Should I go SOA or SUA?

[Cody Hartley]

I know you guys a probably pooped on SOA questions. I don't wheel in rocks and all that crazy stuff. I do go mudding and do moderate trail riding. No off chambered hill climbs or anything of that nature. I do know how to do basic things as far as fabrication goes but nothing major. The largest tire I will go will be 35's. Now, nowing all that would you recommend SOA or SUA? Money is somewhat an issue, but not to bad.

[butch6924]

Depends on what you want from your Jeep. I think the majority of people will tell you that SOA is the best route with the least compormises. That said, you can get 35's onto a Jeep cheaper with an SUA set up. 4" SUA lift ~$550, 1" BL ~$100, Shackles $100, TJ Flares ~$75.

There's a lot of compromises there though. You're looking at a t-case drop which hurts clearance. With SOA you're effectively flipping your u-bolts which also helps ground clearance. All in all, an SOA gets you more clearance for the same size tires. Also, if you're planning on running 35's definetly start looking for a rear axle, that D35 won't hold up forever.

My recommendation for running 35's on a YJ-
Ford 8.8 rear/SOA with AAL's/TJ Flares/Dana 300 (flipped, 4:1 kit)/long travel shocks/spring perches/brake lines/4.88 gears/f/r lockers/traction bar/flat skid. All said & done, you've got about $4000~$5000 in the Jeep before tires & wheels but you'll be able to go a lot of places the guys on 37's go.

[Cody Hartley]

Butch thanks for the help. I will be doing the 8.8 swap, regear, and SYE for sure. I dont know if I will lock it up though (will be doing the same trails I did in my truck, that was on 35's with no locker, and made it okay). I think I will go with a 6" SUA and 35's.

[wallysheata]

My girlfriend runs 35's on her 92 YJ with a 4" spring under lift and 1" shackles. We put an 8.8 with 4.10's and a detroit in the back will be throwing a rubicon case in it over the next few months, with a front locker by spring time. It's MUCH cheaper and easier to do spring under than spring over, espeically since you're only doing some mild offroading, spring over isn't worth the added cost for steering, SYE, traction bars and fab work to move the springs. Here's her YJ and it does just fine. There's some "MINOR" rubbing but i just need to bumpstop the front a little more to take care of that, it's nothing major. A 1" body lift would work but i'd like to keep it as low as possible for stability

http://phatserver.net/users/wally/Bangs/IMG_4184.JPG
http://phatserver.net/users/wally/Bangs/IMG_4188.JPG
http://phatserver.net/users/wally/Bangs/IMG_4191.JPG
http://phatserver.net/users/wally/Bangs/IMG_4193.JPG
http://phatserver.net/users/wally/Bangs/IMG_4194.JPG
http://phatserver.net/users/wally/Bangs/IMG_4197.JPG
http://phatserver.net/users/wally/Bangs/IMG_4198.JPG

[love24wheel]

SOA up front and SUA in the rear. I love mine.
Scott

[JARockCrawler]

Nothing wrong with SUA.

I'm running RE 4.5" springs with custom mounts and 35's without a body lift.

Wish I had some good flex shots, but trust me...it'll twist up good.

http://photos-956.facebook.com/n2/56/99/n10033995_14549956_1849.jpg
http://photos-212.facebook.com/n/12/82/n10001306_7778212_9989.jpg
http://photos-703.facebook.com/n4/03/07/n10001306_30060703_967.jpg

[MattPascoe]

http://photos-212.facebook.com/n/12/82/n10001306_7778212_9989.jpg

Great looking Jeep!

Love those old Saharas
http://www.solamarconstruction.com/Matt/Trails/Moab2005/Golden%20Crack.jpg

[love24wheel]

Great looking Jeep!

Love those old Saharas
http://www.solamarconstruction.com/Matt/Trails/Moab2005/Golden%20Crack.jpg


Nice Jeep Matt! My junk used to be khaki green sahara before I flopped it and now its beautiful spraypainted black LOL.. Nice lookin jeep btw!
Scott

[butch6924]

I think I will go with a 6" SUA and 35's.

You asked for opinions so let me give another one. I really don't like 6" SUA lifts. That's a lot of arc on a spring. With that much arc, they usually ride pretty rough. You can easily fit 35's with a 4" SUA lift if you plan accordingly. Check out Wally's lady's rig. Very clean set up for 35's especially when you consider that there is no BL at all on that Jeep. TJ Flares & shackles go a long way.

