Project 4x4 Commuter Mazda

[escort_gts]

you cold run less pressure. I had 30x9.5 on 7.5" rims and kept the pressures at 31psi all the time.

 

[Boggin]

Nope tomorrow though for sure...

awesome thanks man

 

[88_Eddie]

you cold run less pressure. I had 30x9.5 on 7.5" rims and kept the pressures at 31psi all the time.

that's what a buddy of mine did with his BFG M/T's during high school. ran them a tad low so that they sat completely flat on the road. they wore pretty even across the whole tire. but they were 12.5" wide on 10" wheels, i think it could still apply to yours though

 

[legoms013]

Yeah i should try droppin the psi's. Main reason I run them so high is to get a little better mileage....but it rides like crap especially with no weight in the bed.

I'll try 30 psi for a while.

 

[legoms013]

Might be kinda hard to read but you'll get the picture. Plan is to basically make a TRE version of a StoneCrusher steering setup except with only one heim joint where the drivers side tie rod connects to the passenger side directly in line with the driver's side beam pivot point.

Shouldn't be too expensive:
tie rods L & R (Anyone wanna donate lol?)
heim joint & hardware
3' or less of some DOM tubing (sized to slide onto existing passenger tie-rod)
little bit of 1/4" plate for the saddle
L & R TRE's

And a little

Any comments, suggestions, or criticisms before I start this project?

 

[nate09]

do you plan on making the saddle for the heim to connect to double shear?

 

[legoms013]

do you plan on making the saddle for the heim to connect to double shear?

Yes sir. The close up pic I drew just shows one side for clarity.

 

[nate09]

that was the only thing i could see, i dont know much about steering set ups but i sure am curious how this turns out.

 

[escort_gts]

it looks like a good idea. I have seen that setup before on a friends ranger. should work well for you

 

[MAranger]

Nice sketch, are you copying the stone crusher steering linkage, or did you come up with this yourself? I have tie rods you can have if you wanna pay for shipping (from mass might be a penny).

 

[legoms013]

Nice sketch, are you copying the stone crusher steering linkage, or did you come up with this yourself? I have tie rods you can have if you wanna pay for shipping (from mass might be a penny).

I;m using the idea of equal length tie-rods from the StoneCrusher setup. The difference in mine though is it will use all the stock tie-rods, TRES with only one heim joint and a section of DOM tubing to extend the driver's side tie-rod (of course sleeved and welded up nicy nice).

Shipping would be alot..might not be worth it lol. I can get two new tie rods & TRE's from Autozone for about $100 bucks.

Hopefully I can eliminate alot of bumpsteer with this setup, as my tie rods are not flat as they sit now. And offroad with the softerish SJ 8" coils my steering wheel is all over the place....as are my front tires I bet as well as the beams move through their arc, and the tie rods move along a different one.

 

[legoms013]

Craigslist never fails me. Found $505 worth of yakima roof rack stuff for $150 this week. The unfortunate part was that I used some of my custom steering setup money so that will have to be on hold for the time being. Threw some satin black krylon on everything and its set to go, just gotta have my eyes peeled for some bike trays (the whole reason I bought the kit in the first place). Maybe eventually I'll get a stretch kit and run a roof basket too.

Installed:

Tire noise is getting very pronounced and noticeable at all speeds, less than 1/4" of tread in middle of tire. 35 thousand miles and counting, can't wait for bigger 'muds.

 

[legoms013]

October Update.

Changed rear diff oil. Had 35k mi on it...still looked good to. Peeked at the Powertrax...all is well. Replaced 85w-90 with 85w-145 in hopes of alleviating some of drivetrain clunk harshness from Powertrax and some other problem I've never been able to identify. Definitely helps. Though diff runs a little hotter now. Maybe 15 degrees of increased temp?


No progress on steerin setup

Got a flat on Thursday. Puncture to upper sidewall, can't be patched legally by any company. I plugged it myself and its holding air...but I'm looking for a replacement on Craig'slist as I don't trust it....well I trust it as a spare tire only. Good thing its only got about 15k mi or less life left in it. *sigh*

Flat tire inspired me to re-hook up my air horn, ahem I mean on board air from tire inflation. But not in the tool box. This time I will mount it permanently where the stock spare tire goes (since I'll be getting a full size...that will go in the bed).

Started mounting onboard Viair components (compressor, 2.5 gal tank & solenoid).

Pics:

Bare, lots of real-estate:

Mounted tank to rear most crossmember with 4 bolts....the 2 panduit straps were originally there to help myself hold it up while marking where to drill...then I decided to just cinch them down and leave them there.

Look close and you'll see the bolts:

Compressor isn't mounted but thats where its gonna go. Going to make a plate to bolt it to, then bolt the plate to the inside of the frame rail.

Another view:

Mounted solenoid to an angle bracket I made, then bolted that to the left frame rail using an existing bolt holt.

Going to either use spray on electrical tape and or shrink tubing to help waterproof-ish all the electrical connections. Then Wrap them in cord conduit. Eventually I want to get a constant duty compressor...as the one I have now is only part time, and is only good for about 1 tire then it has to rest for a long while. But for now it only has to help me in an emergency and run my ''accessories".

 

[88_Eddie]

nice craigslist pickup, i frickin love that site. i got 2 brand new drums and brand new shoes for my 8.8 for $45 last week.

are you gonna make a skid plate for the all the on board air stuff? i think that may keep some of the mud off of the connections....but the spray on tape is a good idea too

 

[legoms013]

I'll probably make some kind of splash shield for flying rocks etc. It won't need to be very sturdy though as all this is tucked up at least flush with the bottom of the frame rails. Hopefully the shrink tubing, spray on tubing, covered in cord conduit will keep things fairly water resistant.


Got all the stuff mounted and bolted on, as well as got the air lines hooked up and routed. Tomorrow if I have time I'll finish up the electrical.