space saving SUV rear suspension?

im building this 4runner right now and i got my frame all done with the echols rx7 irs clip that i had laying around..well i set it up with the wheelbase right on with the truck laid out..got the body on...for one...the width is almost too wide(the wheels rub some) i could maybe get around this..but thats just the start,as soon as i start to lift it..the rear end swings back...WAYY back..like..into the rear bumper back...i really wanted to use this setup due to the floor and rear seat saving space, but its just not going to work unless i drive it totally hammered all the time. im going to be mounting my fuel cell and air tank in the rear under the floor, so this eliminates a reverse 4link(bad idea i know..but it would WORK..sorta, for what i need) and if i do a forward triangulated or wishbone im killing my rear seat space, it seems the only two real possibilities i have are parallel 4link with bags over axle, or a 2link with bags on bars, the only downside i see to the parallell is the fact that i will now have to run bags over axle and not get enuf lift to untuck the 20s...BUT the other downside to ALL options EXCEPT IRS, is the fact that i will need a big driveshaft notch in my frame and tunnel in my floor, again taking away my seat space...maybe im answering my own questions here...but am i basically down to the option of no rear seat and a good rear suspension, or rear seat and floor space with a truck that only looks good when laid out? i know another type of IRS that has control arms vs trailing arms would work alot better for what im doing, but having something like that built, or buying something like that, is just not an option right now

Just a thought but if you built your frame you should be able to build some new control arms for the rear. Just convert it to a dual A arm setup. You would have to lose the subframe but I'm not too sure how you would do that. I tried to look at your pics but couldnt get a clear look at the hubs to see if that would work.

Good luck man, I want to see what you come up with. I was thinking about the same setup for the next project!

i agree with him, convert to an a arm setup. probably the easiest route. and it is totally worth it keeping the back seat. plan to do the same on my ramcharger. when i IRS it.

all i built was the center part of the frame..i used a 93 front clip and like i said above..and echols irs rear clip...theres no way i can make a whole new subframe and new arms for this rear end..i dont even think that would work with an rx7 rear..not sure tho

a while back aaron iha did the same thing but he was working with a supra rear end. from a 3rd gen. its still the same bolt pattern. get the issue of MT that had the tech of that in it. its on mike alexanders yota. im sure somebody can post pics or the tech. come on lucky, help him out.

You could always go to a junk yard and get a IRS out of a mid 90's thunderbird. Then you can just have the half shafts machined to the right width and your all good.

Originally posted by Severed701



all i built was the center part of the frame..i used a 93 front clip and like i said above..and echols irs rear clip...theres no way i can make a whole new subframe and new arms for this rear end..i dont even think that would work with an rx7 rear..not sure tho

yeah you can't really just build a set of arms for the mazda irs.

why its swinging out so much on you is weird... i've got no problem with mine.

Edited: 6/4/2008 12:42:19 AM by SHIFTBOY

Just wondering, when you set it up did you set it up with the bottom arms parallel to ground at half lift?

Here is the rear subframe for a 4 runner on 20's in Australia. This might help a bit.

i bought my rear clip about 3-4 years ago from larry echols at innovative air, he had a jig set up for making the rx7 clips...so i really dont know exactly how it was set up at what height and so forth..but i can tell you that its set up nearly identical to the way corey's is...with the only difference being my subframe is about in inch or two higher than his..im going to post aired up and aired out pics tomorrow so u guys can see how far this is moving

Edited: 6/4/2008 10:21:23 PM by e10pvmt

a T-Bird or Mark VIII IRS both use long arm short arm setups similar to those used in a front suspension setup.....Supras also use a multi arm setup but its a little more confusing of a setup.....here are pics of my Mark VIII IRS setup from my 4runners frame