[Karnage]

I always talk to my buddy DeMello since he was the hands that freed my taco from IFS hell, but want to hear from the others out there. I may be coming across a chunk of change due to me, and im trying to plan between suspension, crawler, boobies, tires, boobies, and competion expenses. Did say boobies already?

As my truck stands now, waiting to have the tranny pulled to install a new cryo-ed flex plate and starter, my leaf set up needs to be rebuilt front and rear. Ive seen too many front shackles get hung up on rocks, and my rear has zero flex. The front is gonna take alot of choping and sectioning of the frame to raise the shackle mount, but may make it more difficult to link in the future if i decide to go that way. I am willing to pay for the front & rear custom deavers and new rear shocks, but since its going to be so much custom work, is it worth it to link it F&R from the get go?

How much did you spend on your linking? Cost of tubing, rod ends, and most importantly how much did you get your coilovers for? Research show that Kings are probably one of the most expensive compared to Bilstein 9100's. I personally love Bils over all other shocks, but am open minded.

Im not so much concerned about the labor or technicality or about which is cheaper, as I have full confidence in D.O. to perform his magic to properly build my truck :welder: , but budgeting is the main concern now.

Thanks guys... :xbeer1:

 

[drabnor]

mind if i ask where you got that cryo treated flex plate? and how much?

oh and since i have no answers for ya,

bump

 

[AK98Taco]

Poly Performance has almost everything you'd need to link your truck - shocks, springs, Heims, Jimmy Joints, jam nuts, and so on - and I've heard their customer service is excellent.

http://www.polyperformance.com/shop/home.php

I'm very interested in hearing what the linked guys spent on rod ends and tubing.

 

[Karnage]

Longfield Super Axles upnorth. Not including my shipping costs to him, its $35 for him to treat the plate and return it to me. It should be less than a week turnaround. i figured since there isnt any stronger versions, i would make it stronger. I dont like breaking the same part more than once...

 

[drabnor]

Longfield Super Axles upnorth. Not including my shipping costs to him, its $35 for him to treat the plate and return it to me. It should be less than a week turnaround. i figured since there isnt any stronger versions, i would make it stronger. I dont like breaking the same part more than once...

i agree, breaking the same thing twice sux. i think ill have the same thing done to mine once i need to replace it. let me know how it works out for you

you gonna make calico?

 

[Dick Foster]

Heims are on the ends of the panhard but the radius arm has bronco rubber bushings on the rear end and homebrew fabbed from tube joints with 3/4" or was it 1" grade 8 bolts on the axle attach end. However, the axle attach also includes the standard Ford C's for isolation. I do what to go to heims for the upper/caster link just to do right & left hand threads to make tweaking caster easier. Right now the caster links have homebrew or fabbed joints too. The cost of tube has been all over the place lately so who knows what it will be day to day. From what I've seen using the Jonny Joints, Orbits and the like doesn't buy you anything.

 

[Karnage]

Heims are on the ends of the panhard but the radius arm has bronco rubber bushings on the rear end and homebrew fabbed from tube joints with 3/4" or was it 1" grade 8 bolts on the axle attach end. However, the axle attach also includes the standard Ford C's for isolation. I do what to go to heims for the upper/caster link just to do right & left hand threads to make tweaking caster easier. Right now the caster links have homebrew or fabbed joints too. The cost of tube has been all over the place lately so who knows what it will be day to day. From what I've seen using the Jonny Joints, Orbits and the like doesn't buy you anything.

Ive heard the same about the Johnnys/orbits.. i would use them on a leaf set up, like i was planning but not for links,etc. I read that using bushings at the frame side keeps from transmitting every pebble to the cab and give a better ride and to just use the rod ends at the axle.
If you go to heims for the axle instead of the C's, it should help you get more clearance from your lower link.
Its crazy how even a good link set up still gets abused on trails if they are too long. They actually get in the way at times. 'WhiteBro with a Fro' put a nice rock-caused bend in his lower 1-3/4" non-sleeved lower link on Wrecking Ball...

