And here is where I begin my suspension delete.
I think I'll install a virtual long arm which will save a lot of weight and save me from having to do all the work! ;-)
Someone on Marketplace is about to score a 4" lift with Clayton arms, TerraFlex brackets, and IronRock springs!
The Clayton springs are for a 3.5" lift. When I compared them to the 4" IronRock springs, the claytons were a bit taller! When I tried to compress the Clayton spring, it didn't budge, but I was able to push the ironrock spring down a little, so I believe the Clayton springs have a more robust...
...through without doing driveshafts, that would be the most likely route.
Anyway, at the moment I am cutting my frame apart and installing an IronRock long-arm suspension, so there's that...
I tested the new IronRock 4" lift springs and found them to be weaker than the Clayton Overland units, so I am staying with the Clayton units for now. I now have yet another set of springs for the Gladiator!
The MC lower spring perch went in along with everything else to finish the setup for...
...installation. My knee is finally healed enough to get into some heavier work, so here we go.
Today I wanted to get the front suspension dialed in with some new components before starting to cut things off.
Here we see mostly IronRock components, but also some MetalCloak front spring pads
...almost crossing the beams supposedly that helps I would 100% recommend gatekeeper if they fit your build if not, there’s a company called ironrock that also makes a set that look like they put the light much lower. I don’t have any experience with those ones but as this is something I’ve...
I am currently dealing with this as well. I am looking to replace mine with the falcons.
IronRock offroad makes an adapter plate so you do not have to run the proprietary jounce bumpers upfront any longer...
...saved almost 13 pounds.
Those weight savings will become very important when I replace the short Clayton control arms with the longer and heavier IronRock pieces. I will likely have to delete the entire bed and bolt down a sheet of plywood to compensate for all the heft I am about to pick...
A local-to-me Minnesota business as well, but I was buying from them before I ever moved here.
Anyway, today:
Trimmed the coil bucket isolators for the C gussets.
Cleaned, installed, and sealed the FAD including the intermediate shaft and skid.
Disassembled, greased, and installed the JJ...
I just bought the relocation bracket from Ironrock Off-road https://www.ironrockoffroad.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=16374 and an aluminum fuel filter cap...
...but I'll keep saying it; I think Core4x4 and Cavfab are making some of the highest quality products for the dollar in the market right now. IronRock Off Road deserves a mention as well, very affordable. They make literally the best lower control arm mounts for a D44 not to mention a spacer...
The radius arm binding is why metalcloak uses the disconnectable upper on their lock&load radius arm system. On my old XJ I put a beefier mount and rebuilt the upper on the passengers side and deleted the drivers side altogether so it was a half radius arm/ 3 link setup. I wouldn't trust a...
...thickness of our frame material. I went through literally everyone. I do not think anyone out there gives you as big a bang for the buck as IronRock.
Front and rear 4-link brackets and arms are a tad over $2,800. MC, which was one of my favorites, approached $10K, I think. I tried the Artec...
I did, and I love it! I'd counteroffer that you take a good look at the IronRock long arms.
Regarding that decision, MetalCloak was a finalist, but selecting the winner came down to cost. I felt that the IronRock system gave me everything I needed and was on par with MC at 1/3 the cost. At...
And, having had a lot of time to think the suspension through, I am making the following changes:
IronRock front long arms
IronRock rear long arms
IronRock air bumps
Ironrock 4" front and 5" rear springs
Metal cloak uniball joints for the front axle
Metal cloak spring pad correctors
Off Road...
The two kits i was looking at are the AEV 2” and the IronRock 2”. The IRO comes with less overall, but even with buying bump stop extensions, geo brackets and track bars it is still $175-180 less than AEV. Plus the piece of mind of a steel spacer instead of poly.
...a couple of thousand miles from home...Where in your mind the thing decides to unwind...
I'll look into this much deeper, maybe give IronRock and Artec a call. Watching their actual Gladiator on the trail makes it amazing. I've seen a video, not an actual one. But man, that thing works...