After more research, talking to Dynatrac, and reading a bunch of other forums (pirate, owners, online, project, ect ect ect) I've come to the conclusion that I'm going to mostly redo my front end...... again. I'm probably going to scrap most if not all of the AEV front when I do the Prorock 44 to keep from mixing brands with their own different steering and geo corrections separated. For background, I currently have an AEV 3.5 RS lift installed with 35's and am really happy with it's performance on and off road. I'm making the step to the Dynatrac this year, and feel it's the perfect time to step into the unlimited housing as well. I'll capture the current benefits from it, and open countless future possibilities.
I'm really liking the idea of going mostly if not all Synergy front end, weld on TB bracket, adjustable TB, flipped draglink, and I haven't figured out what I'm doing with the tie rod if anything at the moment. I can eliminate almost every bolt on bracket on the front end this way. I've been dragging my tie rod through giant ice chunks out at Badlands for the last 2 outings, and it's very likely bent. When I get Reid knuckles with the Prorock, it will be raised another ~1.5" to help out with this, and I shouldn't drive there anyhow this time of year.
I've had a Fox ATS SS on backorder since black Friday, and that's going to be incorporated with the rest of the stuff.
This brings me to front CA's. I'm definitely coming to the quick conclusion that it's time to drop the brackets, (or include them, it won't change needing adjustable arms) and add in some adjustable uppers and lowers. I've been eyeing MC, but I have this innate hatred and distrust of jam nuts. I've been really eying EVO, but they don't sell adjustable uppers outside of their kits. I've had bad customer service from Rock Krawler once which led me to the AEV kit, and unfortunately don't want to give them that opportunity despite knowing they have a good product at this point in my life. Sorry guys not a knock, I know you make great things. I just hold onto that sorta thing when it comes to where I spend my money.
This has led me to Synergy. I like the adjustability while on the vehicle, and like that they don't use a jam nut. With that said, I'm not sure how much I trust the pinch bolt either, but they would be easier to check regularly while on the vehicle too. I really wish someone made a proper fixed length fixed arm for every lift and axle configuration with Jhonny joints at both ends (pipe dream, I know).
What are you running for front CA's? How do you like them and what don't you like about them? If you're using jam nuts, how are you getting and keeping them tight? I saw some new nifty EVO locking jam nuts, but they really seem to just be a bandaid to the inherent problem. If EVO sold both front upper and lower adjustable arms, I'd probably just write the check to get it over with and move on to something else. How do you like the Synergy Track bar with the pinch bolt? I was looking at the Teraflex monster before finding a lot of people disliking it after installing it (mostly hardware). Anything you'd do differently?
All of this is making my brain hurt! :atomic:
I drive the Jeep everyday, everywhere I go. It spends a lot of time on the road, 30k in the last year, and it spends a lot of time on the trails when not on the road. Forest trails, river trails, dunes, rock quarries, I've been learning and building my driving skillset and limits with it all. When I start heading west to take it in the rocks (next year, this year is Drummond Island in June), I'll be driving it there and back (6 days round trip) and it needs to be comfortable and predictable on the highway at any speed. It's a tough nut to crack.
This started out as a pm to Kjeeper, I know you've worked through a lot of this the hard way. I'm working through it with research, but don't want to have to iterate purchases as much as possible. I know much of this would be useful to anyone, and pose the questions to anyone who has actual experience using this stuff. That's why it turned from a pm to a post. I'm not asking for a forum based product endorsement, we don't do that. Nor am I looking to chastise any manufacture, we don't do that either. I'm trying to find what's right for me, then figure out if that's in the budget after.
Thanks
I'm really liking the idea of going mostly if not all Synergy front end, weld on TB bracket, adjustable TB, flipped draglink, and I haven't figured out what I'm doing with the tie rod if anything at the moment. I can eliminate almost every bolt on bracket on the front end this way. I've been dragging my tie rod through giant ice chunks out at Badlands for the last 2 outings, and it's very likely bent. When I get Reid knuckles with the Prorock, it will be raised another ~1.5" to help out with this, and I shouldn't drive there anyhow this time of year.
I've had a Fox ATS SS on backorder since black Friday, and that's going to be incorporated with the rest of the stuff.
This brings me to front CA's. I'm definitely coming to the quick conclusion that it's time to drop the brackets, (or include them, it won't change needing adjustable arms) and add in some adjustable uppers and lowers. I've been eyeing MC, but I have this innate hatred and distrust of jam nuts. I've been really eying EVO, but they don't sell adjustable uppers outside of their kits. I've had bad customer service from Rock Krawler once which led me to the AEV kit, and unfortunately don't want to give them that opportunity despite knowing they have a good product at this point in my life. Sorry guys not a knock, I know you make great things. I just hold onto that sorta thing when it comes to where I spend my money.
This has led me to Synergy. I like the adjustability while on the vehicle, and like that they don't use a jam nut. With that said, I'm not sure how much I trust the pinch bolt either, but they would be easier to check regularly while on the vehicle too. I really wish someone made a proper fixed length fixed arm for every lift and axle configuration with Jhonny joints at both ends (pipe dream, I know).
What are you running for front CA's? How do you like them and what don't you like about them? If you're using jam nuts, how are you getting and keeping them tight? I saw some new nifty EVO locking jam nuts, but they really seem to just be a bandaid to the inherent problem. If EVO sold both front upper and lower adjustable arms, I'd probably just write the check to get it over with and move on to something else. How do you like the Synergy Track bar with the pinch bolt? I was looking at the Teraflex monster before finding a lot of people disliking it after installing it (mostly hardware). Anything you'd do differently?
All of this is making my brain hurt! :atomic:
I drive the Jeep everyday, everywhere I go. It spends a lot of time on the road, 30k in the last year, and it spends a lot of time on the trails when not on the road. Forest trails, river trails, dunes, rock quarries, I've been learning and building my driving skillset and limits with it all. When I start heading west to take it in the rocks (next year, this year is Drummond Island in June), I'll be driving it there and back (6 days round trip) and it needs to be comfortable and predictable on the highway at any speed. It's a tough nut to crack.
This started out as a pm to Kjeeper, I know you've worked through a lot of this the hard way. I'm working through it with research, but don't want to have to iterate purchases as much as possible. I know much of this would be useful to anyone, and pose the questions to anyone who has actual experience using this stuff. That's why it turned from a pm to a post. I'm not asking for a forum based product endorsement, we don't do that. Nor am I looking to chastise any manufacture, we don't do that either. I'm trying to find what's right for me, then figure out if that's in the budget after.
Thanks