xj8_8 said:
I've busted a lot of axle joints 6 I think, a couple of axles, shattered 1 pinion bearing. I didn't know if the 3 link would work just, thought it would make it easier to not have to try to put uca on cast housing. Would mid length lowers be any advantage?
You can use the stock LCA mounts, and the stock UCA passenger side mount and do a 3 link if you want to. I wouldn't do the 3 link using the stock rubber UCA bushing though, it could be too much for the one bushing. Currie makes a JJ that will replace that UCA bushing, which would work very well. Be sure to add some extra strength to the stock UCA mount to handle the extra stress of the single arm, and also add some reinforcement to the UCA frame mount, they have been known to come off even with 2 arms.
If you can weld, and are going to change the mounts anyway, it's just as easy (or easier) to just fab up new mounts using 3"x3" boxed tubing, 3/16" wall. That tubing is 2 5/8" ID which is the width of all the factory and aftermarket control arm bushings and joints. It would be easy to make an UCA using a regular JJ and then use the 3x3 boxed tubing to fab a mount for the axle, making it a few inches higher than stock to help control the axle torque and to level out the arm more.
I would definitely do mid arms for the LCA's, it's not that hard. You can cut the back out of the stock LCA frame mounts, then use the 3x3 tubing to extend the mounts back a few inches.......a simple way to make mounts that are lined up perfectly. You can trim a little off the front of the stock mounts if you need to, but it probably won't be necessary. If you already have aftermarket control arms, it's simple to lengthen them by cutting them and sleeving them with a larger section of tubing, also making them very strong.
As long as the mounts are strong enough, 3 links are great since they won't bind, and it's easier to fab up UCA mounts for only one side. Anything that improves your control arm angles is a good thing, and mid arms can provide better ground clearance than long arms. It's very difficult to have an argument against using mid arms. If you're interested in a few ideas,
here's some pics of the three link and mid arms I did when I installed my D44.
Good luck with your project,
