Front Flex

Universeman · **Posted:** Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:44 pm

Anyone know what the best RTI for a lifted KJ is?

Ok, There's a link on All-Js site for the instalation of a franklift by 4WDSU magazine and there is a picture of an assembled rancho strut next to the stock strut and the rancho is clearly longer then the stock strut (looks like about 2" to me) this would equal 2" more downtravel, I'm just trying to come up with ways to maximize front articulation, most of the picts I see of KJs up on a rock or a RTI ramp have 0 front articulation, the swaybay of course is to blame here and I hear JKS has quick discos for the front which of course would help, any ideas on squeezing more travel out of the front?

Next onto the rear suspension, Any word on an upgraded 3rd link for the KJ? I was thinking something along the lines of the Rubicon Express super flex joints. My point here is(far as i can tell) the only limiting factor to rear suspension travel should be the shocks, all the other issues can be addressed and fixed (i.e. springs popping out, ball joint bottoming out ect.).

On another note, I was checking out the FJ on Toyotas webpage (really a nice web page for the FJ I wish jeep would take notice :cry:

) anyway looks to me like the front is pretty similar but the KJ has the FJ beat hands down on the rear suspension, lets see complicated 4 link with a panhard bar VS a nice and simple 3 link which is what all the super articulating suspensions use, ya were stuck using 32" tires at most and the FJ can fit 33s one whole inch! wow! we have more room, more doors and more windows and for us lucky few the CRD, I'll keep my jeep.

Mutt · **Posted:** Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:58 pm

Yeah, get rid of the front swaybar and the front suspension works much better.

Carolina Rock Shop should have a finalized adjustable upper rear link that incorporates Rubicon Express SuperFlex builder balls in the next couple of weeks.

I asked about RTI numbers for all the lifts when I was shopping and the painfull truth is that info just isn't available. Cruise around and look at some pictures, you'll see that the OME/Frankenlift stuff works the best.

Universeman · **Posted:** Thu Sep 14, 2006 1:06 pm

Sweet good to hear about the upper link, I guess if it can't ramp 1k no one cares lol

Mutt · **Posted:** Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:27 pm

Exactly. A well modded Liberty would probably be lucky to break 500 on a 20 degree RTI.

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Thu Sep 14, 2006 3:01 pm

I ramped mine a few times (the 2002KJ) and got 670 on a ~22 degree ramp. I had a custom front swaybar disco that definitely helped. Most of the pics were on the first L.O.S.T. Forum I started back in June 2002. Airing down seemed to help a bit too. I had also cut out some of the metal in the rear fenderwell and door sill to get maximum "stuff". I forgot what the KJ ramped stock but I seem to remember an article that put it at 320 or so.

The new 2007 Wrangler has an RTI of 652 and 832 with the electronic sway bar disconnect...

Here are two links to earlier RTI score posts ( some good pics of a KJ on a 30 degree ramp scoring good too ):

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/vie ... hlight=rti
http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/vie ... hlight=rti

Eddo · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1214

DarbyWalters wrote:

I ramped mine a few times (the 2002KJ) and got 670 on a ~22 degree ramp. I had a custom front swaybar disco that definitely helped. Most of the pics were on the first L.O.S.T. Forum I started back in June 2002. Airing down seemed to help a bit too. I had also cut out some of the metal in the rear fenderwell and door sill to get maximum "stuff". I forgot what the KJ ramped stock but I seem to remember an article that put it at 320 or so.

The new 2007 Wrangler has an RTI of 652 and 832 with the electronic sway bar disconnect...

Here are two links to earlier RTI score posts ( some good pics of a KJ on a 30 degree ramp scoring good too ):

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/vie ... hlight=rti
http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/vie ... hlight=rti

I've done about the same as Darby.
Once here at the Badlands. I belive it came out to be something around a 670 or so.

Also did it at a local jeep event scored about the same. Was disco-ed in the front both time and aired down a little.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Thu Sep 14, 2006 4:34 pm

Looks like it was alittle cold in that pic eddo. I see ice on the front air dam.

