So I finally ordered the parts to make my own adjustable air links. The Adjustable Air Ride links were just too expensive to stomach, so I figured I'd make my own. I also didn't want to tear apart the stock links, and nobody seemed to be able to find the stock links for sale anywhere. So DIY it is!
Tools needed: hack saw, ruler, pliers/vice grips, 8mm wrench for jam nuts
The balls where the links attach on the Jeep are 8mm, so you need ends to fit, then threaded rod to join them and make it adjustable. Grainger turned out to have everything I needed. You can get threaded rod anywhere, but it was just as easy to order it online with the link ends.
Ball sockets (p/n 6UDU1):
http://www.grainger.com/product/BANSBACH-EASYLIFT-8mm-Ball-Socket-22mm-M5-Thread-6UDU1
Threaded rod - M5 (p/n 21YP35)
GRAINGER APPROVED Threaded Rod,316 SS,M5-0.80x1 M - Threaded Rods - 21YP35|57491 - Grainger Industrial Supply
The ball sockets already come with jam nuts to go on the 5mm threaded rod. Pull the balls out of the socket and toss em or put them aside. Cut the threaded rod to whatever length you want after threading the jam nuts on. Thread on the ball sockets and you have adjustable links. To lower the rear end and level it out with the front, make the rear links 3.25" long (stock is 3.5").
Basically I made two leveling links to bring the rear of the jeep down for $50 shipped. Took me 15 minutes to figure out a good length, cut two pieces of threaded rod, and tighten the links up. If I wanted to make links for the front, I just order 4 more ball sockets and use the rest of the threaded rod.
My plan for the winter is to put the stock links back on the rear, then cut longer pieces of threaded rod so I can put these links on the front to raise it slightly and level it out the opposite way. Gives me a tad higher ride height for the snow or whatever.
I forgot to take a pic of the links before install, but here's what it looks like on the jeep:
PS: Don't forget to lower the headlight beams a bit to compensate for changing the angle of the jeep. Since I lowered the rear end, it brought the headlight cutoff up quite a bit. Enough for me to get flashed multiple times on the way home. Easy vertical adjustment on the headlights fixed that problem.
Tools needed: hack saw, ruler, pliers/vice grips, 8mm wrench for jam nuts
The balls where the links attach on the Jeep are 8mm, so you need ends to fit, then threaded rod to join them and make it adjustable. Grainger turned out to have everything I needed. You can get threaded rod anywhere, but it was just as easy to order it online with the link ends.
Ball sockets (p/n 6UDU1):
http://www.grainger.com/product/BANSBACH-EASYLIFT-8mm-Ball-Socket-22mm-M5-Thread-6UDU1
Threaded rod - M5 (p/n 21YP35)
GRAINGER APPROVED Threaded Rod,316 SS,M5-0.80x1 M - Threaded Rods - 21YP35|57491 - Grainger Industrial Supply
The ball sockets already come with jam nuts to go on the 5mm threaded rod. Pull the balls out of the socket and toss em or put them aside. Cut the threaded rod to whatever length you want after threading the jam nuts on. Thread on the ball sockets and you have adjustable links. To lower the rear end and level it out with the front, make the rear links 3.25" long (stock is 3.5").
Basically I made two leveling links to bring the rear of the jeep down for $50 shipped. Took me 15 minutes to figure out a good length, cut two pieces of threaded rod, and tighten the links up. If I wanted to make links for the front, I just order 4 more ball sockets and use the rest of the threaded rod.
My plan for the winter is to put the stock links back on the rear, then cut longer pieces of threaded rod so I can put these links on the front to raise it slightly and level it out the opposite way. Gives me a tad higher ride height for the snow or whatever.
I forgot to take a pic of the links before install, but here's what it looks like on the jeep:
PS: Don't forget to lower the headlight beams a bit to compensate for changing the angle of the jeep. Since I lowered the rear end, it brought the headlight cutoff up quite a bit. Enough for me to get flashed multiple times on the way home. Easy vertical adjustment on the headlights fixed that problem.