1. This is no bolt-on kit,...
1. This is no bolt-on kit, but for its complex nature it is not as difficult to install as some suspension systems. We had to remove every bracket from our axles due to the location of the custom short-arm suspension. Our CJ also has a custom-built frame 1/2 inch narrower than a stock TJ frame; we had to cut and narrow every frame bracket in the Tera kit and then weld them on.
As any project build goes, plans and parts change as quickly as minds do, as newer technology is always rolling down the turnpike! Our scratch-built Scrambler started a number of years ago when 35-inch tires were considered big and custom short-arm suspensions were hot. Suspension technology has definitely evolved since then, and 40-inch tires are now as common as 31s were back in the early '80s.
Since we'll be running 37- to 42-inch tires on our CJ-8, we needed a suspension that would offer better performance and more articulation than a standard short-arm system. Once a link-style Jeep suspension lift goes over 4 inches and 37-inch or taller tires are used, a long-arm suspension is a better choice for off-road performance. When properly designed, the lesser angle of the long-arm suspension provides a smoother ride, improved handling, better transfer of power to the ground, and less bumpsteer. The suspension can also greatly increase articulation and wheel travel, so the CJ will be more stable on the trail and highway. Increased wheel travel and articulation also mean more tire contact with the ground and better traction.
We've been working with Mel Wade at Off-Road Evolution in Fullerton, California, on our CJ-8. While we still have a long way to go before the rig is complete, it's getting close. We picked up a really trick Tera Flex Pro-LCG long-arm kit for a TJ. Since we are modifying it for the CJ-8, we headed to ORE and started cutting, grinding, and welding with the expert help of Mel and his crew. In a future issue, we'll talk about standard shocks versus coilovers, and we'll set the Scrambler up with an outboard coilover conversion in the rear, and a fresh set of coilovers up front.
2. The Tera Flex Pro-LCG long-arm...
2. The Tera Flex Pro-LCG long-arm suspension is built for extreme use. Since our CJ-8 has an extended wheelbase similar to the TJ Unlimited, we ordered a TJ kit from Tera Flex. The kit is built around four-link rear suspension (triangulated in the rear) and 1 3/4-inch DOM control arms, and includes everything needed for installation on an Unlimited or custom application like our CJ.
3. We used these new Evo lower...
3. We used these new Evo lower control arm brackets; they are weld-on and worked well for connecting the lower control arms to the axle. The flat surface works great for attaching a magnetic angle finder to make sure both brackets are welded on at the same angle. It's important that the geometry of the long-arm suspension is perfect, otherwise it will bind and not articulate properly.
4. We'll add some additional...
4. We'll add some additional gussets to the control arm mounting points at the axle cradle later. We bolted the control arms in place to make sure the suspension geometry was proper. The triangulated four-link improves how the suspension works in all kinds of driving conditions and controls the axle without restricting articulation. The lower arms keep the pinion at a constant angle and reduce axlewrap. The upper two control arms keep the axle centered so a track/Panhard bar isn't needed.
5. The Tera LCG kit will also...
5. The Tera LCG kit will also help the suspension cycle with far less binding than a short arm suspension. Suspension articulation and the natural arc of its travel will only be limited by the length of the shock (its travel) or limiting strap-not the limited length of a short arm.
6. Another benefit of the...
6. Another benefit of the rear Tera long-arms is that they are the length of the rear driveshaft, which will follow the same arc of travel. This will reduce driveshaft plunge and be much easier on the shafts U-joints. The only real drawbacks to installing a long-arm suspension like this are the cost and the technical challenge.