Abbreviated Savvy mid-arm kit questions

[WSS]

I am not commiting but rather asking if this is the way to go. I already have a "lift". It has been outboarded, long armed, body lifted, etc. It has a RE LA kit. Not bad but the "satisfaction" I hear from Savvy mid arm users is, well, beyond what one would expect from a "short-er" arm kit. I am capable of installing this myself, so any hints at avoiding "re-dos" is very welcome.

Lets not focus on my current "kit", I get it. However, is this the best way to get into a mid arm lift?

https://savvyoffroad.com/product/sav-mau/
Is it feasible to do one end at a time for less down time? Facts AND theories are requested.

 

[Rick Flair]

Are you unhappy with how your rig is performing now? What do think you will gain by spending $3k+?

 

[Alex01]

Is it feasible to do one end at a time for less down time? Facts AND theories are requested.

It is possible to do one end at a time with a typical short arm. I can't comment if it would play nice with a RE long arm. As far as downtime goes though I'd plan 2 long days. 1 to remove the axles / cut off brackets 2 more brackets and welding.

I haven't ran a long arm so I wouldn't be able to judge if one is better than the other but I do love my mid arm and the kool-aid taste good

 

[WSS]

Are you unhappy with how your rig is performing now? What do think you will gain by spending $3k+?

Under load, the auto trans makes the rear feels like it wants to "go under" the front. That may sound odd, but it may be a squat/anti squat problem. When I get up on rocks with one side or the other (front now) It feels like it can wander, and has on the last two trips when I push it.

I had some trouble on John bull at the middle broken part. I t was really silty and I could not hold my line. That was what got me thinking. Next trouble spot was the middle garden on Holcomb. I used to zip through it in my CJ5 and 33's. Now it was washed out the big rocks were moving, but it happened again.

I watched video of my LONG arms going flat and above the frame. In the back of my head, the advice and reports about the Savvy mid arm were making more sense. It felt like The TJ could not get a good droop/hold.

That feeling you get when the line you wanted is 10' to the drivers side and your thinking, how did I get over here so fast LOL.

Now I am pushing it s I get to know the rig, so I may have just topped out at what she can do. Way ahead of our old CJ, so no complaints, just looking to tackle tougher trails.

I will post some vids of what I see. Hang on.....

 

[WSS]

Ok, watch how light the front end looks when it crosses the top on both vids..


(right at 1 minute)


(right at 35 seconds)


Watch this motion at 35ish second and the front bounce at 44 seconds... Fun ride but I think this can improved.

 

[taylormade73]

Does it act similar if you take those counter weights off the rear? How heavy are you back there?

 

[WSS]

Those don't come off, part of the "family package". I have ditched the hard top and half doors since those vids. I did not get any good video of the last trip though. The weigth on the rear is not as much as it seems, 2gl of gas, 4gl of water and a pelican 25gt soft ice chest and of course the 35" spare.

 

[taylormade73]

Those don't come off, part of the "family package". I have ditched the hard top and half doors since those vids. I did not get any good video of the last trip though. The weigth on the rear is not as much as it seems, 2gl of gas, 4gl of water and a pelican 25gt soft ice chest and of course the 35" spare.

With that, you may be at 200lbs and sitting that high may be adding leverage to an already light front from your suspension. I would remove all of it including the spare and hit the same trails and lines. See how it behaves.

 

[WSS]

With that, you may be at 200lbs and sitting that high may be adding leverage to an already light front from your suspension. I would remove all of it including the spare and hit the same trails and lines. See how it behaves.

Those items are already paired down about 40lbs. Unfortunately they will stay, even if it does perform better with out the weight, as soon as it would be confirmed, the items would be right back on. The shocks were tuned to my specifics and the rear springs were swapped out a few times to try to conquer the problem too.

It may just be something I have to live with.

 

[taylormade73]

Those items are already paired down about 40lbs. Unfortunately they will stay, even if it does perform better with out the weight, as soon as it would be confirmed, the items would be right back on. The shocks were tuned to my specifics and the rear springs were swapped out a few times to try to conquer the problem too.

It may just be something I have to live with.

