Axle/suspension upgrade early FSJ

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Stuka
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Re: Axle/suspension upgrade early FSJ

Post by Stuka »

Those spring mounts look like they should work great.
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Phils67
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Re: Axle/suspension upgrade early FSJ

Post by Phils67 »

Stuka wrote: Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:13 am Those spring mounts look like they should work great.
Are you talking about the front or rear ones? The front should be perfect. I'm still unsure on the rear one.
1967 Gladiator J2000, 1998 4.0L OBD2, T18, D20 twin sticks, D44HD/D60, Detroit lockers, 3.73s, 4wheel disc brake, FSSR, Dakota digital, etc.

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Re: Axle/suspension upgrade early FSJ

Post by rocklaurence »

Man, it looks like its all coming together great! Your going to make it easy on the next guy that does this...
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Re: Axle/suspension upgrade early FSJ

Post by Phils67 »

Thanks. Hopefully it will make it less stressful for the next guy. I've spent years contemplating, planning and stressing this setup. Just waiting on your brackets now and the front springs can start going in. Front u- bolts are supposed to arrive tomorrow or Wed I believe. Tracking says sometime today the FSSR brackets will be here.. Unfortunately I'm working graveyard M-Th so for now its time to take a power nap. If they show up today I will start probably tomorrow. If I'm up to it
1967 Gladiator J2000, 1998 4.0L OBD2, T18, D20 twin sticks, D44HD/D60, Detroit lockers, 3.73s, 4wheel disc brake, FSSR, Dakota digital, etc.
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Re: Axle/suspension upgrade early FSJ

Post by Stuka »

Yeah, I was referencing the front.

The thing to check on the rear is how far out from the frame it sits. GM's had really narrow frames in back.

But as long as thats fine, it should work ok. Cut that one corner off that interferes, and weld it up.
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Re: Axle/suspension upgrade early FSJ

Post by Phils67 »

Currently I have the drop down "J" style GM shackle brackets on the rear and they line up so these are the fronts that usually are found with those on a GM truck.they should be ok. I have to see the height the front sits before I go cutting anything. I may actually need it to sit that low to level things. Not sure just yet. If the springs pitch a little the most I'll do is order castor shims kick the rear pinion upward some. Once everything is all said and done and I know for a fact everything works and rides properly I will put a full parts list up for those interested in doing this.
1967 Gladiator J2000, 1998 4.0L OBD2, T18, D20 twin sticks, D44HD/D60, Detroit lockers, 3.73s, 4wheel disc brake, FSSR, Dakota digital, etc.

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Re: Axle/suspension upgrade early FSJ

Post by 230ohc »

Thanks for that. I've been looking into underboarding my rear springs as well.
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Re: Axle/suspension upgrade early FSJ

Post by Phils67 »

If you are going for the rear under-frame also then I'd say use the CJ mounts at both ends.
1967 Gladiator J2000, 1998 4.0L OBD2, T18, D20 twin sticks, D44HD/D60, Detroit lockers, 3.73s, 4wheel disc brake, FSSR, Dakota digital, etc.
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Re: Axle/suspension upgrade early FSJ

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The FSSR kit came from rocklaurence. That's the extent of today's updates. Due to the coronavirus panic my workload last night was insane so I have no intentions of touching this project today. Temps dropped also so maybe by the weekend unless I get ambitious. Stay tuned. At this point I'm just resting my body and hoping tonight isnt as crazy
1967 Gladiator J2000, 1998 4.0L OBD2, T18, D20 twin sticks, D44HD/D60, Detroit lockers, 3.73s, 4wheel disc brake, FSSR, Dakota digital, etc.
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Re: Axle/suspension upgrade early FSJ

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So removed my front bumper and started installing the FSSR mounts. I dont think they work with my truck. The axle looks like it is going to sit way too far forward and this just isn't looking like it is going to work for me. Believe me I have tried. I'm sure it's a great kit on later model FSJs, dont get me wrong, I am not bashing the product. The brackets are nicely built. They won't work for what I need though it seems. I tried flipping the springs around to see if that would help but the bushings on the main eye are too wide for the shackle which makes the other side too narrow for the FSSR bracket. It also feels like it is going to raise the truck way more than I want which defeats the purpose of bringing it back to around stock height. Maybe I am jumping the gun. Idk. I'll bolt the axle to the springs and give it one last attempt before I order 2 more CJ7 brackets this week. I'll have to grind some of the plate I welded on to reinforce the steering area for the one bolt to work but it's not going to affect anything. I would just be standard shackle to the front if I go that route. At this point I feel like I am pissing money into the wind on this truck but it is what it is. HOPEFULLY everything will line up correctly after that. The battle continues...ImageImageImageImageImageImage

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1967 Gladiator J2000, 1998 4.0L OBD2, T18, D20 twin sticks, D44HD/D60, Detroit lockers, 3.73s, 4wheel disc brake, FSSR, Dakota digital, etc.

