Super NOOB question

[Jungleboxx]

This can be moved to the correct area if I'm in the wrong place, it can also be deleted if someone posts a link to what I'm looking for.

I haven't searched this yet because I'm not sure what it would be caleld or if it's even possible on the jeep.

Anyways on a lot of lifted trucks and on some other SUVs I see what looks to be an axel like an upside down Y. It seems like it would be great for ground clearance and gives a really aggressive look, however on all the jeep lifts they have the straight upside down T axel. Is this "Y" axel something that can be done to the jeep and if so what are the advantages and disadvantages about it.

My uneducated theory would be this along with a lift kit would give maximum clearance instead of leaving the straight axel and normal height and just lifting the body.

I may have no idea what I'm talking about either......it happens every once in a while :spongebob:

Thanks

[mw14c]

Haven't seen any responses yet. I for one am a bit confused. If you're talking about an XJ that might make sense. They are a subframe vehicle. I think pretty much all other Jeeps have full frames. By "Y" and "T" frames or axles I don't know exactly what you're refering to. No axle can have anything more than what it takes to transfer power to a wheel. All trucks have full frames. I've installed literally hundreds of lift kits (mostly on trucks) in the last 20 years and I'd be more than happy to answer your question. Just need to know a little bit more of what you're talking about

[XJ Wheeler]

Are you asking if it would be possible to convert an xj from straight axle to independent suspension?

If so, it would be incredibly difficult with minimal advantages on road and several disadvantages off road. No where near feasible or a good idea. Although, some Prerunner and Icelandic vehicles have made independent suspension quite awesome but again not feasible.

Would be interesting to see though.

[4.3LXJ]

Is he talking about long arms? Is this view from the side or front or rear?

[Firemanray]

I think he's refering to independent front suspension ( up side down y ) and straight axle front end. If so i'd rather have "straight". IFS requires to much work to lift and you don't gain much clearance.

[KH96XJ]

Is the the Y your talking about? https://catalog.foothilloffroad.com/images/coilsuspension.gif

[bigjim350]

Im sure he is talking about IFS, cause a 3 or 4 link doesnt gain ground clearance. and the only upside to ifs is on road. and its not really feasable to do it on our jeeps. plus i can only imagine the amount of bashing that you would endure if you pulled it off.

[XJ4IV]

Id put whats left of my paycheck he is referring to IFS
like this guys IFS
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRM-dl57eSiNpY6uoU5cV2D67ZYMgN-Q7rJWjMeY3CsHcww7kldjw
where as our XJ has the upside down T
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSdPOUrzKhnb2UkjtqNh9M7iHj7AC4wY a4sTWDuyqrOlM9QfvL2
very noob question yes but please dont feel bad we ALL started somewhere... my first big mistake was when I was a kid my heater core hose blew so I tried to DRIVE it to a junkyard to get a replacement thinking that a parts place wouldnt have the shaped one I need lol...
anyhow back to your question the advantage of ground clearance is yes but only in the center however in order to GAIN that kind of clearance your looking at abouy 20k$ to do this on a jeep and have it give you awesome function where as for about 1/4 that you can do an incredible lift on your solid axle and be good to go!
if your curious about how the Jeeps do in baja style races just do a google search on jeep speed its amazing that these guys pull this off!

[Jungleboxx]

Id put whats left of my paycheck he is referring to IFS
like this guys IFS
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRM-dl57eSiNpY6uoU5cV2D67ZYMgN-Q7rJWjMeY3CsHcww7kldjw
where as our XJ has the upside down T
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSdPOUrzKhnb2UkjtqNh9M7iHj7AC4wY a4sTWDuyqrOlM9QfvL2
very noob question yes but please dont feel bad we ALL started somewhere... my first big mistake was when I was a kid my heater core hose blew so I tried to DRIVE it to a junkyard to get a replacement thinking that a parts place wouldnt have the shaped one I need lol...
anyhow back to your question the advantage of ground clearance is yes but only in the center however in order to GAIN that kind of clearance your looking at abouy 20k$ to do this on a jeep and have it give you awesome function where as for about 1/4 that you can do an incredible lift on your solid axle and be good to go!
if your curious about how the Jeeps do in baja style races just do a google search on jeep speed its amazing that these guys pull this off!



You would have doubled your leftovers, this is what I was talking about. I couldn't figure any other way to describe it haha. Thanks for clearing that up. That looks like a pretty extreme version of the ones I've seen on local lifted DD, but this is exactly what I was speaking of.

[4.3LXJ]

Those are called pre runners. Those in the pic are very expensive rigs made for racing. They are in a class called trophy trucks. They are two wheel drive trucks with somewhere in the neighborhood of 21" of suspension travel and run about 500 hp. Nothing we have here is even close to those.

