Which Type of Suspension

[jeep96xj]

Which type of suspension would you build for an XJ? 3 link, 4 link, Radius Arm, or a hybrid of some sort. I want extreme flex and no binding so I am trying to decide, and it is very difficult, which type to fabricate and install on our XJ.

Please help me out and post what dream suspension you would have fabricated and installed on a XJ if you had no limitations. The one stipulation is that it must be road worthy.

I have read extensively about every manufactured kit for a XJ and have been on many forums. I have 40 years of off roading under my belt. Only the last 5 years in our XJ. Everyone has their own idea or belief which is the best kit. That aside... I have decided to join this forum because you people are in the best place to Krawl and probably have driven every conception of a suspension out there. I am not asking for a lift kit suggestion. I am asking what type of dream suspension would you have fabricated for an XJ and why.

The XJ is used 50/50 on/off road. It will not be a trail only rig. We do most of our off roading in the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and New Hampshire. We are planning a trip to Moab in September and will not be trailering it but driving the XJ along with a Small Camper.

I appreciate your thoughts, ideas, and recommendations.

Thank you

 

[GEEPAHOLIC]

i dont know how much i can help but this is what i dream of doing to my 91 xj i would love to put coilovers all around and triangulate and 4 link the rear and get a real good set of y arms for the front have it all on 5-6 inches of lift and 35-37's and 1 tons . good luck

 

[jeep96xj]

i dont know how much i can help but this is what i dream of doing to my 91 xj i would love to put coilovers all around and triangulate and 4 link the rear and get a real good set of y arms for the front have it all on 5-6 inches of lift and 35-37's and 1 tons . good luck

That would be an extremely Awesome set up. :bow: WoW! Thanks.

How about some more thoughts. ideas. and suggestions. Thanks.

 

[reddman]

Well if you don't want a suspension that will bind, then the radius arm is out. Radius arms try to twist the axle housing when flexed, and this provides some roll stability, but at the cost of free motion. Yes, they can work pretty well, but there are better designs out there. There is also the issue of the insanely high antidive that radius arms give you, which induces wheelhop under severe braking.

Triangulated three links are the next step up, but I don't like the idea of side loading a rod end. Putting all your lateral forces AND controlling the torque applied to the axle housing through a single joint is not ideal. Anyone that has ever seen a triangulated three link fail knows how hard it is to limp that off the trail.

Three links with a panhard is the next step up in my book. This is a bind free setup (as is the triangulated three link and the triangulated four link). It has the advantage of very strong lateral control, but at the expense of linear ride travel. This is likely to be your best bet since this rig sounds like it still has mechanical linkage steering. If it's designed right, the panhard and the tie rod will swing in very similar arcs, giving you very little bumpsteer.

Triangulated four link suspensions are the ideal in my book, but they must be combined with fully hydraulic steering to keep bumpsteer to a minimum.

My $0.02

 

[Twisted]

Have you looked at the Rock Krawler 6.5" Triple Threat or X-Factor kits for XJ's?

 

[rockreligious]

I agree with red on the three link/panhard front, you must do your research first and make sure your pan and drag are the similiar length and angle so as to keep from bumpsteer, and it can be challenging to make you panhard bar fit if you have your drivetrain low in the frame as I do, and front axle truss, there isnt much room but I made it work, and it works well.

four link front creates ton more issues for streetable rig, you have to go full hydro or astro steering box in order to make it work and I wouldnt want full hydro on a street/trail rig.

 

[Twisted]

I have read extensively about every manufactured kit for a XJ and have been on many forums. I have 40 years of off roading under my belt. Only the last 5 years in our XJ. Everyone has their own idea or belief which is the best kit. That aside... I have decided to join this forum because you people are in the best place to Krawl and probably have driven every conception of a suspension out there. I am not asking for a lift kit suggestion. I am asking what type of dream suspension would you have fabricated for an XJ and why.

Sorry! Seems my ability to read and retain the whole post before I reply, is somewhat hindered.

 

[RockMonkey]

http://www.rockymountainextreme.com/showthread.php?t=47224&page=6

 

[I Lean]

Well if you don't want a suspension that will bind, then the radius arm is out. Radius arms try to twist the axle housing when flexed, and this provides some roll stability, but at the cost of free motion. Yes, they can work pretty well, but there are better designs out there. There is also the issue of the insanely high antidive that radius arms give you, which induces wheelhop under severe braking.

Triangulated three links are the next step up, but I don't like the idea of side loading a rod end. Putting all your lateral forces AND controlling the torque applied to the axle housing through a single joint is not ideal. Anyone that has ever seen a triangulated three link fail knows how hard it is to limp that off the trail.

Three links with a panhard is the next step up in my book. This is a bind free setup (as is the triangulated three link and the triangulated four link). It has the advantage of very strong lateral control, but at the expense of linear ride travel. This is likely to be your best bet since this rig sounds like it still has mechanical linkage steering. If it's designed right, the panhard and the tie rod will swing in very similar arcs, giving you very little bumpsteer.

Triangulated four link suspensions are the ideal in my book, but they must be combined with fully hydraulic steering to keep bumpsteer to a minimum.

My $0.02

I've never seen wheel hop under braking from a front radius arm, but I have seen wheel hop when climbing from radius arms--hop that might not be present with less antidive.

Otherwise, I pretty much agree with everything above. Many types can be made to work pretty well, but everything is a compromise somewhere--either flexibility, or stability, or bump travel, or ease of fabrication, or cost.......

 

[jeep96xj]

All you people are just plain GREAT!

I have a younger man that will be helping me with this build.

I hope no one minds, I'm going to quote some of your replies on another forum in a thread I saw tonight. I promise I will reference this thread and the members who have shared. http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?p=244475161&posted=1#post244475161

Thanks, keep the discussion going.....

 

[GEEPAHOLIC]

did you check out rock monkey's build trend ? i looked through the whole thing and that is the SICKEST xj i've seen to date ! i would love to do something like that

 

[jeep96xj]

http://www.rockymountainextreme.com/showthread.php?t=47224&page=6

OMG

XJ!

did you check out rock monkey's build trend ? i looked through the whole thing and that is the SICKEST xj i've seen to date ! i would love to do something like that

It took a while to read it all. I do not think we will have enough time to do as Great a job as he has done. It has definitely given me a lot of ideas I plan to implement. I think if we are going to fabricate a suspension as incredible as his, we will have to put off the trip until spring. We would have to fab as much as we could as best we could before tearing down our XJ to install.

Thanks.