Flipping front Ubolts (musings)

[jasonthomasfrance]

Was looking at the front Ubolts after the BDS install... The Ubolts and nuts hang pretty far down on the front axle.

I'd like to flip them. Looked through the Tech section, searched for a little while, came back with these thoughts for a D44 with the diff on the passenger side...

The shock mounts are already on the axle housing, so I don't have to worry abou that. The trac/anti-sway(?) bar mounts to a plate on the bottom of the axle, but that could be moved up without a problem. Square ubolts shouldn't be a pain either.

But about a plate for the top. On the passenger side the ubolt kind of rests in a groove on the differential housing... So the plate would have to take that little ridge into account.

http://63.249.153.111/images/fsj-ubolt-4-sm.jpg

Info:
http://www.ifsja.org/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=2&t=003903
-and-
[url]http://www.jeeptech.com/susp/ubolt.html[url]

More pictures on my homepage...

[ October 08, 2001: Message edited by: dippythelovebug ]

[Millerluck]

This is just my 2 cents.

Hack them boys flush with the nuts. :D

Later

Larry Miller

[Bob Barry]

One of the drawbacks of a spring lift is that the thicker leaf-packs actually lower the u-bolt plates, reducing your ground-clearance if you don't up the tire size.

I agree with the effectiveness of cutting off the excess bolt-threads, which will gain you back most of your clearance. The setup you describe would only gain you a half-inch, maybe, over the trimmed-threads approach. The latest JP magazine has an early CJ with a clever U-bolt plate setup that locates the U-bolt nuts next to the spring-pack.

[jasonthomasfrance]

So why did jeep do a SOA in the rear and an SUA in the front?? Now if I do a SOA to the front to raise the ubolts... I have to add more to the back, right?

Already 4 or more inches of lift, and I'm talking about going higher... Can't wait to put the body lift on. :D

[scotty]

thats what i did.just trimmed them suckers off after i got em on. ive never ha a prollem,but then our trails are for the most part hardpack dirt and/or mud.not alot of big jagged rocks to grab hold of em.

i believe that kenall is using some sort of set up that uses grade 8 bolts instead of u bolts with his springover,you might check his websight.

big is cool,but the higher you go the more prollem you have with steering and driveshaft angles. just ask mark or riverbeast smile.gif

also,here is another one of my famous formulas: more height=fall over faster :D we get into some really twisty,goofy,off camber spots so i fit my tires with a sazall and body lift to keep the center of gravity low. ;)

[jasonthomasfrance]

My goal is 33x12.50 with room to articulate. And since I'm not too sure about cutting it myself, I may take it to a body shop and see how much they would charge...

Height and Falling... I know what you mean there... Sometimes I'm amazed at the things I think. I just put the huge 4" lift on... And then I think, "If I did an SOA in the front I'd clear the Ubolts nicely, and then a block in the back..." :mad: Arrghh! Four is enough! :D

I'm just afraid to cut metal. But I suppose I'd better get used to it, since I'll be putting in a sunroof in the next couple months.

Oh man! Looked at your truck in the Wild section... :D That's pretty neat, but I take that it's not a daily driver? I was thinking of taking the top off my rolled XJ, but I wussed out and just sold it to my friend...

[scotty]

no,definately not a daily driver. i used to have to drive it to the trails,which are bout 70 miles away,but now i have a towing vehicle,so ive been pulling it there with a towbar. i havent even bothered to put my windshield back in smile.gif the sawzall method is not for every one. it can be done more tastefully(was in a hurry when i did mine),and also i paid a mere $150 for mine for the sole purpose of making a woods-only beater.well,actually,it was supposed to be parts for solid axle amc eagle,but that changed fairly quickly ;)

the rear sagged,i added a 3" block,the front has sagged like a hot rod for awhile now. my goal is to lift the front another 3" so it sits level and replace the rear spring and block with some kind of lift spring and thats as high as mine will ever go. 3"susp lift,3" body lift."modified" fenders. smile.gif hopefully the snail mail delivers my pics safleyto dr barry,and some updated driveline pics,winch pcs,and rollcage pics will be up soon...

[Bob Barry]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by scotty:
hopefully the snail mail delivers my pics safleyto dr barry,and some updated driveline pics,winch pcs,and rollcage pics will be up soon...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

They did indeed arrive safely this weekend, Scotty, but I've been too busy with family and Cherokee stuff (cut a few more inches up front, and getting set to do the bumpers as soon as I stock up on cutoff wheels... smile.gif ) to scan them. I'll do them tonight or tomorrow, then get them into a decent page.

Lots of great detail shots of the PTO winch, rollcage, etc. The only picture you left out was a clear shot of the whole truck itself! :(

[scotty]

doh! i knew i forgot something smile.gif actually,i was lookin at the pics yesterday and realized that i also hadnt really included any good shots of the nerf bars or how they attach,or how the cage attaches to the frame. there is a good rear nerf bar attachment shot in one of the rear disc pics.

i really hate the way it looks in pictures with the saggy front end,so as soon as i install my tuff country chevy front springs(as soon as i can afford to buy em smile.gif ) and it sits level,ill take a few more and send em your way.hopefully within the next month or so.

take your time on the scanning-i know the feeling,been pretty busy myself.i did get some rancho 4" front chevy springs installed(for research purposes),but thats about it.

i still need to remove my rear axle and grind off the perches so i can properly fix my pinion angle,and of course i need to rebuild my battery box,alittle higher this time,since the tire got alittle too cozy with it. of course i havent had time to any of this between work and little jeeps.this past week and weekend ive spent 90% of my spare time disassembling 2 xj cherokees for parts.(parts trucks are great,cept for having to take them apart ;) )i think i now have everyting i need to put my little xj together,plus a cool reese hitch and procomp lift. last thing on the want list for the little jeep is a set of 31" thornbirds(hes for the street). need to get the big jeep done so i can get hoppin on that stuff. sometime i wonder if it will ever end :D but in reality i really dont know what id do with myself in the unlikely event that every project that ive started actually gets fiished!

[ October 09, 2001: Message edited by: scotty ]

[porchpiggy]

Curry makes some cool spring plates that have a "skid plate" that hangs down below the nuts. You access the nuts by holes in the plate, it won't increase the clearance, but it does leave a smooth surface to protect the u-bolt nuts. Also when you cut the bolts, most manuals/instructions I've seen suggest leaving 2 or 3 threads showing. :cool: