Thread: Custom D2 ACE Arms

Well thats all wrong!

Up to 2"+ dont worry about it, the ACE links and ACE system function fine.

Lift it to 4" and you'll need a few changes...

Firstly, space the ACE front rods by about 1/4" using a thick washer - theres enough thread to do so.

Rear; fit front arms up the back...

Job done Been running this set up for years, as has Slunnie

Hey thanks Tombie, that's a big load off... had almost given up hope that someone would know.

Just on a point of interest, the (stock) front arms are longer right?

This article I read is obviously totally f*7ked then, because it says that after lifting by two inches, the truck used for the article was fitted with back linkages on the front.

Glad I asked!

There you go, they stole my fix and got it all wrong!

As you lift the D2 it becomes twitchy, I suspect because of where the weight is positioned in the body and the changes in suspension geometry. 2" is fine, 4" you will definitely notice it and something that I hear about a lot with bigger lifts.

Symptoms are normally twitchyness under brakes and midcorner roll oversteer, but this is through geometry not sliding. It's also a bit flighty as some describe it on the highway and needs constant correcting.

For the front swaybar links, space them down at the top at the bolt by whatever you can get out of them to effectively lengthen the link. The fronts are the long links. You can't run a short rear link at the front because the ACE ram will foul on the Panhard chassis mount. This mod is actually more about clearance than handling.

On the rear which is where the handling problems come from, you need to run a long set of sway bar links to regain the ACE bars geometry again and make them effective. I run the long front links in place of the short rear links. To do this though, you need a fair bit of lift, 4-5" with long travel suspension because you will lose 2" of up travel from where the ACE ram contacts the body and I think the Xmember mount, so extended bump stops are a must. I know of one person who made his links longer by cutting and welding in tube extenders and I think some Jeep parts may also be usable as an option.

What all of this does is remove all of that flightyness, twitchiness and mid corner roll oversteer so it drives like a standard ACE Disco again. For those that understand handling, it gives it an absolutely neutral balance on dirt or road, loaded and unloaded. Even swerving on dirt loaded to the hills it is absolutely composed and balanced.

As a tip, I run a 3/4 Defender ARB roof rack. Heavy load at the rear of the rack like a wheel and tyre will generate the twitchiness again, but heavy weight at the front of the rack does not. I'd expect this will transfer to any roof rack setup on a D2. Take note to those with rearward mounted half racks on a D2.

Cheers Slunnie...

Yes many thanks mate, that's gold. (hope you don't mind but I've relayed to some of the UK guys)

I hear you about the twitchyness, mine turns into a little bitch if the tyre pressure in the rear drops at all. It has a +2" OME set up and a pair of (steel) LRA tanks. I've found it also prefers to have at least a 1/4 tank of juice in it to bring the tail down a little. (sounds like nothing but it's probably 40kg)