Eddo · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1214

Jeepjeepster wrote:

Looks like it was alittle cold in that pic eddo. I see ice on the front air dam.

Yeah it was about 0 degrees Fahrenheit that day. Quite cold.

Universeman · **Posted:** Thu Sep 14, 2006 5:41 pm

Nice front flex shot eddo, wow a RTI of 670 is awsome! way more then I thought possible. Anyway I plan on adding a OME lift to my existing lift so I would have 2.5" of lift in the front and 3.5" in the rear, when I installed the lift in the rear I disconnected the shocks and noticed there's plenty of room left for more flex but the left break line was too short (the right side is routed along the axel so its not an issue), I was thinking I could just re-route the left one similar to the right and problem solved, thoughts on this?

lilmatty · **Posted:** Thu Sep 14, 2006 10:23 pm

I'm not so sure the ramp really shows off the KJ's capability or does it justice. This is the best way to see its flex. Frankenlift and disco'd

Universeman · **Posted:** Thu Sep 14, 2006 10:50 pm

Now thats articulation :-)

RespectMyLibertay · **Posted:** Fri Sep 15, 2006 12:41 am

To be honest, I love the look our Lib's IFS flexing without restriction from the swaybar. It's crazy how well it does, especially when everyone I wheel with locally gives me crap for it, until they see it for themselves. If I could only take off one swaybar offroad, I'd make it the front!

Universeman · **Posted:** Fri Sep 15, 2006 1:21 am

Actually I think the rear would help the front flex better

lilmatty · **Posted:** Fri Sep 15, 2006 10:32 am

Actually the rear with OME/Frankenlift springs, no swaybar, and RE LCAs flexs pretty terrific. Well, the stock rear suspension without the disco flexes pretty dang nice as well.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Fri Sep 15, 2006 1:31 pm

How much would the tires rub with the front sway bar off and fully flexed? If they rub alittle with the sway bar, would it tare it all out when turned and flexed? Or is the fender well big enough to handle it?

Mutt · **Posted:** Fri Sep 15, 2006 1:39 pm

http://www.fototime.com/{3AC50801-BD3C-45B4-8615-B576DD11750C}/picture.MOV

Jeger · **Posted:** Fri Sep 15, 2006 1:49 pm

Its not working Mutt

lilmatty · **Posted:** Fri Sep 15, 2006 1:51 pm

Hard to recall but I had swarbar rub when I had the stock wheels with 5.5" backspace. Had flare rub also when I had the Daystar with stock springs. I now have FL and 4" BS on the rims. No rub anywhere. I get a flare rub on very exteme cases but very very rare and always a surprise. Frankenlift and 4" backspace made a monster difference on and off road.

For the rear I had rubbing inside the well but not the flare with stock wheels. No rub whatsoever with the new wheels.

There's another thread about the rear RE LCAs. It does not 'look' like it gives more flex but most of us who have it on have sure noticed it off road. I sure don't get to do the KJ wave as much as I used to. Even on the same trails.

Jeepjeepster wrote:

How much would the tires rub with the front sway bar off and fully flexed? If they rub alittle with the sway bar, would it tare it all out when turned and flexed? Or is the fender well big enough to handle it?

Mutt · **Posted:** Fri Sep 15, 2006 1:53 pm

Should work now.
http://www.fototime.com/{3AC50801-BD3C-45B4-8615-B576DD11750C}/picture.MOV

OzLtd · **Posted:** Sun Sep 17, 2006 7:01 am

lilmatty wrote:

I'm not so sure the ramp really shows off the KJ's capability or does it justice. This is the best way to see its flex. Frankenlift and disco'd

WOW! that looks great!

See, I dont get all the fuss about bloody SFA this & that. If you look at this pic, and imagine what the wheels would look like if they were (at the same amount of flex) on a SFA car, the image would be impressive EITHER way! Dont you agree ? The KJ's IFS DISCO'd has a fantastic amount of flex. Someone here said it just before, "when you're out on the trails and people see the disco'd front end, they really say WOW!! how good is that!"

Front Flex

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