I'm looking for ideas and suggestions from anyone who has done this conversion.
My latest project requires that I move the rear axle as far back as possible so I'm thinking .....1/4 eliptical.
Anybody out there have any good advice based on actual experience?
Any pics or good web sites?

if i remember....didn't Lil John do one?

John did a buggy spring rear suspension. He used 2.5" soft ride front springs for the upper portion of the set up. I'm not sure why though.

HTH. YMMV. :beer: :usa: :nuke:

I am currently doing one on my 45. I didn't think I was smart enough to design one properly the first try, so I am collaborating with Jason Conover (aka SNORTClown). He has probably done a dozen of these including the Web Daddy's. A pic of the control arm hangers on posted on my website and more will follow.

talk to calpolystud (suspension god thread) or PigPen (he'll be around here soo enough though)

Reddog specifically asked for actual experience. IMO this rules out Calpolystud. That is just my opinion, so read the loooong suspension god thread and make up your own mind.

Originally posted by Medusa
Reddog specifically asked for actual experience. IMO this rules out Calpolystud. That is just my opinion

lets not start this again

Reddog, this sounds like you still have not raised the level of your seats, and it gettin real hard to spot a guy you can't see.:flipoff2: HAhaha

Just messin with ya, but for real, there is a lot more to 1/4 elliptic than is seems, and i have been looking at designs of four link set ups for a long time, and reading all of the Phisics stuff on all of the crap like roll center, anti-squat, squat, instant center, and how to make it all work good. There is a lot more too it than making 4 bars with rod ends, and cuttin some leafs in half.(i know that you knew that one).

But i would not just jump into this one, i have seen two many link setups break, and you don't want that happening, not to metion the price of all of that thick wall tubing and cro mo rod ends adds up.

When i eventually make one i am going to do coil overs though. But for making the actual 1/4 elliptic spring can be easy but i believe that many setups, like lances and conover's, have too much ease of flex. Meaning that it does not take much to get insane flex out of it, and i would add a little pre load to the set up by putting a leaf uder the main leaf, as well as the needed ones above it. Just my opinion after watching the stuff work. The best 1/4 elliptic setup i have seen, that i think functions the best and absoulutly incredible is Shanon Campbles setup.

There is other ways of moving the axle back a bunch without going to four link, although four link is the coolest and best, but still the most complex and expensive, but look at the picks of frosy's rig, he has leafs and his axle is moved back a bunch and he has a verticle departure angle. Whith stock geometry rancho leafs.

I made some bitchen spring hangers, but i can't post pics because i did not pay my 20 bucks to get a star, but i can e-mail them to you if you wany to see them. In general there idea is they are above the level of the frame so that you won't get hung up on the rear leafs any more, and you could put them wherever you want. and they are extremely srtong.

My hands are tired now.

Ian-

how much do you need to move the axle back? this is for the turbo 400? I think you could get 6 inches plus by reversing and moving the hangers back. how much did frosty end up getting out of his? anyone remember?

Originally posted by 69cruzer
how much do you need to move the axle back? this is for the turbo 400? I think you could get 6 inches plus by reversing and moving the hangers back. how much did frosty end up getting out of his? anyone remember?

He made custom spring hangers, but i think he moved his back like 5-6 inches.

Ian-

I fully agree with Ian that both Lance's and Jason's rear suspension arguably have too much flex. Jason modified this design slightly for mine, and mine will be considerably more conservative in the flex department. I don't claim to be an expert in these suspensions, but it does appear to me that it is a lot easier to modify the setup to reduce flex than it is to increase flex.

And my earlier comment was not intended to re-open a controversy. It was intended to encourage interested readers to read the thread and form their own conclusions.

Originally posted by Medusa


And my earlier comment was not intended to re-open a controversy. It was intended to encourage interested readers to read the thread and form their own conclusions.

i refuse to even read that thread...... i have my own opinion on knowledge vs experience.....nuff said

I hope I didn't stir anything up with requesting opinions based on "actual experience". I'm afraid I'm not quite up to speed on that issue.
Anyway I think I'd like to take a look at Complaines spring hangers and try 69crzr's suggestions and see how far back the axle will possibly go before I go any further with 1/4 eliptical.

Ian, send me some pics please !:D
Just FYI I did raise the seats. I think that posted photo was an old one your father shot coming down the Old Sluice. Which BTW, that was one of the most bitchin trips I ever did on the Con !:D :D :D :smokin: :beer:

Ill get those pics as soon as posible.(asap)

Ian-

Originally posted by COMPLAINE
Ill get those pics as soon as posible.(asap)

Ian-

Thanks, can't wait to see them:)