how to custom long arm susp.

mossyoaktj · 04-26-2012, 10:05 AM

so ive been pondering the idea of fabbing up my own LA for the tj rather than dumping the boat loads of cash to buy one. the welding and building is the easy part, but the geometry is what gets me. i want to build something that perorms well offroad and behaves on road.

ive heard of the calculator but never used it. what measurments does the calculator give you? im pretty much lost when it comes to non labor part of the build. ive looked at a few write ups, but those were mostly about how they built brackets and the arms. nothing really explaining on deciding mounting locations and what not. im still researching this before i start in a few months, trying to get everything together that i will need for the build and learn as much as i can going into it. any help would be greatly appreciated.

KillerKoatings · 04-26-2012, 11:05 AM

You need to pm timido on here he is doing the same thing to his tj right now. He thought the same as you but after digging in he quickly realized it is a BIG job. His will be done soon so I'm sure he can give alot of insight on calculating the geometry and tell you what he has learned works best and what didn't.

mossyoaktj · 04-26-2012, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KillerKoatings

You need to pm timido on here he is doing the same thing to his tj right now. He thought the same as you but after digging in he quickly realized it is a BIG job. His will be done soon so I'm sure he can give alot of insight on calculating the geometry and tell you what he has learned works best and what didn't.

thanks just sent him a PM.

anyone know of any good build threads or places to find a lot of the info that goes into building my own LA

T-bird · 04-26-2012, 01:18 PM

Are you looking to do a strech too?

timido · 04-26-2012, 02:08 PM

Yes there is alot to it. I got the poly 4 link brackets and am doing a mid length 4 link 5" stretch rear with a 3 link and panhard rear. Tons of reading on Pirate about them. I am only running 35" tires. It is Great learning experience and a pain in the ass at the same time

mossyoaktj · 04-26-2012, 02:31 PM

havent thought about a stretch, unless i go up to say 40's or so with tons, right now im looking at just doing a LA with an 8.8 in the rear and the biggest tire i would go with would be 36x13.5 iroks.

dad should be picking up my HP30 here soon, and shortly after i will gather up an 8.8 to build, both will be getting 4.88 R&P aussie locker up front and havent decided on a rear locker and both will have chromoly shafts, should be enough for the 36's.

i was thinking of just getting th ebrackets from Clayton's. they have the 4link rear brackets and the 4 link rear truss. the biggest money part is the arms which i will build, then i can use my current 4" coils. im also ordering Clayton's track bar kit and with the 4 link rear i can do away with the rear track bar.

other plans are while im in the fab mode i will center the spring buckets on the frame to allow the coil to sit vertical and bump stops to touch. along with out boarding the rear shocks.

04-26-2012, 10:05 AM	#1
mossyoaktj Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: moscow,ohio Posts: 245	how to custom long arm susp. so ive been pondering the idea of fabbing up my own LA for the tj rather than dumping the boat loads of cash to buy one. the welding and building is the easy part, but the geometry is what gets me. i want to build something that perorms well offroad and behaves on road. ive heard of the calculator but never used it. what measurments does the calculator give you? im pretty much lost when it comes to non labor part of the build. ive looked at a few write ups, but those were mostly about how they built brackets and the arms. nothing really explaining on deciding mounting locations and what not. im still researching this before i start in a few months, trying to get everything together that i will need for the build and learn as much as i can going into it. any help would be greatly appreciated. __________________ UNITED STATES MARINE 99 TJ, locked, long armed, creepy's

04-26-2012, 02:31 PM	#6
mossyoaktj Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: moscow,ohio Posts: 245	havent thought about a stretch, unless i go up to say 40's or so with tons, right now im looking at just doing a LA with an 8.8 in the rear and the biggest tire i would go with would be 36x13.5 iroks. dad should be picking up my HP30 here soon, and shortly after i will gather up an 8.8 to build, both will be getting 4.88 R&P aussie locker up front and havent decided on a rear locker and both will have chromoly shafts, should be enough for the 36's. i was thinking of just getting th ebrackets from Clayton's. they have the 4link rear brackets and the 4 link rear truss. the biggest money part is the arms which i will build, then i can use my current 4" coils. im also ordering Clayton's track bar kit and with the 4 link rear i can do away with the rear track bar. other plans are while im in the fab mode i will center the spring buckets on the frame to allow the coil to sit vertical and bump stops to touch. along with out boarding the rear shocks. __________________ UNITED STATES MARINE 99 TJ, locked, long armed, creepy's

04-26-2012, 11:05 AM	#2
KillerKoatings Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 119	You need to pm timido on here he is doing the same thing to his tj right now. He thought the same as you but after digging in he quickly realized it is a BIG job. His will be done soon so I'm sure he can give alot of insight on calculating the geometry and tell you what he has learned works best and what didn't.

04-26-2012, 01:18 PM	#4
T-bird Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Centerville Posts: 123	Are you looking to do a strech too?

04-26-2012, 02:08 PM	#5
timido Student Driver Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 197	Yes there is alot to it. I got the poly 4 link brackets and am doing a mid length 4 link 5" stretch rear with a 3 link and panhard rear. Tons of reading on Pirate about them. I am only running 35" tires. It is Great learning experience and a pain in the ass at the same time