I was going to order spring for my FJ40 from Alcan and mentioned the I wanted to "flip" my rear springs so I would want the military wrap on the long side/spring hanger side.

Here is what Alcan told me:

<i>

Yes I can make them that way I just don't suggest it . The big reason is flex the shackle end of any spring is the end that does
most of the work in flexing and we have found in some test we have done and from some customers who decided to do it that way , that the whole suspension gets in a bind much faster and will not articulate any farther . I can build them any way you want I just don't suggest it .

</i>

Has anyone who has flipped their rear springs experienced binding or articulation problems with this setup?

:confused:

I flipped my stock rear springs so the military wrap is at the shackle end. No problems binding. I did have to clearance the shackle gusset a little to fit the wrap though.

I have a BJ40. Dunno what it did O/R, but the two longer leaves on the pass. side in front, (mili. wrap side on the frame pin) are bent. They seemed stock, and mounted as stock. SO I think bending occurs...

btw, I had a hard time trying to unbend them. No way yet...

HTH,


Bye,

If you are having custom springs made why don't you take advantage of it and have them make longer springs with a centered pin ala FJ55 rears? You just need to flip the rear spring hanger around and to accomodate the longer length. That way you have a longer wheelbase and even flex.

btw, I had a hard time trying to unbend them. No way yet...

Ahh yeah.....You may wanna consider getting a new set now!!!

Jeff

Originally posted by Cruiserhaven
Has anyone who has flipped their rear springs experienced binding or articulation problems with this setup?




I haven't seen any binding problems during suspension travel due to flipped springs. I have seen more bent springs and more axle-wrap with flipped springs. Have them build you FJ55-like springs (make the short side 3.5" longer so they are symmetrical). Then relocate your shackle hanger for optimal shackle angle. You will then have the longer wheel-base, more flex, and a more comfy ride.

Bear with me, I've only had a half a cup of coffee so far this morning, so this may be really stupid and I'll be embarassed later but here goes...

How does going the longer spring route with a centered pin (#3 below) move my axle back given that the shackle end can't be moved back farther (it's at the end of the frame after all) and you are moving the spring hanger inwards (towards the front). Or is the only reason that this is being suggested is for better flex?

Here's my best ASCII art:


1. current scenario (short/long off-center)

..........hanger.......pin/axle.....................shackle
..............()----------|--------------------[]


2. flipped spring (long/short off-center)

..............()--------------------|----------[]


3. longer spring (w/centered pin)

..()--------------------|-------------------[]


4. standard spring length (w/centered pin)

..............()---------------|---------------[]


What am I missing here?

Would I be better off maybe just doing a centered pin on the
standard length spring (#4).

While added flex would be nice, my main objective is to move the axle backwards (so I can run a longer tranny) otherwise I would just buy a cheaper 4" spring/lift kit and keep the axle where it is.

You missed the part about removing the rear spring hanger and moving it back. This will move the rear hanger location back so you can run the centered pin springs without moving the front spring hanger forward like you are describing in your ascii art. Go to the FJ55 spring swap page on Woody's site. He describes everything in detail there.
FJ55 spring swap page (http://woody.ih8mud.com/springs-rear.html)

The longer, centered springs will give you more articulation without the uneven flex and uneven spring wrap that comes with just flipping the stock set.

Originally posted by Shipwreck
You missed the part about removing the rear spring hanger and moving it back. This will move the rear hanger location back so you can run the centered pin springs without moving the front spring hanger forward like you are describing in your ascii art. Go to the FJ55 spring swap page on Woody's site. He describes everything in detail there.
FJ55 spring swap page (http://woody.ih8mud.com/springs-rear.html)

The longer, centered springs will give you more articulation without the uneven flex and uneven spring wrap that comes with just flipping the stock set.

Thanks for the link (a picture's worth a thousand words), I said I'd kick myself. So the rear shackle hanger is flipped around. Very cool. I love woody's site!

Thanks!

:beer:

since yer ordering from Alcan, you may as well get them even longer....

IMO, order them with the double wrap on the solid mount end, 23.5" from solid eye to pin, and 48-49" in length. This will give you 24.5-25.5" of leaf behind the center pin, and give you even more droop. Also, my shackle is not "tehnically" reversed but is about 1.5" behind stock...a true reverse of the shackle mount moves it back another inch or so. This will locate your axle 3.5" back from stock, the SAME as if you were doing a spring reversal, but will give you closer-to-stock geometry because of the longer leaf pack.

Also provides the advantage of reversing your shackle hanger back and dropping in a reversed stock set should you break one on the trail...one of the things I like about my setup too....heh

Originally posted by woody
since yer ordering from Alcan, you may as well get them even longer....

IMO, order them with the double wrap on the solid mount end, 23.5" from solid eye to pin, and 48-49" in length. This will give you 24.5-25.5" of leaf behind the center pin, and give you even more droop. Also, my shackle is not "tehnically" reversed but is about 1.5" behind stock...a true reverse of the shackle mount moves it back another inch or so. This will locate your axle 3.5" back from stock, the SAME as if you were doing a spring reversal, but will give you closer-to-stock geometry because of the longer leaf pack.

Also provides the advantage of reversing your shackle hanger back and dropping in a reversed stock set should you break one on the trail...one of the things I like about my setup too....heh

Cool. This is what I will do then.

:)

Originally posted by dog walker


Ahh yeah.....You may wanna consider getting a new set now!!!

Jeff

Jeff, never say this to my father. He kindlyspent a part of his weekend painting 13 spring packs : :D
-6 :usa: 4" inch lift that I bought recently
-the 4 old ones from my '75 that got lifted tonight
-3 from my '80 that's being frame-off resto'd....

I don't really need springs right now:rolleyes:

:beer: :beer:

Bye,