CLOSED JD Fabrication/81Trekker Suspension Group Buy CLOSED

faster than me that's for sure. but I was doing a LOT more at the same time compared to just installing the kit

 

so did anyone else that purchased prior to group buy get the LCA kit installed yet? I'm wondering if there was any interference with the stock bumpstop mount to frame, that seems like an area that could be improved with feedback of the users who still retain the factory bumpstop, and a notch made to the bracket of the kit. But maybe my '05 frame is different in that area, I know for sure they changed the engine mounts in the middle of '06...

If nobody else has installed yet, I'm amazed - I'm usually not the type to do things first... but this kit came along and allowed me to do what I wanted so it just worked out nicely. I can say that I like it so far, still haven't aligned yet, want to do that before I further play with the LCA position. Also, whiteline bushings in the LCA, that are custom drilled for a zerk fitting, work excellent, highly recommend that for anyone staying with stock lowers...

 

The frames are all the same and if you choose to keep the stock bumpstops there is some material to be removed.

ideally when you do this kit you remove the stock bump mount so you can gain the additional uptravel the suspension will allow for

we didn’t want to put a notch in the arm tab as it makes installing the kit much harder. The very simple solution is just notch the factory bump mount.

 

OK I guess there is a little miscommunication then, I was told directly that it clears factory bumpstops. And I thought I recall reading the same in the original thread but maybe I was just confused. Oh well, as long as folks know it ahead of time...

Also, at least with my BP-51's, I am using all the travel available from the shock, used top plate spacers to effectively make the shock longer (it starts out a little shorter than the extended travel variants from King or Icon or the like) then shimmed the bumpstop to make sure it was fully squished just prior to the shock bottoming out, tested with no spring in place. Verified that the shock is still the thing limiting down travel, not a binding ball joint, or coil contact, etc...

With a long travel, or different shock stroke, the situation may be different. Admittedly, the BP-51's don't have the most travel available on the market, I think I get a touch over 9" at the wheel simply limited by the exposed shaft of the coilover

 

2012 here and I had to notch the bump stop bracket to get it to fit properly. No big deal, it comes with the territory when you start doing crazy shit like this. Thats actually the easy shit compared to trying to get off the parts of the LCA pivots that lay flush and are seam welded to the crossmembers....fuck those things. Doesnt help that its smokin hot here right now too. I quit working by 2 because that is when the sun arrives into my garage.

 

I wanna see pics of the installs!

 

We all do.

 

I rarely remember to take progress pics, especially when I’m paying for someone else’s time to help/work. Here is what I did take. Was helpful to put screw jacks under to push upwards on the outside edges and ratchet straps on the back to suck inward and upward. of course that is after test fitting and grinding, the gaps were much better compared to simply relying on the locating tabs alone. If you can be real precise when notching the bumpstop mounts, it would be directly weldable. My buddy went straight to huge cuts to provide ample room, requiring gussets and extra work later to restore strength.

 

With all this talk about cutting things off and notching bump mounts, it might be a good time for someone to add hydro bumps and have this job pay some extra dividends. Just hoping I don’t have to redo mine.

The OE bump is relatively easy to remove.

 

hydro bumps aren't for everyone. For low speed, I cannot convince myself that hydros are better. In fact I had Hydro on the rear, and took it off to replace with superbumps at the same time I did all the front work. The hydros were touching too early, basically riding on them when loaded out, causing reduced suspension movement and binding while articulated and the bump wasn't perpendicular to the axle. Caused all sorts of issues that I didn't like. even with just a short test trip off road, I already like the superbumps on the back compared to hydro. Always had superbumps on front. I am personally happy with a good progressive but elastic bumpstop. Now, with high speed pre-running kind of thing, completely different.

 

Did the steering slide rack ever get confirmed it fits 3rd gens?

 

Not yet, we have one coming in shortly... stay tuned

 

Got the LCA pivot kit all welded in. All in all i'm really happy with the way its turned out so far. My front crossmember has issues that I was aware about going into this. I have smashed my IFS skidplate at speed several times and the front crossmember shows it. The front 2 holes that this pivot kit picks up for alignment are the same holes used to mount my IFS skid and they are now about 1/4 to 7/16 deeper than what they were from the factory. So this put a tweak into the whole crossmember and like I said earlier I knew about it....because a few years ago I was forced to get heimed uppers to be able to fix my alignment because I ran out of adjustment with the stock lower adjustment....needless to say none of this was JDFabs fault. What it did do is make me take much more time to massage the forward LCA pivots to an acceptable fit to start welding, thankfully the rear LCA tabs required almost no grinding to fit. Just throwing this out there to guys that have flogged the shit out of their trucks to be ready and able to massage this kit into place. Flap discs of all grits are your best friend.
Just finshed up welding it today and did a quick fit check on one of my TC lowers.....they fit like a glove with no clearance issues...I actually had to trim the stock lca tabs to clearance them for this particular TC lower because it has a welded on skid plate that hit the stock tabs at about 80% stuff....but that is not an issue with this JDfab kit. I did have to cut a bit of the bump stop bracket to make room for this kit but its minimal...I actually took out way more than I had to but that is a lesson learned. Tomorrow i'll be putting all the front suspension back on and dont expect any issues at this point.


Hover mode...ready to start cutting










In this pic you can see the hole where the kits front crossbar mounts to the trucks front crossmember..its hard to see in the pic but it should be flat...mine is pushed up pretty good...the hole in front of it is oblong in the pic...it shouldnt be that way. But it introduced a tweek into the whole crossmember


Absolute perfect fit of the LCA

 

excellent. Hope it fits, I’ll be ready to buy.

 

Pretty much got all the suspension back on today....though I was slowed down when I found that the bolt in the top hat of my coilover was sheared in half and I had to easy out the broken piece and find a new bolt that would work. The initial alignment numbers are looking good. Got the drivers side cams in right the first time to get good caster and camber numbers. On the passenger side I had to flip the cams around to get the numbers I was looking for. If you dont know...the way the cams work is they get about 60% of the the stock adjustment.... if you cant get a good alignment number you can flip the cams over the get the same 60% of adjustment in the other direction. Hopefully I explained that clearly enough....if not you will figure it out. Some pics from today


And fuck that bolt!

 

Looking good! Also, It’s probably not critical, but you can also weld the front brackets to the threaded tube for additional support and to ensure bolt alignment in the future.

 

Those look great!

Nice work on the install, and important safety tip on the alignment cams. Someone is going to have fun explaining that to a "tech" at an alignment shop...

 

Supposedly the brown snail of happiness is bringing me parts today.

I'll be refreshing ups.com/tracking until then.

 

I guess it's time.

 

Ok. It’s on it’s wheels. It drives straight. Steering wheel is straight. Doesn’t feel twitchy...feels planted. I feel much better too!
Gonna take it for a real alignment this week and move on to the next mod.