Topic: front 3 link help please

[dan603]

I need some help!! I have a 94 extended cab heavily built with a corporate 14 in the rear and a Dana 44 up front. I am running 5.38 gears, along with Marlin 4.7 crawler gears. I run 40" IROK's. Here is the issue. I run springs under on the front with revolver shackles. This gives me some great flex, but each time I flex her out, I lose a little spring, in my springs. My beast now sits 2" lower in the front, making for a terrible look and loss of travel. I had 14" of shock travel when it was built. I would like to swap out the spring setup for a 3 link. Anyone have any ideas or know of a good kit? I see Ruff Stuff makes a kit that looks beefy. How about the Fox 2.0's? Anyone running these rather than coils and a shock? Help please...

[dan603 [OP]]

Oh, I almost forgot... I run hydro assist, as this is a daily driver and must remain street legal. I cannot run full hydro.

[mudaddict]

I would look into TacoRunners company 4wheelunderground. http://www.4wheelunderground.com/ 

[dan603 [OP]]

Thank you! I have an email into them now!

[mudaddict]

No problem im surprised he hasn't chimed in.

[TacoRunner]

Sorry I don't have anything for a dana 44 application there really no stronger than a toyota axle so I didn't really see you need in supporting them.

[pumkin toy]

i built my own 3 link setup so i dont know what is good as far as kits.  i do run the fox 2.0 air shocks though.  they seem like a pretty good shock for the money, but i really want to get 2.5's  when you start to max out the nitrogen psi in the shock, they tend to bleed down over a few days of wheeling, which is really annoying because they start to bottom out and you always have to recharge them.  Whether the 2.0 shocks will work for you or not really depends on the weight ov your vehicle

[dan603 [OP]]

Sorry, I was gone for a while. Thank you for all the info!

[22rMudToy]

40" iroks on A DD 8) i like it!! How come you didnt just.go with a.dana 60 instead? Sorry i have no input on this bc iv never done any type of 3 link. I just like your rig!!! What you got under the hood pushin those tires?

[dan603 [OP]]

I was supposed to have a Dana 60. The idiot that built my truck (I was out of town during the front end build) told me it was just as strong as a Dana 60, as he had alloy axles in it. No alloys and they were well used too! I thought I was trusting the knowledge of a longtime wheeler, but what I got was a very expensive cob job. The truck works just well enough, but nothing like what I wanted. I am not going to drop names here of the east Coast builder but if anyone PM's me about advice of a builder in the Southern NH area, I will tell them where to stay away! I am now paying the price and rebuilding it correctly with some good friends that know how to setup a crawler.

[pumkin toy]

man that sucks to hear.  I hate it when people do crappy work, or work that is "just good enough".  Hopefully you and your friends dont have to go through too much trouble to get it done right

[dan603 [OP]]

I just snapped a brand new set of Yukon Axles yesterday in easy going stuff. I had my 3" wheel spacers on and still had the revolvers. Any advice on either? I am not sure of the revolvers snapped my axles or the spacers? I am assuming the 3" spacers put the tire too far past center, causing for a 40%+ additional load on the ujoint. The short side snapped first, then it took out the ujoint. the other side just cracked the ujoint. These are Spicer life joints and Yukon 4340 axles! I am at a loss...

[pumkin toy]

I just snapped a brand new set of Yukon Axles yesterday in easy going stuff. I had my 3" wheel spacers on and still had the revolvers. Any advice on either? I am not sure of the revolvers snapped my axles or the spacers? I am assuming the 3" spacers put the tire too far past center, causing for a 40%+ additional load on the ujoint. The short side snapped first, then it took out the ujoint. the other side just cracked the ujoint. These are Spicer life joints and Yukon 4340 axles! I am at a loss...

3" wheel spacers are huge!  thats adding alot of stress along with 40" tires.  what gears do you have in the axles?  your 44 must not be full width, im assuming thats why the 3" spacers are on?

[dan603 [OP]]

5:38 gears and the 4.70 crawler gears. Stock 4 banger. Yeah, my builder (the one I could bash) cut the axles 3" short on each side. he cut them for a set of mock up 18" wide Boggers, not the 13.5 width I needed to run for street legal purposes. So, yes, that is why I have the spacers. I am way more secure on side slopes, but maybe I should try to find a set of 18" wide tires again?? Every direction I turn, I have an issue. Might just sell it and start over at this point!

[Nimyad]

Just grab a full width Dana 44 from a junkyard and throw it in there

[pumkin toy]

5:38 gears and the 4.70 crawler gears. Stock 4 banger. Yeah, my builder (the one I could bash) cut the axles 3" short on each side. he cut them for a set of mock up 18" wide Boggers, not the 13.5 width I needed to run for street legal purposes. So, yes, that is why I have the spacers. I am way more secure on side slopes, but maybe I should try to find a set of 18" wide tires again?? Every direction I turn, I have an issue. Might just sell it and start over at this point!

originally you were expecting to have a dana 60 up front.  So you could find a 60 and when you and your buddies tear it down to fix the suspenion, you can rebuild everything using the 60  then you will have the axle you wanted plus a better suspension setup too