Has Man a Fre Stopped Making Caster Drop Brackets?

[jkeithw]

Pictures please!

here’s the first pass at these - minor revision occurring before they go into production:

 

[jvazquez53]

Excellent!

 

[jkeithw]

Excellent!

thanks!

 

[slow95z]

Man up... Cut and turn the knuckles

 

[jvazquez53]

I see a great future on something that is needed in the 80 comunity!

 

[Marco Lau]

The brackets won't decrease clearance. The ground clearance will be the same in relation to the axle.
The only real way to add to the minimum ground clearance is taller tires. A linked suspension works best with
the geometry the engineers worked out. The flatter the arm the better. A drop bracket keeps the geometry the same.
Steepening the front link causes the front rise pushing into an obstacle. At 45 degrees it will be just as easy for the truck to push straight up, the body pivoting over the axle as it is to push the wheel forward. Only the shock would prevent that at it's extension limit.
Best performance for a lower link or radius arm would have it at 10 deg or less

that is BS...the bracket hangs down another 2-3 inches from what i can tell...how are you saying it wont decrease ground clearance? put a tape measure on it compare it to stock from the ground...

 

[White Stripe]

the bracket hangs down another 2-3 inches from what i can tell...how are you saying it wont decrease ground clearance? put a tape measure on it compare it to stock from the ground...

Its less ground ground clearance in comparison to a lift with non drop brackets. With bigger tires and a lift and drop brackets you still have more clearance than a stock height suspension. Think thats what hes trying to say.

 

[jvazquez53]

that is BS...the bracket hangs down another 2-3 inches from what i can tell...how are you saying it wont decrease ground clearance? put a tape measure on it compare it to stock from the ground...

I had mine for almost ten years, 4.5 inch lift, 36" tires and never had issues. If I were doing some serious rock crawling, then I would understand your point. Before those brackets get hit, you have a few lower components, like shock mounts, differential, etc.

 

[Marco Lau]

I had mine for almost ten years, 4.5 inch lift, 36" tires and never had issues. If I were doing some serious rock crawling, then I would understand your point. Before those brackets get hit, you have a few lower components, like shock mounts, differential, etc.

i am sure if you drive around town...it would be a great way to correct caster. but even my rear lower control arm brackets are taking a beating in stock location from rocks....the caster drop bracket is really in the way when i rely my sliders to clear rocks and they will definitely be in the way.

 

[jvazquez53]

I see you do some serious rock crawling, then these are definitely not for you. You may want to consider to move your control arms over the axle.

 

[Marco Lau]

I see you do some serious rock crawling, then these are definitely not for you. You may want to consider to move your control arms over the axle.

I have caster plates, and my caster is perfect on my 4" lift. I am not sure what you are consider serious rock crawling, but certainly driving on Subaru trails does not consider rock crawl. you can see in this picture where the stock radius arm drop bracket is already hanging lower than my cat protection or even my belly skid.

 

[jkeithw]

i am sure if you drive around town...it would be a great way to correct caster. but even my rear lower control arm brackets are taking a beating in stock location from rocks....the caster drop bracket is really in the way when i rely my sliders to clear rocks and they will definitely be in the way.

It's all a matter of compromise; if not increasing anti-dive is important to you (it is to me for climbing), then the trade-off may be worth it. The critical difference between lowered front brackets and the stock rear mounts in terms of being obstructive lies in the fact that the radius arms themselves act as a ramp to their mounts so that although you sacrifice some break-over clearance, you're not likely to get hung on them unless you're backing up (and I ramped the back of mine for that reason as well.) The rear factory mounts are significantly lower and don't offer any transition - and are at the worst location for creating an obstruction - so not entirely a fair comparison.

 

[jkeithw]

Its less ground ground clearance in comparison to a lift with non drop brackets. With bigger tires and a lift and drop brackets you still have more clearance than a stock height suspension. Think thats what hes trying to say.

certainly; for instance: a 2 inch lift, 2 inch drop brackets, and 35s is still a net increase of 1" or so over stock break-over clearance. (+2 for 37s.)

 

[jkeithw]

that is BS...the bracket hangs down another 2-3 inches from what i can tell...how are you saying it wont decrease ground clearance? put a tape measure on it compare it to stock from the ground...

If you re-read his post, everything he said is correct.

 

[White Stripe]

certainly; for instance: a 2 inch lift, 2 inch drop brackets, and 35s is still a net increase of 1" or so over stock break-over clearance. (+2 for 37s.)

I like your rear bumper for 3rd gens. Would be cool if you made one for 80s.

 

[jkeithw]

I like your rear bumper for 3rd gens. Would be cool if you made one for 80s.

thanks! - but I’m not sure I could improve on the current options (Delta’s solution, in particular, is pretty great.)

 

[GSTMike]

Keith makes good stuff at a more than reasonable price point assuming I'm referring to the same Keith who made the 3rd gen rear PCK's as I have one of those on my 3rd gen for what seems like ever and from a build and cost standpoint it can't be beat.

 

[jkeithw]

Keith makes good stuff at a more than reasonable price point assuming I'm referring to the same Keith who made the 3rd gen rear PCK's as I have one of those on my 3rd gen for what seems like ever and from a build and cost standpoint it can't be beat.

Thanks so much!

 

[GSTMike]

Thanks so much!

Damn I feel a little neglectful on my 3rd gen now, I just took a gander at your website you make a bunch of other cool stuff for them these days!

 

[jkeithw]

I keep myself busy - helps me decompress after work.

I’m actually working on a high clearance transmission crossmember for my 3rd gen right now. (as in life, still chasing that flat belly)