lifted 4-link

[woodwright]

Anybody running a 4-link style suspension with coils or coilovers? I'm not crazy about leafsprings, and I was contemplating building a setup like a Kelderman Airride. I think I can build it for about the same price as a 6" lift.

[onlyifihadachevy]

Not yet, but i do not think You could build one for the price of a kit. The heim joints are about 39-50 each and you would need 16 for front and rear. so 800 already, the steel I'm guessing about 2 sticks of steel for about 200. so your at 1000 then the price of bags or coil/ coilovers, running for about another 1000. So thats about 2000 before steering and everything esle, and a kit is about 800-1200, not installed.

But, if your do it make a thread.

[tallhoedude]

im building a 4 link front with ford f350 superduty coils.
i am also only using tractor joints instead of heims.
building a subframe,drop cradle and 4 link bars,have $200 in springs,$100 in rod ends for 4link and panhard,$550 in steel(2"x2"s1/4" wall is $6.00 per foot,2.5"o.d 1/4" wall dom is $15.00 per foot,plus some misc plate and tube pieces)my steering,hoses,brake lines ,shocks,were already done before i started the 4 link.

in my case it was cheaper to do this way vs. $1200 for the set of front leaf springs i was gonna use.plus the benefits of having a 4link truck vs. a mega arch leaf spring truck.

theres a few people on here building 4 links now,big head has a really sweet setup to look at,nvrsatisfied is also building a nice 4 link and coil springs setup.

[onlyifihadachevy]

I got a question about the tractor joints, tall. Whats the average cost of 1, and how to they compare to heims?

[tallhoedude]

like i said i got all mine(10 of em)for right about $100.thru an ag supply place off of ebay.look around you can find em from $10 to $30.they come in cat1,cat2,and cat3 sizes from small to large.mine are cat1's.
i have seen tons of em on big ass trucks,yes they do break easier than heims once worn out,but as long as you keep and eye on em.
i have a friend runnin em on his bronco,5 ton rockwell axles and 66x43x25 tires.beats the hell outta em.
another friend with a 700hp duramax pullin truck uses em for his rear trac bars and never broken one.
but theres just as many people who will tell you they arent good to use.or they fail too easy.
all i know is what ive seen with my own eyes on personal friends vehicles,so thats what im usin.

[nvrsatisfied]

i am running the similiar coil springs like TALL is. the springs are a 9" lift for a dodge diesel (www.rockymountainsuspension.com). springs were about $240 a pair. my DOM tubing is a little over 2" round and a little thicker than 1/8" i got it in 21' sticks@ $38.85 a stick. i am using this tube for my sub frame and 4 link. i have roughly used 8 sticks of pipe for everything should not need any more, and have had menimal scrap. How good you are with bender, and fitting them is the key, take your time. now my heim joints i went stupid big on they are 1 1/4" shaft, chromoly 4160 and all 16 of them to my door cost $600. you could use the ones like TALL has there are guys around here that run them and it is basically like he said "pay attention". i also bought a strip that is 10' long 4" wide 3/8" thick around $15 this is to make all my taps for the four link and some gussets. then i got 4' of 5"x3" 3/8" square tubing for the cup brackets @$60 total.

it all adds up quick but there is no way i could "buy" a set up for what i'm (we) are doing. a little elbow grease and time saves dollars, not everything has to have a big company name on it to make it good.........take your time and reasearch......this is the first big 4x4 i have built and so far it is turning out good enough for me

[tallhoedude]

Originally Posted by nvrsatisfied

i am running the similiar coil springs like TALL is. the springs are a 9" lift for a dodge diesel (www.rockymountainsuspension.com). springs were about $240 a piece. my DOM tubing is a little over 2" round and a little thicker than 1/8" i got it in 21' sticks@ $38.85 a stick. i am using this tube for my sub frame and 4 link. i have roughly used 8 sticks of pipe for everything should not need any more, and have had menimal scrap. How good you are with bender, and fitting them is the key, take your time. now my heim joints i went stupid big on they are 1 1/4" shaft, chromoly 4160 and all 16 of them to my door cost $600. you could use the ones like TALL has there are guys around here that run them and it is basically like he said "pay attention". i also bought a strip that is 10' long 4" wide 3/8" thick around $15 this is to make all my taps for the four link and some gussets. then i got 4' of 5"x3" 3/8" square tubing for the cup brackets @$60 total.

it all adds up quick but there is no way i could "buy" a set up for what i'm (we) are doing. a little elbow grease and time saves dollars, not everything has to have a big company name on it to make it good.........take your time and reasearch......this is the first big 4x4 i have built and so far it is turning out good enough for me

yep,well stated!
were your coils really over $200 each! or each pair?
mine were $200 brand new for the pair.

