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5 link front end??

Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 6:22 pm
by gusteve
Ive got a gu patrol ute with 6 inch lift, thinking of fitting a 5 link front end to chase more out of my front diff in way of flex... any body have any pros or cons againts this conversion?? cheers

Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 6:52 pm
by nastytroll
they flex great, they are horrible on road, bolt on kits hang down n get caught, weld on kits suffer axle wrap type torquing.

I would go with drop radius arms for clearence and drivability, superior hi flex arms if you want more flex.

Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 6:59 pm
by gusteve
so in other words try looking at something else. thanks..

Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 7:44 pm
by nastytroll

Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 8:52 pm
by udm
coming from someone that has a 5linked 80series, i suggest you get an xlink... the amount of work that a 5link requires is intense, in the other hand an xlink is a straight fit.

Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 9:28 pm
by stool
A well set up 5 link is better on road than a caster plate set up with 6" of lift
{ie} no bump steer

Ive had both on a 6" lifted GQ and the only down side is extra body roll which is not that bad with front and rear gay bars on.

Mine is a mannell bolt on kit and it dose not hang down any more than a drop box set up .

If I had my time again I would use snake or 3rds drop arms
but their was no such thing when I was on the market .

Most people that are anti 5link have never driven one . :?:

Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 9:47 pm
by udm
stool wrote:A well set up 5 link is better on road than a caster plate set up with 6" of lift
{ie} no bump steer

Most people that are anti 5link have never driven one . :?:
well said, my 5linked 80 is never going back to radius arms setup :D :D ... but, you will never be able to convince anti5link people, i have learnt not to argue with them :twisted:

Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 10:01 pm
by nastytroll
Wizard supplied mannel with the 5 link, I had on of them, and they do hang down lowwer then a drop box under the diff where the lowwer arm mounts to the cheek plates under the drag link.

The down fall of a X link is it can not be unbolted n replaced with standard arms easily, so I would not recomend one of these ( in a daily)if you cannot get it engineered.

If your goin to run front n rear sway bars why fit a 5 link, its a waste of time. My front drive shaft travelled 80mm lowwer then the sway bar even with it disconnected.

I had a Wizard 5 link, a few mates have Calbar 5 links n all have bad body roll on road even with limit straps, they are good offroad in certain conditions.

Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 7:07 am
by stool
Swaybar quick disconnects is what most use on road.

Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 9:32 am
by Suspension Stuff
My ZJ Jeep comes standard with a 5 link and it drives better then any GQ or Cruiser but it has a very stiff sway bar with short links. This must be the secret.

If I had a Patrol I would be going the Superior Super Flex option. Bolt in and go, handles well on and off road. Easy to pull out if you have to.

Shane
Suspension Stuff

Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 10:29 am
by nastytroll
tj wranglers would have to be the worst 4wd I have driven for tram lining unless under power, I've driven from stock to 4.5" lifted with rubicon gear.
Currie anti rock bars do help but the Wranglers still wander all over the place. I dont know if the zj is different but I doubt it.
The shorter arms do help, the longer the arm the more dramatic the the bush flex becomes.

Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 11:33 am
by Suspension Stuff
I don't know if the longer wheel base makes any difference? ZJ/ZG has a 105" wheel base and the TJ has a 94" wheel base.
The arms would be set up a bit differently because the ZJ doesn't have a chassis.

I had new bushes in my Jeep since I bought it and I suspect this has a lot to do with it.

I haven't driven a TJ so I can't comment there.

The problem you had with the 4.5" lift may be because it needed more toe-in. This link explains it better then I could. The Jeeps have the V-Link except the rods attach in front of the wheels so lifting the Jeep pulls the wheels in at the front causing the rail roading.
http://www.offroaders.com/tech/Steering-Systems.htm

Shane
Suspension Stuff

Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 6:55 pm
by nastytroll
wheel base could have something to do with it as even the stock tj's did it.