The alignment spacers or pucks can be adjusted in 1/4 increments all the way up to 1, which is a massive increase in caster. Control arm pivots, stock spindles, and steering rack bushings see far greater loads on them with long travel suspension, simply due to the increased leverage of having a much wider track width. If youre looking to strengthen your suspension, increase caster the right way, maintain alignment specs, and gain more tire clearance from the firewall this is one of the best upgrades you can buy. Adventure Further: The 5000-Mile Road Trip of a Lifetime, Long-Travel Ford Bronco: The Ultimate Fun-Haver, Yes, I would like to receive emails from Nitto Tire and Driving Line. These parts are engineered and designed around metals most of us have never heard of. What components does it consist of, and how does it benefit you over a stock suspension kit. 
4130 is an alloy steel that contains high amounts of chromium and is often referred to as Chromoly. The stock spindles are prone to snapping and/or bending if pushed hard enough off-road, especially when running larger tires. If youre only going to run a single coilover, you want compression/rebound adjusters and preferably remote reservoirs. This kit turns any bronco into a Long Travel pre-runner. Start by removing the UCA through-bolt, reinstalling the bolt with the double shear tabs, and finally, weld everything together. DAKAR race proven IFS long travel system. The beauty of mid travel suspension is in its simplicity, and too often overlooked. Reach out, we will respond as quickly as we can. It can mean the difference between goin 10 miles per hour over two-foot whoops and skipping over the tops of them at 50+ miles per hour. A link to set a new password will be sent to your email address. JD Fab will rebuild your outer joints for you, or you can rebuild the outer joints yourself as we did. We are running the Fox 2.0 hydro bumps for our setup. The 934 CV upgrade will give you massive confidence on the trail. Well, youve heard the term Chromoly, right? The Bronco Pre-runner Package transforms the 80-96 Ford Bronco into the ultimate off-road rig. How aggressively do you want to drive? In this article, were diving deep into the world of off-road suspension performance to answer these questions, and give you the information you need to make an informed decision when it comes time to order your new kit.
Recognizing that every individual's motoring journey is unique, we seek to give form to both untold as well as celebrated facets of the automotive world. It is sought after for its toughness and for being used as steel that can withstand high stress under pressure and heat. Over the last 8 years, I have run well over 10 suspension systems, most of which have come from YM. For starters, most long travel suspension kits increase the vehicles track width by several inches. 
Basically, the 934 Joint paired with a 300M axle is incredibly strong. On the other hand, a long travel suspension system including coilovers will likely run you into the $5,000 or more range, for many of todays popular truck and SUV applications. Browse through our resource center for install guides and common questions. Once the main gusset is welded to the spindle/steering arm, an internal rib runs the entire length of the spindle and is welded on for added stiffness. Copyright 2022 Trail Tacoma Trail Made Co. | Published in Northern California |. JD Fabrication is short for the two guys who run the show; Jesse Nelson and Dave Dinsmore. Everyone wants to run something a little different, and everyone has different requirements. As weve established already, long travel suspension will undoubtedly outperform mid travel in rough terrain such as fast desert trails and situations where more articulation is required. This reduces the CV angle in all ranges, leading to less axle bind and fewer broken cv parts such as your boots and Birfield. Each cradle is made from 1.5 .188 tubing and features welded-on laser-cut 1/4 lower control arm mounting tabs and front reinforcement gussets. Long travel has actually hindered trucks on tighter trails, and led to body damage from the wider fenders. If youre looking for the highest-quality metals, over-engineered designs, and mind-blowing attention to detail you will find it at JD Fabrication. The kit also includes weld-on remote reservoir tabs, shock mounting hardware, and then finally shock hoop gussets for added strength. A modest mid-travel suspension system will set you back between $1,800 to $2,500 for most modern platforms. And depending on the components, some can attain as much as 18 inches of travel, all while retaining four wheel drive. Brenan Greene is the founder of Trail4R.com.
