....the spring perch for the waggy leaf springs is in the way. I'll probably grind that down some and modify my control arm mount a little to fix it, but what a pain in my arse. :wierd:

On a side note, I don't think that I am going to go with a hi-steer setup. I will probably run my draglink over to the passenger knuckle though. With this setup will I need to move my trackbar to the top of the axle?

As far as the drag link to knuckle vs the trackbar height, where on the knuckle do you plan to run the drag link to? What type of link ends will you be using?

On my waggy 44 I kept the tierod over the knuckle like the stock setup (not high steer), but the TRE at the passenger knuckle had a hole for the drag link TRE to mount into. With this setup, my trackbar mounts on the front side of the axle tube, neither above nor below it. WHen I get home I'll try and post a couple pictures.
On the LCA mount, I just moved mine out some using the driver's side to determine where they needed to be.

[fatwreck]

As far as the drag link to knuckle vs the trackbar height, where on the knuckle do you plan to run the drag link to? What type of link ends will you be using?

I think I'm going to run my draglink over to the top of the knuckle and then run the tie rod from knuckle to knuckle on the bottom. That was just my initial thought though. I've been collecting pictures of other people's setups, but I don't really know for sure what the best method is.

I was also thinking of using heims, but I've been reading more and more that TREs are the way to go....so who knows.

Pictures would be great. Thanks.

[JnJ]

I think I'm going to run my draglink over to the top of the knuckle and then run the tie rod from knuckle to knuckle on the bottom. That was just my initial thought though. I've been collecting pictures of other people's setups, but I don't really know for sure what the best method is.

I was also thinking of using heims, but I've been reading more and more that TREs are the way to go....so who knows.

Pictures would be great. Thanks.
Still having a problem picturing what you are discribing. Do you mean you will use a High steer arm on the passenger knuckle for the drag link?

[fatwreck]

Here are a couple of pictures:
http://www.projectxj.com/images/dana44/DSCF0020.jpg
http://www.projectxj.com/images/dana44/picture.jpg

I was thinking of doing something similar to what is on the MJ (even though I think those are hi-steer arms....which I wouldn't use). The only problem with that is that it looks like his draglink/trackbar angles are way off.....and his draglink is much longer than his trackbar.

From my understanding....what you have done is similar to what's in the second photo. Right?

[JnJ]

Yes, the first picture (MJ) is using a high steer arm and heims. The second picture is simular to mine. Looking at that picture, my trackbar starts on the frame end from Rusty's heavy duty Trackbar mount, which is even (level) with the pitman arm, and mounts on the axle directly behind where the drag link mounts to the tierod in that picture.

[sarvermr]

you definitely won't be doing a setup like the mj with TRE's. for that setup you would have to drill out the knuckle and use heims on the pass side. there is no way to connect 2 TRE to the knuckle just using the factory arm. you either need a histeer arm or go with setup #2. and the mj has way messed up drag link and track bar angles too.

matthew

[Economos]

you definitely won't be doing a setup like the mj with TRE's. for that setup you would have to drill out the knuckle and use heims on the pass side. there is no way to connect 2 TRE to the knuckle just using the factory arm. you either need a histeer arm or go with setup #2. and the mj has way messed up drag link and track bar angles too.

matthew

JnJ, I'm glad you reminded me that the stock Waggy TREs are mounted over the knuckles because I was planning on drilling them out and running 3/4 heims when I build mine.

Fat, you're familiar with Shane Herzog's steering setup aren't ya? He used TREs flipped over the stock Waggy knuckles and then set up the draglink with heims in an inverted T configuration which is what I'll probably do. This way, you can achieve nearly perfect angles in relation to where your trackbar mounts.

[Jeepin Jason]

FWIW, here's some pics of my old setup. Knuckles are Chevy flat toppers, hubs/rotors are from an F150.
http://jeepin.com/features/d44/images/DCP00711.jpg
http://jeepin.com/features/d44/images/DCP00715.jpg
http://jeepin.com/features/d44/images/DCP00713.jpg
http://jeepin.com/features/d44/images/DCP01356.jpg

[fatwreck]

Fat, you're familiar with Shane Herzog's steering setup aren't ya? He used TREs flipped over the stock Waggy knuckles and then set up the draglink with heims in an inverted T configuration which is what I'll probably do. This way, you can achieve nearly perfect angles in relation to where your trackbar mounts.

I'll have to email him and see if he has any pics. I'm having a hard time picturing it....I definitely know his rig though....it's awesome.

[Economos]

I'll have to email him and see if he has any pics. I'm having a hard time picturing it....I definitely know his rig though....it's awesome.

Actually I've got a slew of pics that I could send your way. Also I forgot to mention that if you can source out a pre '80s Waggy front, you'll find that some have a passenger side flat top knuckle. So if you have the extra funds, you can set up only one flat top with the steering arm and hardwear.

[Herzog]

I'll have to email him and see if he has any pics. I'm having a hard time picturing it....I definitely know his rig though....it's awesome.

Hey! I replied to your PM on RME. :D

[JnJ]

here are a couple pix. This first gives an idea how much drop the drag link will allow before maxing out.

http://jeep_n_john.tripod.com/steering4.jpg

Here it is all together:

http://jeep_n_john.tripod.com/frontend1.jpg

[Economos]

Your rig looks great JnJ but why not go over the axle with the trackbar and run an RE bushing/JJ combo?

