Birty Dastards Jeep Club

Tech Forum => Workshop => Topic started by: Warthog on April 16, 2006, 12:47:46 AM

Title: Full Traction 4" flex arm lift LHD parts for RHD!!
Post by: Warthog on April 16, 2006, 12:47:46 AM
Well the weekend was all planned Sat/Sun install new goodies on my mates 98 TJ and then off for a test drive on the Mon. But.........4WD.com stiffed us on the kit :x

The Track bar and Chassis brace fabrications are all for a LHD :cry: ....SOB's He has spent loads on getting it shipped over only to have it be wrong! He was told it would be all sorted for a RHD.

Well the dilema now is, it will cost more to ship it back and get correct parts returned....Full traction in the UK is well over priced! So we have come up with the idea of using Pro Comp 4" drag link and lowering kit to accomadate the 4" Lift kit and Flex arms of the Full traction Springs and Shocks....Or having to bite the bullet and see if purchasing RHD Full Traction parts here is cheap enough?

Anyone running the Stage II 4" Pro Comp kit for a RHD? If possible a piccy of the front track bar and Chassis brace could be handy!

Ideas welcome? My first post here! So cheers to any replies....
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Post by: isle of man on April 16, 2006, 08:33:36 AM
yes........i have the pro comp stage 11 kit on my spare wrangler i will take photo now.....you can adapt the full traction........but you need to be a competent welder its just a case of cutting the link bracket turning 180 and re weld i believe.......speak to pete at specialist leisure i know he has done a full traction kit last month.
(http://http://snap24.photobox.co.uk/31921697a7040605691c743843f4ba8bf345c9090da34960f757881a.jpg)
(http://http://snap25.photobox.co.uk/30355127f9b5964fe846bfc05d6847f805b7a024603daab58b02f068.jpg)
(http://http://snap24.photobox.co.uk/883711434d5500a364fee044d93c97c482bbcb6c71bf3c9b6af810a6.jpg)
let me know if you need more.

peter henry
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Post by: Warthog on April 16, 2006, 10:32:06 AM
Cheers for the info,

We looked at modding the Link Bracket, this was a possibilty and but led to modding the Track bar and stabiliser bar aswell. The Track bar actually wont clear the diff, due to being RHD.  Clearly the kit isnt a bolt on RHD kit? If i would of known it need this much work, i could of Fabbed the lot myself!

I will see if Specialist Liesure can shed some light on it?

If you could up an image of the Track Bar at the Axle end (Pro Comp) That would be great  :D
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Post by: isle of man on April 16, 2006, 10:52:31 AM
try these....
(http://http://snap25.photobox.co.uk/65981221d7806db54440849c710e036d691a1c6d5dc78ac8cb9a5f72.jpg)
(http://http://snap24.photobox.co.uk/425096208fc3632752fb55474a3448d540b72a061444a1fd87413598.jpg)
(http://http://snap26.photobox.co.uk/95745566d4ae06d966fbcadea57c2888b61deb8cf1f1c39bb9219fa5.jpg)

peter henry
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Post by: Warthog on April 16, 2006, 02:15:23 PM
Cheer Peter

I see that the Pro Comp set-up retains the original track bar, but lowers it to keep it at the hieght as standard. On the Full Traction kit, we have a new Adjustable track bar. Problem is that it hits the Diff pan, due to its design for LHD.

Next up is the rear (this morning) Well it seems that we have been stuffed here aswell. The Axle Bracket to relocate the Rear Track bar is Handed and seems to be for antoher axle type?

Phew... It never rains unless it pours.......Actually it has just started to rain :oops:
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Post by: daggie on April 16, 2006, 02:21:44 PM
You have to be a fecking good welder  :wink:

I'll put a few pics in me album, of what I've done to mine, tis an xj but youll get the drift  :wink:
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Post by: isle of man on April 16, 2006, 03:33:27 PM
yes its the original bar and it has no bump-steer and does not bind so it works...as for the rear is your full traction kit not triangulated? or have you the short arm retained? if so you can buy the drop down bracket i believe.
there is a up-grade "over axle bar" you can fabricate to fit the full traction i have some photos.

