Hi all,

I was curious to see what other people were doing out there for suspension, show your stuff and post you articulation pics with the details of your setup.

I am running, OME N76 shocks with 3" spaces on the shock body, 3" RTE springs with 2" custom perch blocks, RTE rear drop cones, Scorpion Racing front drop cones, DII shock towers shortened 2", Stock drivline w/ high angle flanges and a bit of extension, 2" Scorpion bumpstops, custom stainless steel brake lines...

We are starting on our 100" Hybrid soon and I would like to see what others are doing out there. I am very impressed with the setup I am currently running but there is always something better out there.

[For some reason I can't attach images, am I doing something wrong?]

Links to images:

Black Rangie up on logs... (http://www.get-rhino.com/whiterangie/black1.jpg)

White Rangie, serious drop out... (http://www.get-rhino.com/whiterangie/extreme.jpg)

:cow:

OME/Rancho 9000
http://hometown.aol.com/civcklr/images/dsc01897.jpg

You really need to work on your uptravel on your black Rangie. Especially in the front.

These pictures are a couple of years old. It had small tires on it then, but should be able to be a decent comparison.

Way

Way,

I notice that, what setup are you running? I find that I can't really drop the front out that well. I am running 5" front and rear links from RTE. At this point I think my drive shaft is stopping me from going further down/out. I seriously need to looking into a multi cardon shaft...

here is my jeep. it articulates like mad. nobody has more articulation than me.

http://www.trekken.tv/techtalk/jeep/arb_ome/scene0021.jpg

Oh no.... Not drop out cones. They suck hard. I ran Desert Rover rear drop outs for a few years and while the articulation is great and cheap, the instability is simply unacceptable for hardcore 4wheelin'. Definitely yesterdays technology for the Rover applications. And you don't see a single person running drop outs on the hardcore stuff on this board with the exception of the SG drop/captured spring retainers. Get flexy springs and retain them top and bottom, and you will be much happier, and safer offroad. You can get plenty of flex without dropouts.

Billster

BTW you need a red star to post pictures on the board.

Billster

Hi all,

I was curious to see what other people were doing out there for suspension, show your stuff and post you articulation pics with the details of your setup.

I am running, OME N76 shocks with 3" spaces on the shock body, 3" RTE springs with 2" custom perch blocks, RTE rear drop cones, Scorpion Racing front drop cones, DII shock towers shortened 2", Stock drivline w/ high angle flanges and a bit of extension, 2" Scorpion bumpstops, custom stainless steel brake lines...

We are starting on our 100" Hybrid soon and I would like to see what others are doing out there. I am very impressed with the setup I am currently running but there is always something better out there.

[For some reason I can't attach images, am I doing something wrong?]

Links to images:

Black Rangie up on logs... (http://www.get-rhino.com/whiterangie/black1.jpg)

White Rangie, serious drop out... (http://www.get-rhino.com/whiterangie/extreme.jpg)

Thanks for the info Franken, Nice setup on your rig. What type of springs are you running? Custom? One reason I ask is because A, we are working slowly on our 100" hybrid and I would like some more ideas but more importantly we are building a rig for the 2006 Outback Challenge and we are getting ready to start on the suspension system.

We were planning on going with a mix of RTE and Scorpion but I would be interested in hearing more about your "flexy" springs. Here in Florida we don't have much hard core rock and the black/white rangie is the first truck we have built up. I always felt a bit unstable with the cones but I didn't think there was much of an inbetween and thought the next thing would be coil-overs...I would be looking for something that could yield 4-5 inches of lift but still have the stretch to max out a 14" Billstein.

I would appreciate any info.

Thanks,

Springs are the 1st set of RoverTym 5"ers made. The rear are 110 springs (bigger in overall diameter), but have a low rate (around 200). The fronts are regular diameter and are also at about a 200 rate. The shocks in the rear are 10" travel Bilsteins, but they are obviously angle so I get MUCH more articulation out of them. The fronts are 14", and I max them out.