[JnJ]

Your rig looks great JnJ but why not go over the axle with the trackbar and run an RE bushing/JJ combo?

The trackbar is rustys heavy duty with bushings at both ends. I have run this for a while now and have no problems. Since at the frame end it lines up well with the drag link, it was easy just to match it at the axle end as well and be done with it. I do have some flat top knuckles and am trying to decide now if it's worth it to tear it all back a part to do high steer. If I go high steer, then I'll have to raise the axle end trackbar mount.

[fatwreck]

The trackbar is rustys heavy duty with bushings at both ends. I have run this for a while now and have no problems. Since at the frame end it lines up well with the drag link, it was easy just to match it at the axle end as well and be done with it. I do have some flat top knuckles and am trying to decide now if it's worth it to tear it all back a part to do high steer. If I go high steer, then I'll have to raise the axle end trackbar mount.

So, is your tie rod the stock waggy one? And what about your draglink....did you make that? What TREs did you use?

[fatwreck]

Here's a picture of Herzog's setup in case anyone else is following this:
http://www.projectxj.com/images/dana44/005.jpg

[Dazz]

Here's a picture of Herzog's setup in case anyone else is following this:
http://www.projectxj.com/images/dana44/005.jpg
I'm doing the same setup with my rods and drag, but I'm going to use Heim's with 1.25" OD Tube .225 wall instead of TRE.

[JnJ]

So, is your tie rod the stock waggy one? And what about your draglink....did you make that? What TREs did you use?
The TREs are for a Chevy application, and the drag link and tierod are custom. There is a webpage that list the part numbers and everything. I'll post it when I get home tonight.

[JnJ]

The TREs are for a Chevy application, and the drag link and tierod are custom. There is a webpage that list the part numbers and everything. I'll post it when I get home tonight.

This is the website:

http://www.vintagebronco.com/newberry/pages/tech/tre/tre2.html

You wont have to ream the waggy knuckles, they already match the Chevy TRE tapper.

[cagedxj]

Hey FAT!!!! I would run a setup like JnJs. Looks good and thats what we run on my brothers Willys. It works great and is very easy!

[JnJ]

BTW, there is a shop, I believe in VA (Rockstomper?), that will build the draglink and tierod for you. I think the cost was like $130 shipped and you buy the TREs yourself. They have made many for XJs so they know what they are doing.

[Heep]

I'm doing the same setup with my rods and drag, but I'm going to use Heim's with 1.25" OD Tube .225 wall instead of TRE.

me 2

[fatwreck]

BTW, there is a shop, I believe in VA (Rockstomper?), that will build the draglink and tierod for you. I think the cost was like $130 shipped and you buy the TREs yourself. They have made many for XJs so they know what they are doing.

Thanks for all the info everyone. Rockstomper is actually local to me in Firestone, CO., but I think I'm going to have a friend of mine help me build the custom tie rod/drag link and I'll use the TRE part numbers that were provided.

[JnJ]

Thanks for all the info everyone. Rockstomper is actually local to me in Firestone, CO., but I think I'm going to have a friend of mine help me build the custom tie rod/drag link and I'll use the TRE part numbers that were provided.

Cool, good luck and have fun with it.

[FYR WOOD]

Fatwreck,
I am considering this swap as well. Actually I have a Wagoneer trail rig that will no longer pass inspection here in VA so I am thinking of slinging both of the Waggy axles under my DD XJ. Seeing as you seem to know Herzog pretty well, how does his XJ handle now after his 44 swap? I am planning on this being my DD for quite a while longer so this is a big concern to me. It seems too perfect not to take advantage of the axles I already have rather than spend tons of money on "bolt-in" axles. Is Shane's bracketry all RE stuff or his own? And since you already have the RE stuff, how are you going about getting everything lined up for proper caster and what not? Jigs?

JnJ,
Your steering looks almost identical to stock Waggy steering. Am I wrong?

Scott

[JnJ]

Fatwreck,
JnJ,
Your steering looks almost identical to stock Waggy steering. Am I wrong?

Scott

Close, but the draglink ties into the tierod closer to the pass side, and it mounts into a whole in the tierod end.

[BrettM]

hey JnJ:

are you using a stock XJ pitman (or ZJ)? reason I ask is that I have a Waggy front and I'm using a ZJ pitman arm (same but about 1" drop) and I don't get full steering out of the D44. According to my measurements, the pitman is getting about 7.5" of lateral travel, and the tie-rod can go 8".

also, how much lift do you have up front?

[JnJ]

hey JnJ:

are you using a stock XJ pitman (or ZJ)? reason I ask is that I have a Waggy front and I'm using a ZJ pitman arm (same but about 1" drop) and I don't get full steering out of the D44. According to my measurements, the pitman is getting about 7.5" of lateral travel, and the tie-rod can go 8".

also, how much lift do you have up front?

I'm running the stock pitman arm. I get full use of my steering, I hit the stops. I actually had to turn my stops out a little to keep from hitting the arms. I have about 7" of lift up front (6.5" coils and 1/2" raised coil mounts).