(http://http://snap24.photobox.co.uk/88883451c512a48ce37a926145f8ecf2418422d913dbfc72f7920574.jpg)
(http://http://snap24.photobox.co.uk/82595065221aef7c9aa65f8a66e243253336f17960de42b975421cce.jpg)
(http://http://snap24.photobox.co.uk/34383244e5b9042be78866aa58c8c9d4d9b9a1f471c54d0d6ea77340.jpg)
(http://http://snap26.photobox.co.uk/4180269253ce918b7d966b6844ae983d024d28bb5dfb612ecc7a69f0.jpg)
you will have to speak to mark gasser for him to fabricate one for you
peter henry
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Post by: Warthog on April 16, 2006, 07:05:20 PM
Using the 4" Flex System, it retains the short arms but are new and cranked. HAve now installed the Springs and Shoxs but now have to address the Front track bar and Rear. I believe a few calls on Tuesday may get this project back on track.

Nice bit of kit to install and with a SYE installed a few months ago all is looking good.


Thanks
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Post by: Warthog on April 17, 2006, 06:02:57 PM
Having installed the 4" Lift, upon setting up the steering. We have also noticed the pitman arm is LHD aswell. Oh well all part of the fun and games...

To address the Track bar issue, i have been told that the standard bars can be modified and made adjustable? Any comments? From the info i have had from a few members on a US forum. They have said machine and insert a threaded adustable section on the straight section of the bars (have the facilties to accomplish) This will enable length adjustment. This then leaves the Drop down Fabrications to address!

Any feedback welcome.
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Post by: isle of man on April 17, 2006, 06:34:45 PM
if you introduce a threaded section in the middle (or straight part) you also introduce a weak point...you should do one of the above to make good the steering......
i have bent this bar on more than one occasion and used the winch to make repairs there are some here who can testify to this....

this is what i have now very hard core and 1 tonne rated .......
(http://http://snap26.photobox.co.uk/804943462a57f98c5a2a8a923c4980f2dddfd801fc2c7602d538a241.jpg)
(http://http://snap24.photobox.co.uk/47224416216db4fd0add452bef0a625179e9732f6302a48b73533994.jpg)
with this set-up i have a little bump steer but some serious amount of flex
peter henry
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Post by: Mike Pavelin on April 18, 2006, 09:24:33 AM
In order to eliminate bump steer, you should aim to gave your track bar and drag link running parallel to each other.
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Post by: MOCAJ on April 18, 2006, 04:20:11 PM
in the past i have had dealings with 4wd when they have sent the wrong parts.

They just send you more, until you get the right ones, never been asked to return anything.

give them a ring and let them deal with it.  8)
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Post by: isle of man on April 18, 2006, 05:13:26 PM
mike....yes i know what you mean as the top photo was at a point when i was trying out high steer....but i reverted to the "y" approach in the end as a conventional wrangler is set up.....even this has some bump-steer but have accepted this as a compromise for the flex achieved......spoke to pete today at specialist leisure ( on my wrangler as having some parts fitted by them) it would appear that the fix he found for the full traction kit is more involved than i thought....the best option would be the over axle bar.....the easy option is the pro comp.

peter henry
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Post by: Warthog on April 19, 2006, 10:34:36 AM
Quote from: "my other cars a jeep"
in the past i have had dealings with 4wd when they have sent the wrong parts.

They just send you more, until you get the right ones, never been asked to return anything.

give them a ring and let them deal with it.  8)



Yesterday, my mate (owner) phoned round. Calling 4WD was on the cards, but there are no options available. Fabricating and modding what you have seems to be the way to go. Good tip though, Australian sites for jeeps have a range of RHD kits that are ready and sorted to fit. Found contacting them very helpful.

Had words with some helpfull people. Cheers to Pro Comp UK, Specialist Leisure and Frogs Island. If Pro Comp, parts are available seperatly? I believe this route is the easy option.
However, it would seem some individuals believe they are the only ones that can Fabricate, design and produce something that works :? All part of understanding your vehicle better, as long as its safe!


For the rear, ARB do a drop down bracket for the bar. The intentions are to fabricate this drop down bracket and make the rear track bar adjustable (optional)

For the front, same again make a drop down bracket and make the original bar adjustable. Taking into consideration, Peters comment on making the bar weaker. I have considered just extending bar to allow the TRE to sit in a neutral position at rest. However the TRE  would need to be adjusted to sit straight?

Any "for and against" on using Rose joints, Polybushes or TRE at the ends?

As for the pitman arm, i will be machining (missing) splines into the one in the Full Traction kit and fitting it.

Cheers for the feedback :)
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Post by: isle of man on April 19, 2006, 12:13:59 PM
your photos for the rear drop down bracket this came as part of the pro comp kit.....

(http://http://snap26.photobox.co.uk/3304870872badb46fe1456d88383183e1798d07b8994f86c4b7b264b.jpg)
(http://http://snap24.photobox.co.uk/94732207e92b412178475d0dfdc4115107a8a06a86b3150deb170a6c.jpg)
have you considered putting a johnny joint on the front bar? its rebuildable/ greaseable with 30 degrees of unrestricted movement and specialist leisure had them in stock
(http://http://www.currieenterprises.com/cestore/images/pageimages/johnnyjoint1.gif)

its what i have used on my heavy duty front bar.


peter henry
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Post by: Warthog on April 19, 2006, 04:01:46 PM
"Johnny Joint" :wink: ) Cheers for the input on the Johnny Joint, thats has given me a few more ideas.
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Post by: chrisjones on April 19, 2006, 04:26:45 PM
Check out Rusty's Offroad.  (Their website's being a bit slow at the mo', else I'd have put up a link)

They do a heavy duty track bar bracket and brace which uses a bushed track bar end, like at the axle.  Seems like a nice bit of kit and well thought out.

Might be worth a look to see if you can fab something similar.  As for weakening the track bar by cutting it.  just strengthen the joint with some tubing used as a sleave over the top. :wink:
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Post by: isle of man on April 19, 2006, 04:51:19 PM
link to currie enterprises they make the johnny joint.......lots of options to choose from to suit your needs.

http://http://www.currieenterprises.com/cestore/default_jeep.aspx


peter henry
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Post by: Warthog on April 21, 2006, 09:48:15 AM
Well here are the Modded track bars, front and rear. At fully closed they are identical in length as standard. Expanded a 2" Max adjustment can be achieved. At the moment they are at a stage where i shall have to see what is needed to finalise them.  The Bars measured 1.062" and 3/4 BSPF thread OD is 1.041" So by choosing this thread i have managed to leave as much meat on the bars as possible.

Hopefully this can solve a problem for now? It will need a few tweeks here and there. Got to say after surfing a few OZ sites this type of modification seemed the way to go?

Any comment or Q's let me know

Regards
Mark

(http://http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/Tenbulls/Locknut.jpg)

(http://http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/Tenbulls/Rear.jpg)

(http://http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/Tenbulls/Front.jpg)

(http://http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/Tenbulls/FrontandRear.jpg)
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Post by: isle of man on April 21, 2006, 04:02:53 PM
well....would not of been my choice but its definitely one to watch see how you get on.....hope it works for you.



peter henry
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Post by: Warthog on April 21, 2006, 05:30:25 PM
Cheers Peter,

At this point this design is a compromise. Its not ideal, but it is a benchmark for me to go by. They say you learn by your mistakes....

Plus the owner of the TJ is not spending more £££'s....Just yet! Mates eh! :wink:

Cheers again for to "all " for the Piccies and knowledge on this topic! Watch this space though as "It aint over until the ............SINGS!"
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Post by: Warthog on April 22, 2006, 10:26:35 PM
Track Bars Fitted today and Pitman Arm adjusted.


(http://http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/Tenbulls/Frontfitted.jpg)

(http://http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/Tenbulls/RearFitted.jpg)
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Post by: Anonymous on October 04, 2006, 12:12:57 PM
Frog, you got an update on this one.....

E "thread revival" E :twisted:
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Post by: Asylum on October 04, 2006, 02:02:23 PM
Yep

Its my truck that Frog done all the Fabricating work on and I have not had any problems with the fabrications. I get a tremedous amount of articulation from the Full Traction system.  :D
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Post by: Warthog on October 04, 2006, 02:17:49 PM
:shock: Ez,Ez !:smt041
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Post by: Asylum on October 04, 2006, 02:24:33 PM
Quote from: "The Frog"


One issue we have had with the set-up is a, small amount of rubbing on the front control arms and a small spot on the rear. Only at max articulation though. Caused by the rim offset...i believe




Yep not a problem with the fabrication or Suspension System. At present I am running standard Grizzly Alloys with oversize tyres. The standard offset of the rims does cause some slight rubbing at full articulation. Its on my list to rectify as I will go larger wheels with the correct rim offset to suit. 8)
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Post by: greggmo on October 07, 2006, 10:42:59 AM
just cut it up and make it fit. me and bubba done a good few now with no probs. the xj ones have a similar problem. the one that came with tims kit had to be remade but it aint rocket science guys. 8)