88 4 runner .. ifs front linked rear ?s

zukijames

zukijames

Well-Known Member
Location
not moab anymore
this is for a friend not me.. but he's trying to decide SAS with leafs up front or link the rear and leave the ifs


right now he has 33's.


i personally think ifs front with a well set up linked rear would be sweet. seems like the 2nd gen runners with factory linked rear do pretty good . and dont have to deal with axle wrap.

he might get 35's someday ..


for what he wants i think he should just leave it how it is..

if the ifs stuff breaks then SAS the front but he seems to be in a hurry to do something to it right now.




thoughts?

pro's ?



con's?

price?

work involved?

the kid would be using the ifs eliminator kit .. or the a trail gear rear link kit ( 3 link he could keep his gas tank where it is.. 4 link he'd have to deal with that)
 
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I think IFS up front with a good set of rears should be plenty for someone who's not hardcore.

I hear the TG 3-link is kinda sketchy on the pavement for a DD. Wouldn't he need to mount his rear shocks through the bed whether he got a 3link or a 4link?
 
sixstringsteve said:
I think IFS up front with a good set of rears should be plenty for someone who's not hardcore.

I hear the TG 3-link is kinda sketchy on the pavement for a DD. Wouldn't he need to mount his rear shocks through the bed whether he got a 3link or a 4link?
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Rear shocks mount to the leaf spring Ubolt plates under the axle, so anything that eliminates that plate will require relocating the shocks. They don't have to go through the bed though, he can add mounts to the axle tube and crossmember above the axle and run them at an angle. Trailgear makes a kit that would make it easier.

I agree though, no reason not to leave it stock on both ends for now. A couple minor mods (1.5" balljoint spacers for clearance, relax the torsion bars a touch and trim the bumpstops for flex) and it'll get him most anywhere he probably wants to go. SAS if/when it breaks.

If he's chomping at the bit to throw money at his rig, armor and recovery stuff would be a good start.
 
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leave the front IFS use teh low profile bumps and longer shocks, three link the rear so he can leave the tank, id go with the ruff stuff three link but trail gear or ruff stuff either one works, did he want to go with air shocks or coils or coilovers? they all can be mounted with out cutting the bed but that depends on how long of a shock, i always say rock the IFS till it breaks then SAS
 
what trails has he done in it? What are his goals? street legal? DD? Sometimes less is more in a build. The solid axle is a proven, sturdy design, but the IFS is sure nice for DD and light wheeling. If he's looking to do hardcore wheeling, I'd go with a solid axle.
 
sixstringsteve said:
I think IFS up front with a good set of rears should be plenty for someone who's not hardcore.

I hear the TG 3-link is kinda sketchy on the pavement for a DD. Wouldn't he need to mount his rear shocks through the bed whether he got a 3link or a 4link?
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Um I am pretty sure I was driving when we figured that out. I think I remember you saying, "pull over I will get out."
 
When you drove the 3 link rear was the front ifs ? The ifs front should keep it pretty stable I'd think also with the trail gear kit I could see the geometry really sucking if the vehicle had much of a lift.

I think linking the rear would keep it good on the street and add lots of traction off road .


A good set of rear springs is almost as a link kit. But still don't have near the benefit.

The kid hasn't wheeled much I talked him into sliders and armor then go from there


The rear could be linked with shocks and coils and wouldn't need to cut into the bed /floor


Anyone have personal experience wheeling stock 4 runners leaf rear vs linked second gen rear?
 
Talk to 193 Kyle, he has had a tg 3 link in the rear. The one brandon and I drove had a 3 link front, leaf spring rear.

As cool as a 4link sounds, if this kid doesn't wheel yet, it seems.like a waste of money to make his rig.less streetable and more capable. We've taken bone Stock ifs runners through golden spike, steel bender, hells revenge, and tons of other trails. My suggestion is to get him hooked on wheeling and only upgrade when his rig is holding him back.
 
I agree Steve. But is a second gen runner less streetable than a 1st?

In my eyes ifs front linked rear is more streetable than 1st gen?


Ps I originally told him not to waste his money and get a rover ;)
 
zukijames said:
I agree Steve. But is a second gen runner less streetable than a 1st?

In my eyes ifs front linked rear is more streetable than 1st gen?
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Not at all. The two trucks are practically identical, coil in the back vs leaves is about the only significant mechanical difference, and they're both plenty streetable. I bet there's a huge difference between the factory 3link on the second gen designed for comfort and stability, and a trailgear 3link designed for trail ability, though.

Ps I originally told him not to waste his money and get a rover ;)
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You're a horrible friend. What'd he ever do to you?



:D
 
Kevin B. said:
Not at all. The two trucks are practically identical, coil in the back vs leaves is about the only significant mechanical difference, and they're both plenty streetable. I bet there's a huge difference between the factory 3link on the second gen designed for comfort and stability, and a trailgear 3link designed for trail ability, though.

the factory links are short and have horrible geometry once lifted.. but they still dont hope much and no axle wrap..
i think a well set up offroad suspension should work fine on the road

alot of trophy type trucks link the rear and leave front ifs and seem to do fine on the road

You're a horrible friend. What'd he ever do to you?


1200$ 33's linked front and rear.. more streetable and more offroadable then a toyota.. i love my 96 land rover after i did prichett in it i haven't touched my buggy lol
:D
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i'd like to drive a rig like the 1 we are talking ( tg links in the rear ifs front) on and off road vs a SAS vehicle leafs front and rear and compare
 
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