Sure itll make obstacles a bit more difficult to climb over, and youll need to be mindful of ground clearance, but the ride itself does not change if you opt to lift it and increase the tire size. Each side of the IFS has its own cradle. To semi-correct that caster, we install UCAs with a built-in corrected caster. For this kit, JD recommends using a 650lb spring rate for most applications; however, if your truck has a steel bumper, skids, and a winch, then the 700lb rate is more ideal as less preload will be required to achieve the desired ride height. The company is located in Escondido, CA, specializing in various off-road fabrication services. Whats really impressive is how the outer portion of the arm is designed. Aftermarket suspension manufacturers are offering mid and long travel kits for many popular IFS vehicles, such as the Toyota Tacoma, 4Runner, Tundra, Ford F-150, Ranger, and Raptor, and Chevy Colorado and Silverado platforms. Considering long travel? I have been shopping for my lift kits on YM for almost a decade now. These questions will help you determine if mid travel is enough for your needs, or if you really want to get the absolute most from your IFS trucks suspension. So no matter which suspension system you decide on, its a wise investment to get your shocks tuned and make the most of the travel its making. The upgraded lower control arm 5/8 bolts (2nd Gen Tacoma bushings must be replaced with 3rd Gen bushings) and laser-cut alignment cams make this kit stand out. We have a full complete review coming soon on swapping in a 200 series Land Cruiser rack with an RC Fabrication clevis kit. Even after correcting the caster with new UCAs, and depending on the tire size, your tires may collide with the cab mounts. One of the hottest buzzwords thrown around in the off-road suspension world is travel. Another issue with the Tacoma is the weak cam tabs.
If youve been researching ways to get better suspension performance from your truck or 4x4 equipped with independent front suspension (IFS), you may have come across the terms mid travel and long travel along the way. Mid travel really doesnt require any other supporting modifications to work correctly.
It is also much shorter than the factory tripod joint, allowing for a longer 300M axle length. TC cam tabs are easy to install, but the MC LCA brace kit is time-consuming. This is a revolutionary mod as it solves many common tire clearance and alignment issues. In addition to their LT offering, JD also provides a nice spindle gusset kit. The 934 joints are so massive they require a small notch in the frame to fit. Contact us if you have any build questions. But whats the difference between these kits, and more importantly, which do you need for your rig? But one thing is certain. Lets use an example of a 3rd generation Toyota Tacoma. Yes, I would like to receive communications including news, special offers. To start, JD Fabrication offers a double shear steering kit that adds dual 3/16 and 1/8 plate gussets to your steering knuckles coupled with outer rod ends (pictured above). Solo Motorsports Long Travel Kit allows you to achieve 14 of fully-functional 2/4WD wheel travel for your 1996-2004 Toyota Tacoma and 1996-2002 Toyota 4Runner. They provide a 1/2 machined aluminum spacer that allows the shock to be positioned forward or back, deepening on the shock size so that the upper control arm will clear as the suspension cycles. Like some kits on the market, this is a two-piece spindle gusset kit. The lower control arm pivot mount tabs are 1 wider than the factory and contain custom alignment cams with machined brackets and 5/8 Grade 8 bolts. For example, if youre running a factory steering rack with a factory tie rod, you dont need any other parts you just thread your factory tie rod onto the 3/4 Heim joint. Its best to consult before buying the wrong shocks preset with incorrect valving. Its laser cut out of a 1/8 plate and bent for a perfect fit. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. IFS, or independent front suspension, refers to any front suspension design that allows each wheel to move in its travel path independently of the others. They are stamped out of thin metal and are prone to bending when the truck is used off-road. 
The JD Fab UCAs are made from DOM tube; 1.5 X .120 wall. JD does send filler plates for the notch. This lower arm pivot kit can be used with factory suspension geometry and JD Fabrications 2.25 and 4.5 long travel kits. Whats 300M? The more travel in the suspension, the more time your shocks have to dampen or react to the terrain, thus transferring less of that harshness to you and your passengers, giving you a smoother, more controlled ride. So theres a good chance youll need to have a custom, wider bumper fabricated to match the new width of your vehicle. Lastly, consider the cost of installation if you dont plan on doing it yourself. JD Fabrication provides laser cut and bent 3/16 plates, and for a universal fit, they provide oval-shaped holes for the through-bolt. JD Fabrication offers a weld-on hydraulic bump stop kit design for 2.0 hydraulic bump stops.
The kit is designed to work with a secondary shock up to 3 in diameter. For this tire rubbing issue, drivers cut off and relocate the cab mounts, and others simply chop off a portion of the cab mount and weld on a cover plate. By pushing the lower control arms forward 1, JD could fully clear a 33 tire without cutting off the factory mounts and firewall/pinch seam. A good shock tuner will consider your driving style as one of the most important indicators of how to tune your vehicle. Were are familiar with how chintzy the factory spindles are on the Tacoma. But well dive into why bigger travel numbers dont always equate to a better ride in the dirt later on. Thats the laser-cut 1/4 lower arm tabs that are welded to 1.5 .188 tubing. Off-road vehicle modifications are very often cost-driven decisions, and suspension systems are no exception. The cradles are welded onto the frame then bolted together with a joining front crossbar. Browse through our frequently asked questions for immediate help. The alignment cams provide top holes so that you can match drill your tabs and set your alignment in place, thus eliminating the ability to knock the truck out of alignment.