What suspension to run?

[Coco]

I am going to start stock piling parts for my '98 4runner build, and am having a hard time deciding on what suspension I should go with. This rig will be a daily driver, as well as a go-anywhere-I-want wheeling rig. My goal is to keep it low, but still run 37s, flex well, wheel well.

I have been debating whether to do a 3 link front/re-work the rear suspension, or leaf springs. The more I think about it, the more I want to run a good set of leaves so I wont have issues with death wobble, or other problems a link suspension can cause. Being a daily driver, I cant have the issue of hunting down death wobble problems. The one good thing about doing a link suspension, is the rear would just need to be re-worked/adjusted. The front would be the hard part. Another thing is it is my current daily driver so when I do build it, I cant have it down for months on end. It has to be done right and well, and as quickly as possible, without cutting corners.

So my question is, what would be the better setup?

 

[skippy]

If a link suspension is set up correctly it will ride nicer and more stable than a set of leaf springs anyday. A horribly designed link setup can cause issues but i have seen just as many leaf sprung rigs with death wobble also

Death wobble has more to do with caster angle than anything

 

[jinxspot]

I would say from experience that you will be dumping a lot of engineering time and money into the front solid axle swap anyway. You would be better off to engineer a good three link for the front and rework the rear. Look at how many aftermarket parts and build threads are already out there for linked suspensions on a yota.

Too many times have I spent money to do the incremental modifications to my rigs and it ended up costing me double or even triple... do it right the first time is what I've learned.

 

[Greg]

Leafs are simple and stable... good things for a daily driver / crawler.

Like was said above, death wobble is more of an alignment thing. A leaf spring vehicle can get it just like a linked vehicle, my old '85 Toyota pickup on leafs got death wobble bad after swapping on a new set of leafs. I brought the toe in to 1/8" and everything was good again.

 

[RockMonkey]

I've only ever experienced death wobble with leaf springs. That being said, if you're looking to get it done quick, leaf springs are probably the way to go.

 

[thenag]

I've only ever experienced death wobble with leaf springs. That being said, if you're looking to get it done quick, leaf springs are probably the way to go.

I too have only experienced death wobble with leafs, not sure what cured it. Actually if you have a really good 3 link up front it won't allow it to wobble. (I drove home from moab with my 37's toe-ed out and it didn't wobble, it felt like it wanted to but it didn't...)

I went with links in the rear of the xj for 2 main reasons; eliminate axle wrap, eliminate the torsional stresses on the uni-body (my doors open and close when I am twisted up) oh and all the cool kids are doing it... so I guess that is 3 reasons.

If time is a major consideration look for a kit, if money is a major concern do it yourself, if time and money are a concern good luck... get everything you will need on hand so it will be down as little as possible. I did a 460 swap in my bronco in 3 days but I had about 60 hours prep before that so I knew it would fit, knew the wiring in my sleep, and knew it would start on first crank.

My xj was out of service for about 3-4 months, Rockmonkey's was much longer than that, his goal was to keep cost down do it all himself, my goal was to go to moab in Oct of 2011 (which we did) I have more than 2x's the $$$ in mine than rockmonkey, (and his is probably more capable...)

I have read many a project thread that went quickly because of research, and many a thread that took way to long because the person didn't plan ahead. Even if you can plan on doing it over a long weekend that works. (my motor swap in the bronco was over a thanksgiving weekend, started tearing into it Wed afternoon, drove it on Sat. had a day and a half to spare...)

nathan

 

[Coco]

Ya for sure! The more you read and research, the better it will be when you get into it. That is for sure.

I have been reading Addicted Offroad's "intervention" build thread on pirate as often as I can. I would really like to model mind off of his if I go link suspension. I was thinking coils front and read however, instead of coilovers in the front.

The biggest reason I am very hesitant with a link suspension is because back when I had my TJ, it had death wobble like crazy. I spent months trying to track it down, replaced almost the whole front end, tires, etc. after all that, I rotated the tires I put on it, and it went away...

I just start thinking link suspension, and it brings back the thought of that TJ.

But I do agree, link suspension is the best all around if done right.