[nvrsatisfied]

my bad they were $200 for a pair. and the overall length of them were 28" tall

[6772owner]

So Im curious to know if anyone is experimenting with a 4-link lift on Airbags?? I have one picture of our boby style on bags (lifted) but it was stupid high and over the top. I am thinking more like a basic 4"-8" adjustable system (think Kelderman) Any input from the experts?

[onlyifihadachevy]

I'm guessing the bags you have seen, the peterbuilt 24 travel, will not work because they are long so stupid tall is neded. You maybe able to run 6-7 in slam bags so it would be sit lower.

[woodwright]

Originally Posted by 6772owner

So Im curious to know if anyone is experimenting with a 4-link lift on Airbags?? I have one picture of our boby style on bags (lifted) but it was stupid high and over the top. I am thinking more like a basic 4"-8" adjustable system (think Kelderman) Any input from the experts?

Thats kindof the way I was leaning too.

[Thealien]

Subscribed

[woodwright]

Anybody got any pictures?

[nvrsatisfied]

i am by no means a pro but i have lowered/bagged a few of my previous vehicles and there is not much difference either way it replaces the coil spring, the math suspension needs to be setup at ride height so nothing binds when driving. I had looked into bagging mine i have enough extra parts to 90% bag another vehicle. The only two things that kept me in question was 1.)Cost comparison and effectiveness 2.) Always having enough air on hand/supplies/$$$ for replacement. 3.) My driving style that i plan on doing.

There are few rides out there that run these setups but not as many in competitive or ruff driving world. i am sure that they may hold (but my luck) having to go threw a hill/hole and my bag pop and my body comes down on a tractor tire might make me cringe a little. many of the bags i looked into, collapse at a height of 10" tall with built in bump stops (very nice) and raise to heights of 15"+. all you would have to do is build like everyone else does; perches up high off the axle and or some kind of bracket or sub chassis to come down to make up for the difference needing in the raise. You then set up the suspension at your ride height, do your math and you have your four link. also keep in mind on how the truck is moving up and down so you don't pull a driveline out and or make sure if a bag blows and the suspension goes relax you don't shove a driveline threw anything. You could always do coil springs for now get it on the road and save up for bags and throw them in later. so knowing how high you want to go and how low you can go is the key. you can always move the bags back up into the four link making it a cantilever setup meaning it gives you more lift rather then being right above the axle.

what also kept me from bagging for now was $$/and time, i bought two springs that were 28" tall for $240, bags almost run that a piece, coilovers i would have to move and change my name cause my wife would kill me at a $1000 a corner. Kilderman makes a nice kit. One of the guys i work with brought a newer dodge up here with it done. He told me the price and i about shat myself. My problem is i look at things in a simple way, i just can't spend big money were "i might be able to make it".

Enough blah blahing, i can share with you and the rest of my stash of home work.......

here is the setup that the guy brought to work.....

[nvrsatisfied]

more....

[nvrsatisfied]

air bag info: http://www.stengelbros.com/Air_spring.asp

here are some pics from this build, need more info go here: http://www.katkustoms.com/projects/Dominator

[6772owner]

Well that looks pretty good to me, I wasnt really going to use the vehicle for anything but street driving and maybe the occasional trail. I was curious more for the ride quality and height adjustability of the bags'

[nvrsatisfied]

the truck drove as great responded fine. you gotta think the more air you put inot the bags the stiffer the ride the less air the softer the suspension becomes, it is easy to find the happy medium when setting them up. we drove with the bags almost fully down, then air them all the way up to drive height. the truck had about 8" of play with the air. if you look into the website i posted they give you the heights collaspe and raised of the bags. the very few i have seen are guys useing the triple convulted bags or a medium sized sleeve bag for what you would like to do.

either way i like the bag idea i think it is cool, if/when you get started on the project do a good build up and post it up.

[6772owner]

Ok thanks for all the input, it would probably not be feasible for me for a few years, but Im trying to make sure which direction I want to go and start collecting the required parts.