steep yes, but it's life on the road is 2" of travel up, the only time it's going that far down is off-road... and even then, jumping dunes - where there's plenty of room for landing..... and the swing is maybe 1" over the 14" of travel.
driving it - I've driven it maybe 5 miles and it's issue - suspension - is the shocks let the front drop too much (or the rears compress too much) under acceleration which makes you think that it has vague steering... and with that said, when I double checked the links last night, the driver's side wheelbase was 1" shorter than the passenger side - so with that fixed, we'll see, I may take it for a quick run today to see how that changed things (it was more reactionary left then right to steering inputs - the adjustment should fix it). but not bumpsteer at all.... the issue I've got to fix is the vent tubes. I hate oil leaks (as evidenced by my tearing the motor apart to fix a timing cover leak)
Where it's really annoying - putting it on the lift, if you raise off the ground thene back down, it moves 1/2" to the left every time.... the ways to fix it would only move the pivot down, which would cause bumpsteer problems
Originally, I laid out a 4 link, triangulated, but the problem was I'd have to be at least another 6" off the ground to clear the links
with all that said, I was concerned as well - I figured every time you hit the gas, it'd seem the front would want to go right... however, look at (and drive) any XJ - their control arms are shorter and steeper angles and it's not a handful to drive at all... and it is true here, hit the gas and the bias ply tires will randomly choose a direction - but it's never the same way twice
someday I'd love to have the conversation with other suspension builders about the pros and cons of suspension systems. it'll never happen on Pirate because two people with different opinions would fight - it seems that they never realize that all suspension systems have some compromise (perhaps that's it, they'd have to 'admit' imperfection). I've been asked to write articles about building cars and suspensions - but to be honest, I don't want the headache of the trolls. And with that said, I think the 4wheeler (or whichever magazine) that had an article by a young Pewe about suspensions is one of the best primers out there.... I just don't think it goes far enough because his opinion is there is no place to wheel anywhere but the desert southwest... and as he said - he knows it all and no one can teach him anything :no::roll:
nope, nothing rubs.
