Well, my best friend Rawlings (Carolina Zuk) invited myself and my family down to to Morrehead City to enjoy a relaxing weekend. He said he had a small project for his zuk that he though I might be able to help with while we were there. So when I get there we head out to the garage and when I walk in the door I see this!

Those bungee cords will never do



Here is the ticket! Upper Links are 37 1/2 long and lowers are 39 1/2 long



We got up on saturday and got straight to work. We had a LOT to get done.





This is the bracket we made for the front lower links



Here it is tacked in place for mockup



Next was the rear lower tabs



Wow, who is that welding anyways?



Front lower mount welded in place



Lower link welded (we added another gusset to the other side later on)



Lower links mockedup. There was a lot more triangulation than we expected but thatb is a GOOD thing





Next up, the upper link mounts. These are what we made





pics of both front brackets in place





NOw to the rear uppers. We were short a tab so we had to make one. Only difference is the one we made is 1/4 thick

Rear upper tacked for mockup





Now for the test!! How did it turn out?







Next we cycled the links.They work sweet!! The pinion only changes 2 degrees throughout the range of motion. Almost perfect!!



This pic shows 26 inches to the bottom of the rotor



Full compression. Pinion is the same as when at ride height



Well, the rear bumper has to go but that's ok. The departure angle is 90 degrees now



And now with springs





Well, there you have it!! a 4-link in a day. We worked our tails off. Every muscle in my body ached when I woke up today but it was worth it! There is still a good bit of work to be done to finish it up. Rawlings needs to fab up some way to capture the springs to the plates as wel as mount up some shocks. We were able to figure that part out but ran out of time. Rawlings really did his homework before deciding on his link lengths. They were perfect. Best part of the deal was that I got to spend a whole day with my best friend AND fab all day! Who could ask for more? I can't wait to see this thing on the trail at the Zu!!! It will be sweet!!

Looks GREAT!

What springs are those? It looks like it'l be very flexy with them inboarded like that.

They are stock TJ springs.

Lookin Sweet NC   I cant wait tell i can wheel in your area but when i do i will bring the Kick im tryn to do the same thing but to a 4DR! Lookin good!

for a second I thought you cut up popsicle!
but looks good!

for a second I thought you cut up popsicle!
but looks good!

I'm actually giving a lot of thought to doing this same setup on my rig and stretching it just a bit. Maybe later in the year when it's broken after Moab

that looks very cool!  

Art, do you have any pics of the spring perches?  is it just a flat plate with a tab to capture the spring?

stu

Nice looking welds there Mr. Lilley.

Hats off man, Thats one of the nicest home brew 4 links Ive seen. The welds are tremendous too.   Are you gonna be hooking up with the zukiworld crew at all in Moab? I dont remember you posting anything about it.


Mike

that looks very cool!  

Art, do you have any pics of the spring perches?  is it just a flat plate with a tab to capture the spring?

stu

The spring capturing design is yet to be determined. We have an idea, just gotta try it out. I'm sure there will be pics when it is done.

Hats off man, Thats one of the nicest home brew 4 links Ive seen. The welds are tremendous too.   Are you gonna be hooking up with the zukiworld crew at all in Moab? I dont remember you posting anything about it.


Mike

Thanks for the kind words. Ya make me blush

Man, I wish we could make it to EJS but it is too soon. We are organizing a Moab trip in June that will last 12 days It's called the "Zuwharrie Road Show: Zu West!" There are around 15 rigs committed so far from all over the us. YOu can read about the trip here

http://bbs.zuwharrie.com/content/topic,13634.0.html

We are organizing a Moab trip in June that will last 12 days It's called the "Zuwharrie Road Show: Zu West!" There are around 15 rigs committed so far from all over the us. YOu can read about the trip here

http://bbs.zuwharrie.com/content/topic,13634.0.html

Hey Art,  if you guys even wana do "Zu East" give me a ring, i'm in

stu

Thanks for the kind words. Ya make me blush

Man, I wish we could make it to EJS but it is too soon. We are organizing a Moab trip in June that will last 12 days It's called the "Zuwharrie Road Show: Zu West!" There are around 15 rigs committed so far from all over the us. YOu can read about the trip here

http://bbs.zuwharrie.com/content/topic,13634.0.html

:(I was kinda hoping we could hook up in Moab.

Mike