80 lower links - lengthen? (1 Viewer)

[green_machine]

ok, so I am welding up the upper links on the 80, and I am curious as to why no one seems to lengthen the lowers to compensate for 4+ inches of lift. I bought christo's bungs for the uppers, but why not the lowers?

Seems to me that to take full advantage of adusting the rear, you should at least lengthen the lowers.

What do I know, I used to 3-links in the rear.

so, a poll ~ cut and sleeve two inches?

 

[clarkrw3]

I ask Christo this same question and his answer is that with the way the rear flexes with 4-6" of lift extending the lower arms makes the rear tires interfear with the finders when stuffed. I will post what he said "" if I can find it.

 

[clarkrw3]

this waw what I was looking for.

"I doubt it, moving the tire backwards only increases the rubbing when the tire is compressed. So the net "shorter" arms with the lift help with the rubbing situation with larger tires."

That is why they make HD standard length arms.

 

[green_machine]

this waw what I was looking for.

"I doubt it, moving the tire backwards only increases the rubbing when the tire is compressed. So the net "shorter" arms with the lift help with the rubbing situation with larger tires."

That is why they make HD standard length arms.

hmmm.. that's why I have a hammer, a plasma cutter, and a sawzall....

 

[Tools R Us]

Depends on what your doing, it's easier to trim the rear of the wheelwell, if your running +37" tires it would be better to move the axle back and trim the rear of the opening. Even for stock length a cut and sleeve makes them much stronger.

 

[BiffS]

i'd suggest that it is imperative that you lenghten the lower arms as the short arms will induce rear steer on the upward stroke and also provide for some odd rubbing locations (rear of the wheel well and the inside of the front of the well on the frame side) I fought this same issue with my 90 r-4unner and eventually, i just bought some Rubicon Express lower extreme duty control arms that were made for a H**p. The setup works magnificently now, and i actually gained ground clearance with the longer arms.

 

[green_machine]

Biffs, I agree. I hate rear steer, and fought it for years on my 3 linked rover.

I couldn't wait to do it, so I did it tonight. I was shocked to find that the lowers are nothing but seemed pipe! wow. I didn't have any dom to sleeve, so I took some sc80 pipe (which I am SURE is more stout than the original) and sectioned in 1" and Tig'ed that into place. I then took some 6mm (.25) angle and used 6013 to seam that to the bottom of the link.

Plenty stout.

bonus pic of my radius arms. which I cut and boxed for travel and caster.

 

[kirk]

Lengthening the lower rears make sense b/c at 6"lift the true center of the lower spring pad has to be forcing the springs to canted forward. I have a 6" on my truck with 36"ss and have been happy with it thus far. I am considering 39" tires and feel more lift is well too tipsy for me. How about what the glacier/ice runners are doing in europe? It makes sense to me to get the axle back a few inches. With respect to having adjustable lowers you only need one set to adjust pinion angle properly.

 

[green_machine]

Lengthening the lower rears make sense b/c at 6"lift the true center of the lower spring pad has to be forcing the springs to canted forward. I have a 6" on my truck with 36"ss and have been happy with it thus far. I am considering 39" tires and feel more lift is well too tipsy for me. How about what the glacier/ice runners are doing in europe? It makes sense to me to get the axle back a few inches. With respect to having adjustable lowers you only need one set to adjust pinion angle properly.

I am sure that someone more knowledgeable will contribute, but by my math, on the 80 you lose 2" wheelbase with 4" of lift, measured at the ride height of the spring. I was wheeling this weekend with an 80 on 6 inch or more of length, with stock lower links. I did have way less rear stear than he did.

 

[Tools R Us]

I am sure that someone more knowledgeable will contribute, but by my math, on the 80 you lose 2" wheelbase with 4" of lift, measured at the ride height of the spring. I was wheeling this weekend with an 80 on 6 inch or more of length, with stock lower links. I did have way less rear stear than he did.

You do slightly loose wheelbase when it's lifted, but when the tire is stuffed it's centered in the wheelwell. If you lengthen the arms, the rear of the wheelwell may need trimming, depending on tire size to clear when stuffed.

 

[clownmidget]

jeez, I can't believe everyone didn't jump on this "deal" - (https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=78111) -