Crawlercreations 60-9 front axle and $$$$$$ build

[crawlercreations]

How long are your links and can you send me a picture of the frame mount? Looks very tucked up in there!!

I'll get you that info once I get a little more done.

[crawlercreations]

Productive weekend! Still going today. Might be driving it tomorrow! Gotta get a new front driveshaft but that is easy.

Currently about an inch high. Counting on coil settle to bring it to the right height.

20180218_181405.jpg

20180218_141802.jpg

Still have about 6" more droop but didn't want to lift it any higher for safety.

20180218_150509.jpg

Gonna be cutting the front a little more but not too bad considering they're 40s.

20180218_150447.jpg

Clearances are really tight. I had to sacrifice the hydro bumps for the right link placement. I've got shaft mounted bumps on their way. Cut the cross member off a bit for clearance even.

20180218_100821.jpg

[Justin]

Looks awesome! Bummer about the hydro bumps. Mine make the giant speed bumps in my neighborhood disappear, but I suspect your numbers are way better what I can get on radius arms.

[Dirtheadz]

Like it!!!

[landshark]

If you end up not wanting the fox bumps and cans iam interested

[crawlercreations]

If you end up not wanting the fox bumps and cans iam interested

They're going on the rear when I build the fabricated housing, 35 spline 9" and rework the rear suspension while stretching it.

[landshark]

If you end up not wanting the fox bumps and cans iam interested

They're going on the rear when I build the fabricated housing, 35 spline 9" and rework the rear suspension while stretching it.

Cool

[crawlercreations]

How long are your links and can you send me a picture of the frame mount? Looks very tucked up in there!!

I'll get you that info once I get a little more done.

Lower links are 37" eye to eye. Upper is 23" eye to eye. That put all my calculator numbers right where I wanted them and minimized my caster/ pinion angle change through cycle. Track bar is only 31". I would've liked longer but it wasn't happening.

Lower link frame mount.

20180220_103725.jpg

Upper frame mount.

20180220_103741.jpg

20180220_103820.jpg

20180220_103837.jpg

Axle track bar and upper mount.

20180220_103810.jpg

[Jesus_man]

Thanks! At first, it looked like your lower link mounts were internal of the frame. But I see now it was the upper link.

I am sure it'll work out wonderfully!!

[Strike2]

Looks awesome!
Once you stretch the rear wont the U/L links length change? Or is the 37” 23” you target length.

[crawlercreations]

Looks awesome!
Once you stretch the rear wont the U/L links length change? Or is the 37” 23” you target length.

?

This is the front link lengths. They won't be touched when I stretch the rear.

[Strike2]

Ok that make more sense I thought the rear U/L we kindof short, but that number fall right in line with my front upper link.

[crawlercreations]

I drove it today! Was waiting on limit straps, bump stops and grade 9 bolts. It all came in last night or this morning so I installed it all. It feels very soft and different to drive. I need different springs to get my ride height where I want it with preload. It flexes really well! The limit straps are perfect and allow just the right amount of travel. I've got an inch of coilover shaft still in the body at full limit and the driveshaft has about 1.5" left of droop before it would bind. I'm pretty ecstatic! I might be looking to do a snow bashing trip in it as soon as I get comfortable driving it on the street.

I'm still about .5" high on the suspension but it's close. Total lift is sitting just under 6" here on 40s. Once I get the right springs it'll be right about 5.5" of lift. 5" of coilover shaft at ride height.

20180224_151842.jpg

20180224_151857.jpg

42" under that back tire with a little more to go.

20180224_152938.jpg

20180224_152945.jpg

20180224_152931.jpg

Even at this height I still fit in a normal garage with about 2" to spare!

[Strike2]

That is awesome!! Congrats on getting it on the road that is one bad ass flexing Bronco .

[ZOSO]

That looks awesome.

[Kinder]

It looks great, and you accomplished it in record time. If you go snow wheeling in a 33” tire friendly spot I’d like to get Willem’s bronco out on the trail and give his new setup a thrashing.

[crawlercreations]

It looks great, and you accomplished it in record time. If you go snow wheeling in a 33” tire friendly spot I’d like to get Willem’s bronco out on the trail and give his new setup a thrashing.

I'll keep you updated. I'll be driving it all week to get used to it and see how the weather is going to be. I'm thinking Yankee Hill outside of Central city or the road we've gone on before off of fall river road heading up to Chinn's lake. Not sure about 33 friendly but it usually gets better with something bigger leading the way. Me on 40s followed by my uncle on 37s should pave the way for some 33s. Maybe even get someone else to join in on 35s?

[Kinder]

Cool, he’s running lockers front & rear w/ a winch.

