I've ran one and didn't notice the flex being limited at all. What it did do was help balance the suspension and help the suspension from unloading. Made the rig feel a lot more stable. I personally think they are worth every penny.
Got the new ball joints in (they fell apart when removed),upper control arms and axle bushings, burned on some sway bar relocates, and got my anti rock installed. All in all I think it's time for a brew.
Thinking of going for a quick run tomorrow, if anybody is interested?
I did watch it. My honest opinion in the Truggy's case is the anti rock is in the wrong spot...it needs to be on the rear not the front. The front looks balanced, where the rear isn't. Those coilovers unload like crazy, and the anti rock keeps that under control.
Switch it to the rear and I guarantee you'll have a different opinion.
I took it out to go grab the brews and took the interstate, VAST improvement overall.
This is the first time I have had sway bars on a lifted rig and I wanted something that was versatile to hi light my other suspension mods. My rig is more geared toward camping/expedition so I might not be a viable guinea pig for some of the rigs here. What I was looking for was a well tuned suspension that would perform and be enjoyable to drive. No matter if its on washed out Forest Roads, interstates, off camber situations, or "general CO trails"......maybe a ill go fast too
Go for it man, its not like I'll be owning the XJ for more than a few months anyway. I'll probably sell it around April or May so I don't have to worry about it while I'm gone. I will probably be looking for a 2wd MJ to use as a daily driver and parts runner once I get back and go with something different for the Camping/Expedition rig. I'll still have the Willys too.
I watched a guy today at the Christmas Caravan on the RTI ramp with a monstrous 4-linked XJ. I saw it completely flex the rear long before the front even began to flex. Heck, by the tie it hit the top of the ramp the front tire still had 6" to go before touching the fender and a rear coil was almost falling off. He had no sway bar.
Then I saw another running a front anti-rock who did got almost the same score.
Just picked up a 98 xj that needs motor work. Going to be running some tests in the morning to see what we're going to be doing with it. Possibly a motor swap from a 94. Looking forward to getting it running good though.
I will probably be looking for a 2wd MJ to use as a daily driver and parts runner once I get back and go with something different for the Camping/Expedition rig.
That is sweet, but not the platform I'm going to. Unfortunately Jeep doesn't make what I want so I'll be switching brands for the Adventure/Camping rig. Unless they release a factory 4dr JK truck by the time I get back.
I watched a guy today at the Christmas Caravan on the RTI ramp with a monstrous 4-linked XJ. I saw it completely flex the rear long before the front even began to flex. Heck, by the tie it hit the top of the ramp the front tire still had 6" to go before touching the fender and a rear coil was almost falling off. He had no sway bar.
Then I saw another running a front anti-rock who did got almost the same score.
That is sweet, but not the platform I'm going to. Unfortunately Jeep doesn't make what I want so I'll be switching brands for the Adventure/Camping rig. Unless they release a factory 4dr JK truck by the time I get back.
I'm looking at 4dr Tacoma's, Dakotas, and Frontiers. I'm leaning more towards the Nissan but its hard to argue with the aftermarket support of the Tacoma. Either way a mid to long travel IFS setup on 35's with room to haul camping gear plus dirt bikes is the goal. I also want to keep the hitch open for flat towing the Willy's, hence the need for a small pickup. I'd love to do a Silverado or F-150 but I don't want the sheer mass of a full size truck to limit where I can get to when camping. I also don't want to drag a trailer. I like the second gen Dakota's as they came with the 4.7L V8 thats in the WJ's, but there is even less aftermarket for them.
Cool thing on the Frontiers is that you can swap in the Titan's upper and lower control arms to net 10+ inches of wheel travel and 4-5" of lift w/o needing to use and sort of drop brackets/crossmembers like most IFS setups. They also use coils so there wouldn't be any torsion bars hanging down. I've always wanted a pre-runner style rig so thats what this will be. The Willy's is going to be the crawler.
I really wish Jeep had made a 4dr Comanche or J-truck, because I would love to stick with a Jeep. They did make 4dr variant of the Forward Controls but thats way more work than I want for a family camping rig and toy hauler. If they offer a pick-up version of the 4dr JK then I'll pay off the Kia and get one, no problem. I'd even sell a kidney for one if they offered it with a diesel. And yes, I have seen the AEV Brute double cab, but from what it sounds like that conversion will be stupid expensive and it also seems like you'll have to have them do it.
I'm looking at 4dr Tacoma's, Dakotas, and Frontiers. I'm leaning more towards the Nissan but its hard to argue with the aftermarket support of the Tacoma. Either way a mid to long travel IFS setup on 35's with room to haul camping gear plus dirt bikes is the goal.
Agreed would giving a kidney too for a jk truck. I was in to Toyota's for a while but fell into xj's again because of my mj trailer. But I really want a third gen 4runner. Check this guys build out. http://m.yotatech.com/showthread.php?t=235852
Look at post 123. Love this rig Troy sent me a link, I know it's Photoshop but it's really making me thinking about cutting a bed and a cab and making it happpen. It would be cheaper Dutch and you would save a kidney! Lol. http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?p=245344619
Look at post 123. Love this rig Troy sent me a link, I know it's Photoshop but it's really making me thinking about cutting a bed and a cab and making it happpen. It would be cheaper Dutch and you would save a kidney! Lol. http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?p=245344619
Yeah, that is nice. I believe JohnJohn has some really good photochops of a 4dr MJ too. I would totally love one but I do not have the skills or patience required for that kind of body work. I don't want to know what I would spend for a shop to do it either.
I want something I can lift and get going as easily as possible and with as many off the shelf parts as possible. I'd stick with 33's but I feel with the much longer WB of these trucks I'd want the 35's for added clearance. I'll most likely stick with a 16" wheel (non-beadlocked) and some 35" equivalent all-terrains, preferably DuraTracs.
The Willys is going to get 35's and beefier axles along with a WB stretch and a V6, I'm thinking 4.3L V6. I was really wanting to do a diesel but its just not looking cost effective. I can do a TBI 4.3L for cheap, and its a nicely simple fuel injection that won't require a lot of complication. I'm going to keep it as streetable as possible too so that I can drive it to trails for quick day trips. If I'm going farther or for a longer time I'll flat tw it with whatever truck I wind up getting.
I'll probably try to find me a nice little 2wd MJ to use as my daily and parts runner. Something along the lines of Troy's ROTM entry would be sweet.
Oops, it was Kittrel. Either way though, I would absolutely love this.
But this is a rig you can buy and with mostly bolt on stuff
