A real suspension system for a quigley!!!

[dsw4x4]

My latest hang up with my van is the max tire size. I cannot find any real world numbers but so far this has been my findings the max tire you can run on a stock Quigley is a 33 inch tire and it will rub slightly in a hard full bind. My problem is I want to run 37 inch tires with NO rubbing. I found that when I trimmed my fenders as far back as I could 33s no longer rub but 34s do. So my question is would any one be interested in a full blown long arm, long travel suspension system for your quigley. I will be scooting the front axle forward a couple of inches, use remote reservoir coil over shocks with nitrogen charged bump stops and lifting the van about 3 inches. So the end result would be 5 inches of up travel and 5 or 6 inches of down travel 10 12 inches of travel total. 37 inch tires would clear with out rubbing throughout the entire travel and best of all your van would not bottom out when the front axle leaves the ground!! This would allow your van to double your speeds on forest roads and make driving rough roads smooth smooth. So would any one be interested in this for there van?? I am thinking I should be able to put this system together for around 5000 with all of the bells and whistles or you could by it one componet at a time and build it as you please. I like my quigley and it actually flexes really nice and gets me places that really freaks people out when they see a 4wd van that far up a trail. I would just like to have a better ride quality and larger tires to help keep the body damage to a minimum.
I just thought I would throw this out there to see if anyone else would like to have something like this. Let me know your thoughts.
Derek

 

[Desert Dan]

Why not just go with 35's?

 

[78Bronco]

The solution is to run a Cage Radius Arm kit...they've got it all figured out for you with coils.

I have the Duff version but they are exactly the same. I'm changing from heims to Johnny Joints which requires new brackets to mount to the frame.

 

[ujoint]

The solution is to run a Cage Radius Arm kit...they've got it all figured out for you with coils.

You'd have to cut off all of the Quigley brackets and weld new radius arm friendly C forgings to the housing. A lot of work, but doable. Also, I heard they went under. Just called, no answers......

 

[ujoint]

My latest hang up with my van is the max tire size. I cannot find any real world numbers but so far this has been my findings the max tire you can run on a stock Quigley is a 33 inch tire and it will rub slightly in a hard full bind. My problem is I want to run 37 inch tires with NO rubbing. I found that when I trimmed my fenders as far back as I could 33s no longer rub but 34s do. So my question is would any one be interested in a full blown long arm, long travel suspension system for your quigley. I will be scooting the front axle forward a couple of inches, use remote reservoir coil over shocks with nitrogen charged bump stops and lifting the van about 3 inches. So the end result would be 5 inches of up travel and 5 or 6 inches of down travel 10 12 inches of travel total. 37 inch tires would clear with out rubbing throughout the entire travel and best of all your van would not bottom out when the front axle leaves the ground!! This would allow your van to double your speeds on forest roads and make driving rough roads smooth smooth. So would any one be interested in this for there van?? I am thinking I should be able to put this system together for around 5000 with all of the bells and whistles or you could by it one componet at a time and build it as you please. I like my quigley and it actually flexes really nice and gets me places that really freaks people out when they see a 4wd van that far up a trail. I would just like to have a better ride quality and larger tires to help keep the body damage to a minimum.
I just thought I would throw this out there to see if anyone else would like to have something like this. Let me know your thoughts.
Derek

It's a great idea. Let's see it!!! There's a lot of engineering involved in something like this, especially if you want to make it a "kit" for the DIY guys. There are many variables. Will you keep the factory coil buckets? Stock Quigley brackets on the axle? A better sway bar will be needed for sure with some coil overs..... The trac bar will need some more beef as well. Heims? Johnny joints? Sorry, now my brain is going.......

 

[dsw4x4]

Desert Dan 34s rub if I went to a 35 I am sure it would rub worse than the 34s. Right now I am stuck with 34s that rub and rubbing tires will not fly I can barely afford to keep rubber on my van as it is so chewing of tread because of fender rubbing makes me Ill.
78 Bronco I thought about that set up but I do not think it would be stout enough for these big heavy vans. I have two box style broncos and both of them need regular maintence and sometimes straightening to the radius arms on the front end. I have replaced the C bushings numerous times from splitting them in two and hucking the bushing on the ground. Not only that you only have two points to the frame for any force pushing that front axle backwards like if you nose into a ditch. I have bent and ripped off those frame mounts on my broncos too. And last your limit on binding radius arms unless you do a wristed arm setup which is another (weaker) link. With a four link set up you four points to the frame instead of two to absorb the shock, so I want to stick with four link for strength and flexability. Beside look at full blown race trucks from bigfoot to trophy trucks four link is proven.

Ujoint, Keeping the factory coil buckets would be the easiest option and building brackets to adapt coilovers. I also thought about cutting them off and building a custom set of shock hoops. It all comes down to if you want it to be bolt on or a custom installed kit? I think the stock quigley brckets will be fine mine take a beating and do just fine. The track bar and tie rods will need to be beefed up but that is a minor issues. Johnny or jimmy joints no heims joints the make to much noise for a rig that sees a lot of highway miles you want all road noise isolated. And as for a sway bar yes much beefier than stock with disconnects. maybe even disconnects operated from in the cab would be cool. Do you know how far forward you axle is from quigley vans I know your tall enough the cross member is not an issue. Also how much up travel do you get with your van set up that way?
Thanks
Derek

 

[Jeep]

The Cage arms also leave you with a little more than zero articulation, had a customer with them on a F-250, didn't work good at all. They sure forced the rear suspension to articulate.

When I was at TTC this year there was a 4wd van on 37's with a very nice 4 link front done by Toby at XXX Traction, it had all the bells and whistles and was very well executed.

 

[78Bronco]

Do you really need 37's on a fullsize 4x4 van...

this van looks very capable already

 

[dansvan]

I put 37"s on my Quigley quite easily by installing coils from the earlier series E350 Ford vans (they are longer) and putting a set of rear shocks on the front. Trimming was included of course. Drove it from Alaska to Moab and back including many points in between. Shackle flipped the rear. Front was done in a couple hours.

 

[dansvan]

Do you really need 37's on a fullsize 4x4 van...

this van looks very capable already

Those steering stabilizers wouldn't last 100yds up here.

 

[ntsqd]

The Cage arms also leave you with a little more than zero articulation, had a customer with them on a F-250, didn't work good at all. They sure forced the rear suspension to articulate.

My bet is that something else was contributing to the lack of flex. Jim Cole's own EB with his product under it (he was responsible for the Duff design as well):

I'll second that thought of "Do you really need 37's on a van"?

 

[78Bronco]

The new super duty front suspension uses radius arms aswell so I don't see any merit to the concerns regarding strength.

If you really are set on a // 4 link design you can buy everything off the shelf from Ballistic Fabrication.

 

[ujoint]

Ujoint, Keeping the factory coil buckets would be the easiest option and building brackets to adapt coilovers. I also thought about cutting them off and building a custom set of shock hoops. It all comes down to if you want it to be bolt on or a custom installed kit? I think the stock quigley brckets will be fine mine take a beating and do just fine. The track bar and tie rods will need to be beefed up but that is a minor issues. Johnny or jimmy joints no heims joints the make to much noise for a rig that sees a lot of highway miles you want all road noise isolated. And as for a sway bar yes much beefier than stock with disconnects. maybe even disconnects operated from in the cab would be cool. Do you know how far forward you axle is from quigley vans I know your tall enough the cross member is not an issue. Also how much up travel do you get with your van set up that way?
Thanks
Derek

I agree. Keeping the factory buckets wouldn't LOOK the best, but it would keep the cost & fabrication down. Yes, with no heims!! I think the trac bar will be a bigger issue than you think, simply because there isn't much room behind the gear box, and the new bracket will have to be much larger & lower than the Quigley unit. Also, that's a major component that needs to be welded on extremely well. Bolt on would be very difficult, if not impossible. Also, a new transmission crossmember that also holds the 4 link bars may be needed if you make them longer than the Quigley control arms. ---- I push my axles 2" forward from stock. My van has about 10" of lift, and I didn't trim the x-member at all. I have 5" of up travel, including the 2" air bumps. About the same on the down travel. ----Chris

 

[ujoint]

The new super duty front suspension uses radius arms aswell so I don't see any merit to the concerns regarding strength.

If you really are set on a // 4 link design you can buy everything off the shelf from Ballistic Fabrication.

They also love to do the death wobble dance when modified/lifted.

 

[phenopd]

Joints?

Chris,
What's the difference between johnny joints and heim joints?