Front Suspension

[Buckon37s]

Keith just reminded me that I was going to post pictures of the front suspension that I was so content with. I forgot, but here it is. I have had some major issues to work out with the build of this truck but the suspension I am VERY happy with. The best part is this is very easy and a good fab shop could do it for about $100. It cures all the binding issues that the radius arms cause but still lets you cruise quite well in corners with no sway bar. I mounted the arms over the axle because I had room with the coilovers but you could also leave them below for the stock coils. I think it is a great solution that you could do for cheap and it has no ill affects like the "other" solution. All that is left to do is get some very long shocks. I max out every inch of the 14in coilovers very easy. The frame mounts are bone stock. So is the drivers side radius arm so only the other radius arm has been changed.

Dave

PS: There is one pic of the stock one and 2 of the modified one.

[WhiteD90]

All that is left to do is get some very long shocks. I max out every inch of the 14in coilovers very easy.

Dave

PS: There is one pic of the stock one and 2 of the modified one.

Talk is cheap, post some pics!

Tis

[Buckon37s]

Fine! I'll go out tomarrow and max it. Probably break my super high tech tie rod in the process too! :rolleyes :angry

[dmarchand]

Is that tie rod titanium? :)

Sign me up.

[Buckon37s]

Adamanthium

[TwisteD90]

Holly cow.... Who build this tie rod????? How come you didn't go with offset tie rod?

How about some pictures of the upper mounts.

BTW, I'll be in San Diego soon and I'll be staying a few houses away from you :grin Hope we get together for a drink :)

Follow-up Post:

Also, how much of an exposed rod you have on your front shock?

[Buckon37s]

The tie rod was never meant to do any more than get me home from Phoenix. I am in the process of getting it swapped out but times got kinda crazy with me switching jobs and I parked the truck for a while. That tie rod was built by NSO. Nuf said. OK, now I have to get pictures of the upper mounts too :)

It would be truely awesome to meet you! Call me when you get close. I will PM you my ##

Exposed rod??? Damn, there are kids reading this, keep it clean man. :lol

But seriously, what do you mean?

[redrover]

More -more

[Buckon37s]

I went out this afternoon and did some poseur shots of the truck. Take a close look at the compressed coilover. I still have a full 3in of uptravel that is not being used. The spring rates and shock charging are too high because I am mounting a winch and bumper on the front that was taken into account on the springs but has not been put on yet. That should take care of the extra travel. And I have a new problem now, a leaking front air locker. Great, now I need to get back out there and pull it apart again.

Follow-up Post:

Yousef,

Here are the upper coil mounts. It is pretty simple. The lower frame mounts bolt into the steering box holes on both sides. Then they go up and bolt into the firewall and around the back of the engine to connect eachother for strenth. On teh V8, you could connect them further forword in the bay but on the TDi there was not enough clearance in my hood to do it. The pics kinda suck, but here you go.

[TDI Guy]

Nice....

[Noah]

man, it must be nice to live somewhere where you can keep your truck that clean.

[revor]

Thanks for the pics Dave! I wondered if that was what had been done...
The truck looks great! Be sure to give a call if you need anything..

Later
Keith

[WhiteD90]

looks like your brake line has become a limit strap :)

Tis

[TwisteD90]

How about more pictures of the coil over mount. I can see one side is bolted but what about the other end?

How the hell am I going to explain the "exposed rod"? Ok If you look at the picture of your beautiful tie rod, you'll see the shiny rod that's coming out if the shock??? Damn that's even worse. Never mind.

[Buckon37s]

I only show my exposed rod to my wife. :party But really, it's 6in on the shock.

[sajidd]

can someone advise me approx cost involved in having a coilover set up ? what are the advantages ? disadvantages? how is the roaad ride quality? handing? I am interested in this kind of a suspension set up.

Regrds
Sajidd

[Buckon37s]

can someone advise me approx cost involved in having a coilover set up ? what are the advantages ? disadvantages? how is the roaad ride quality? handing? I am interested in this kind of a suspension set up.

Regrds
Sajidd

Hello,

I think that I am the last one left running coilovers on this site, since Yousef sold his Defender. Thats why you are not getting many replies. Anyway, here's a basic cost breakdown, assuming you are going with one of the reasonably priced shocks (SAW, FOX).

Coilovers: $450 each with springs complete
Mounting: Really depends on if you do it yourself, and I have no idea what fab work goes for in Pakistan! You need a modified lower mount (very simple). And a modified upper mount (kinda difficult do to space restrictions). Its about $300 here for a pro to do it.
Travel: To get the travel out of it you need to modify the front end link system. A common fix for that here is the 3-link which I think is $600 so lets go with that figure.

So, if you just go through normal channels you are looking at $1800 or so.

Advantages: Everything. Seriously, they excel at almost everything. Lighter, more compact, more travel, multiple spring rates, adjustable ride height, and bling. They are great on the street, great in the rocks, great at high speed and great at slow speed (you can adjust when you want the stiffer spring to compress just by turning a nut).

Disadvantages: Price!

I hope this helps. If you want to do some more reading there is a massive amount of info in www.pirate4x4.com Good luck.

[sajidd]

Hi David,

For sure the info helps. The cost is within my over all budget but I am not ready to ditch my ARB shocks and springs as they are not even year old. I am however going with some kind of a dual shock system to compliment the current set up.

The shocks that i am considering are Ranchos 9000 series shocks. Perhaps the 9012 or regular 99159/57.

Thanks for your help again.

Sajidd