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suspension travel mods?


crazy D
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i would like to get more suspension travel(ea81) mostly in the rear, but i dont have any idea to go about it....i will have acsess to a welder soim all ears...one thing i plan on doing is putting in coilovers from a polaris ranger UTV...but thats not gonna do much. please make this a good thread

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EA81 rears are easy. because they use torsion bars, the shock is easily replaceable with a longer travel version.

 

A buddy and I are working on an '84 brat, and we cross-referenced the application from the Rancho pt # RS5241 that's listed on the SJRlift site, to be a TJ wrangler rear with 2.5" of lift.

 

using that application, we got Rough country part number RC8185 or RC9185 (I've got a hookup for deals on Rough Country parts...). which is actually for a 2-4" lift on a TJ.

 

we haven't actually gotten that rig lifted (just working on getting it running so far...). But they look like they'll be about perfect. With the shocks almost fully compressed (with the strap around them from the factory) they are about an inch shorter than the stock shocks at stock, weighted ride height (car on the ground, hold it up next to the stocker, and it's about an inch shorter). so full upflex will be a bit higher than stock, level ground, ride height. and it looks like these shocks will yield about 12" of travel each. so with the 4" of lift we're planning, that means they'll yield about 8" of potential downflex.

 

depending on how much of a drop we put on the diff, this might leave a bit too much travel for the rear end. so limiting straps may be required to avoid axle over-extendage (however, we plan to use dual EA82 DOJ cups at both ends).

 

the RC 8164/9164 (0-1.5" lift TJ) might have been a better fit. but then bump stops would probably be extremely crucial in preventing sever rubbing.

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im looking to get a lot of travel...it looks like i should be able to modify the suspension from the ranger atv to work....so i might be looking at quite a bit of travel. what can i do about the front?

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im looking to get a lot of travel...it looks like i should be able to modify the suspension from the ranger atv to work....so i might be looking at quite a bit of travel. what can i do about the front?

 

define a lot of travel...the method I mentioned above will allow for 12" PER SIDE. which is waaayyyy more than the stock axles can handle.

 

for the front, the struts are the limiting factor (physically limiting travel, however, the axle joints will become a problem if you get longer travel struts). and since they're in integrated part of the suspension and steering geometry, substantial modification will be required to replace them.

 

maybe design a simple A-arm to attach to the top of the knuckle to maintain camber, and then a basic coilover shock could be used.

 

I haven't the faintest idea how you might be able to get a longer travel CV shaft to mate with the subaru tranny or steering knuckle.

 

 

 

however you go about it, you're looking at A LOT of custom work

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He's saying that the kind of travel you are looking at is pretty big.

 

On a solid axled vehicle, the doesn't have to worry about CV's exploding and stuff, you have to do some pretty serious modding to get 15-20 inches.

 

On our independent axle setups you will have to figure out how to get the axle to swing the 15-20 inches w/o making some screwy camber angles.

 

Think about it. In order for the tire to maintain the correct camber as it travels up and down, you will need to have the axle stretch. Otherwise the camber angles will go from positive at the top swing of the suspension to negative at the bottom end.

 

I think high travel lifted soobys are the next progression of off-roading subarus.

 

Then you have to think about "WHY" you want high travel. Do you want articulation abilities for rock crawling and such or do you want BAJA jumping absorbtion like a trophy truck.

 

Good thread.

 

BW

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Think about it. In order for the tire to maintain the correct camber as it travels up and down' date=' you will need to have the axle stretch. Otherwise the camber angles will go from positive at the top swing of the suspension to negative at the bottom end. [/quote']

 

bah. who cares about camber angles? as long as it doesn't eat your tires on the highway, you're set.

 

but, as the wheel travels along that path, you either have to make it travel in a pretty extreme arc, or have to have a significantly telescoping axle, otherwise it just won't reach the outer limits of the travel.

 

 

this rig is running the same 12" travel shocks I mentioned above. because of how far inboard they are mounted, you see a bit more articulation than that, but still not the 15" a corner you're talking about.

DSC00061.jpg

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i know about the crazy anlge...well is there any coilovers or shocks that can adapt pretty easy? recommendations?

My brother got an extra 4" travel on the rear with shockers off a bigger 4WD (you wouldn't know what a Holden Jackaroo is, but many other 4WD's have almost bolt on shockers for EA81's.)

As for the front, your pretty screwed.

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i know about the crazy anlge...well is there any coilovers or shocks that can adapt pretty easy? recommendations?

 

no. the strut-to-knuckle hardware is extremely unique. you won't find a longer travel setup that will work without extreme modifications. and while the strut is the limiting factor, there are numerous other parts that need to be upgraded in order to do it reliably.

 

increasing your travel in the front won't happen without some pretty serious investment.

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no. the strut-to-knuckle hardware is extremely unique. you won't find a longer travel setup that will work without extreme modifications. and while the strut is the limiting factor, there are numerous other parts that need to be upgraded in order to do it reliably.

 

increasing your travel in the front won't happen without some pretty serious investment.

My Monroe front shocks in the Brumby have about 2" more down travel then the originals. Not sure on up travel but they go up pretty high.

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