Radius arm-control arm front
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From: Minnesota
Radius arm-control arm front
Has anybody ever tried using a single radius arm on one side and a control arm on the other, for more flex? I have a 78-79 Bronco Dana 44 solid axle that I'm using in a Jeep Wrangler... and I did a search, and didn't find anything like what I'm asking about.
Last edited by rick90yj; Jan 23, 2005 at 10:53 PM. Reason: additional info...
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From: Gateway to the West
It would only yield more flex on that side for one thing. The radius arms are the only other components holding the unsprung weight of the axle halves in place and whatever limit/restriction to articulation there is would not be increased by removing only one. The axle halves are BOTH attached to the frame at their inboard ends unlike a solid axle which could use a longer track bar. The axle halves alone won't maintain sufficient caster without a raduis arm on each one as far as I can tell.
The TTB (with modifications) can be made to yield a full 16" of articulation with both radius arms extended and a mere 4" of suspension lift. Baja race trucks are limited to 15" of articulation for trucks in the class that the Bronco would fall into.
But don't let my opinion stop you. I welcome the opportunity to be shown evidence to the contrary. Whoever said "It can't be done" never got his/her name in the encyclopedia.
The TTB (with modifications) can be made to yield a full 16" of articulation with both radius arms extended and a mere 4" of suspension lift. Baja race trucks are limited to 15" of articulation for trucks in the class that the Bronco would fall into.
But don't let my opinion stop you. I welcome the opportunity to be shown evidence to the contrary. Whoever said "It can't be done" never got his/her name in the encyclopedia.
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Thanks. The reason I asked, the radius arms would tend to restrict articulation just by their being fastened solidly to the axle, so they can't twist independently. I think I've found my solution, though. A twisted arm.
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Something else to consider... the stock radius arm setup is "restrictive" to articulation by its very design. The bayonet style mounting to the frame with the large rubber bushing forces the bushing to compress and the end of the arm to wallow around in a hole that doesn't really allow a whole lot of movement. Tuff Country has a great solution to this restriction built into their lift kits. Longer radius arms that mount to the frame via a regular pin-and-sleeve bushing (like a leaf spring eye bushing or eye bushing on a shock absorber). This allows a much greater range of motion with no binding of the arm in the mounting bracket at the frame. there is a company making what they are calling "wristed" radius arms for the early Bronco (1966-77). the same eye bushing but the end of the raduis arm that mounts to the frame employs a "heim" joint at the eye to facilitate rotation of the arm due to changes in camber during suspension flex.
Last edited by greystreak92; Jan 25, 2005 at 01:56 AM.
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You can actually wriste one (put a pivot in the passenger side) arm and it will make your front end flex very nicely probably twice what is now depending on the spring shock combo. One of the best things to do is extend the factory arms with a 80 dollar screw on extention. Because if you wrist one of the arms the one that is not now becomes the weak link. It is going to try to twist that arm, pretty much the arm is also acting like a traction bar but it will bend easy.
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Originally Posted by flexybronc
You can actually wriste one (put a pivot in the passenger side) arm and it will make your front end flex very nicely probably twice what is now depending on the spring shock combo. One of the best things to do is extend the factory arms with a 80 dollar screw on extention. Because if you wrist one of the arms the one that is not now becomes the weak link. It is going to try to twist that arm, pretty much the arm is also acting like a traction bar but it will bend easy.
Just one question...Jow does only wristing ONE radius arm improve the suspension flex of the WHOLE front end? The two halves of the D44 TTB axle are independant. Hence the term Independant Front Suspension (IFS). Wristing and extending one side would certainly help flex for that half of the axle but leave the other side stuck at the OEM range of motion. If one half of the axle were attached to the other half and that half attached to the frame then wrisitng and extending the radius arm for the half that was attached to the fram would certainly improve articulation for both sides of the axle but thats not the case with the TTB setup.
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Originally Posted by greystreak92
Just one question...Jow does only wristing ONE radius arm improve the suspension flex of the WHOLE front end? The two halves of the D44 TTB axle are independant. Hence the term Independant Front Suspension (IFS). Wristing and extending one side would certainly help flex for that half of the axle but leave the other side stuck at the OEM range of motion. If one half of the axle were attached to the other half and that half attached to the frame then wrisitng and extending the radius arm for the half that was attached to the fram would certainly improve articulation for both sides of the axle but thats not the case with the TTB setup.
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From: Gateway to the West
My mistake, I forgot we were discussing a solid axle. In that case, the radius arms are really there to maintain caster. I mean there should be a track bar holding the axle to the frame. Otherwise the front end would walk all over since the radius arms cannot maintain rigid left-to-right control. And I've seen what happens when a Bronco breaks a track bar... gotta go about three MPH and don't hit even a crack in the pavement or the whole front end wiggles and tries to wander out from under the truck. It looks hysterical but its scary as $^&* for anyone in the truck. With the track bar in good working order, you should be able to wrist them both I would think. Would yield articulation only limited by spring length and RTI scores that would be the envy of everybody.
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From: Minnesota
Originally Posted by greystreak92
With the track bar in good working order, you should be able to wrist them both I would think. Would yield articulation only limited by spring length and RTI scores that would be the envy of everybody.
I've seen some pictures of single wristed arms, and the articulation is crazy, long.
