keep refreshin the page wainting for the picts

 

After putting the front end together, we quickly realized that the trac bar mounting point that are on the Rusty's coil buckets is no where near being in the right place. So Brad decided to fab one up that would work. It pays off having friends who can help you do stuff when you need it rather than waiting for someone else to do it.



Here's the completed fancy mount that Brad made...



We had to tack it into place to see where the trac bar was going to sit. We decided to cut a elongated hole in the front so we could slide the bolt up and down to where it needed to be. Then we welded a plate in place after we had the right spot.



Once we tacked in and it was fitted correctly, I finished welding up the entire axle. I hope my welding holds up to the trail abuse I'm about to throw at this thing... haha.



Here's the axle painted up and ready to be installed.



We put the axle back in and used the original Rusty's trac bar bracket that came with the Long Arm kit... However somewhere we miscalculated something because the axle definitely isn't centered anymore. We're about 2 inches off center. Hmmm.



Brad and I were looking at this and another buddy Dave was giving us some input on what to do in order to center the axle again. So we decided to modify the original Rusty's trac bar bracket to bring the axle back under the Jeep centered again. Here's the new and improved trac bar bracket.



I also noticed when we had everything bolted up to the old trac bar that the steering geometry wasn't right anymore. The drag link and trac bar were several degrees apart from being parallel. Something you need to address in order to prevent bump steer from occuring. So we took that in consideration and corrected that with the new bracket as well.



Here's the corrected steering angle and the front put back together. She's a beast!



Poser shot of the rear of the XJ...

 

that looks insane nice build

 

Now that I have the axles under it, I can start the roll cage and tube fender build that everyone has axiously been waiting for.

 

Thanks man. I can honestly say that I am so glad that the axle swap is DONE. It was a lot of work and at times I felt like I bit off more than I could chew...

 

i kinda feel ur pain not really i took of side molding and been scraping gunk off all day yesterday stilll not done.

 

This project took me 6 months to complete. It has been the longest amount of time that I ever put into a project like this.

 

its a jeep...it'll never be done

get that beast out on the trails...i want flex pics!

 

Not hating, but have you flexed your rig out.. I think you might have some issues with the trac bar mount contacting the coil. If it would have been my rig, I would have made my own straight trac bar, instead of making something else work.


LIke the inspiration though... I think I am going to get the truss for the Turd full width conversion

 

The mount is actually in front of the coil spring, if you look at it from the side. It would take the axle twisting forward a great deal in order for it to come into contact with the coil spring. We did some flexing in the garage and cycled the suspension. So far so good. I'm going to take it to my friend's shop and flex it out on the lift now that all the tires are on it too.

 

sweet! gotta get some bumpstops in there though. what are your plans for limiting straps?

 

wow,

nuff said

 

I bought limit straps for the front axle. I have to figure out a place to put them. I also might switch the 12" 5150's out for a set of 10" travel 5150's.

 

i'll be waiting to see where you mount on the straps on the body. i will be doing this soon and am looking for ideas.

 

I am boxing in the unibody frame rails for my bumper so I might attach it to the 3/16th plate that I'm using to box that stuff in with.