rear 4-link is starting to take shape

[mavereq]

i read that article a few times while i was working the suspension plan out. unfortunately, we're limited by the width of our frames. i seriously thought about cutting off the crossmembers and making the frame 6" wider but i didn't feel like building the body mounts. i'm still considering it for the next build.

i'll rig up a ghetto plumbob and take some measurements of how much the axle moves.

 

[mavereq]

ok i went out and checked it out. i ran a plumbob for these photos but they're from my phone so they're not the best. anyways, the first pic is of the axle at ride height, roughly. the next pic is of the axle all the way up but level. third pic is of the axle all the way down but level. the axle has some movement when it moves up and down level. all the way down the axle is 1.5" forward.

the last two pics are of the axle articulated. i was surprised to find that the axle doesn't move very much at all articulated in either direction.

 

[KennyB]

Um,... How will you route the Exhaust?

 

[DanWheeler]

ok i went out and checked it out. i ran a plumbob for these photos but they're from my phone so they're not the best. anyways, the first pic is of the axle at ride height, roughly. the next pic is of the axle all the way up but level. third pic is of the axle all the way down but level. the axle has some movement when it moves up and down level. all the way down the axle is 1.5" forward.

the last two pics are of the axle articulated. i was surprised to find that the axle doesn't move very much at all articulated in either direction.

nice, that looks really good - very little rear steer. Any recent progress?

 

[mavereq]

Um,... How will you route the Exhaust?

i'm just gonna run it into the cab







i'm thinking of going with fenderwells. i haven't decided yet really.

 

[mavereq]

nice, that looks really good - very little rear steer. Any recent progress?

well, the suspension is pretty much done. i have to finish weld the links and then all that's left is figuring out how i'm gonna mount my shocks.

i've been getting the rest of the frame finished up. i had to finish up the trackbar mount and the steering box mount. today i assembled the third member for the rearend so tomorrow night after work i can put the rearend together. i still need to finish the back of the frame. i want to build it for easier access to the bodymount once i get that and the shockmounts done i'm painting this dang thing.

i'm taking the body up to fayetteville paint and body in tennessee on thursday. the guy has about twenty broncos up there. he's gonna do some panel replacement so i can put the body on once i get it rolling.

so yeah, i'm making progress.

 

[broncoitis]

Suspension looks sweet! You did a Great job so far and I like the way you notched the rear crossmember.

Only question, the upper mounts on the frame for the links. Did you keep them single Shear with just the bolt or did you box them in with a double shear mounting which would be much stronger? They looked super beefy so I don't know if it was necessary or not!

Keep up the good work! ;D

 

[mavereq]

they're double shear. the inside plate is 3/8" and is already threaded for 5/8" bolts so tacking it in place made mocking the suspension up a lot easier. ruffstuffspecialties.com sells the brackets.

 

[patrickmitton]

Whose coil buckets are those? Your work looks great by the way...Thanks for the porn..Patrick

 

[mavereq]

the uppers and lowers are all james duff

 

[STD]

This is a thing of beauty. I am keeping this in mind for when I link mine. I am hoping next winter.

 

[mavereq]

there are so many things i'd do differently.... there's always the next project though.

i'm about ready to slap some paint on the frame and axles and put it together.

 

[mavereq]

and thanks for the positive comments. it motivates me to get out there in the cold and get stuff done.

 

[mavereq]

the rear suspension is now together. it's sitting waaaay up there. these are 4.5" deaver coils. i might have to go with a shorter coil, depending on how the front ends up sitting. meh, coils aren't too spendy. i'm sure it'll drop a lot once i get some weight in this baby.

next weekend i'll get the front setup and then mount the drivetrain. it'll be nice to be able to roll the thing out into the driveway.

 

[DanWheeler]

looks great! nice work, very clean. It's gonna be hard for you to get that thing all muddy eh?

whats the plan for your rear bumper?

 

[mavereq]

won't be hard at all man. i'll keep a few cans of rusto hammered black for touching up spots. i already have to touch up a few just from putting the suspension on the back.

i haven't decided on the bumpers yet. i have 5/8" nuts welded into the inside of the plates on the end so i have options down the road.

 

[70EB]

That is looking really sharp. Wish I had your skills.

 

[mavereq]

That is looking really sharp. Wish I had your skills.

trust me the skills aren't all that. i'm pretty much winging it and learning as i go. i've wasted a lot of time and money on things that i didn't need to. at least i learned from the mistakes.

i've been talking with ertle and trying to get to fort lewis but i'm heading to saudi for a year first. i'm hoping a 1sg spot opens up there for me in a year so i can be back up in the northwest. not sure how much longer you'll be up there but we can get rid of the leafsprings on yours.

 

[70EB]

I change out in June but I am attempting to stay local. Ray mentioned that you were working to get out here. Should be some spots opening up in a year (most of the companies are deployed/deploying - so alot of personnel change over).

 

[carter2772]

Looking real nice! I do like Ruff Stuff's products...