I keep killing bushings in my rear control arms and tri-link. These things were just never meant for the amount of repetitive flex I put them through. I also want to have the rear ready to go for when I do the SFA swap as I will be replacing the c8.25 with a 1 ton axle (D60, Sterling 10.50, 14Bolt).
My main goals are to have a much flatter/straight travel arc for the rear axle with more lift and reliability/strength.
Today I started cutting out the frame side control arm mounts. Stock looks to be 1/8". I used 1/4" plate for these.
My first design was just a simple bracket.
I felt I could make it stronger and I also wanted it ramped so it can slide over an obstacle. So I ended up cutting these out. Considering I don't have a plasma cutter yet I feel these came out pretty sweet.
This is as far as I got before having to head into work. This next image I used paint to give you an idea for the rest of the mount design.
For the lower links I plan on using 2" .25" wall DOM tubing.
On the axle mount end I was going to use [url="https://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/125RESET.html"]1.25" heim joint from Ruff Stuff[/url] but for the price I can just run one of the joints below on both ends. The Metal Cloaks offer the most misalignment at 34 degrees per joint vs 30 degrees of the other two. I plan on running these over heims because they will be quieter and are rebuildable.
https://www.currieenterprises.com/compl ... nny-jointshttps://www.metalcloak.com/Forged-Durof ... p/7348.htm"]Metal Cloak Duroflex Joints
http://www.rockkrawler.com/ProductDetai ... s%5F1%2E25Compared to the kit JBA sells mine will be way stronger, allow more articulation, and will be quieter without the heims in it..
I may end up cutting off the axle mounts and moving them up so they don't sit below the axle but Idk if the extra effort and $ will be worth it since I don't plan on keeping the c8.25 for much longer. If I do move them I will still have sufficient vertical link separation because the mount I'm going to make for the upper links can just sit higher off the top of the differential.