started building the 3 link

[itsme1738]

got home early today....made the lower links......pics:D

[itsme1738]

30 inches eye to eye

[itsme1738]

i made some 1/2 inch thick link axle tabs...are these too much.....thick?....its all i had lying around?

[cuong nguyen]

beefy. theyll work. the axle tube isn't that thick though.

[itsme1738]

yea its overkill....i think i will go to 3/8 plate.....its what i had on hand at the time

[cameron_garrison]

i would just use the 1/2 maybe bevel it alittle bit no need to go down since 1/2 will get the job done

[bogof]

What cameron said. Bevel the plate to get good penetration, and you won't have to worry about them.

Take your time welding them too. Welding a plate that thick on an axle can warp it fast.

[itsme1738]

its amazing...we go sooo heavy duty on these rigs and they come with 3/16ths tabs and one small weld....funny....no time to fab tonight....14 hour day at fort carson....

[cameron_garrison]

you in the military

[itsme1738]

no i am not.....i am in cranes....i picked a hvac unit and 2 solar units today

[itsme1738]

made the 3rd link tonight and painted.......pics:D

[MisterTinkle]

THAT looks beefy! Cool!

[itsme1738]

another pic

[Sully4x4]

Very beefy! Come on Jeff, get 'em installed and let's see that rear suspension flex :)

[tmorgan4]

You got the narrow Johnny Joints right? :)

[itsme1738]

no i did not....2 5/8.....the big ones....i have to cut all the brackets off and start fresh....i went to work on it today at the shop(work...nice welder, torch ect,warm)...but got an emergecy crane call....not much got done today

[itsme1738]

i will bite.....why do you ask?

[tmorgan4]

If you cut all the brackets off it doesn't matter. :) I was just hoping you already knew that Currie makes them in a 2 3/8" width also that fits all the OEM brackets.

[itsme1738]

i bought them from cuong.....great price,and yea i did know that....moving the lower bracket from on the bottom to the front of the axle.....upper link will be 10.5 inches above cl of axle

[theking]

Hey Jeff, what's your frame height?

[itsme1738]

23 inches,center of truck....21 inches to the calmini crossmember,on my new 35 inch shoes:bannana:......king,how do my links look?....im almost there!

[itsme1738]

did the link frame and axle brackets

[itsme1738]

more pics

[theking]

Lookin' nice and beefy!

If you re-use the factory x-member for the upper link, like I did, make note that the bend it has is not exactly in the center. Just measure it to make sure before welding on the tabs. Also, since you ride higher, you'll need to place the mounting point 1.5" lower than mine to keep the upper link level.

[itsme1738]

so 9 inches at cl axle?

[theking]

Nah, keep it 10.5-11" above the axle cl. Just lower the frame side to keep the link level at ride height.

edit: never mind keeping the upper link level. I checked the 3 link calculator and the AS numbers look good with your higher ride height. So, just do it as close as you can tell to my pics. With your ride height, the upper link will be 1.5" higher at the frame side. sorry if I confused ya.

[theking]

But, try to keep the lower link brackets as low as possible, 21.5" above ground would be perfect. The way you have the brackets now looks like they will be too high. Add some plate to drop them down a little.

[itsme1738]

i need that link calc.....and to know how to use it

[itsme1738]

i will take pics of how the lower brackets will look...i figure center of link hole,once mounted in the bracket,will be at 22inches.......jeff

[itsme1738]

hows this king?.....worked out perfect i think

[theking]

Awesome! pm me your email and I can send you the calc. But, it looks perfect. Make the axle end upper 26.5" above ground and frame side 28" above ground, and you'll be golden.

[itsme1738]

cool...great,thanks

[itsme1738]

just got these,,,,,,,thanks again king!

[theking]

Sweet! Only you and Roastbeef share those same brackets. :D
Now get a trackbar bracket made up and you'll be set!

[itsme1738]

yes i will make one out of some 2x2 tube....im thinking lower one side raise the other...make it nice and flat....next question...limiting chain/strap you guys are running?
do you really need it? if so how long?

[theking]

Leave the frame side and just raise the axle side so it's level. It should be about 7-8" above the axle c/l. Here's one I just did on a D60FF that's going in the pathy this weekend. It's angled back 30 degrees so the link goes straight across.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i186/kennylauter909/DKimSAS/rearaxle013.jpg?t=1268793648
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i186/kennylauter909/DKimSAS/rearaxle014.jpg?t=1268793953
for the limit strap, just jack up the rear until the drive shaft touches the x-member. I use chain.

[itsme1738]

thanks,king....man you do clean work...i like that spring perch combo...nice!
will do on the track bar!

[itsme1738]

where did you get that spring perch combo?....its not too late, im almost cutting it all off....why not do it right the first time?

[itsme1738]

nevermind....you outboarded your springs :(:o

[theking]

what springs you running?

[itsme1738]

26 inch rubicon

[itsme1738]

oops 23 inch rubicons pic is stock(black) jgc....and rubicon

[itsme1738]

the 3 link is DONE....wow what a job....about 2-6 hour days...but it is done!...i have a werid viberation acclerating till 25/30 not bad but,its there.....i lost the vibe i had when i was slowing down 25mph......cool.....it leans a little more now going around corners but,so far so good.....pics......sorry they are dark.....the other jeff
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll87/itsme1738/88%20pathy%20build/3%20link%20done/rear3linkdone001.jpg
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll87/itsme1738/88%20pathy%20build/3%20link%20done/rear3linkdone005.jpg
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll87/itsme1738/88%20pathy%20build/3%20link%20done/rear3linkdone004.jpg
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll87/itsme1738/88%20pathy%20build/3%20link%20done/rear3linkdone005.jpg


i will get better pics later

[JBDevega]

looks nice, now i need to get that done to my truck.

The rear tires seem a little far forward for a long arm, did you adjust the axles distance? also it seems like you need to drop your sway bar mounts now.

[theking]

Right on! You should still raise the trackbar mount on the axle. That will help with the sway. Also, the pinion angle looks a little low. That might be causing the vibes.

[itsme1738]

john i moved the axle back 1.5 inches....running out of drive shaft....kenny thanks for the help...i will move the panhard bar....i just ran out of time,,,,it leans pretty good goin around corners.....

[itsme1738]

better pics.....any info welcome
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll87/itsme1738/longarm2008.jpg
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll87/itsme1738/longarm2007.jpg
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll87/itsme1738/longarm2006.jpg
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll87/itsme1738/longarm2005.jpg
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll87/itsme1738/longarm2004.jpg
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll87/itsme1738/longarm2003.jpg
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll87/itsme1738/longarm2002.jpg
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll87/itsme1738/longarm2001.jpg

[JBDevega]

much better pics, and looks like you also need longer brake lines. I had to do that after my 7" rear lift. i suggest also upgrading to a steel beaded brake line so it reduces buldging (more constant braking power).

i really like the johnny joint (ballistic Joint?) control arms but those may be the cause of the increased sway.

[itsme1738]

i have a ss brake line waiting to go in,i think i still have lots of tweaking to do

[cameron_garrison]

those jam nuts look like they need tightening i wuldnt drive it at all with those loose other then that looks good

[itsme1738]

thanks cameron,jam nuts are tight now!.......just loose in the pics...and hey ...i put grease in the jjs....it alot less noisy......wow......i have drove it 60 miles now....not too bad,a little more lean in the turns and,some vibe till 25 mph,other than that,it good,i am woundering about my pinion angle.....what is right?

[itsme1738]

should i lenthen the top link to raise the pinion angle?

[JBDevega]

should i lenthen the top link to raise the pinion angle?

yes

[itsme1738]

thanks......the other jeff