4 Wheel Drive/SUVs/mechanical

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Expert: - 11/8/2004


Question
sir,
   I am an engg: student frm india i am in final year.i would like to do a proj. on new suspension for a 4 wheel drive vechile can you give me a few tips about this

Answer
Shinoj,

Great, in fact, I worked in California for the Department of Transportation as an Engineer for 19 years.  

As far as a project goes, what you do, depends on which vehicle you purchase, and what type of 4-wheeling you plan on doing.  The easiest ones to modify, are Jeep Wranglers, and CJ's, Suzuki Samurais, and older straight axle Toyota pickups.  The reason for this, is that there are so many after market products for these vehicles, and they are quite easy to work on.

If you give me a better idea of your plans, and what you expect out of the vehicle, I can be of more help.  Let me know what type of vehicle you want to work on, and if you want to make it into a hard core rig that can do extreme trails, or do you want something that will be sufficient on a more standard, or easier trail.

Carl  

4 Wheel Drive/SUVs

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Carl Brandt

Expertise

Will discuss suspensions, lifts, lockers along with tire suggestions. Trail ratings and possible requirements needed for specific type of trails. Safety equipment and what you should carry with you. Certified off-road instructor. I am not a mechanic, and 4-Wheeling is a hobby, so if I can't answer a technical question it is due to my mechanical knowledge being related to vehicles that I have owned, or have worked on. I do not have manuals on all vehicles.

Experience

40 plus years of 4 wheeling in a variety of vehicles. At the present time, my major off-road rig is a 94 Jeep Wrangler with a spring over and a 1 1/2" suspension lift. This gives me a total lift of 7" or so. I have lockers front and rear. I have removed the track bars, and sway bar for maximum articulation. I am running a stock 2.5 ltr 4 cylinder with a Jacobs ignition along with a cold air high flow filter. It has 4.56:1 gears with a Dodge NV4500 transmission along with a 3.8:1 Atlas II transfer case. This gives me a final ratio of 105:1 in low gear/low range. Other vehicles I own, are a 96 Ford F-250 with a 6" lift, posi rear end, 36" Hummer tires, 5 speed with a fuel injected 460 ci engine, an 87 Samurai with an 8" lift, Ford 9" rear end with a spool, Chevy Dana 44 front end with an electric locker, 5.88 gears, 16% reduction in high range and a 6.5:1 low range with 35" Baja Claws, and a stock 2003 Grand Cherokee Overland. Trails I have run are the Rubicon (10 times), Dusey Ershim, Fordyce Creek trail, McGrew trail, several trails in Moab, Utah along with local monthly runs.

Organizations
Lost Coast 4x4's Cal 4-Wheel Corva UFWDA Blue Ribbon Coalition

Education/Credentials
Certified off-road instructor - Certificates in engineering/electronics

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