i wanted a newer, better front suspension. i turned a lot of thoughts in my head and have been reading thru a ton of link and suspension threads on pirate. i decided a 3 link was the way to go since it offers great unbinding flex and can be easier than a 4 link to do. so here goes

lowers:
2x.250 dom
RE large super flex joints for the frame
poly at the axle for now
lowers in the area of 30" eye to eye

upper:
1.5x.120? havent gotten this far yet
rock krawler dana 30 build-a-joint at axle
3/4 or 7/8 hiem at frame?
a lot of talk about longer or shorter upper, depends what you want to do. im thinkin the upper will be an inch longer than the lower.

with 8+ inches of separation at the axle and right around 4 inches at the frame end my pinion should stay pointed at the tc thru the entire cycle.

drop brackets and short arms gone, finally


no goin back



tabs and links



mock up 2 days ago

 

looking good so far. Looking forward to more pics and details on what fabed parts go where...

 

picked up a 3/4 hiem today with 5/8 misalignment spacers. also got the tubing just need to order the krawler joint

 

which side are you gonna run your upper on?

 

People bust 3/4 heims alot just in the steering... wouldn't recommend anything smaller then 7/8 for anything suspension related... since your doing a three link and ALL the force is on the frame end heims I would even think1.25 heims... but depends on how hard u wheel... I'm in the process of the same... but I'm doing a d60 swap as well...

 

im not a hard wheeler and the rest of the jeep is very stockish. 6 inchs of lift, 33s and a locker. the upper will be on the drivers side. i think the 3/4 will work for my application and driving style. if not i will find out soon enough

 

Why the drivers side? every lift I have ever seen in a 3 li k its always on the pass side because of clearance with the driveshaft?

 

The diff housing is stronger than the stamped steel bracket on the PS. 3/4" quality heims should be fine. I have heard of cheapos busting, but if you use QA1, or even Mid West Control heims, you'll be fine, and you can beat on it some if you want...

 

believe i didnt go cheapo on the hiem, i realize this is not the place to cut corners for cash. i think the crawler joint will self-destruct before the hiem

 

like cos said....the cast mount is WAY stronger. i was going to advise to replace the entire pass side axle mount had he been doing it on that side.

also i use QA1 3/4 heims, and have never broke one....even running d60's and 40's

 

just sayin... ive read many times on pirate people busting them... more or less dropping them on rocks... but take it as you like...

 

yeah they may break if you come down on a rock on em, but when do your uppers ever see rocks????.....i dont run heims on my lowers and the OP isnt aswell

 

ya i think i wrote somewhere in here i was lost on what joints he was using where... lol...

 

well guys after getting input here and elsewhere i decided to return the hiem and dom. ill now be going uber beef with a 1.25 hiem.

 

Good choice


I rub the RK 3 link, and plan on running it again on my truggy. For the money, it is one of the best out there. Not bashing making your own, but I have lil time to work on my stuff.. so getting it done.. is more important. PLus the solid links are stout