Waggy 44 swap recommendations

[JeepinCoastie]

Another Question . . .
whats everyones recommendations for steering set up ... this is Mostly a DD with occasional weekend wheelin in the Pines of Jersey and the once, maybe twice, a year trip to Rausch Creek.

Dont need to go super crazy here and Im on a budget ...

Thanks

 

[trd_xj42]

You could just go with the stock 44 inverted T. Same thing JCR, TnT, and others sell. Probably the cheapest.
I went crossover with a high steer arm on the passenger side.

 

[FloydXJ]

Anyone thinking TNT, I used their truss and have had no issues. I like how tied into the truss the UCA mounts are. When I was putting it together, the integrity of the upper mounts was a big concern of mine.

I think the waggy D44 truss is good, although if you have the skill and tools, you could build something similar for cheap. I did end up breaking the shock studs off, but that was a shock length issue

 

[hot_rod_hooligans]

If you plan on high steer, you might consider these:
http://www.ballisticfabrication.com/Link-bracket-coil-spring-shock-mount-combo_p_1461.html
No stock track bar mount, cheeper, and it centers the spring perch on the axle, giving you about a 2" stretch up front.

Sway bar mounts:
http://www.polyperformance.com/shop...y-Bar-Relocation-Bracket-Weld-On-p-21291.html

Truss:
http://undercoverfab.com/truss-systems/57-ucf-dana-44-rear-truss-system.html

UCA mounts from company of choice, track bar mount as needed for steering set up.

 

[southernlj]

No issues here with my TNT truss. Pretty much drop in and weld.

While you may compare $$$ as the difference between TNT, RE, Ballistic and others they are not all the same. If you simply want a bracket kit, you can find cheaper then TNT. The ease of install for the TNT is great (weld on truss and 2 LCA brackets). Now the reason I choose TNT was strength. They are the only kit on the market that braces the entire housing. (I've seen people bend housings)

Last year I was in nasty front end collision that I went airborn and rolled over in my Unlimited. The direct hit was my passenger frt wheel. Other then busted ball joints the axle was fine. Can't say he same for the frame on the LJ. It was tweaked nicely where the lca meet the frame (both frame mount and frame) I'll swear that the truss saved my axle.

 

[jonzer12]

^ question about how the truss fits over the diff housing. Can you rotate the truss?
Specifically if the lp housing is rotated quite a bit for a good pinion angle can you keep the coil buckets level or does the truss only fit on the axle 1 way.

 

[hot_rod_hooligans]

^ question about how the truss fits over the diff housing. Can you rotate the truss?
Specifically if the lp housing is rotated quite a bit for a good pinion angle can you keep the coil buckets level or does the truss only fit on the axle 1 way.

Which truss?

 

[FloydXJ]

^ question about how the truss fits over the diff housing. Can you rotate the truss?
Specifically if the lp housing is rotated quite a bit for a good pinion angle can you keep the coil buckets level or does the truss only fit on the axle 1 way.

If you are referring to the TNT truss, it can be rotated a reasonable amount without adjustment. Most of the contact/weld surface is along the tubes, and the steel above the cast pumpkin stays pretty tight as you rotate. I had mine quite a ways forward to maintain good caster, but it did result in the coil buckets being angled a little forward when all was said and done. I ended up getting some angle wedges and welding them on to give me a straighter spring. It actually worked quite nicely. However it is not at all optimal. It would have been better in several ways to rotate it back a bit more than I did. If the caster would have been undesirable, move the "C's" on the axle and reweld. I really did not want to mess with the positions of the C's, which is why I did it this way.
If you rotate it back to get the pinion pointed at the T-case, your buckets will probably be right where you want them. I am not running a CV up front, so I focused on the caster side of things more, as the pinion was going to be almost horizonal anyway.

If I did it again, I would mount it back more. Probably so that the top of the truss was behind the vent tube, leaving it exposed and easily accessible. My truss is covering the vent tube.

Hope that helps :rof:

 

[Ghost]

When I did my 44/9" everything was build by a friend. When I did my D60 I did these for LCA's: FYI my coils move in the buckets so it needs something to hold them in the center.

http://www.ballisticfabrication.com/Link-bracket-coil-spring-shock-mount-combo_p_1461.html

This for UCA: I have a custom 3 link.

http://www.ballisticfabrication.com/Link-Tower_p_1398.html

This for TB: Which I wold not use bc I have a short TB. But that is just my set up.
http://www.ballisticfabrication.com/Panhard-Trackbar-mount_p_1399.html

I bought spring perches from Jeep Dealership for $8 and got u bolts from a local truck spring builder for $40.

 

[guswheels]

I too used a tnt truss on a waggy 44 in a zj. Very nice stuff. If you add up the time and cost of the brackets I think the tnt truss is a good deal. Drop it on,set your caster and weld. Burn on some lca mounts and all done.