that's what i was thinking. but anyways thanks for the info! that is one of the best rigs i've seen in a while.
Rotbw
- Thread starter Bear80
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
that's what i was thinking. but anyways thanks for the info! that is one of the best rigs i've seen in a while.
Back to the top for this great old thread. If there were any better pictures of the front CV axles (the ones are dark) that would be killer if possible. I am researching and I am after about a 2" lift, but will probably do the OME torsion bars (I suppose) AND the ball joint spacers... I am not after a high travel, customer, expensive or deluxe suspension. I really want to install it and forget about it for a mild wheeler. But if you have advice let me know. Looks like the Ball Joint spacer is a nice item from what I can tell... I want a good medium-firm suspension that won't break my back but wheel well and handle dirt roads well at decent speed...
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #24
Thanks! But you do realize my front setup is a lot different than a normal truck right? The only thing original is the lower a-arms.
Jonathan_Ferguson
★ is in the wrong locale
- Joined
- Jul 2, 2003
- Threads
- 132
- Messages
- 950
- Location
- Glen Waverley, Victoria, Australia
- Website
- jonathan-ferguson.au
Time for a one year on revisit. 
Time for a one year on revisit.
hahaha! i didnt realize that till i saw my post and thought, I dont remember saying that recently!
is a super cool truck!
i like those front axles!
who says IFS cant kick ass?!
Nice rig!!!!!
Hey Bear, I'm a NooB to the MUD forums, but an active user on YotaTech. I came across this thread a while back and am now in the process of gathering parts, and am going to be building pretty much the same setup.
I have a few questions I was wandering if you could answer for me though.
1) Your shocks; what kind of travel did you select? I plan on going with Bilstein 5125's, but I gotta determine the length I can fit and/or will need
.
2) Your upper shock mounts; where did you pick those guys up at? The only set I've been able to find are from Downey's LT kit, but they want $178 for the kit
3) Your tie rod end sleeves; did you puchase those somewhere, or custom fab them yourself?
4) Last but definately not least, your CV/axle-shaft assemblies; I think I recall seeing the slip-joint kit with the inner joins a U-joint style on a page in an old Downey book, but I need to get ahold of a new book for myself. Is this were you picked up yours from, or are they something you fabbed up yourself?
Sorry about all the questions
Your truck is SICK btw; I can't wait to have a "Monster IFS" setup
I have a few questions I was wandering if you could answer for me though.
1) Your shocks; what kind of travel did you select? I plan on going with Bilstein 5125's, but I gotta determine the length I can fit and/or will need
.2) Your upper shock mounts; where did you pick those guys up at? The only set I've been able to find are from Downey's LT kit, but they want $178 for the kit
3) Your tie rod end sleeves; did you puchase those somewhere, or custom fab them yourself?
4) Last but definately not least, your CV/axle-shaft assemblies; I think I recall seeing the slip-joint kit with the inner joins a U-joint style on a page in an old Downey book, but I need to get ahold of a new book for myself. Is this were you picked up yours from, or are they something you fabbed up yourself?
Sorry about all the questions
Your truck is SICK btw; I can't wait to have a "Monster IFS" setup
- Thread starter
- #30
Thanks for the complement. My kit IS the Downey kit minus their shock tabs with bj spacers.
Any 7 to 8" travel shock will work up front. I would recommend the Doetsch 8000prerunner #8129 or their DT3000 #3129.
I made my shock tabs, but the Downey tabs are the best pre-fabbed solution. Their new style is also better then the older design which is why I had made my own at the time.
I'm not sure why Downey used HEAVY duty adjuster sleeves but I guess you can try to re-use the stock ones.
Take Porsche joints and make custom shafts. Otherwise I'll dig up the part numbers for the slip yokes and u-joints to make shafts like mine. Once you get the slip yokes you'll need to have them machined down to make clearance for the u-joint angle. Then the flange end will also need to be machined. Not to mention you have to have a whole new axle made which is NOT cheap. The Porsche joints aren't really that cheap either.
You will also need to get either at very minimum the Downey idler arm gusset with bronze idler arm bushings. Otherwise ante up for the Total Chaos idler arm.
I also would highly recommend the Downey poly replacement bushings for those Rancho arms if they still carry them. They are stiffer than the bushings from Rancho. You should also replace your lower arm bushings with the Downey poly bushings.
