Ultimate 4X4
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 8,238
Likes: 3
From: Oregon
Ultimate 4X4
Oh, I fully agree. 18" is too extreme for real use, and if its all springs they will be serious bananas and ride/flex awfull. What you need is about 12" of lift, done by using stock length springs and flipping the shackles and dropping the mount points, soft enough to articulate well. The rest can be made up by fender trimming. One of you guys just need to state it as your change.
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
From: Chehalis, WA
Ultimate 4X4
http://www.killeraxles.com/html/portal_axles.html
Worth a look, the portals (hub gears) can be adapted to other applications, like a Rockwell. Also allows for more height with a lower center of gravity. Plenty beefy for 49"-56" tires, too.
That's my addition, portal axles. Probably cost around $2500-4000.
Worth a look, the portals (hub gears) can be adapted to other applications, like a Rockwell. Also allows for more height with a lower center of gravity. Plenty beefy for 49"-56" tires, too.
That's my addition, portal axles. Probably cost around $2500-4000.
Last edited by VX; Aug 23, 2003 at 01:48 AM.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
Ultimate 4X4
Originally posted by proeliator
Oh, I fully agree. 18" is too extreme for real use, and if its all springs they will be serious bananas and ride/flex awfull. What you need is about 12" of lift, done by using stock length springs and flipping the shackles and dropping the mount points, soft enough to articulate well. The rest can be made up by fender trimming. One of you guys just need to state it as your change.
Oh, I fully agree. 18" is too extreme for real use, and if its all springs they will be serious bananas and ride/flex awfull. What you need is about 12" of lift, done by using stock length springs and flipping the shackles and dropping the mount points, soft enough to articulate well. The rest can be made up by fender trimming. One of you guys just need to state it as your change.
That's a good idea but would only make it better suited to street use, and this is after all the ultimate 4*4,
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Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 8,238
Likes: 3
From: Oregon
Ultimate 4X4
Say what!? How does that make it better for street use as opposed to trail use? That method gives you better ride true, but more importantly it gives you waaay better flex, i.e. articulation. Which is what you want for off road use. Heck, I'm not opposed to a four link & coilover setup, those are killer too, I'm just unclear on your point.
edit: Portal axles are great, but things can only be changed once and they were changed to Rockwells.
edit: Portal axles are great, but things can only be changed once and they were changed to Rockwells.
Last edited by proeliator; Aug 23, 2003 at 10:35 PM.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,854
Likes: 1
From: Des Moines, Iowa
Ultimate 4X4
i was wondering that too. stiffer is not better, more articulation and control is better, also keeping the center of gravity down is best for off-road with out getting hung up of course.
couldn't portal axles be considered a add on/ another mod to the truck? portals can be added to rockwells right?
couldn't portal axles be considered a add on/ another mod to the truck? portals can be added to rockwells right?
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 8,238
Likes: 3
From: Oregon
Ultimate 4X4
I changed the engine, RMike changed the axles, I think despite allot of talk nobody has actually called a change on the suspension so go with what grabs ya. I'm going to sling my next build with Rockwells and a custom fourlink coilover set up....if thats a hint 
Last edited by proeliator; Aug 23, 2003 at 10:48 PM.