Rangie in 4WD Monthly

[A*D*A*M]

Hey All,

There is a Rangie in the latest edition of Australian 4WD Monthly. Marc (the guy who owns it) has done away with the A-frame on the rear and put in a 3-link same as on the front Axle. Any ideas on why you'd go to all the bother? I'm thinking an A-frame would locate your diff better and allow more articulation. Seems like a lot of effort to go to for a less flexy set-up.

Marc also had a 100" wheel-base Defender on a Rangie chassis featured several months ago in 4WD Monthly that had the same suspension set up.

I'm just curious, Any ideas?

Adam.

[Slunnie]

Balance would be better, even if there is less articulation??? This is the setup the Disco2 uses.

[Philip A]

Funny, the same time Disco 11 changed to 3 link, Jeep changed the Grand Cherokee to centre pivot , from 3 link!!!!
Disco 11 has more articulation than Disco 1/ Rangie. just look at the shock length and lower mounts. So maybe the ball joint gets to the limit of its angularity. Although its probably more to do with NVH. Or maybe that they got a cheap lot of old Grand Cherokee axles.
Regard s Philip A

[walker]

I would have said the RRC has a lot better articulation than the D2. I have both and we tested them out on a cross axel hump and while the Disco lifted wheels the Rangie kept them on the ground.

I can't see any reason for changing except as for what Slunnie said, balance or stability. Since I think it says it was built mostly for long distance touring it may stop some of the typical rangie roll.

[A*D*A*M]

The 100 inch defender he's build for comps and as I said, he's put the 3 link on it too. Didn't say in the article, but maybe high speed type comps so you'd want stability there I guess.

Adam.

[cloughy]

I would have said the RRC has a lot better articulation than the D2. I have both and we tested them out on a cross axel hump and while the Disco lifted wheels the Rangie kept them on the ground.

I can't see any reason for changing except as for what Slunnie said, balance or stability. Since I think it says it was built mostly for long distance touring it may stop some of the typical rangie roll.

Take sway bars out of the D2 if you haven's already, you gain about 10" more flex overall

[Slunnie]

The ACE option does the same.

[disco95]

So the ACE fitted vehicles have that much more articulation than the coil jobs

[Slunnie]

I don't know what the measurements are between the two, but ACE will disconnect the sway bars effectively when doing heavy offroading by relaxing the hydraulic ram that links the swaybar. There is a fair bit of difference though.