starting my drop project soon.......parts are on order

[moregrip]

here's a pic of the rear end links and temp grade 5 hardware....

 

[moregrip]

update: my initial driving impressions are that with the addition of the 1 1/4" rear swaybar response to steering wheel input is greatly improved......rather impressive even still running my well worn OE tires. I'll definitely need more/better rubber out back if I continue to change direction so aggressively.

when cornering hard there is greater confidence, period. Truck feels great and planted, more stable.............BUT................it has also magnified the limitations of the stock front shocks even more and I need to go ahead and get my front Bilsteins installed and re-evaluate. While the truck feels better overall, I am getting some porpoising on the front end; think mid corner bumps......

something I found a little weird.......somehow the clunking noises from the rear suspension are quieter............I can't yet conceptualize the rear suspension relationship and how this happened.........still working that one out in my aging brain! But none-the-less she's a bit quieter........and I like that!

visually and aesthetically speaking the 5" x 5", 1/2" thick aluminum adapter plates aren't the best looking things in the world, and I'd really like to take away some material and add a design element into the mix............unfortunately, my tool selection isn't what it used to be so it may be a bit before that happens........it's on the list!

I find myself REALLY wanting a limited slip rear diff now! I'm literally roasting the tires everywhere but I will say, for a peg leg 2wd she gets out of the hole pretty darn good. I get fairly decent weight transfer from a dig.

there are a few things still bugging me but nothing that NEEDS to be addressed today, just some picky personal preferences I'd like to address later

 

[Ak47bravo]

update: my initial driving impressions are that with the addition of the 1 1/4" rear swaybar response to steering wheel input is greatly improved......rather impressive even still running my well worn OE tires. I'll definitely need more/better rubber out back if I continue to change direction so aggressively.

when cornering hard there is greater confidence, period. Truck feels great and planted, more stable.............BUT................it has also magnified the limitations of the stock front shocks even more and I need to go ahead and get my front Bilsteins installed and re-evaluate. While the truck feels better overall, I am getting some porpoising on the front end; think mid corner bumps......

something I found a little weird.......somehow the clunking noises from the rear suspension are quieter............I can't yet conceptualize the rear suspension relationship and how this happened.........still working that one out in my aging brain! But none-the-less she's a bit quieter........and I like that!

visually and aesthetically speaking the 5" x 5", 1/2" thick aluminum adapter plates aren't the best looking things in the world, and I'd really like to take away some material and add a design element into the mix............unfortunately, my tool selection isn't what it used to be so it may be a bit before that happens........it's on the list!

I find myself REALLY wanting a limited slip rear diff now! I'm literally roasting the tires everywhere but I will say, for a peg leg 2wd she gets out of the hole pretty darn good. I get fairly decent weight transfer from a dig.

there are a few things still bugging me but nothing that NEEDS to be addressed today, just some picky personal preferences I'd like to address later

Peg leg 2WD haha... nice. I've never heard that before. I must say... my 14' CCRB had "peg leg 2wd" and my sport has the LSD. World of difference in how the truck feels accelerating, especially on slower speed turns while under acceleration.

Glad to hear your setup is going well! I am about to mess with mine this weekend. Going to try and run the BT 2/4 again but with stock arms and run durango bags (from moe's) in the back.

 

[moregrip]

Peg leg 2WD haha... nice. I've never heard that before. I must say... my 14' CCRB had "peg leg 2wd" and my sport has the LSD. World of difference in how the truck feels accelerating, especially on slower speed turns while under acceleration.

Glad to hear your setup is going well! I am about to mess with mine this weekend. Going to try and run the BT 2/4 again but with stock arms and run durango bags (from moe's) in the back.

what! awesome man!

I really think the bags and BT springs combo compliment each other well. I'm running 10psi in my bags and she rides good!

looking forward to your results!