[Janster]

Another vote for the 4.5" SUA lift. With 1" body lift and TJ flares..... we're running 35's.

I think SUA set-up is easier & cheaper especially to *fine tune* for drivability and control on-street.

[easyover]

I think SUA set-up is easier & cheaper especially to *fine tune* for drivability and control on-street.

^ Agreed. I like SOA for the flex and the ability to run a smaller tire and have good ground clearence, but I think SUA is easier to set up and dial in. I would also recommend the shackle reversal in front. It'll net 1-2" up front added to a 4" SUA spring for a total of 5-6" of lift. The rear can be made up with a longer shackle. It will require a long slip front driveshaft though. I've seen these set ups work VERY well on the trail.

[JARockCrawler]

Thanks Matt! Always been a huge fan of your jeep....Show off.


I would also recommend the shackle reversal in front.

I'll disagree...having a SRS, I have been quite disappointed.

Shackle reversals do have some nice advantages on a SUA system, such as improved ride and increased approach angle (in some cases).

BUT, a shackle reversal also can lead to nose dive under braking and axle wrap with highly arched springs...not to mention the required long spline driveshaft, which is quite a pain to find if you don't have hubs and require one that will balance for high speed use.

With my old pro-crap springs my setup worked pretty well, but with softer and more flexible springs I have a big issue with wrap. On a steep climb the front will unload causing the springs to become very arched, separating the leafs and allowing for little to no torque control. I was considering fab'ing up a system to allow me to suck the front down on hill climbs with the winch, but instead I've decided to link the front.

Just my 2 cents. In your configuration it may work very well....keep in mind I'm running an increased shackle angle with longer shackles and 14" travel shocks....

-Jordan

[easyover]

Thanks Matt! Always been a huge fan of your jeep....Show off.




I'll disagree...having a SRS, I have been quite disappointed.

Shackle reversals do have some nice advantages on a SUA system, such as improved ride and increased approach angle (in some cases).

BUT, a shackle reversal also can lead to nose dive under braking and axle wrap with highly arched springs...not to mention the required long spline driveshaft, which is quite a pain to find if you don't have hubs and require one that will balance for high speed use.

With my old pro-crap springs my setup worked pretty well, but with softer and more flexible springs I have a big issue with wrap. On a steep climb the front will unload causing the springs to become very arched, separating the leafs and allowing for little to no torque control. I was considering fab'ing up a system to allow me to suck the front down on hill climbs with the winch, but instead I've decided to link the front.

Just my 2 cents. In your configuration it may work very well....keep in mind I'm running an increased shackle angle with longer shackles and 14" travel shocks....

-Jordan

My experience with SRS is strictly from observations on the trail, not from my rig personally, so your experience trumps my observations :beerchug:
My buddy's CJ7 runs 4" springs, SRS, and 37" MTR's and it works very well, having flex equal to my SOA YJ. I have observed SOA w/SRS and they wrap horribly when climbing obstacles.

[zman]

I ran both and both have there advantages. I loved my SUA setup in Moab. It was 3" with 32" tires. I could climb many things that I am afraid I would now flop with my SOA and 35" tires. Steep grades was also better with the SUA setup. On the other hand, much of my local terrain is rock washes, where clearance is a must. The SOA setup gets the springs out of the way. I guess you need to determine what type of terrain you are in. If you are in rocks and don't need to use the skinny pedal go SOA. If its sand, mud, or wet areas with little traction and the need for the skinny pedal is the only option, I would go SUA.

zman

[YJ-Mule]

SOA. SUA you will drag your spring packs all the time, and my cousing has RE 4.5" SUA, D44-D60, he has broken 5 spring packs so far. Wishes every day he went SOA. Cheaper than an 4.5" lift too.

[love24wheel]

Don't go misguiding people telling them SOA is cheaper than SUA.. thats absolutely not true, if you do it RIGHT. SOA is almost ALWAYS more expensive than an SUA lift to do it right, and use quality parts. I love my SOA/SUA combo, works AWESOME. I can't say enough about it but I think its a bit too much thinking outside the box for some people to give it a shot.

[RatherBeJeeping]

I can't say enough about it but I think its a bit too much thinking outside the box for some people to give it a shot.

Heretic!!!!!! :damnmate: