AT Comanche upgrades

[theexile]

more pics of the lower links...

 

[theexile]

Got the stock frame mount removed and installed the new arms. The Jeeps getting new kicks too. Hope to have her all finished up tomorrow. This heat we are having is brutal to work in.

 

[elcoyote]

Looking good buddy! I like the 3rd picture where you have the new arm in the fore ground and the old arm in the background. You can really see the difference in the length. Looking forward to cooling off at HL

 

[wagner_joe]

Very cool tu compadre... Great work Simon!! Can't wait to see it? :victory:

 

[suntinez]

These things are all being done as the preparations for the next major modification of removing the existing false bed and Snug Top shell and replacing them with a custom Flippac shell and a complete self contained built out interior using composite materials. More on that later.

Cool .... :lurk:

 

[elcoyote]

Frame stiffening begins....

 

[elcoyote]

We've been off the radar for a couple of weeks in N. AZ but we're back and working again on the MJ. One of the weak spots that sees stress cracks after 350K miles is the stock shock mount. The stock set up has the top pin of the shock going through the body, cushioned on some bushings. To improve this, Simon crafted new mounts that bridge the gap in the fender well and better spreads the loading over a bigger area and in theory reduces the potential for stress cracks to reappear. Stay tuned, jounces are next....

 

[Tanto]

Clever solution. My WJ has stud mounted shocks in the front too. I hate them, they are really difficult to work with when replacing shocks. I'm going with the JKS conversion next time, not nearly as beefy as what you've done.

Good work!

 

[elcoyote]

Clever solution. My WJ has stud mounted shocks in the front too. I hate them, they are really difficult to work with when replacing shocks. I'm going with the JKS conversion next time, not nearly as beefy as what you've done.

Good work!

We considered the JKS solution too but it does not spread the load out any more than the stack mount. Depending on how hard you work your WJ, you may want to keep an eye on the mounting location for hairline stress cracks over time

 

[karstic]

Curious why you are going from drop brackets to long arms?

 

[OverlandZJ]

Any updates? Curious to see the Currie setup installed.

:lurk:

 

[ntsqd]

Curious why you are going from drop brackets to long arms?

Drop brackets put a huge cantilevered and localized load on the frame. Unit bodies are all about spreading the load out as much as possible.
Long arms also reduce the Castor change in the range of travel.

 

[elcoyote]

The thought is to remove a connection i.e. arm connected to drop down bracket, drop down bracket connected to unibody. Over the years of this system I have need to constantly re-tighten it because such leverage is exerted against the brackets. We'll see if the theory proves out in practice

 

[elcoyote]

Any updates? Curious to see the Currie setup installed.

:lurk:

Sorry, not much in the way of updates lately as activities at AT have taken precedence in past weeks. Expect a little more of an update in the coming week as some time has been freed up. The Currie is next on the list. Gotta get the MJ ready to go on an upcoming trip!

 

[Fergie]

Drop brackets put a huge cantilevered and localized load on the frame. Unit bodies are all about spreading the load out as much as possible.
Long arms also reduce the Castor change in the range of travel.

Even with the braces that are supplied with an RE kit?