Long soft springs to increase articulation?

[tenguns]

I'm mulling over my front end overhaul. I have a 2009 Limited 4R V6 running Cornfed 3" up front with XREAS still on.... that combo needs to go.

I was thinking and still am of going all out with a mid-travel kit but think that might be too much given the high $s and questionable value and.... that fact a quick search of old book marks tells me that maybe they aren't available for this forerunner... I'm looking for simpler options that will improve articulation and give me that 2.75-3.5" lift.

I'm looking to maximize articulation and to have enough lift to clear the tall skinny tires I run and support the front winch and bumper weight while not killing the center of gravity numbers...for roll control. Its a daily driver but it spends 30% of its time off road and doing things I probably shouldn't be doing in a near stock runner.

I've searched for articulation tricks and may take off the front sway bar to help there but am making the assumption that a full length spring, with 2-4" of lift and a set of extended shocks would be better than any spacer or stiff spring combo for helping with articulation? True?

I also want to spec out something that will remain tough and quiet in the back country. So there's the ball joint issue, the UCA issue which is a simple bolt-on change but I've heard of loud ball-joints (squeakers)...

Ark Swamp Rider has an extensive post on options but I didn't see anything there on maximizing front articulation.... so I'm assuming softer coils up front where you use the length of the coil to lift, with our without new UCAs would help get some more articulation out of the truck?

What are your thoughts on how to do that short of wanting to do a SAS mod or something extreme?

What springs, Eibach, OME, ... or other packaged springs (in a coilover) would you recommend to get the maximum flex out of the front end of this thing. I'm also interested in hearing about how to do the best job at protecting those CVs.... or replacing them to lessen that Achilles heal with lifts.

I'm installing Firestone bags in the back for an upcoming 3k mile tow - and will replace the springs and shocks when I get back from that along with the front end at that time.

If anyone of you have ideas I can try... I think articulation is top priority and would appreciate your input.

Thanks. Tenguns.

 

[Troymclure]

To get the most travel out of the front, the best bet will be a set of nice coilovers made by such companies as Icon, Radflo, Fox, King etc, that are the extended travel, and a set of uniball equipped upper control arms such as Icon, Allpro, Camburg, Total Chaos, etc. After the above things, the travel becomes limited by the axle and the rest of the stock components that will bind, not the shocks and springs. If thats still not enough, theres the long travel or SAS option, but only if you want to spend huge amounts of money (think $6-7k and up). Hope that helps.