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Re: Axle/suspension upgrade early FSJ

Post by rocklaurence »

Yes, bolt the axle on and let the weight settle. It should put the axle close the the center of the wheel well.. Dont permanently mount the rear shackle until you have the weight on it to ensure that the shackle doesnt over extend.
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Re: Axle/suspension upgrade early FSJ

Post by Stuka »

Yeah, tough to know without the weight of the vehicle on it.

Tack the rear hangers in place, put in the axle and have the axle on jack stands if you don't have tires ready. It looks like the axle is going to be rotated too much to the back (pinion pointed down). This will get better once the weight is on the vehicle, but would be good to check.
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Re: Axle/suspension upgrade early FSJ

Post by Phils67 »

Unfortunately my welder is no more and I haven't replaced it yet. So tacking anything isnt an option. That's why its critical I get this right. I dont want to drill anymore holes in my frame than I have to
1967 Gladiator J2000, 1998 4.0L OBD2, T18, D20 twin sticks, D44HD/D60, Detroit lockers, 3.73s, 4wheel disc brake, FSSR, Dakota digital, etc.
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Re: Axle/suspension upgrade early FSJ

Post by Phils67 »

I'll attempt it again later or tomorrow with the FSSR and see where things settle. I am still waiting on the u-bolts for the front. As soon as they show up I'll give it another shot. Is it normal for the FSSR kit to sit that far outside of the frame rail? The holes under the frame will have to be redrilled because the kit places them on the edge of the frame rail. Would I be better off centering the FSSR brackets under the frame rail and redrilling all 4 holes? Exactly how far apart should the brackets be inside to inside edge? It's like a 32" spring center right?
1967 Gladiator J2000, 1998 4.0L OBD2, T18, D20 twin sticks, D44HD/D60, Detroit lockers, 3.73s, 4wheel disc brake, FSSR, Dakota digital, etc.

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Re: Axle/suspension upgrade early FSJ

Post by SJTD »

I don't know nuhfink about that kit but I wouldn't mount the fronts like that. I assume you've got them so the springs are parallel and that's why they're hanging off the edge like that?
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Re: Axle/suspension upgrade early FSJ

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Phils67 wrote: Wed Mar 18, 2020 9:05 am I'll attempt it again later or tomorrow with the FSSR and see where things settle. I am still waiting on the u-bolts for the front. As soon as they show up I'll give it another shot. Is it normal for the FSSR kit to sit that far outside of the frame rail? The holes under the frame will have to be redrilled because the kit places them on the edge of the frame rail. Would I be better off centering the FSSR brackets under the frame rail and redrilling all 4 holes? Exactly how far apart should the brackets be inside to inside edge? It's like a 32" spring center right?
The front FSSR mounts are backwards. Left and right is flipped. Thats why they are hanging out like that. The factory mounts are directly under the frame, not hanging out like those are.
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Re: Axle/suspension upgrade early FSJ

Post by Phils67 »

In the pics I've seen of this kit that's how they looked. I'll flip them once the axle is bolted to the springs and try again. Doing springs now. I'll measure the spring center and go from there
1967 Gladiator J2000, 1998 4.0L OBD2, T18, D20 twin sticks, D44HD/D60, Detroit lockers, 3.73s, 4wheel disc brake, FSSR, Dakota digital, etc.
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Re: Axle/suspension upgrade early FSJ

Post by Stuka »

Grabbed a few shots off my J10 for reference for you. The front mounts do hang off a little to the outside, so maybe your setup is correct?

Also just noticed how bad those bushings are in the shackles :P Oh, and this being an '81 has the frame horns, so it looks like they are not at the front of the frame, but they are event with the cross member.

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Re: Axle/suspension upgrade early FSJ

Post by Phils67 »

Thanks for the pics. Ok so I think to make this work I have to cut my superduperawesome steering box bracing a little to clear these brackets. It puts the front tabs about 1.5" in from the edge of the outside of the frame rails. My poor compressor is crying right now. All I have are air cutoff wheels, out of grinder wheels, out of torch gas, etc. I'll be slicing this thing until about july. Once its cut though I can get these fronts hopefully mounted and setup the rear brackets and shackles after that. ImageImage

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1967 Gladiator J2000, 1998 4.0L OBD2, T18, D20 twin sticks, D44HD/D60, Detroit lockers, 3.73s, 4wheel disc brake, FSSR, Dakota digital, etc.
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Re: Axle/suspension upgrade early FSJ

Post by Phils67 »

Actually never mind. I flipped the brackets yet again and they look closer this way. Less cutting. Yay!Image

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1967 Gladiator J2000, 1998 4.0L OBD2, T18, D20 twin sticks, D44HD/D60, Detroit lockers, 3.73s, 4wheel disc brake, FSSR, Dakota digital, etc.
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