brianglawson
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Greensboro, NC
Hey guys, this isn't my first stroll down long arm lane. I have a 98 Cherokee that has a Froehlich Suspension 3 Link kit. Im at about 6.5" of lift, well setup. No steering stabilizer, bad alignment, and it tracks straight as can be without a hint of wobble. The Froehlich Kit uses RuffStuff Heims, 1.25" on the Frame side of the lowers, 7/8" on both ends of the upper link and the track bar, and Ballistic Fab Poly bushings on the axle end of the lowers. I love the kit, but I was much happier when my Jeep was at 4" of lift with control arm drop brackets. After 10 years of owning this jeep, it unsettles me, but I believe im going to buy another XJ and do a bit more refined of a build. I can't take mine lower, because the Froehlich kit really needs 5" of spring at least to be happy in terms of link length, and I have cut out flares, and other things that make me need to just start fresh.. SOOOoo.
I'm going to swap my axles over so I can keep my ARB Super 30 Air locker, my Chromoly 30 Spline Axles, 4.88 gears and my rear locker.
I plan on Driving this Jeep every day, and I plan on being able to drive it for 2,000 mile trips without regret. A true, Overland capable XJ.
I do not want to go any higher than 4.5". I would be happy at 3.5" if I could get it set up right. I intend to run a 35" tire, and to Bump stop the suspension accordingly. I will obviously be running a higher offset/backspaced wheel. Most likely my OEM Jeep MOABS. I currently run them with 1.25" spacers, but I wouldn't need them if I was going under stock fender flares.
My concerns are that if I'm running wheels with a higher backspacing, or a narrower track, im worried about how much I will be rubbing on the lower control arms. That is one problem I have with my current Froehlich kit, and I only have 33" tires on it at the moment. I don't want to lose any of my OEM turning radius, or at least as little as possible.
SOOOOo.. Finally. I'm looking for the best Long Arm kit to run at lower heights and that offers the most turning radius clearance. I'm also looking for the best kit in terms of daily drivability. In otherwords, I want flex joints and preferably rubber bushings if I can get them(instead of solid heims and poly like I have now.
I Like the TNT Customs Y-Link, and it appears they offer a lot of tire clearance and can be ran at 3.5" of lift. They are also the most expensive, but I would pay for exactly what I want. It's nice having a clear plan of what I want to do, having been through it all before. I also already have a TNT TrackBar, which I will be using, so that's a plus.
Iron Rock Offroads Y Link kit also comes to mind: I wonder how their tire clearance is? any input? my reservation with IRO is that odd caster adjustment, I feel like I have seen a few of those mangled up.
I LOVE Clayton 3 Link Kits, but I am worried about turning radius clearance. I like their price, and I like the idea of having full length links instead of Radius Arms. I've read the problems about binding with Ylink/Radius arm kits, and that isn't a concern for me, I more have a concern with what I see described as "unloading" while going up hill? I like hill climbs, but I like feeling planted while I do it. Can anyone explain this to me? I also wonder how solid and straight a Y Link setup feels going down the road. As I said, my current jeep is ROCK SOLID, and I don't have to run a steering stabilizer, which I would expect to be able to do the same thing on my new build.
SO... Im open to suggestions.. All of you guys building Low Center of Gravity rigs, and especially the ones doing narrow builds, what long arm kits are you using???
Is it true that Y-Link/Radius arm setups "unload" going up hill? does this make it sketchier on significant hill climbs?
Like I said, I'm looking to build the best possibly driving, functional, trail rig. I like to wheel, but I like destination wheeling the most. Having plenty of down travel, and lockers front and rear, and I'll be good to go as far as traction. But the most important thing is that I can get this to drive like a well setup jeep on short arms and with the arms parallel to the ground (like with drop brackets).
Thanks for any input,
Brian
Here is my current Jeep....
http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1056392&page=5
I'm going to swap my axles over so I can keep my ARB Super 30 Air locker, my Chromoly 30 Spline Axles, 4.88 gears and my rear locker.
I plan on Driving this Jeep every day, and I plan on being able to drive it for 2,000 mile trips without regret. A true, Overland capable XJ.
I do not want to go any higher than 4.5". I would be happy at 3.5" if I could get it set up right. I intend to run a 35" tire, and to Bump stop the suspension accordingly. I will obviously be running a higher offset/backspaced wheel. Most likely my OEM Jeep MOABS. I currently run them with 1.25" spacers, but I wouldn't need them if I was going under stock fender flares.
My concerns are that if I'm running wheels with a higher backspacing, or a narrower track, im worried about how much I will be rubbing on the lower control arms. That is one problem I have with my current Froehlich kit, and I only have 33" tires on it at the moment. I don't want to lose any of my OEM turning radius, or at least as little as possible.
SOOOOo.. Finally. I'm looking for the best Long Arm kit to run at lower heights and that offers the most turning radius clearance. I'm also looking for the best kit in terms of daily drivability. In otherwords, I want flex joints and preferably rubber bushings if I can get them(instead of solid heims and poly like I have now.
I Like the TNT Customs Y-Link, and it appears they offer a lot of tire clearance and can be ran at 3.5" of lift. They are also the most expensive, but I would pay for exactly what I want. It's nice having a clear plan of what I want to do, having been through it all before. I also already have a TNT TrackBar, which I will be using, so that's a plus.
Iron Rock Offroads Y Link kit also comes to mind: I wonder how their tire clearance is? any input? my reservation with IRO is that odd caster adjustment, I feel like I have seen a few of those mangled up.
I LOVE Clayton 3 Link Kits, but I am worried about turning radius clearance. I like their price, and I like the idea of having full length links instead of Radius Arms. I've read the problems about binding with Ylink/Radius arm kits, and that isn't a concern for me, I more have a concern with what I see described as "unloading" while going up hill? I like hill climbs, but I like feeling planted while I do it. Can anyone explain this to me? I also wonder how solid and straight a Y Link setup feels going down the road. As I said, my current jeep is ROCK SOLID, and I don't have to run a steering stabilizer, which I would expect to be able to do the same thing on my new build.
SO... Im open to suggestions.. All of you guys building Low Center of Gravity rigs, and especially the ones doing narrow builds, what long arm kits are you using???
Is it true that Y-Link/Radius arm setups "unload" going up hill? does this make it sketchier on significant hill climbs?
Like I said, I'm looking to build the best possibly driving, functional, trail rig. I like to wheel, but I like destination wheeling the most. Having plenty of down travel, and lockers front and rear, and I'll be good to go as far as traction. But the most important thing is that I can get this to drive like a well setup jeep on short arms and with the arms parallel to the ground (like with drop brackets).
Thanks for any input,
Brian
Here is my current Jeep....
http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1056392&page=5