Plan on a rear lower arm truss too. I haven't needed one but I also only crawl with my truck.
Good luck!
Any 7 to 8" travel shock will work up front. I would recommend the Doetsch 8000prerunner #8129 or their DT3000 #3129.
I made my shock tabs, but the Downey tabs are the best pre-fabbed solution. Their new style is also better then the older design which is why I had made my own at the time.
I'm not sure why Downey used HEAVY duty adjuster sleeves but I guess you can try to re-use the stock ones.
Take Porsche joints and make custom shafts. Otherwise I'll dig up the part numbers for the slip yokes and u-joints to make shafts like mine. Once you get the slip yokes you'll need to have them machined down to make clearance for the u-joint angle. Then the flange end will also need to be machined. Not to mention you have to have a whole new axle made which is NOT cheap. The Porsche joints aren't really that cheap either.
You will also need to get either at very minimum the Downey idler arm gusset with bronze idler arm bushings. Otherwise ante up for the Total Chaos idler arm.
I also would highly recommend the Downey poly replacement bushings for those Rancho arms if they still carry them. They are stiffer than the bushings from Rancho. You should also replace your lower arm bushings with the Downey poly bushings.
Plan on a rear lower arm truss too. I haven't needed one but I also only crawl with my truck.
Good luck!
THANKS BUDDY!!!
yeah I'm tossed between those style upper shock mouts, or the hoop style (some wide ones that will clear the UCAs; I've seen them before, so I know their out there)
and I just re-read the descriptions again, and I see where you did mention the fabbed shock mounts ;p
the adjuster sleeves, I just figured I'd need longer ones to get the alignment right. I'd like to get new ones anyhow when I replace the tie-rods with the upgrade
and the joints I think are going to be the toughest part. I know of a machine shop accross town my job deals with, so I can maybe get a decent price through them on some custom work that I can't do myself.
definately getting the idler arm brace; I have a new idler are to bolt it to as well!
going to replace the LCA bushings too, while everythings apart. they are without a doubt the originals with 293k miles on them
I would do a rear truss, but I'm going to drop the diff an inch or so, therefor a truss wont fit, unless I custom fab one. But it's not going to be out pre-running, or catching major air, so I don't think it'll be necessary
Thanks so much for all the info; the pics are an enormous inspiration, and the thread is bookmarked for sure!!!
If you have any more pics, I'd greatly appriciate it! I'm still in the mix of gather hopefully everything I'll need, so it'll be a little while before I begin the install. I'll be posting a full pic-by-pic build process on YotaTech, and I'll have to throw the link in this thread when I do
Hey Ben. Haven't seen you around for a while. Didn't you sell this beast? How's the Cruiser coming along? /hijack
I know this thread is old, but I just though I'd follow up with pics
Ended up pulling off the build while waiting on parts to show up when I was rebuilding the motor, lol
I've yet to really test if off road, but it rides surprising good on the road! I've also put a little more torque on the t-bars since the install, so the front is sitting about 2" higher than stock, with room to go more! But it seems to ride pretty good where it's at. Not much bump steer like some might think too!
Oh and that motor rebuild Just thought I might throw some pics in of that completed project too
Sorry for the thread revive and hijack; just thought I'd post an update
Ended up pulling off the build while waiting on parts to show up when I was rebuilding the motor, lol
I've yet to really test if off road, but it rides surprising good on the road! I've also put a little more torque on the t-bars since the install, so the front is sitting about 2" higher than stock, with room to go more! But it seems to ride pretty good where it's at. Not much bump steer like some might think too!
Oh and that motor rebuild
Just thought I might throw some pics in of that completed project too
Sorry for the thread revive and hijack; just thought I'd post an update
That 22RE looks purty.
thank ya! 
took fur-eva!!!! lol
build thread on YotaTech
Bleeder-Dude's Official 22re Engine Rebuild Thread - TONS OF PICTURES!!! - YotaTech Forums
wasn't always that clean, lol, took a LOT of work...
took fur-eva!!!! lol
build thread on YotaTech
Bleeder-Dude's Official 22re Engine Rebuild Thread - TONS OF PICTURES!!! - YotaTech Forums
wasn't always that clean, lol, took a LOT of work...
Bear80 where can you find those rancho upper a-arms at? I cant seem to find them anywhere...
You do realize this is a five year old post. Probably best to send a PM, if they are even still around.