Ultimate Taco: Part Dos

The upper rear link will attach to the rear attachment point of the rock sliders, just behind the cab of the truck.

Meanwhile, the lowers will be longer and attach under the cab and on the lower side of the slider supports.

The two upper links and Panhard bar will all be made out of 1 1/2-inch 7076 aluminum bar stock drilled and tapped for 3/4-inch QA1 rod ends for the final version, and the lowers will be 1 3/4x0.250-inch-wall DOM tubing with 7/8-inch QA1 rod ends.

On the axle end the fab crew runs the lower link to a point just below the axletubes centerline, while the upper links attach to these suspension towers. These towers will also support the rear bumpstops. It is important to keep the upper and lower axle mounts of the links spread apart to deal with the twisting loads of the axle under power.

With the rear suspension mocked up we assembled the semifloat 35-spline Dana 60. The custom shafts are made by Dynatrac.

The Ford Explorer-style disc brakes have an internal parking-brake drum.

At first we thought we wanted an external rollcage to protect ourselves from headbanging in case of a severe rollover, but upon discussion with Bonney, we agreed to move the cage inside. With the cage inside it will be a stronger design, plus the idea of protecting the body was kind of silly the more we thought about it.

To protect the cab during welding, we had the walls covered with cardboard. The cage is built of 1 1/2x0.125-inch-wall DOM tubing.

Eventually, the rear bed cage/shock mounts will tie into the internal cage, so we began by cutting two holes in the cab with a hole saw.