yeah I liked the methods but hey, function is good!

I also would love a bigger tire. but if you ever ride this kit hard, 35s actually do some pretty good damage to the inner wells and the blower motor/heater box. That might have also been because of my previous backspace wheels and a bit too much neg. camber. And like you said after 35's you are really lighting the fuse on the front axle shafts etc.

 

I installed a 1in body lift to help with hitting the heater box and avoid the inner wheel well. the previous set up cleared well with room to spare, need to pull the coil and cycle the suspension to verify. I am bumped at ~13.5" of travel too to help.

I go through my fair share of CVs as is but thats why I carry extras. hoping less weight will help with front end part longevity. time will tell.

 

you have extra axles? I probably should find some too. someone out there making some? I've been a little out of the loop lately.

 

ya I have 5 cvs now, one pair of original DBR then a pair of VDF axles and 1 new driver side from VDF after I brole
my last outer joint.

Vegas desert fab has started marking them again.



Got the other side bracket built tonight, a lot faster to build when you have the other bracket to use as a pattern!




Paint is drying now

Next will be bolting everything up and then cutting off the old shock brackets. Then it will be time for gears and locker install.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

right on. do they seem as equal quality? I know my original DBR ones have gone through hell and never broke. I'll have to grab a couple at least, little sketchy running without spares. Although I try and not use 4x4 as much as I can.

 

They are better quality fit and finish then my DBR axles, but I have some very early DBRs.

I have to have 4x4 for how I use my truck, other wise I end up winching my way out of trails with is slow going.

Most of the time the axles just start to wear and pop in 4low so I know when they need to be replaced or rebuilt, only ever had one of the long travel CVs ever fail completely and even that just snapped the cage on the outer CV.

 

The weak CV's are why I really don't want to go with long travel

 

They have held up better then all the stock axles I have run but like any drive line if you push hard enough something will fail. CVs are cheap and easy to replace to I'm happy to have that as my weak link.

 

yeah I'd say for a none race application you would be fine. its really going to take some decent horsepower and not using your head while wheeln to break them. plus I only use 2wd when I'm really beating on it. And when in 4x4, just be mindful of what surface you're on and turning while on the pedal.

 

That's good then. I see what you're saying, no matter what something is going to break so it might as well be something that's easy to deal with.

On a side note, how are you liking the km2's?

 

the KM2s are good so far, they are a touch louder on the street then my MTRs were. decent grip on the road for a mud tire.

they ride a little better but thats primarily due to the fact they are C load range and my MTRs were E.

I have done a few gravel roads but need to get them out on a trail run to really tell how they work. I expect they will be comparable to my MTRs

 

big update since I am slower at updating this thread.

started my rear axle swap, compressor install and shock re build for the rear

Got the tool box, spare tire carrier and gate off so I can pull the bed for the axle swap.



Always fun to drive it like this with out the extra 500lbs

Also added a 7pin harness, only use a 7 on occasion but it's hard to go from flat for 2 7 pin easily.



Cutting a 2" hole in 1/4" plate is always fun.

Pulled the bed off today lots to do, my current shock limit about 6 in of travel so that needs to be fixed. Then on board air and obviously get the axle in.







cut out the spare tire carrier and started the tank mounts









Got lots of drilling and fitting done, reinforced the frame rails with 3/16 plate, filled in all the old holes and drilled all my spacer blocks. Next will be lots of welding to get the cross member in.







getting closer







Got the pinion angle set, old spring perches cut off, diff cleaned and sealed up. Oh And a bunch more measuring





completed the onboard air system and plumbing/wiring. Added some gussets and closed out tubes. Also welded up limit strap mounts too my spring pads.



Here's where one of my air chucks will be.



Dropped the bed back on and tacked my shock mounts in place. Still need to move them around a touch to make sure I have all the tire clearance I need.









Bed back off and replicated the shock mount on the other side. Just tacked in place till I tear down the springs and cycle for full compression. Good thing is I have a lot of adjustability in the towers.


didn't burn the truck down welding next too gas tank which is great.











All the mounts are welded to the axle! Not much left too do now





Letting paint dry now then I can start bolting it all back together.


Built the switch side wiring for my compressor and locker. Replacing my small locker switch in the dash with a larger one that is back light.

Plan to install a 3 gang holder with 2 blanks for now but have them pre wired.( the aux switch and off-road lights are just for mock up)

Then for the rear locker I ran a relay and secondary pressure switch for the air locker. The main compressor pressure switch is a 85 on 150 off, the secondary one is a 90on 110off which feeds into a relay and triggers 12v when the pressure switch is off. (above 110psi)

This will be used to light up the "rear locker" text on the switch to tell me when the compressor has reached high enough pressure for the locker (needs 85psi or higher and the light will come on at 110
Psi and off at below 90 psi.





Just need to install and make the connections in the cab now

still lots to do but drove the truck around in the carport with no issue so its getting closer.

 

Nice work man! Is the old rear axle for sale?

 

thanks! The old axle was for sale but sold over the weekend, going into a YJ

 

This is a nice site after a few weeks! Less parts littered across my yard and more on the truck.

Built the bumper brackets and did a major beef up job. They have been bandaided the last year or so and I always worried how weak they were. Upped the bolts to 9/16" from 1/2" too.

Now I have no worries about it! Oh and I moved it up 1" to compensate for the body lift.




Test drive! Beside a minor brake issue things are good. Need to get out on the trails to test the suspension. It laughed at everything I could find so far











have about 100miles on the truck so far and working well.

 

Went out testing this weekend, to say I am very pleased is an understatement.



























Great view of rainier coming back over the narrows bridge.



Lana passed out on the drive home

 

Truck looks good on the trails! Tahuya?

 

you got it, they have done some nice work to the trails and more is opening up sat.

 

Nice. I need to get over there sometime and try it out

 

its a fun set of trails and they just opened up a new section yesterday! need to go back and check it out.

 

Kings are on! So excited to see how these work out. They make the 5125 bilsteins look wimpy





Also found a dust cover for my air fitting!

 

Took the maiden voyage with the trailer last night, the break controller works great and the truck pulled well. Not the fastest thing in the world but it got there and back in a timely manner near the speed limit the whole time.

 

While at the rally I participated in the trophy challenge. There were 2 events, a reversing challenge that took a Z bend through some sizable whoops. Next challenge was a short circuit you had to finish in 90 seconds or less with a full cup of water taped to the hood.

I went for speed on the short course and had a great time but lost a good portion of the water.

Here's video crossing the finish line of the water cup race,


The reversing challenge though my plan paid off. Here's the video of that.


I won this part of the event with a 9 second run with no penalties for hitting the tape, Another guy did it clean in his Comanche with matching trailer which was epic! he got a 2 min bonus .

it was a very fun weekend and I am already planning to be back for next year.

I think the rear suspension worked very well!

 

While at the rally I participated in the trophy challenge. There were 2 events, a reversing challenge that took a Z bend through some sizable whoops. Next challenge was a short circuit you had to finish in 90 seconds or less with a full cup of water taped to the hood.

I went for speed on the short course and had a great time but lost a good portion of the water.

Here's video crossing the finish line of the water cup race,


The reversing challenge though my plan paid off. Here's the video of that.


I won this part of the event with a 9 second run with no penalties for hitting the tape, Another guy did it clean in his Comanche with matching trailer which was epic! he got a 2 min bonus .

it was a very fun weekend and I am already planning to be back for next year.

I think the rear suspension worked very well![/QUOTE]

Spent the weekend out at the northwest overland rally. 4 days of camping, scenic mountain drives, good food and great people

Home for the week



The view of the field



Fun on the trails







We had to turn around after 25ish miles of dirt because of this



Both rigs back home after a great weekend

 

Looks like a heck of a lot of fun