Radius arm / 3 Link / 4 Link

[blackax]

So i'm getting ready to do a link setup for the front of my 88 trooper.

I'm leaning to a radius arm setup because of how simple it seems but I've never done a link setup before so any ideas or info would be great.

I'm not looking for a DD or Extreme Rock crawler Just something in the middle.

Front axle is dana 44 passenger side drop from a 1974 jeep wagoneer

[94cobra69ss396]

What type of wheeling do you do and what suspension does it have now?

[blackax]

Right now it has FJ40 Leaf Springs up front.

I want it to be a good all rounder. Little bit of Rock crawling a little bit of trail's Not so much mud or sand.

I'm ok with compromising a little bit of travel overall if it makes my life easier.

[94cobra69ss396]

Why change it from leaf springs? We have a bunch of different setups on the trucks in our four wheel club from leafs to coils to coilovers and to me leafs just seem to work better in rocks while still providing plenty of travel and a decent ride. I'm using home made leaf packs on the front of the Explorer that I made up from the a set of stock Wrangler front and rear packs that a buddy gave me when I did the SAS. Even with those stock leafs I'm getting 10 inches of travel. If you want to improve the ride quality get a set of good shocks that can be tuned like Fox, King, FOA, etc. Going to the Fox shocks on the front of my Explorer and tuning them made a huge difference. My buddy who used to race the 1450 truck tuned them and they are perfect. Now I just need a set for the rear.

[blackax]

Why change it from leaf springs? We have a bunch of different setups on the trucks in our four wheel club from leafs to coils to coilovers and to me leafs just seem to work better in rocks while still providing plenty of travel and a decent ride. I'm using home made leaf packs on the front of the Explorer that I made up from the a set of stock Wrangler front and rear packs that a buddy gave me when I did the SAS. Even with those stock leafs I'm getting 10 inches of travel. If you want to improve the ride quality get a set of good shocks that can be tuned like Fox, King, FOA, etc. Going to the Fox shocks on the front of my Explorer and tuning them made a huge difference. My buddy who used to race the 1450 truck tuned them and they are perfect. Now I just need a set for the rear.

On my trip out to the desert the leafs are killing my back. It has an add a leaf on both the front and rear and it rides very very stiff. Right now im still spring under in both the front and rear. I do like the ride height as it sits right now.

I've never build a leaf pack or even how to start, I think the FJ40 springs are about 42 inches.

It might be a path to go down to just replace the leafs but i've always heard you great alot more flex and alot more comfort with a link setup.

[94cobra69ss396]

With an add-a-leaf it is going to ride like shit! Take a picture of both the front and rear packs and post them up here.

[blackax]

Front Passenger side
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-rEd4tQHfPcA/T6lvEKJ3g_I/AAAAAAAAGck/GFB9qpgDHYY/s800/IMAG0004.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1xikVjvUcJs/T6lvTn3DJpI/AAAAAAAAGcs/pKOQJB2pmN8/s800/IMAG0005.jpg




Rear Drivers side

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-w6yRkwNkPlI/T6lyVLyHkMI/AAAAAAAAGdY/fcjE8qZz-EI/s800/IMAG0007.jpg

[94cobra69ss396]

Can you get a better picture of the fronts? My brother has a set of 2 inch lift springs for an FJ40 that I can probably get from him to see how they ride on your truck. Are both the front and rear ones on your truck just stock FJ40 packs?

[blackax]

Can you get a better picture of the fronts? My brother has a set of 2 inch lift springs for an FJ40 that I can probably get from him to see how they ride on your truck. Are both the front and rear ones on your truck just stock FJ40 packs?

The front are FJ40 the Rear are Isuzu with add a leaf.

What are you looking for in the pic so I know what to include.

[94cobra69ss396]

A side picture from underneath the truck so I can see the whole spring along with the arch. Are the rear leaf pack 2 3/4 wide like the fronts are? We need to get rid of the add-a-leaf and replace it with some thinner leafs fron the rear of an FJ40 pack.

[blackax]

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-AK2EK9VOrVQ/T6m2bgihJOI/AAAAAAAAGg0/pLsi6ozs2Xo/s800/IMAG0023.jpg

[94cobra69ss396]

Those look like the stock FJ packs. Those don't have an add-a-leaf but having the shackle in the front does make it ride crappy. That's why I made mine the way I did. I'll take a picture of the Old Man Emu packs that are on the front of Phil's FJ to compare. What shocks do you have on the front? Most white rocket shocks can't be mounted upside down like yours are. I was told the Rancho RS5000 that I originally used on my front could but it road like shit. I later found out that they can't and that was why. As soon as I flipped them it road much nicer.

[blackax]

I think the third leaf is the add a leaf (doesn't match the rest of the pack)

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-OZQM4THkHdM/T6lvpUlaVmI/AAAAAAAAGc0/KDq-DiRslEE/s800/IMAG0006.jpg

The shocks are RS5000 as far as i know. I'll try and flip them tomorrow and see how that does.

[Damian]

Those shocks should say which way is up. But flip them and that will help out.

[94cobra69ss396]

I can tell you for a fact that the RS5000 can't be mounted that way and they ride like shit when they are. The middle leaf does look like it was added to the pack. Is it shorter than the one below it?

[blackax]

I can tell you for a fact that the RS5000 can't be mounted that way and they ride like shit when they are. The middle leaf does look like it was added to the pack. Is it shorter than the one below it?

Yes it is shorter then the leaf below it. I've spent today cleaning up the garage a little so i didn't have a chance to flip the shocks. I'm gonna try and pull the axles and see what broke in the front tomorrow. I'm gonna pick up a locker for the front this weekend so I'm gonna get a rebuild kit at the same time so I can replace all the seals while I have it apart.

Some of it looks simple but some looks like a pain in the ass. Well ill dive in to that tomorrow.

[blackax]

I'm kind of sure that's a problem.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-IqiD2lwJSkg/T692ZBieDoI/AAAAAAAAGnE/Q5b5FugB25g/s800/IMAG0043.jpg

[94cobra69ss396]

What's the problem? If you mean that they stay compressed that's because they aren't gas pressurized so that's the way they work.

[blackax]

I thought rancho 5000's where gas pressurized. And i thought the other side would pop out about half the way out at least. I think im gonna go bilstein 5125's anyway.