Windigo build thread

Shackles in the front is how the stock YJ is set up, but it creates another problem - the tire will move forward slightly when the suspension compresses. This makes climbing obstacles more difficult.

 

I'm worried about the whole axle location moving rearwards and creating a tire rub problem.
but I cant get my head around if it will or not if i move the shackles from rear to front. I guess i just have to do it and see what happens. As for climbing obstacles , I'm just looking to make it a 2 wheel drive daily driver right now.

 

Good morning buddy. What kind of leaf springs are you running on the truck? Jeep? The Tacoma is 1k heavier over all compared to a jeep. You might have to take apart your old leaf pack and add a spring or 2 to your new leaf pack not ideal it will add height and rougher ride but it should help making the truck more stable. It sucks because once you change one thing it affects something else. You will need to find a happy medium with your set up. I can make some time to come out and help you out if you need. Sometimes a fresh set of eyes sees something your missing .

 

They are jeep yj springs.
I was trying to rack my brain thinking where I got them. Then I remembered I got them custom made for the 95 runner. There not stock yj leafs.
Starting Tuesday no working on the truck till next week. I'll get the stock yj leafs in by then and see what happens.
I'll also take more notice of pinion angle maybe my reading glasses guesstimate is outdated.
Thank you for offering to help before I drag good people hear let me correct the obvious. Thank you.

 

Been thinking about your build this weekend.

What's preventing the front axle from moving left to right? Leaf springs only control fore/aft and vertical movement - they don't provide much lateral control. The steering drag link would help some, but the axle could still sway side to side.

I think adding a track bar/panhard bar might really help stabilize things. That would give you positive lateral location of the axle. A watts link would be really cool too - packaging it inside the front axle would be difficult, but could be an option for the rear.

Also, your drag link angle looks pretty aggressive. Correcting that geometry could help with the wandering - steep angles can cause bump steer and feedback issues.

The steering box mount area might have some flex too. That frame section takes a lot of stress with the new setup. Worth checking, though I don't think that's your main issue.

A quick test: if you push on the front fender, does the axle move independently from the frame? Do the wheels turn with that movement? That would tell us if you've got lateral play.

Did adding the sway bar help at all? It should limit the flex in the axle and help reduce the effects of the poor steering geometry. If it made any improvement, that would be a sign that the geometry could be part of the issue.

 

the leaf springs i guess

hard to tell but I'd say no but when i enter into the truck stepping on the sliders the steering wheel moves.

nope maybe a little but nothing noticable

stay tuned I'm going to do something that I was refusing to do because its going to cause a problem I dont want to deal with but its going to get done. next week's problems.. thanks

 

So yesterday in the heat I spent 13 hours outside and did this

Installed the other set of leaf springs
Cut off the front crossmember ( I was refusing to do because I wanted to keep the arb)
Set up the truck as if it's a yj suspension and modify the front bumper.

The truck is stable now. I'm pretty sure it was the leaf springs. the truck sits almost level now not like before where the front was a couple of inches higher than the rear.

There is still so much more left to do but

 

Good job buddy .

 

Just one battle. I'm still fighting. Thank you for the support.

Cleaning the garage today these wrong peices represented weeks of

But I keep going goal is ready for fall ardbeg.

 

Looking good!
When are we going to see the flexed out mall crawling pictures?!!

 

I'll find a home depot curb somewhere. After I get parking brakes.

 

Go full drift spec with the parking brake. This has a lock out . Tee into the rear brake lines and that’s it no cables to stretch. Note brake pedal might feel weird if you are pulling the lever and using the foot pedal at the same time.

 

Ok

I'm going to try something a bit smaller hoping it dose not leak.

 

I'm going to post this on the build thread thanks for asking haven't though about it in detail before.

ok you got me, "solid axle swaps" and "budget build" are not to be used in the same sentence, but looking at some of the builds on hear do feel I'm pretty cheep with this build.

I had the axles hence the pass. side 60 just a little referb needed
the t case adapter 3k
the dana 300 has been in my tj, buggy, xj and now taco.
p/s pump from my 2nd gen runner
reused my rear drive shaft
front drive shaft not there yet/ front crossmember not done
leaf springs and associated parts to go with leafs had laying around
steering shaft (not happy with) came from my runner
makde up some shifters
had the shocks was supposed to put them on the rear 150 i think
shocks hoops Amazon 150 i think
steering box (s) im on the second one, had them

all the other little stuff oils bolts front end parts brake parts bearings other things cant even think of, yokes u joints leaf spring bushings ect.
im going to guess its about 2k or more, all my metal I've used had laying around, junk yard parts, rims from my runner, tires from my tacoma

I'll just call it 6k.
this will include cutting discs, welding wire and gas gloves hardware everything
and the arguments between the wife and me were free so that helped

 

Includes beer cost?