The worst thing about the uncaptured springs is when dropping off of a ledge at an angle. You are offcamber and as you drop off, the truck will roll over the center axis and unload the rear corner opposite the wheel that drops off. This can be very abrupt as the spring unseats and loses contact with the axle. I have very nearly rolled the old 90 twice in this situation.

I would much rather have a truck that ramps in the 1000 range and has retained springs than one that ramps 1200 with unretained springs. It will be much more stable in the extreme stuff.

Billster

Thank you for the info Franken, I am going to mull this over. I was thinking about moving my shocks from mounting on the outside to the inside at an angle like yours. I was going to make a bracket for where the self leveling unit used to bolt in. Bring them both up to the center. What would you thoughts on that be?

Could you send me a pic of how your rear shocks mount on the lower on the rear axle casing?

I was wondering the same thing about the cones. I drove a Jeep for several years before getting the RRC, and the cones take some getting used to. It seems when offcamber and pitched front to back it REALLY moves around, like it is hunting for the COG. I was inclined to try retained again, now that I notice bigger rigs are headed the same way I may swap out and try it for a while.

BTW, who makes upper spring retainers? Did you fab those yourself?

I fabbed the rear spring retainers. The fronts were a fancy set from Expedition Exchange. Pretty nice, but pricey.

I don't have a pict of the upper rear shock mount but it is pretty simple. It bolts to existing holes in the frame, and is a 1.5" tube with some simple plates on either end. Then it has some grade 8 bolts welded (head first) onto the tube. Pretty easy, and works very well. It also gets the shocks out of the way compared with the shocks up in the wheel wells.

The lower mounts is just a grade 8 bolt welded directly to the axle housing.

Billster

I got it... Keep it simple stupid, eh? What diamter bolt did you use? And are you using rubber or poly bushings in the shocks? If you get a change I could really use a photo for reference.

Sorry for the nagging BTW.

BTW you need a red star to post pictures on the board.



except for me. i must have special powers. dumbass :flipoff2:

http://wehrs.no-ip.com/temp/finger.jpg

Let me rephrase then for the dense crowd. You need a red star to post pictures that are hosted on the Pirate4x4 site.

Billster

except for me. i must have special powers. dumbass :flipoff2:

http://wehrs.no-ip.com/temp/finger.jpg

heres they only pic i have of mine

"we are building a rig for the 2006 Outback Challenge and we are getting ready to start on the suspension system."

The std recipe for the outback challenge is/was 2" body lift, 2" susp lift with retained springs, 35"centipedes, lockers and make everything water proof and bullet proof. To finish first, first you have to finish!
Take a look at Mike Smiths rangie, nothing overly trick to it, but reliable and has won heaps of events. I doubt it would ramp too flash but it gets the job done. Specs for the vehilce are here http://www.yorkshireoffroadclub.net/vehicles/rfc/
with some good videos of it in action
Kevin

This one shows some of my flex...

http://www.explorerforum.com/data/2/15014Explorer_Flex_2.jpg

here is my jeep. it articulates like mad. nobody has more articulation than me.
Bah. You got sick flex there. Mine's almost that good:
http://www.supermotors.org/getfile/99624/fullsize/44009402LECDIk_ph.jpg

oldies!!!1

my old Tj...on 33's
http://www.bensprouse.com/albums/album04/16_G.sized.jpg

on 35's
http://www.bensprouse.com/albums/album23/trailcutting_024.jpg

http://www.bensprouse.com/albums/album23/trailcutting_005.jpg

pic of mine, nothing super special


http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=168069&stc=1


http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=168070&stc=1

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=168074&stc=1

not bad for a fullsize I guess:

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/414000-414999/414017_234_full.jpg

here is my jeep. it articulates like mad. nobody has more articulation than me.

http://www.trekken.tv/techtalk/jeep/arb_ome/scene0021.jpg
I think your high centered, try backing off it. Little more driver....

Can't wait to SAS mine, Rear chevys good, IFS bad

http://www.supermotors.org/getfile/154360/fullsize/flex6.jpg

http://www.supermotors.org/getfile/154362/fullsize/flex8.jpg

custom long arm w/johnny joints and 6" rockready coils