SOA or SUA

[Old Dog]

Well guys I need some help making up my mind. I'm going to be swapping in a Dana 44 front axle sometime soon, I have both a cherokee chief axle (set-up for sua) and a chevy axle (set-up for soa) either one will be narrowed so it makes no difference. I also have high steer knuckles if I do go soa. I also need to buy wider springs for the front no matter which way I go.

The only reason I'm thinking soa is because I'm getting tired of rocks hanging up on the springs, but it really doesn't happen that often.
But going soa will add some bucks to the build and money is kinda tight right now.
So what do you all think? go for it or stay sua? Give me some good reasons to go one way or the other.

 

[Petescj]

 

[Old Dog]

Is that some big nightcrawlers or little red worms?

 

[Petescj]

Is that some big nightcrawlers or little red worms?

You didnt find that helpful? You know as well as I do ( if not better ) to go SOA the right way is gonna cost a couple bucks. You also know I like a nice low COG. That said you know your Cj alot better than anyone else. Its yours and if your ready for a change then when your swapping out the axle seems to be the right time to go for it.

 

[Old Dog]

You didnt find that helpful?

I did, I even saved it for later.
You know if I didn't have the chevy front with the flat top knuckles setting in my garage (damn that guy for selling it so cheap) this thought wouldn't even have entered my head. But now it's in there and I can't get it out. Help
You know I have been happy with my sua, but everytime my spring bottom gets hung on a rock....I start thinking again.

 

[Petescj]

Going with a SOA Id probably want my axles a little wider though. Get another full size axle for the rear and cut it down a little wider. Then I'll grab that door stop of an 8.8 from you at some other point. You know , cause Im all about helping you out.

I did, I even saved it for later.
You know if I didn't have the chevy front with the flat top knuckles setting in my garage (damn that guy for selling it so cheap) this thought wouldn't even have entered my head. But now it's in there and I can't get it out. Help
You know I have been happy with my sua, but everytime my spring bottom gets hung on a rock....I start thinking again.

 

[tarry99]

I did, I even saved it for later.
You know if I didn't have the chevy front with the flat top knuckles setting in my garage (damn that guy for selling it so cheap) this thought wouldn't even have entered my head. But now it's in there and I can't get it out. Help
You know I have been happy with my sua, but everytime my spring bottom gets hung on a rock....I start thinking again.[/QUOTE)

Dog,
I'm for a lower COG..........put a skid plate on it.......also the Chevy spindles I believe will fit on your Dana 44 so at least you can move the steering up.

 

[Old Dog]

terry, funny you should say that since I've been thinking alot about the steering. The 44 knuckles are not set up for cross over steering (they use the system where the draglink attaches to the tie rod) and I like my cross over. The only thing I can think to do is use the high steer set-up. I'm not real sure it will work with sua though, it might be to high. Don't know for sure. I was also thinking I could reuse my 30 knuckles to keep my cross over set-up. I think I can but haven't checked it out yet as the jeep is still together. That would meen keeping the small TRE's but to be honest I haven't broken any yet so...

 

[tarry99]

terry, funny you should say that since I've been thinking alot about the steering. The 44 knuckles are not set up for cross over steering (they use the system where the draglink attaches to the tie rod) and I like my cross over. The only thing I can think to do is use the high steer set-up. I'm not real sure it will work with sua though, it might be to high. Don't know for sure. I was also thinking I could reuse my 30 knuckles to keep my cross over set-up. I think I can but haven't checked it out yet as the jeep is still together. That would meen keeping the small TRE's but to be honest I haven't broken any yet so...

Dog,
Not sure of the year of your Chevy front end but most will retrofit to the Dana 44 's since they were all Dana 44 's of different applications..........On my Jeep these are Dana 44 's of the Chevy design on my Dana 30 axle.........If when you set them up on a SUA and the arms are too high you just build or order arm's tapered from the bottom as I did.........Of course if they are SOA then you would want taper coming from the top.........either direction is acceptable. I'm using 1.250" ODx .250 wall DOM using Moog ES2010L & ES2010R 7/8"x18 Tie Rod ends these are a little shorter thread than some guys use but if you cut your tubing close to size you can still bury almost 2" inside the threaded tube with a jam nut.
This attached link has some good info to make the conversion of the Chevy Knuckles take a look around this site has some good stuff..........I do believe you may have to use the chevy spindles but I may be wrong it's been a while ( like 20 years ) since I did one.

Mr.N's Dana 44 Flatop Knuckles

 

[Old Dog]

Great idea, I didn't think of mounting the TRE's in the bottom of the arms.
I already have the small bearing chevy spindles and ford hubs to change it to a 5x51/2 bp.

 

[PaRenegade]

How old are those pics? The parts look new but I noticed they were Armstrong tires, which was bought out back in 1989.

 

[tarry99]

How old are those pics? The parts look new but I noticed they were Armstrong tires, which was bought out back in 1989.

Pa.............good eyes........... the pictures are new the CJ5 is old ...1965 to be exact which I have had since 1967 and was in storage for the past 27 years while other priority's were just getting in the way of things!

 

[tarry99]

Great idea, I didn't think of mounting the TRE's in the bottom of the arms.
I already have the small bearing chevy spindles and ford hubs to change it to a 5x51/2 bp.

Dog,

Hopefully some of that info will help you....... get where your going on this project...........most of that stuff is like an erector set......just got to play with the parts until they do what you want......or clamp them up in a mill and make some chips!

 

[Old Dog]

Dog,

..most of that stuff is like an erector set......just got to play with the parts until they do what you want......or clamp them up in a mill and make some chips!

LOL you got that right. I'm going to have to mill and drill the pass. side knuckle. Think I'll make a fixture while I'm at it so I can play around with some different arm designs.

 

[Kilo19]

so just a quick question with the springs, if you don't want a lift out of the springs, because of going SOA, and just personal reasons, (i guess), how do you determine what springs are needed?

 

[Old Dog]

so just a quick question with the springs, if you don't want a lift out of the springs, because of going SOA, and just personal reasons, (i guess), how do you determine what springs are needed?

You would just buy stock height (no lift) springs.

 

[tarry99]

LOL you got that right. I'm going to have to mill and drill the pass. side knuckle. Think I'll make a fixture while I'm at it so I can play around with some different arm designs.

Dog,

Just digging through my notes and the Chevy / Jeep spindle patterns accepts outers from all open knuckle Chevy & Jeep Dana 44 , Dana 30 's & 10 bolt front ends to 1986......