Solid Axle Swap BS Thread

Yeah but links are SOOO much better

 

Yup. Easier ain't always better!!!!

 

I don't know why they are so against the three link rear at pirate. I love mine and won't trade it for a four link and having to move my tank. No sway bars and it drives so much better on and off road than it did with rear leaf springs. Plus with my tank under the truck instead of setting it in the bed or above the the center line of the truck I keep my COG low. Even with all the mods I've done, my center of gravity is just 11/2" higher than what it was stock because of all the unsprung weight.

 

Yeah they are all for the 4 link they tell me it's going to ride like shit on the road with a 3 link out back. I'm still going to try and get this done with a 3 link. I'm just not sure what specs i want when it comes to link geometry. shit's all new to me

 

I got my numbers much better the 3 link is looking more stable now

 

I'll run my three link with any 4 link that is running the same size tires as mine and is street legal. It rides WAY better than it ever did with the leaf springs in the rear. And I'm not running sway bars yet

 

Oh i know ive started to turn them around towards it now that they see the numbers the rear 3 link looks good

 

Yes i agree links are way better and Easier isn't better but it's not that much worse and it's cheaper not a ton cheaper but still.. im gonna do it like this then one day when i feel like i don't need a bed or a bumper anymore 4 link and truggy it is.

 

Looks complicated

 

Yeah, they live and die by that three link calculator over there. If that calculator says it's not right then they wont do it but they sometimes fail to realize that it's merely a tool to use as a reference and not the be all to end all.

The nay sayers have never ridden in or driven a three link set up that is built right.

Some of the very nice race cars around use a three link rear suspension system that out performs the four link day in and day out. case in point.

| Factory Five Racing
https://www.factoryfive.com/kits/challenge-car/what-you-get/

These Challenge cars are fantastic and stick like glue to the track. I've driven a couple, one with the four link and one with the three link and while both left me with a grin on my face that wouldn't go away for days, the three link car with the same motor and transmission smoked the four link on the circuit. And not bad for $15K

 

You have to do what is good and right for you. There are some very good leaf sprung rigs out there that perform very well. Better infact than some link trucks. My rear leaf spring setup did very well but I found I hit it's limit very quickly and it's breaking point as well. A four link truggy will be sweet though and I can't wait to see what you come up with.

 

I admire your tenacity It will be interesting to see what you come up with. Since you don't want to move the tank, how do you plan to fit coilovers out back as well? I believe I remember you saying your axles are only 63" or so wide which will eliminate any idea of putting them outside the frame (like Wyatts) unless you are fabricating an entirely new frame section and cutting into the bed. Anything inboard the frame might not give you the stability you seek and will be even tougher to package together.

 

Yeah i plan on cutting the frame out at the end of the boxed section and fabricating a new rear frame section then cutting the wheel tubs and moving them up about 4 to 6" i'm mounting them I I to get all the shock use so inboard mounting wont work with 16" coils

 

Its really not that bad once you get into it and as Wyatt said its really just a tool for getting an idea of what you need. Ive got the numbers pretty good but you never know if it will work with my truck.

 

Started boring the spindles on my D60 rear:







You can see how little you actually need to enlarge them for 35 spline

1-9/16" hole saw with a 1-3/8" hole saw mounted inside it as a guide.

 

Right on Mark. It's awesome to see progress on your truck!

 

Holy shit! I just had flashbacks of doing that myself LOL Did I post that idea somewhere on the internet? I could've swore I came up with it but I can't remember exactly. What a pain in the ass, time consuming job!

 

Pretty cool. I love to see progress.

 

Actually I ran across it over here:

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=933793

And I found by adding a few more chip relief holes on the inner holesaw I didnt have to stop and clear chips as much. I could cut almost and 1/8" at a time before clearing chips. I used the old gear oil from the diff for cutting oil, and am still on the first hole saw.

Thanks!

 

New wife is on the fence about a divorce. we arent fighting or anything she just says we don't work together.. im thinking she's snapped. if i can get a few roomates then my sas may come together quicker than i thought seeing how as the only collective debt we have is the house.