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Hagen Widening mods

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Offline bentparts

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Hagen Widening mods
« on: March 12, 2007, 04:30:23 AM »
I recently completed the Hagen widening mods on my 95 Tracker, with a couple of additional mods, like homemade diff drop brackets which lower the front diff 1". Once I got the alignment squared away, test drives proved the handling benefits without a doubt.  Tracks straighter, handles uneven ground more stable. Of course theres the added benefit of using only one type of cv now.  Problem I noticed right off the bat though, the front springs are bowed out at a ridiculous rate,  (   ) . Now imagine this with the spring base sitting in the control arm cup, the arms slanted down from the mounts due the the spacer lift. The inside of the springs, side closest to the diff, the coils are very close, and I actually bottomed one speeding over some very rough roads.  I did have to add about a 1/2 " spacer to bring the front back up to previous level, and I'm pretty sure the xtra load isn't helping the spring situation.  I have an Idea, dont laugh yet. I'm thinking I can cut out the spring cups from the control arms and re weld them back in at a better angle, say level with the suspension loaded. This would at least straighten out the bottom of the spring. Any opinions? Mr. Hagen ?
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Offline chet

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Re: Hagen Widening mods
« Reply #1 on: March 12, 2007, 10:56:48 AM »
ya mine are at a pretty good angle as well. with the calmini a-arms its not too bad though.

The only problem I would see with relocating the spring base is a slight increase in spring rate. maybe won't be enough to make a difference.

I like how mine tracks on the hiway now as well.

mine was a bitch getting the spacers in on top of the calmini springs. and my spring compressors will not work :(
1991 4 door kick, 2" coil spacers, 30" Coopers, winch, locker, rust, dents, etc.

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Offline bentparts

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Re: Hagen Widening mods
« Reply #2 on: March 12, 2007, 11:12:41 AM »
Actually, a modest increase in spring rate would be a good thing in my case. This whole business would be moot if Calmini didn't keep extending there back order date. It's been 4 weeks since I talked to them about a 3" kit, which was then on back order for 2 to 4 weeks, talked to them again today, " delays" are causing them to extend that another 4+ weeks. I've already made my own diff drop brackets and rear center link to diff spacer, might as well modify the control arms too and spend the money on some low range transfer case gears!
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Offline WorkInProgress91

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Re: Hagen Widening mods
« Reply #3 on: March 12, 2007, 02:11:55 PM »
Did you modify the exploder CV's and use those?  Run into any other issues?  pics? ;D
91 sidekick
2'' B/L, 2'' coil spacers
31'' swampers
winch
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Offline Mikerpm4x4

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Re: Hagen Widening mods
« Reply #4 on: March 12, 2007, 08:15:12 PM »
I have an Idea, dont laugh yet. I'm thinking I can cut out the spring cups from the control arms and re weld them back in at a better angle, say level with the suspension loaded. This would at least straighten out the bottom of the spring. Any opinions? Mr. Hagen ?

Sounds like a good idea. Ive had no coil problems but It would probabally be better if you could modify the coil pocket. An OME 962 would be a good coil for the front of your application.

Mike
If your not living life to the fullest then your not living at all.

You wont really know if your wrong till your upsidedown

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Offline bentparts

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Re: Hagen Widening mods
« Reply #5 on: March 13, 2007, 03:47:35 AM »
I finished modifing the coil pockets last night, too tired to take photos. I did fit them up for a test and they look 100% better. I'll get them cleaned and painted and get photo's posted tonight. Thanks for the input guys. Also, workinprogress, did you mean "explorer" cv's, because I just thought you were trying to be funny!
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Offline WorkInProgress91

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Re: Hagen Widening mods
« Reply #6 on: March 13, 2007, 07:42:48 AM »
explorer lol
91 sidekick
2'' B/L, 2'' coil spacers
31'' swampers
winch
custom bumper tank lift camouflage duct tape

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Offline bentparts

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Re: Hagen Widening mods
« Reply #7 on: March 13, 2007, 11:39:02 AM »
Workinprogress, I'm still using stock CV's for now, although I'm sure if I beat 'em hard enough they 'll become  " exploder" cv's! lol
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Offline WorkInProgress91

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Re: Hagen Widening mods
« Reply #8 on: March 13, 2007, 07:20:57 PM »
ok so if I understand this correctly, you can do the modifications to the rear control arm described on the hagen widening mod tech article, and if I choose to modify the explorer cv's, I can skip the second portion of the widening article that uses the 3 inner shafts and a spare cv, right?
91 sidekick
2'' B/L, 2'' coil spacers
31'' swampers
winch
custom bumper tank lift camouflage duct tape

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Offline Jimiweld

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Re: Hagen Widening mods
« Reply #9 on: March 19, 2007, 04:15:08 AM »
Hey Bentparts
 Any chance we can see those pics of your modified coil spring pockets after the widening mod. Any other pics of the wideniong mod would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Jim
1990 Tracker - 3.5" body Lift, 1.5 coil spacers, 31" TRXUS tires, homemade front bumper, Automatic Tansmission, 5.12 diff gears. Rear is Locked

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Offline bentparts

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Re: Hagen Widening mods
« Reply #10 on: March 19, 2007, 07:59:20 AM »
Sorry guys, been tied up with some other home fixit projects. Now that they're finished I'll get photos.
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Offline bentparts

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Re: Hagen Widening mods
« Reply #11 on: March 19, 2007, 04:48:06 PM »
 ??? Well, I finally got some photos posted of the modified control arms, and the widening parts on my flickr site, but the damn site is acting up. I wasn't able to put all the photos of the widening in one "set" but you can still view the photos, just look for the ones titled " hagen widening" at www.flickr.com/photos/bentparts
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Offline Jimiweld

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Re: Hagen Widening mods
« Reply #12 on: March 19, 2007, 06:31:47 PM »
Excellent job and nice pics, can't wait to see the rest of them. I like the spacers as well can't comment enough on how well it looks.  Thanks for the posting, this will help me alot with doing mine.
Regards
Jim
1990 Tracker - 3.5" body Lift, 1.5 coil spacers, 31" TRXUS tires, homemade front bumper, Automatic Tansmission, 5.12 diff gears. Rear is Locked

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Offline Mikerpm4x4

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Re: Hagen Widening mods
« Reply #13 on: March 19, 2007, 08:04:45 PM »
 That turned out pretty sweet. Nice fab skills.  8)

Mike
If your not living life to the fullest then your not living at all.

You wont really know if your wrong till your upsidedown

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Offline bentparts

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Re: Hagen Widening mods
« Reply #14 on: March 20, 2007, 03:33:42 AM »
Thanks Mike, coming from you that really means something!
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