[ZOSO]

It looks great, and you accomplished it in record time. If you go snow wheeling in a 33” tire friendly spot I’d like to get Willem’s bronco out on the trail and give his new setup a thrashing.

I'll keep you updated. I'll be driving it all week to get used to it and see how the weather is going to be. I'm thinking Yankee Hill outside of Central city or the road we've gone on before off of fall river road heading up to Chinn's lake. Not sure about 33 friendly but it usually gets better with something bigger leading the way. Me on 40s followed by my uncle on 37s should pave the way for some 33s. Maybe even get someone else to join in on 35s?

Hmm a rig on 35's you say? I'm interested. I'd like to go play in the snow. If it's as soon as next weekend I am busy. but the following im in.

[Jesus_man]

That turned out amazing!! You have built an awesome rig!! How high is that wheel off the ground? Looks to be pretty near 40"!

I hope to get on the trail with you someday to watch this thing in action!

[crawlercreations]

That turned out amazing!! You have built an awesome rig!! How high is that wheel off the ground? Looks to be pretty near 40"!

I hope to get on the trail with you someday to watch this thing in action!

The rear in that pitcure is 42" to the bottom. There was still a little more in it but it was dragging the other rear tire sideways so when I lowered it it would have been up against my lift so I stopped before it got too bad. It impressed me even!

[crawlercreations]

My coilover springs are much closer now. Still not exactly what I'm after but close. One more change and I think I'll have what I'm after. At least now I have a little preload on them and they're the right length. The front end is lighter than I expected!

Total lift on 40" tires is just under 5". Pretty good in my opinion!

20180304_133224.jpg

20180304_133233.jpg

20180304_133243.jpg

[Jesus_man]

Looks amazing!! A great achievement when you're running nearly a full body!

[crawlercreations]

Looks amazing!! A great achievement when you're running nearly a full body!

Thanks!

The narrow axles make packaging difficult. The front axle is 4" wider than stock(It's around 63" WMS to WMS) but all of that additional width is from the Cs out since the dana 60 stuff is so much bigger. That makes the housing the same width as the stock dana 44. Killed my hydro bump mounting but, honestly, I am highly impressed with the shaft bumps. They feel quite progressive and unnoticeable really. I haven't used them much but I have gone the speed limit over bumps and the front end soaks them up like they aren't there. Makes the coils and shocks in the rear feel really stiff. I hope the shaft bumps don't add a lot of stress to the shocks themselves. I have installed grade 9 bolts in every single position so bolt strength should not be an issue.

[Strike2]

What type of shaft bumps did you go with and can you post a picture?

[crawlercreations]

What type of shaft bumps did you go with and can you post a picture?

They're Eibach shaft bumps sold by poly performance. Rated at 909 in.lbs. or something like that.

20180224_114731.jpg

20180228_102356.jpg

[Strike2]

Thanks for the picture, I may have to consider that route if I run out of axle room.

[crawlercreations]

Figured I'd update this. I haven't done much else on the bronco yet but I've been collecting parts again. Still waiting on a couple important pieces to arrive. I've ordered and received 40 spline rear axle shafts and spool, Yukon load bolted 3rd for the rear, wilwood master cylinder, wilwood proportioning valve, line lock, corbeau seats, corbeau harnesses, different hood pins, and 16" Ori struts. I'm waiting on my new atlas transfer case, rci rock crawler fuel cell, and my 14" Ori struts to come in. As soon as I have those I'll install the 14" Oris up front, install the atlas, and stretch and install the new fabricated rear axle. I'm really hoping I never break again! The 40 spline axles are big.

The atlas should be here this week or next. I ordered it almost 5 weeks ago. A couple local guys waited exactly 6 weeks for their's, recently. The 14" Oris are just waiting on a guy that's full of excuses to ship. Hopefully he gets them out Monday, as promised. The fuel cell should ship out soon, I hope. I've got another fuel cell I can use in the meantime.

I've also got a new (really old actually) hood that Keith is narrowing and painting for me. Fiberglass with the scoop.

I did extend the passenger wheel well to prepare for the stretch. Gotta do the driver's side still but I'll wait on that until I receive the right fuel cell.

20180312_145118.jpg

16" Oris

20180426_131817.jpg

Hood pins

20180405_133900.jpg

Wilwood master

20180404_145537.jpg

Corbeau seats

20180408_111149.jpg

40 spline shafts (side by side with 35 spline!)

20180428_170657.jpg

Next to 31 spline

20180428_170919.jpg

[ZOSO]

Damn. I thought 31 next to 28 was . Them some big axles.

[Jesus_man]

Amazing stuff!! Can't wait to see it in it's stretched glory!