 

[Dick Foster]

That way my links have half tube sleeves on the bottoms. With all the tube being 1/4" wall, I've got 1/2" thick of steel where the metal meets the rocks. As for isolation the Ford C bushings help and the rear attach points have rubber bushings too so I have no problems in that respect. I had thought I whole get some from the heims in the panhard but I guess the way the heim works and the direction keeps it from being a problem. The Cs are burley and stand up to abuse so I plan to keep what I got. Even if I busted one of the front Cs, there are more out there as it is a standard part. The rear Cs are never gonna bust. Those are pretty much built hell for stout. I really have not had any trouble with the front getting hooked up but I do still catch on the rear hangers like everyone else does.

 

[jhauffen]

uh uhmm...I'd go with the comp expenses.. But thats my .02 cents. Actually the boobies sound pretty good to me.

 

[PappaF2]

what competition expenses?

Anyway if you plan on just linking the front with coilovers expect to spend $1500 or more. Seems to me like most coilovers with springs and dual rate kits start at about $400 per side add more depending on the brand.
Link matierial is really expensive these days, definatly shop around, I've had quotes from $15 a foot to over $25 a foot on beefy tube.
I am going to run bushings on the axle end of mine and RE joints at the frame. Depending on what you end up using for link ends and how many links you run look at spending at least $200 or so at the low end and sky is the limit for the dope shit. :xpimp: If you want some of the dopest link ends around check these fawkers out built by evolution machine. Its the rebuildable one, for scale thats a 1" heim next to it.

Then add in some exrat cash for tabs and what not.
I am sure I left some stuff out.
SO should you go links and coils or re fab the leafs...
I was in the same position recently and I decided with all the work it was going to be to get the leafs set up I could do a bit more work and have links.
We'll see how it works out pretty soon.

 

[Karnage]

now thats an awesome reply!

Per DeMello, materials are about $2k, with tubing @ $12/ft, just for the front end. $800 for the rear leaves, im at $2800

If I went redoing leaves f/r, im estimating $1400.

I could also get 2 Corbeau seats and an used Ox locker and still be under cost of links...

hmmm

 

[Dick Foster]

Yes, but just remember that in the end you always get what you pay for. Is it worth the extra expense and time? For me it was. For you, well that's your decision.
But always bear in mind something that I just told someone else this morning. This is a hobby and that dreaming up stuff and building it is half the fun and wheeling what you've dreamed up is the other half. There is no pressure to get the project completed other than what pressure you inflict on yourself. If you take that gotta get it done now attitude, it's just too much like work and is no longer a hobby. Take your time, savor every moment and do just exactly what you want to do and to hell with what everyone else says. It's your truck and your hobby and you are totally in charge. The only boss that needs to be satisfied is you.

 

[AK98Taco]

Awesome......

 

[PappaF2]

well lyle if you get a good set of leaf springs up front and some nice shocks it should be pretty bitchen. It would definatly be uncharted leaf tech on a taco, which is kinda neat, you get to find your own path. All in all it's just as dick said, do what makes YOU happy. (Although I personally have a hard time deciding what will make me most happy before I do it. )

 

[TACORICAN]

Yes, but just remember that in the end you always get what you pay for. Is it worth the extra expense and time? For me it was. For you, well that's your decision.
But always bear in mind something that I just told someone else this morning. This is a hobby and that dreaming up stuff and building it is half the fun and wheeling what you've dreamed up is the other half. There is no pressure to get the project completed other than what pressure you inflict on yourself. If you take that gotta get it done now attitude, it's just too much like work and is no longer a hobby. Take your time, savor every moment and do just exactly what you want to do and to hell with what everyone else says. It's your truck and your hobby and you are totally in charge. The only boss that needs to be satisfied is you.

Isn't that what you told me? lol I thought about that... Its true

 

[snowchucker]

Our cost on a full front link setup w/ coilovers, air bumps, sway bars, heims, jam nuts, safety washers, links, shipping, tax, etc... is over $2400 in parts alone. Then add oil pan, brackets, steering, axle, lockers, wheels, etc... Then add the rear suspension costs.. it gets freakin $$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

 

[Dick Foster]

Some salesman you turned out to be. Maybe you'd be better off sticking to drawing landscapes and stuff. LOL
How much is the difference between that and a leaf spring setup when you add up all the fiddley bits? And what about the cost benifit thing? If everything was always all about cost alone, we'd all be drivin the same shit, livin in the same kinda house, wearin the same clothes, etc, etc, etc.