Ok, now that alot of us are hanging longer springs under our junk, with all the varieties I wanted to talk about the merits or pro's and cons of the centerpin location.
It's true (isn't it) that an axle located in the center of the spring pack will yield more travel than an axle thats off-set....right? (the overall spring lengths being equal of course)
I can see the advantages of pointing the short side of an off-set spring toward the ends of the vehicle (you don't have that spring hanging way out there for everything to hit)
So my question is, when does an off-set on a longer spring become a mute point? from a wheel travel standpoint.

Well, this is not yet the "voice of experience" but I have started a setup for my K30 using F150 offset rear leafs (57"). I'm planning to turn these around backwards so the pin will be 25" from the rear (was front) eye and 32" from the front. With the frame cut off at the rear hanger, that leaves very little overhang with my 42s. In order to prevent problems due to the short length of spring behind the axle (like pointing the pinion at the ground during droop for one), I've got a "Springer" swing arm in the back. Right now I've got the same setup together with a set of 56" springs pieced together out of stock GM 56" springs (using only 4 leafs and really flexy) and I've already got more travel than I can use. It'll need limiting straps to keep things under control, and the pinion stays pretty much pointed at the case. I’ve already got the F150 springs but didn’t put them under yet. I’m waiting to get a few more things worked out so I can do the new springs along with moving the axle forward 20+ inches to get a wheel base around 110-112 all at once. I don’t want to do the axle, e-brakes, and hangers more than necessary.

I'll be interested to see what others have to add on this subject. Maybe I'll learn something from someone else's experience for once rather than learning the "hard way after the fact". :D

4 Wheeler just had a little article on this. "Willies Workbench". Basically he said the purpose of the offset pin was to reduce axle wrap. I don't know what effect running the spring backward will have on axle wrap. I'm considering turning my springs around in order to move my axle back a few inches.

Originally posted by Nobody
4 Wheeler just had a little article on this. "Willies Workbench". Basically he said the purpose of the offset pin was to reduce axle wrap. I don't know what effect running the spring backward will have on axle wrap. I'm considering turning my springs around in order to move my axle back a few inches.

From what I understand, running the long side forward as you describe, you'll get wrap up and you'll need a trac bar. I forgot to mention that thats another plus for an offset, extending WB.
I'm trying to find the best of both worlds (if thats possible) the long wheel travel as a centered setup and the back end of the spring not sticking out there seven ways from Sunday.

I just put hiybrid spring packs under the front of my sami and used a yota rear as the main leaf. This moved my axle about 3" forward and they flex even better than my YJ's did. I would be a little concerned about running such a big offset on the rear especially under a fullsiz with mucho HP. You should be good with a traction bar though.

Doctor G
I am running these off set springs in the front of my rig, I don't believe that they will give me ton's more travel, but I would believe them to give a better ride, so if the travel is as good and the ride is better than with centered shorter springs I believe them worth the trouble if they are not overly exspensive.

I feel an offset spring with the long side in the frame mount and the short side attached to a shackle with rubber bushings and no crossbrace will have MORE flex then centered pin spring because most travel is limited by the fixed side binding. i feel my 52" long springs with offset center will have similar droop to an even longer spring because the front half will twist like a longer spring and the back won't twist much because of my shackle.

Cons include axle wrap and spring bending, I plan to securly clamp the second leaf (which slightly wraps around the main eyes) to the main leaf to avoid any spring bending and running a ladder bar style traction bar.

Just run offset springs already :flipoff2:

Originally posted by NE-RokToy
my 52" long springs

Just run offset springs already :flipoff2:

52's with offset. Waggy springs...........right?
:flipoff2: good to hear from you Jeff

oops just measured they are about 49" long, I think they were 51 before I added some leafs to increase the arch. Oh yeah they are 89 toyota rear springs with a 22" short side so about 2.5" offset. With my 37's the back of the frame will only be about 6" behind the back of the tire :D to bad I don't want 44's!

I may qwit this pissing around and just do the Waggy springs or Dakota springs as opposed to doing the custom 52" Alcan job with pins centered. considerably cheaper and a whole lot less confusing.
This is what happens when I try to out trick the masters, Jeff and Dean :D

i think the pro's outweigh the cons.
pro's:
more twist due to the longer leaf
less overhang
more wheelbase whilst keeping a shorter(stiffer) frame
cheaper than buying new long custom springs.

cons:
more axle wrap
the pinion actually moves down when the axle drops.

small stuff really, the pinion going down isnt even a real issue as most of us have pinions tilting way up in the first place.

i say go for it, but who am i ??:beer:

Dude go centered for the rear and slightly offset in the front....towards the solid mount and go Alcan...damn nice ride made for your weight vehicle, unless the waggy is real close...I did 52's on mine and damn they ride nice and flex good....resulting in another driveshaft and shocks....

For the rear look for the 3/4 ton Dakotas and for the front I would get a 5 leaf set from a Durango because they don't have the overload and are desinged that way as opposed to taking it off. I like my HD Dakota replacements from JC Whitney that I ran all year without a problem. An antiwrap bar is a must and buggy the short end on the rear will give you plenty of travel.
Pros....They flex better....They ride better....and least of all they have that cool factor
Con's....They must have a wrap bar.....They need to have the 2 top leafs clamped together or the top leaf Will bend (I have done it on 3 sets).....They take some messing around with the get the spring rate right.