The reasons that a factory spring configuration are preferential.

#1 the axletube itself does not become a point of potential hangup on things. The leafs protect it somewhat, and help the axle to slide over things.

#2 you are committed to using a high steer setup when you go SOA which is expensive. If not you are leaving your steering out in the open to get beaten up.

#3 Time spent on grinding down the differential housing, and coming up with some way to mount the springs above it going to be a pain.

#4 you are not going to be able to turn sharply at ALL, and are going to have to install some sort of stops to keep your tires from hitting your leafs when you turn. With factory placed springs, 35s will rub the leafs at full lock. You are going to have springs even further out than this. Even with spacers (which I am not totally against in themselves) it's not going to solve that problem all together, and going to look awfully funny.

#5 your COG difference is going to be negligible with either setup... AND SLIGHTLY higher with a SOA due to the steering. (not enough to matter)

#6 From the outset you have been talking about cheap, and this is not aligned with that goal. The single BEST thing about the wagoneer axle is that you can install it in Montero/Raider so close to it's factory configuration.

It's certainly not impossible, but there is MUCH to not like about it. The biggest thing I would be concerned with is turning radius, and having to run 4 inch wheel spacers. If nothing else, please measure, and consider that. It would be easy to mock up and see whats what.

Good luck with it. I hope it turns out good.. It has a ton of potential whatever way you go at it!
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

#1 I agree that the leafs under do somehow protect the housing. They only protect the axle tube, though. The pumpking is still unprotected. IMHO the u bolts are a hang up point if left stock. Id have to deal with making some sort of small skid (which ive seen) for each underspring side.


#2 Machining my flat top knuckle was 20 bucks at my local machine shop. Live in Mexico. Buying the high steer arms is the most expensive part about high steer ( $80 on ebay). In Stock steering tie rod location, it is only protected where its directly under the springs leaving about 75% of it to be beaten by rocks, and leave the steering linkage with funny looking and undesirable ( to me ) geometry.


#3 Grinding the housing down is no big deal in my opinion at all. That day i had no time so i paid someone 10 bucks to leave the axle tubes smooth.... Yes, 10 us dollars.


#4 My spring perches willl be 1 and 1/8 of an inch further out on each side than stock location. Doing the math, im sure the 2 inch wheel spacer will easily take care of it. IF i had to limit the steering redius limit for some reason (which i doubt) there is already factory adjustable limiters on the dana 44 that you and i have.


#5 I meant that since im going SOA, my center of gravity will be lower if i outboard the springs vs leaving them under the frame.


#6 I dont think ive spent much on the build at all. I meant i wanted to stay cheap, not cheapest possible. There are some things that im whilling to pay for. BTW Mexico is cheap.

I still have a long way to go. I hope as well it works the way i want it to. Dont get me wrong, i dig your raider a lot. I just want to change a few things to my preferrence and desires on my build.

Thanks for looking out for the possible mistakes in my build, i really do appreciate it. Like my dad always said, " you are stubborn and want to do things your way even if someone with experience on the subject tells you not to". I just think there is always more than one way to do things and unfortunately only usually my failure will convince me. I like to experiment. Im still just in the process of mocking stuff up and things will change if i encounter a mistake that has no way around it. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Slow progress but just wanted to share some pics. This build was not fully planned but more of a "think as you go" kind of deal. I ended up not needing to move the axle forward. Got some high steer arms on ebay for cheap, still waiting on those. My pinion angle forced me to cut and turn the "C's" on the housing for proper caster angle. Not much to write ill just throw the pics in here. Feel free to comment or share thoughts and ideas.

Slow progress but im liking it so far. I still have to remove the 2 inch body lift to sit a little lower.

Man I cant wait! I have the axle so im half way there already!!Quick question, are you running the stock caster angle for this set up? I found out how to adjust camber with shims so im good there.

Check these out..

https://www.ingallseng.com/26126-6-bolt-knuckle-camber-shim.html

Im not running stock caster angle. After seti g up my pinion angle and welding the perches i found out i had like 1 degree positive caster. I ended up cuting and turning the inner C's to adjust my caster to 6 degrees. That took a lot of banging with a big hammer.

My camber is off a little, im already planning on using those shims as well.

Found this, pretty good info for sure <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />
http://77cj.littlekeylime.com/flatop_knucles.html

Yep, good info for sure. I had stumbled across that before and gave it a good scan. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Just a picture update. Pictures say more than words.

Score! you're going to like that motor in that truck, when we took PA_JERO's 2 door out after the 3.5 DOHC swap it just makes you laugh when you stomp on the gas. It's silly fast, we passed a sports car going up a steep grade up in the mountains and the look on that guy's face when we blasted past him was priceless. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />