A couple of years back I noticed I wasn't getting the performance out of the front suspension I wanted with leaf springs. I used low spring rate, high unloaded arch Alcan leafs with an offset pin and had a front anti-wrap to keep my driveshaft intact and it flexed great. Sadly though there was a lot of sway and it just wasn't fun at high speed.
To fix that I spent the better part of a year picking up parts here there to remedy the problem with a triangulated 4 link (I went to full hydraulic steering at the same time).
I also bought a ton of tabs and brackets to make the fabrication move along faster as nothing sucks worse than trying to save $4 here and there and wasting hours as a result.
First things first, I ripped the front suspension and axle out of the truck.
The next phase was to remove all the IFS bracketry I had left over as it was now in the way. OBS shock mounts are a bear to remove even with a plasma, grinders and a sawzall.
Weld washers were added around bolt holes for years of beating without oblong holes.
Due to the size of the joints on the frame side (Ballistic 3.0 REV1) I had to bore the hole diameter and turn down a nut and weld it in place to prevent interference with the frame rail.
With a clean axle housing I began make the truss and tacking link mounts on as per my layout.
Plates were cut from 12ga to box in the truss.
Holes were made and dimples added.
Down tubes to the ram truss were added.
Coilovers were assembled.
Plates and added tube were fully welded, including the nodular housing.
Frame side lower mounts were contructed using Ruffstuff lower mounts, bent tubes, cut and dimpled plates and straight tubes.
To fix that I spent the better part of a year picking up parts here there to remedy the problem with a triangulated 4 link (I went to full hydraulic steering at the same time).
You must be registered for see images attach
I also bought a ton of tabs and brackets to make the fabrication move along faster as nothing sucks worse than trying to save $4 here and there and wasting hours as a result.
First things first, I ripped the front suspension and axle out of the truck.
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
The next phase was to remove all the IFS bracketry I had left over as it was now in the way. OBS shock mounts are a bear to remove even with a plasma, grinders and a sawzall.
You must be registered for see images attach
Weld washers were added around bolt holes for years of beating without oblong holes.
You must be registered for see images attach
Due to the size of the joints on the frame side (Ballistic 3.0 REV1) I had to bore the hole diameter and turn down a nut and weld it in place to prevent interference with the frame rail.
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
With a clean axle housing I began make the truss and tacking link mounts on as per my layout.
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
Plates were cut from 12ga to box in the truss.
You must be registered for see images attach
Holes were made and dimples added.
You must be registered for see images attach
Down tubes to the ram truss were added.
You must be registered for see images attach
Coilovers were assembled.
You must be registered for see images attach
Plates and added tube were fully welded, including the nodular housing.
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
Frame side lower mounts were contructed using Ruffstuff lower mounts, bent tubes, cut and dimpled plates and straight tubes.
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
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