I drooled over CJs rig today. What I can see is that it's a toss-up... You may loose some on road driveability going SAS but you ditch the weak H3 front diff... Going Rancho gets you the height and clearance to do harder stuff but you still have the stock diff...
How many diffs have you been through Chris?
I think it really comes down to what you wanna accomplish with your truck. If you wanna run the hard sh!t and push the absolute limits of a trail rig, gotta go SAS.
If you wanna step up a level of difficulty or two to what your currently able to wheel, the Rancho may be the ticket.
06h3 how is yours coming along? I tested you but never got a response. I got my alxe and found a shop that can so it for me. Not sure what's next though
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You texted me? I dont think I ever got it or I missed it...My bad shoot me a text.
I haven't been in his rig.....yet. iirc he said the ride was pretty good. I'm purely going off of my own ifs vs sa ride comparison. I'd say do whatever you want, just remember once you hack that ifs off...it's extremely hard to go back (stock), if that's even possible
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Heres my take, the SAS is not for everyone as stated and I am nervous. The IFS technology is still 10 years out. I view it as a 4 link suspension back in the day only the top guys ran links while everyone else had leafs. Now almost anyone can build a 3-4 link in a garage. IFS is the same way only the top people and top rigs are building them. In 10 years I am sure the price will be cheaper then it is today and there will slowly be DIY IFS builds.
I think the ride quality of a solid axle can be good, even though they are viewed as a poor riding suspension. I also think IFS can kick ass in the rocks even though it is typically viewed as a ****ty suspension for the rocks.
I have blown 3 diffs. #1 was dumb on my part, new to wheeling and bouncing. #2 was bad pinion bearing, I still drove home but the diff was shot. It lasted 2-3 years of hard abuse. I try to wheel the doors off squeaky. #3 was a nightmare from day one. Check out my thread if you dont know about it but basically I got screwed a pro setup a diff that was doomed to fail from day one. #4 I am on now and I set it up myself with a buddy its Cast Iron and lasted some wheeling and a trip to Hammers.
I have 126k miles on original a arms (upper and lower) original hubs, original ball joints (except for one) all bushings are shot. I need an IFS overhaul or a long travel IFS or SAS. Overall my front and rear suspension are in need of an overhaul. I was dumb and didnt replace the bushings in the leaf springs when I did the spring over. So seeing its time to overhaul its time to make changes.
My steering rack is SOLID. The bushing and rack kit from Mayhem Metal works kicks ass. I was out playing in rocks and came up to something and the steering ripped outta my hands. I thought I was ****ed, bent a tie rod or killed a rack but sure enough everything is still tight. I need an alignment but the 2 piece rack is still as tight as day 1.
For me I need all around versatility. Squeaky is my do it all vehicle. To boot its sentimental to me so if I **** up and hate the SAS I dont know what to do. I wont get rid of it but its tough to go back. Squeaky has been in my life for 9 years and my personal ride for 6 years.
So what all around versatility does it need?
Heres an example, I went wheeling in the H3 on Tuesday night, got home at 1AM. Then Wednesday morning I woke up and drove the H3 to work at 8am, got off work went home a few hours later I picked up my girlfriend and drove 80 miles down to Santa Barbara had a nice dinner there for her bday and spent the night in santa barbara. Next day we go back home and the day after that its back to driving me to work. A few weeks before that I was driving it to the junkyard with my friend flipped the seat down and took home a junkyard axle for my buddy's Jeep.
When off road the terrain I tackle is one minute loose dirt hill climbs, then pop it into 4hi, drive 50 mph down a dirt road, throw it in 4lo and start crawling in the rocks.
I have also had many experiences where I will head out to pull some kids outta the mud at 11pm then head to school the next day.
I need comfort on and off road, reliability is key. I need to drive it every day. Lastly I cant take it too far, it cant be a trailered rig, it cant be beat to **** with a million dents in it.
Luckily, I do have some seat time with a SA rig. My bro's JK rides AMAZING off road. It kicks the my ass on the dirt. My brother was taking his JK 65 mph down windy dirt roads railing the damn thing and my buddy who was passenger said it was as smooth as long travel IFS rigs hes been in.
On road its alright. Suspension wise its fine but steering is horrific. He doesnt have a steering stabilizer on right now, he has a worn steering box and he needs ram assist. He also has very little caster, which is a problem for steering feel. We cant adjust the caster until he goes long arm or gets adjustable short arms. Long arm will make it ride even nicer.
I think with time and effort IFS or SA can handle and ride and perform the way you want.
I will never knock the IFS or setup of squeaky. I will knock the front diff. I personally have no problems with tie rods, steering racks, hubs, halfshafts, etc. Just the diff. I think if I could regear I would leave the diff, cryo treat the gears, lock it and get some REAL tires. The duratracs arent ideal for the tough rocks. With 37in MT/Rs or KM2s I dont think I would see a need for the SAS but we have had multiple people try to fit a diff in the stock front end and every time people couldnt get it. Bebe did it right. I dont have her people to help. Im in a garage and learn by trial and error. With a SAS I get can info and help a lot more easily then IFS. People still keep their IFS geometry secretive.
