NorthwestCruiser's linked 80 series crawler slammed on 4d's and BS

Coming from someone who is benefiting from their success...

 

Fair point!

I do benefit from their success, but I would not run them on my rig or put them on someone elses if they were trash. Just like Box Rocket said above "there are no doubt good reviews", there are no doubt bad reviews, as well as any other suspension setup out there. Ironman's ride is awful, good luck warrantying anything from King, Radflo sucks, OME sags, Icons leak, etc. There are good and bad about everything, I was merely making a comment on my experience prior to picking up their product.

 

Please leave if you're just trying to start shit.

Thanks for the info @Box Rocket and @Kfog375! After talking to my friend with a linked 80 about the differences between links and radius arms, and pricing it all out im leaning back towards linking the front. How ever I will need coils for the rear so we'll see what I go with when the time comes.

 

Dobinsons is a member here.

@Dobinsons Mike

 

I'll be interested to hear how she rides and how the manners are with a link kit. I think I'd go that route too if I planned to trailer it. The radius arms present a challenge but looks like they yield pretty good results after having rubber bushings with holes installed.

 

Driving my friends' 80 feels really good actually. Last time we went wheeling he was driving it with one finger doing 80mph on the highway. Its pretty street friendly on 40's

 

A properly set up link on any vehicle will be no different to drive than the stock form.....well not considering the bigger tires and those sort of factors (harder to turn due to weight..ect). Most of the linked guys who complain about it at higher speeds are the DIYer types who just slap something together. Which is awesome and works fine for crawling but its at the 70mph when you can tell a really well set up, set up.

Radius arms have always been an interesting idea. But when you really research theres quite a few reasons most guys pick links over it. Ive driven one radius arm a friend did (a toyota pickup conversion) and it was interesting. The main thing I hated about it was the unloading feeling. Going up steeper hills it would feel like the front was pushing away from the hill and as if you would flip if given to much gas. Not saying Id forever skip the design, just given the choice between linked and RA...id lean towards links personally.

 

This is the biggest thing pushing me away from staying radius arm. That and links are much quieter

 

How are you planning to use the truck? If you're looking to play in the hard stuff a lot a 3-link in the front is not a bad way to go.
Andrews truck is a great example of a well done linked setup. If that's the quality bar and target setup you'll be fine. It's a big jump in cost but if that doesn't bother you go for it.

If you do decide to stay with the radius arms, some improvements can be made. The limiting factor with the radius arms is usually when the arms make contact with the brackets at the axles when flexed. It's even a problem with the Superior Engineering Superflex arms. By grinding down the width of the front eyes of the arms to make them a bit narrower it can reduce the contact with the brackets and you'll gain some travel.

The radius arms are quiet, like no noise quiet. Not sure if your comment about the links being quieter was referring to that or not.

 

Yeah it'll bet setup just like Andrew's and used the same.

He was telling me that radius arms make more creeks and noises? I'm not sure but his links are silent. It would just be a perk, not a deal breaker

 

Also the 3 link setup won't be much more than the radius arm setup, only about $800.

 

Best of luck with whichever direction you decide. The nice thing is that the 80 series is very capable right out of the box, especially if it came with lockers. There are tons of 80s out there running radius arms and eating up difficult trails. There are funny experiences all the time when you see others on the trails that are surprised by the 80. I was on a difficult trail in Moab and we rolled up on a hard obstacle where there was a very heavily built old Ford Bronco that had broken on the obstacle. We had to wait while the Bronco was winched out of the way to make trail repairs. Once it was out of the way I pulled up to the obstacle in my 80 only to have them tell me there was no way my "4Runner" would make it, and I walked right up. To see the expressions on the faces of the Bronco guys was more satisfying than making it up the obstacle.

They're just tough capable trucks, so you'll be in good shape regardless of what setup you choose to go with.

 

I agree. These were made to be taken on off road trails

 

subb'd gotta luv them low and wide

 

Hell yeah!

 

Congrats on the new Cruiser. There's nothing better than gaining all that interior room after moving up from a smaller vehicle. I went from a Suzuki Sidekick up to an 80 Series several years back, and it was like having twice the interior room!! Actually, it probably was literally 2x the sqft....

 

Coil overs and wheels are ordered. 14" 2.0 kings with resi and clickers, and
@SCSPerformance matte grey F5's from my buddy with a LC on 40's since he's getting new F5's.


Going to have to order balistic joints next then the 3 link can start

 

Definitely should send your F5s to OMF and get them beadlocked

 

Nah. My buddy lives an hour away so I won't have to ship them