For what it's worth, I've ridden in and wheeled with several guys with Savvy mid-arms. They are some of the most well behaved rigs I've seen, especially in off-camber situations. I have not seem them get light in the front end anywhere near yours in the videos.

 

[WSS]

For what it's worth, I've ridden in and wheeled with several guys with Savvy mid-arms. They are some of the most well behaved rigs I've seen, especially in off-camber situations. I have not seem them get light in the front end anywhere near yours in the videos.

I have not wheeled with any. I appreciate the feedback. I am not a fan of off camber. That was one thing I had not given thought to. I will put that on the positive side.

I realize my TJ has dargon azz. It was promised gear though for the family- lunch, cold drinks, etc are part of the chum. LOL You would not believe what is inside the cab! I am also running TNT corner armor, probably close to 100lbs for the pair.

I am completely new to link suspension. So a lot of what I read is not making sense yet. I think I have a short grasp but thats it. When I see it, it is a OHH ya! like light switch.

 

[mrblaine]

Those items are already paired down about 40lbs. Unfortunately they will stay, even if it does perform better with out the weight, as soon as it would be confirmed, the items would be right back on. The shocks were tuned to my specifics and the rear springs were swapped out a few times to try to conquer the problem too.

It may just be something I have to live with.

I watched 6 seconds of the Gold Mountain video. I want nothing to do with any part of any of that. You carry way too much shit.

 

[WSS]

Here is a video with the soft top, look at the 12 second range and how the rear arms are flush and then some, is that normal or is it a spring rate/rear overload situation?

 

[WSS]

I watched 6 seconds of the Gold Mountain video. I want nothing to do with any part of any of that. You carry way too much shit.

And two too many passengers. I hear you.

 

[reddvltj]

From everything I've read on here and on other sites, while anti squat would help the "light front end" a little bit, like has already been said, having all that weight out back is the biggest hurdle you'd have to overcome. There's a couple ways you could help compensate for it if you can't lose the weight out back. One is by far easier than the other and that would be to counter balance with more weight up front but that's not very desirable either for off-road ability. Lengthening the wheel base would also help to keep the nose down, but the little amount you could stretch without going to a fuel cell most likely wouldn't make a noticable difference. You'd be looking at a frame and body stretch to make a difference.

Something like @Rec_Rider 's TJ-6.
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/new-guy-with-a-tj6.32229/

 

[jjvw]

I see way too much weight, especially hanging off the rear.

 

[Steel City 06]

Would there be any point to doing one axle only and not the other if it wasn't feasible to do both?

I'm not opposed to the idea of a mid-arm but I'm more interested in having an extra 12 gallon gas tank (for a total of 36 gallons). That precludes the installation of a mid-arm in the rear.

 

[someguysjeep]

what's the thought process behind why a mid arm might aid this situation?

have you run the rig stripped down to just the spare?
if the sys acts similar lighter, maybe something could be altered for a better effect
if it's the weight that changes things and you don't wish to change the weight your painted into a corner.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

I am not committing but rather asking if this is the way to go. I already have a "lift". It has been outboarded, long armed, body lifted, etc. It has a RE LA kit. Not bad but the "satisfaction" I hear from Savvy mid arm users is, well, beyond what one would expect from a "short-er" arm kit. I am capable of installing this myself, so any hints at avoiding "re-dos" is very welcome.

Having once installed the same RE LA onto my previous TJ, even the standard Currie/Savvy short-arm would help on trails like you do at Calico, where I have wheeled many times. From what I have been told and read, even though I can weld and have installed several suspension lifts, installing the Savvy mid-arm requires expertise I don't have. Personally, since you live close to Blaine, I'd have him install it for you. Having driven Blaine's rig with its mid-arm, I'd already have had one installed into my TJ if I had the $$$. It provides a major (!) improvement in offroad abilities and it even has a better ride. To say I was amazed while driving it is an understatement.

 

[mrblaine]

Would there be any point to doing one axle only and not the other if it wasn't feasible to do both?

I'm not opposed to the idea of a mid-arm but I'm more interested in having an extra 12 gallon gas tank (for a total of 36 gallons). That precludes the installation of a mid-arm in the rear.

Why does the mid arm stop you from using a silly fuel tank?