Thinking about doing a 1/4 eliptical on the rear and soa the front on a 40, anybody tried this?? :beer:

plenty-
what you tryin to accomplish?

i am doing this, f150 springs in teh front and econoline 350 springs used for the rear. 4 link! jiMMy

My FJ45 Truggy is getting this suspension. The rear is a SNORTclown-built, 4-link using F350 springs ( similar to the web daddy's). For the front I am planning to use the FJ45 50"-long rear leaf springs. JC is delivering all of the 4-link parts and my Aggresive Off-Road beadlock wheels tomorrow on his way down to the CalRocs event. I am so stoked :bounce2:

there is one here in Oz, one the biggest event here ealrier in the year

To me it just seems like alot of effort to go to for not really that much gain over a good set of leaf spring. It may go up a ramp further, but in real wheeling you gain nothing. That and you've just added a bunch more stuff that can cause a problem on the trail. That's my opinion anyway:D .

You haven't driven in a 4 link equipt vechicle have you...?

Originally posted by Pig Pen
You haven't driven in a 4 link equipt vechicle have you...?

Actually, yes I have, and I was not really impressed. For the amount of work that went into it, it did not work any better than what what my leaf spring and traction bar set-up did. It also didn't really flex any better. Yes, the rear had tons of flex to it, but by the time the front end (SOA) started to move the body was already leaned over so far that it started to pull tires off the ground. For a rock crawler it's really hard to beat a well balanced leaf sprung suspension.

ERICFJ40, will your stock leaf springs do this??

http://www.pirate4x4.com/trailreports/carnage_on_the_con_2001/lance006.jpg

In my experience and in terms of articulation, a stock leaf spring suspension does not come close to a 1/4 elliptical suspension. Granted it can be too extreme (as Lances is in the photo above), and the rear may need to be restrained and flex in the front enhanced. I respect your opinion, but I personally like the articulation offered by a properly designed 1/4 elliptical suspension.

I am trying to accomplish a dynamic trail rig that will adapt & overcome the majority of obsticals that get in the way!!!!


Thats cool, sounds like you guys have done this a time or two,
i have a couple questions why the ford springs? more flex?
has anyone ever had this set up on a street legal vehicle? Is the body roll to much to be using on the street? I think i am going to start here soon I have my spring packs for the rear i just need to figure out what i am goin to do up front .

Originally posted by Medusa

In my experience and in terms of articulation, a stock leaf spring suspension does not come close to a 1/4 elliptical suspension. Granted it can be too extreme (as Lances is in the photo above), and the rear may need to be restrained and flex in the front enhanced. I respect your opinion, but I personally like the articulation offered by a properly designed 1/4 elliptical suspension.

hey medusa! love your website dude, uhhh, will you be updating it anytime soon with your fj45s? cause im keen to see an in depth article (like your cruiser one) on what you are talking about above! and yeah i agree that a 4link and 1/4 could handle on road pretty well, as well as a leaf setup even! yet can flex out of sight!!

plus how them utes (flatbeds) coming along?


cheers
rob

Originally posted by Medusa
ERICFJ40, will your stock leaf springs do this??

In my experience and in terms of articulation, a stock leaf spring suspension does not come close to a 1/4 elliptical suspension. Granted it can be too extreme (as Lances is in the photo above), and the rear may need to be restrained and flex in the front enhanced. I respect your opinion, but I personally like the articulation offered by a properly designed 1/4 elliptical suspension.

Medusa, the picture you posted shows exactly what I am talking about. The rear 1/4 Elip' is all over the place but the front end hasn't moved, as you noted, throwing the rig into a very ackward position. As I recall Lance had some issues with this and has been working to resolve them. I am not saying that a well built 1/4 elip system is a bad thing. What I am saying is that it takes a lot of time and trial and error to get them right. As for flex, my leaf sprung rig (fullsize bronco leaves all around) will go over 1000 on a 30 degree ramp, why does anyone need more than that? I just think that for the average guy building in his garage, it is much easier to get a straight leaf spring set up right than any link system.

Once again, not trying to be an ass just stating my opinion:)

Originally posted by EricFJ40


Medusa, the picture you posted shows exactly what I am talking about. The rear 1/4 Elip' is all over the place but the front end hasn't moved, as you noted, throwing the rig into a very ackward position. As I recall Lance had some issues with this and has been working to resolve them. I am not saying that a well built 1/4 elip system is a bad thing. What I am saying is that it takes a lot of time and trial and error to get them right. As for flex, my leaf sprung rig (fullsize bronco leaves all around) will go over 1000 on a 30 degree ramp, why does anyone need more than that? I just think that for the average guy building in his garage, it is much easier to get a straight leaf spring set up right than any link system.

Once again, not trying to be an ass just stating my opinion:)

hey dude, can you put up some stat on your rig, or email em to me if tyhey are secret?
comawn tell me, what wheelbase length? what width have you got? any work to the hangers or spring packes? :rasta:

No secrets. My wheelbase is about 94", Width is 86" to the outsides of the tires, 64-65" WMS-WMS. As I said the springs are all mid-80's fullsize Bronco rears with the overloads removed. The rear springs are inboarded about 2" per side, the fronts are stock width. Other than pulling the overloads I did no special work to the springs, The friggin things just MOVE! I am also running 9012's all around, in front they actually limit what these springs can do.

does in boarding help with the flex? (in the rear)
have you landcruiser diffs or bigger?
(we, sadly do not get american trucks over here, so me tracking down some bronco springs would probably be outta the question, what $$ do you pay for them over there?) and also anything i can do to my landcruiser springs remove leaf or what??
get some lifted ones and remove leafs?

i would rather have my leafs flexing like crazy then go to all the effort like you said of setting up the 4 link, but i do want a four link, altho its a fair bit of work! does shackle angle affect the amount of flex you can get? what angle does your shackles sit at just on flat ground, ?

Inboarding the springs does help with flex. It gives the axles more leverage over the springs. I have a Dana 70 rear and Dana44 front axle which are considerably wider than stock and that also adds to articulation.

Over here the springs I am running cost about $25 a peice in wrecking yards. As for your stock springs you do have some options to make them work. When I was running stock springs I removed the bottom two short leaves and added in two longer leaves higher up in the pack. This made for a soft spring that flexed well. You might also look into FJ-55 springs, they are longer than the '40's and can be made to flex very well.

Shackle angle does play a big part in getting the springs to move freely. I usually set mine at about 30-35 degrees off of vertical, with the top of the shackle toword the center of the spring. Also make sure you have a long enough shackle to get full travel. Mount the longest shocks you can find also, make custom mounts or whatever you have to do. Hope this helps.

cheers dude :beer:

i will set my shackles up and get it flexxin
also, i may only remove one leaf, cause these springs are SOFT :eek:



:beer:
rob