Hi Mike,

When you built your "Star" you ramped it and found the front to be too rigid. Did you get this sorted out? Does it flex as well as your Orange rig ( in its old configuration ).

Please tell 

ZeusZuki

so Mike - where the hell are you   

ZeusZuki

 Sorry ive been working a lot lately and when Im not at work been working on the orange rig. Not much internet time. I did swap the rockstar to 2dr 2wd front coils. Its still not flexy! It rides a little better though. Im really starting to belive that Flex is less and less important.  The Rockstar is the most capable rig Ive ever driven and it flexes rediculusly poor. On the flip side it is almost impossible to flip it over.

Mike

Now Mike, we all know IFS is difficult to flex due to the disconnect between one tire to the other. It's not a real means of measuring the 'offset' articulating the IFs in comparison to a straight axle. When flexing the straight axle, not only is there gravity involved and force due to weight transfer, but also the torque arm of the axle housing itself. With IFS, you don't get that in a ramp 'flex' condition. 
One fine example are those pics of your Tracker when it was black having the front end high on the ramp and the vehicle tilts really nice, then rear end high and the vehicle is level.

Now Mike, we all know IFS is difficult to flex due to the disconnect between one tire to the other. It's not a real means of measuring the 'offset' articulating the IFs in comparison to a straight axle. When flexing the straight axle, not only is there gravity involved and force due to weight transfer, but also the torque arm of the axle housing itself. With IFS, you don't get that in a ramp 'flex' condition. 
One fine example are those pics of your Tracker when it was black having the front end high on the ramp and the vehicle tilts really nice, then rear end high and the vehicle is level.

that's a good point, I have realized that while articulating on a dirt mound and it just now dawned on me that solid axle wouldn't do the level thing when going up a ramp or in my case a dirt mound in reverse

I wish I would have tried reverse articulating when I had my sway bar off, id did much better hitting the mound going forward

Thanks Mike Yeah I know what you mean about "flex not appearing to be that important".
I believe with the kicks that the rear end pretty much makes up for the inadequacies of the front end BUT - IFS has its own advantages and stability is one of them
I have been watching a lot of rigs with beams lately and to be honest " the front ends on them are pathetic, flex - whats that!!!"
Most rigs perform poorly on the front end and still seem to get through so what does that tell you.
I believe the misconception with IFS vs SAS comes down mostly to IFS being weak - BULLSHIT  

My first rig was a Nissan with IFS, welded diff and still all stock running 31's. Mate that thing got thrashed and only broke once ( the spider gears of all things ). It went everywhere my mates Hilux went and that thing was on 33's with a big lift - I still had more clearance under the cross member by HEAPS. Oooooohhhh what memories

Just wanted to know how you got on with the front that is all ( you did mention it in your Zukiworld article ).

Thanks Mike, I am a believer

Hope the Orange rig is coming together real smooth

ZeusZuki