Floppy's long arm 4 link upgrgade

[Desert Dog]

Bubba, you gotta clearance everything out before you burn in the welds man!!! A couple big jack-stands and ratchet straps will help you get your bumps and limit straps set. I don't see bumps or straps on that ride and air shocks don't last long without them. Also, since you no longer have a spring/shock combo, the upper mounts on those shocks now take 100% of the abuse. I think Travis is right, I would at least tie in to the cage for safety reasons. You have to triangulate and form junctions for strength (Richard and the guys that know a lot more than me call them "node junctions" or something like that).

I just hate seeing all of these badass builds going back under the saw because people slap tube together without measuring, mocking, and clearancing first. If you put your design on paper first and get some input from people, your design will change many times and you will be happy you didn't start cutting tube. If you don't plan it out like that, even if it works, your going to stand back later and wish you did shit different.

The 4-link looks good. That XJ is going to kick ass when you get it dialed in

[REDxj5150]

[quote="Desert Dog"]Bubba, you gotta clearance everything out before you burn in the welds man!!! A couple big jack-stands and ratchet straps will help you get your bumps and limit straps set. I don't see bumps or straps on that ride and air shocks don't last long without them. Also, since you no longer have a spring/shock combo, the upper mounts on those shocks now take 100% of the abuse. I think Travis is right, I would at least tie in to the frame for safety reasons. You have to triangulate and form junctions for strength (Richard and the guys that know a lot more than me call them "node junctions" or something like that).
[/quote]

I'm sure you've probably tied it into the frame. It looks like you planned to go through that space between the "frame" and the wheel well. The issue with the frame is that it was never designed to be tied into a load bearing support right there. The whole tub in that are flexes a bunch. I have cracks in the middle of the floor around there. I would plate the frame up to the front leaf perches and tie it into the top of your diagonal C pillar.

Only an opinion though. Pictures are hard to correctly position everything. Maybe you can see a better avenue to make it look better while increasing the strength.

[AJ99]

Travis you commented on the pic I posted on fb. Even just tieing the shock hoops into the body they will still rip out over time. I ripped mine on the old set up. I would add cross supports from the hoops into the cage. I'd hate to see you shove the shock hoops out of the jeep and be screwed on the trail since you went with air shocks only.

[REDxj5150]

[quote="AJ99"]Travis you commented on the pic I posted on fb. Even just tieing the shock hoops into the body they will still rip out over time. I ripped mine on the old set up. I would add cross supports from the hoops into the cage. I'd hate to see you shove the shock hoops out of the jeep and be screwed on the trail since you went with air shocks only.[/quote]

I know, but he never acknowledged my observation. so I just decided to move it here so all can pitch in ideas.

[Repsolaaron]

Thanks to everyone. I've thought it about it and stared a my jeep for about an hour. I know the frame is very weak and needs support. At this moment I'm trying to decide how to tie the hoops into the cage while making it look good. I have bump stops and limiter straps. I will get those installed in the morning. Do you guys think I should go to calico and take it easy or play it safe and save every body a headache from having to help me? I really appreciate the input guys.

[Desert Dog]

[quote="Repsolaaron"]Thanks to everyone. I've thought it about it and stared a my jeep for about an hour. I know the frame is very weak and needs support. At this moment I'm trying to decide how to tie the hoops into the cage while making it look good. I have bump stops and limiter straps. I will get those installed in the morning. Do you guys think I should go to calico and take it easy or play it safe and save every body a headache from having to help me? I really appreciate the input guys.[/quote]
Get your bumps and straps installed so it doesnt hit the frame. Tie the hoops into the cage really quick. And come on out to Calico man!

[Repsolaaron]

I'm working on it now

[AJ99]

Are you working on it at your house?

[Goatman]

I haven't had much time lately to follow much, including this. Aaron, don't know if you already added bumps to the back, but you don't need bumpstops with air shocks. The air shock is basically a very long bump stop already, the internals are the same. If you're bottoming the air shock you need more spring rate, which will also make it more stable. If the ride is perfect where it is now, and the ride height is perfect, then you need more oil in the shock to decrease the size of the air chamber so the spring rate ramps up faster and resists bottoming more. You'll have trouble tuning a really long shock, since you need a softer spring rate (air pressure) to get the longer shock to compress to ride height.

[Desert Dog]

Richard, there are several threads on the interwebs (pirate) where people were adding more oil / increasing rates to the air shocks to get the "bumpstop" effect, but kept blowing out schrader valves and seals on their heavy rigs. They added bumpstops and never had issues after that. Probably not a big deal rock crawling, but wouldn't you want some bumpstops on single-chamber air shocks if you were going to run Pismo or haul ass down the Mojave Road?

[Repsolaaron]

I don't have problems bottoming out, just being unstable. I'm going to relocate the rear shocks.

[Repsolaaron]

Anybody off today who would like to help me finish my roll cage, relocate my rear shocks, and possibly get my front air shocks installed? I'll buy lunch and dinner. Also beer.

[Beck*A*Poo]

[quote="Repsolaaron"]Anybody off today who would like to help me finish my roll cage, relocate my rear shocks, and possibly get my front air shocks installed? I'll buy lunch and dinner. Also beer.[/quote]


Hey I ll take the dinner and beer lol

[Repsolaaron]

OK. But better ask Matt first. I hate that awkward moment when your eating and drinking with another man's women and you get caught.

[Beck*A*Poo]

[quote="Repsolaaron"]OK. But better ask Matt first. I hate that awkward moment when your eating and drinking with another man's women and you get caught.[/quote]


Lmao

[Repsolaaron]

I just tested the front air shocks to see if it will hold up the jeep and worked great. I'll need help installing them if any one is up to it. Also there is only 350lbs of air in the front and it's at ride height. But my rear is @ 550lbs and barely stays at ride height and very unstable. Any suggestions on what to do here. I don't understand why the front shocks take less air but holding more weight and the rear is opposite. Fluid levels?

[Lake_v2]

How did u test fronts without fully installing?

Did the rears come with oil from vendor/supplier

[Repsolaaron]

I removed the spring and shock and put the air shock in the spot where the old one was and let the down on it till the air shock was holding the weight. As of fluids fox said there was fluid in it with 200 lbs of nitrogen from the factory.

[Lake_v2]

how much shaft are you showing/attempting to have at ride height on rear? popular(i read on internet) says to have 4-6" shaft on air shock at ride height for best performance

[Repsolaaron]

7.5 on rear

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[Repsolaaron]

Remember I have 18" of travel

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[abendx]

[quote="Repsolaaron"]Remember I have 18" of travel

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You mounting the tops to the roof rack??

[Repsolaaron]

just about

[Repsolaaron]

Got my front air shocks mounted today.

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[Repsolaaron]

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