 

[PassivAggressor]

update: my initial driving impressions are that with the addition of the 1 1/4" rear swaybar response to steering wheel input is greatly improved......rather impressive even still running my well worn OE tires. I'll definitely need more/better rubber out back if I continue to change direction so aggressively.

when cornering hard there is greater confidence, period. Truck feels great and planted, more stable.............BUT................it has also magnified the limitations of the stock front shocks even more and I need to go ahead and get my front Bilsteins installed and re-evaluate. While the truck feels better overall, I am getting some porpoising on the front end; think mid corner bumps......

something I found a little weird.......somehow the clunking noises from the rear suspension are quieter............I can't yet conceptualize the rear suspension relationship and how this happened.........still working that one out in my aging brain! But none-the-less she's a bit quieter........and I like that!

visually and aesthetically speaking the 5" x 5", 1/2" thick aluminum adapter plates aren't the best looking things in the world, and I'd really like to take away some material and add a design element into the mix............unfortunately, my tool selection isn't what it used to be so it may be a bit before that happens........it's on the list!

I find myself REALLY wanting a limited slip rear diff now! I'm literally roasting the tires everywhere but I will say, for a peg leg 2wd she gets out of the hole pretty darn good. I get fairly decent weight transfer from a dig.

there are a few things still bugging me but nothing that NEEDS to be addressed today, just some picky personal preferences I'd like to address later

Ever thought about just priming them and spraying some semi gloss rattle can on them? I'm glad it handles well. That was a nice unique upgrade. Now change those shocks!

 

[moregrip]

Ever thought about just priming them and spraying some semi gloss rattle can on them? I'm glad it handles well. That was a nice unique upgrade. Now change those shocks!

yes! that's why I bought 4 pieces! 2 for test and tune and 2 for final product!

 

[moregrip]

so you guys are going to like this idea! lol

I received my QA1 3/4" OD T-bar kits today to fit inside the 3/4" ID Bilstein hour glass urethane shock bushings so I can finally mount the 360/80 digressive valve 5125 shocks up front.

problem is the urethane bushings are about 6mm too wide (37mm total width) to fit into the c-clips of the T-Bar

so....

this is what I'm going to do...........I have this old roto zip tool I literally use for next to nothing, its probably 10years old and only used twice.

the plan is to mount a 3/4" OD sanding drum inside the bushing, lock the tool down in a vice, and spin the bushing at high rpm, while i carefully shave 3mm off each side so I can utilize the c-clips as designed for an overall width of 31mm

could I run these front bushings without going through the trouble? yeah, and it probably wouldn't ever give me any sort of issue, but, then it wouldn't be 100% right in my eyes.

fingers crossed, wish me luck!

Here is a visual of the difference, and the 3/4" sanding drum idea I intend to use:

 

[moregrip]

all ready for a test run in the morning!!

 

[hampton64]

So the bushing doesnt squish enough to put the c clips on the tbar? What if u used a press to squish it enough?

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[moregrip]

So the bushing doesnt squish enough to put the c clips on the tbar? What if u used a press to squish it enough?

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Good question!

I don't believe it's meant to fit tight like that. It's my understanding that the c-clips just retain the bushing in the center of the T-Bar...........granted I could be wrong. Does anyone have any other insight on this?

 

[hampton64]

http://www.4wd.com/aux_incl/pdf.ashx?pdf=9799.pdf&line=ARB

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[hampton64]

Seems like you might want some preload in there

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[moregrip]

Seems like you might want some preload in there

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hey that's good news, a little less material I have to remove! I'll trim them so they are snug, if that doesn't work out well, I'll trim them a little more, no harm/no foul.

You in the Navy?

 

[hampton64]

Yea out in san diego now

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[Ak47bravo]

Jeez. I take a 3 hour drive to San Antonio and look at all the stuff going on! Let us know what happens tomorrow.


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[moregrip]

Yea out in san diego now

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Nice, I've been officially retired from the Navy about 3 weeks now!

 

[moregrip]

Jeez. I take a 3 hour drive to San Antonio and look at all the stuff going on! Let us know what happens tomorrow.


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lol, hey man, gotta keep plugging away at this suspension until this thing is finished.....so I can start my stereo build!!

Good luck with your suspension work this weekend, keep us updated bro!

 

[moregrip]

Bushings are 36.8mm, distance between C clips 31.7mm, going to shoot for 31.9mm for a slight bushing preload.

 

[DavidRam]

lol, hey man, gotta keep plugging away at this suspension until this thing is finished.....so I can start my stereo build!!

Good luck with your suspension work this weekend, keep us updated bro!

Stereo build?!?!?!?

Now you REALLY have my attention! Lol

 

[moregrip]

Ok first one is done, used 2500rpm drill motor instead of the 30,000 rpm roto zip