[Mudderoy]

This can be moved to the correct area if I'm in the wrong place, it can also be deleted if someone posts a link to what I'm looking for.

I haven't searched this yet because I'm not sure what it would be caleld or if it's even possible on the jeep.

Anyways on a lot of lifted trucks and on some other SUVs I see what looks to be an axel like an upside down Y. It seems like it would be great for ground clearance and gives a really aggressive look, however on all the jeep lifts they have the straight upside down T axel. Is this "Y" axel something that can be done to the jeep and if so what are the advantages and disadvantages about it.

My uneducated theory would be this along with a lift kit would give maximum clearance instead of leaving the straight axel and normal height and just lifting the body.

I may have no idea what I'm talking about either......it happens every once in a while :spongebob:

Thanks

My understanding is that the IFS is inherently weaker than a solid axle. IFS is what is being used mostly now because of ride improvements. It does ride smoother. This is a great set up if you want to go fast off road. Generally speaking Jeeps go anywhere off road just not fast.

Solid axle would be my choice over IFS any day.

[bluedragon436]

http://www.motionoffroad.com/myspace/bajamj.jpg

This is my favorite setup MJ!! If I were building a Jeepspeed or Baja rig, would do something like this!! But talk about hell of expensive..

[XJMJeep]

Poor MJ! :cry:
I've never been a fan of the pre runner look but to do the 97+ conversion too? :stars:

[XJ Wheeler]

Prerunners don't hold a candle to what these guys are doing with independent suspension.
http://www.gocms.com/

Just watch this video and you'll see what i mean.
502 V8 Wrangler - YouTube

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/xj-wheeler/jkfront.jpg

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/xj-wheeler/td_tire_upsized.jpg

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/xj-wheeler/powdered_kit4sized.jpg

[07Negative]

What cool things one can do with money.

[bigjim350]

Thats a cool concept in an open feild when you have time to adjust things. But in real world crawling the adjustment is too slow and you'll end up rolling your 200k rig.....no thanks

[cantab27]

be good at the mall..... , that thing wouldn't last long on a real trail......

wound up torsion bars on IFS pigs, big shoes ,body lift = nap time

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr52/cantab27/Image0068.jpg

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr52/cantab27/Image0063.jpg

[LizardRunner]

Yep straight axle is better and way way cheeper. If your going to get into jeep speed and wanted the IFS you would be running the 3700 class only. The 1700 class requires you keep the factory suspenison setup. 1700 also prevents you from using coil over suspension.

[4.3LXJ]

Now just to throw another monkey wrench into this, IFS is what the H1s run


http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/Cool%20Stuff/777px-Humvee_in_difficult_terrain.jpg

[bluedragon436]

This is very true.. I'd take that IFS setup w/ the H1 over any other IFS setup... Those things are tanks... then gain the whole thing blows to work on... LOL..

[4.3LXJ]

This is very true.. I'd take that IFS setup w/ the H1 over any other IFS setup... Those things are tanks... then gain the whole thing blows to work on... LOL..

Think of it as job security James. It's like how many servicemen does it take to change a light bulb thing :rolleye0012:

[bluedragon436]

Depends on the location of said light bulb... if in the middle of the chow hall, probably two a few hours... in the middle of the General's bathroom, probably 15 and about 5 minutes.. LOL

[mw14c]

Thing about prerunners is 2WD! No matter how good the suspension or how fast it goes over "bumps" it will NOT get you into the places that even a stock XJ will (4x4 XJ that is). If you're into racing then IFS is really the way to go. You can get the same amount of ground clearance out of a solid axle as you can an IFS (independant front suspension) at a fraction of the cost and still have an even stronger unit. Maybe not as much suspension travel. No brainer when you're in the middle of nowhere (out of cell phone range LOL). The pictures on the previous post are AWESOME but just look at how many moving parts a.k.a. things that can-and will- go wrong when you least need it. Just my 2 cents.

[XJ Wheeler]

There are 4wd prerunners too. But yeah, straight axle is far stronger.

[TeXJ]

Cambell's old IFS rig, even the "Iron Man" tried an IFS for rockcrawling...then went away from it.
http://image.4wheeloffroad.com/f/9011974/131_0306_walk01_z.jpg

his newest buggy:
http://www.marlincrawler.com/trips/2009_KOH/IMG_0830.JPG

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1032881

Shannon Cambell and others, google it, have IFS and IRS rigs at KOH's. Now for the wheeling we do, IFS has too many drawbacks. A straight front axle, upside down "T", is easier to lift, and you can keep your tires on the ground/rocks.

not sure if this will show, you can see the lack of flex on an IFS rig.

http://yotatech.com/gallery/data/500/medium/100_1313.JPG