[revor]

Okay the nomex suit is on and I've been searching for information but come up with very little that is useable.

I have project that needs some springs, it's a clean slate so I can use pretty much any spring set up I want. As for the rest of the suspension it's a wishbone trailing arm type rear with a three link up front.

While out and about I have seen some coil Jeeps do some pretty crazy flexing so I'm inquiring about what springs you guys use to make this happen?

Do you guys have info on spring rates, free length, wire diameter etc in some secret vault somewhere?

I'd like to avoid the answer "Coilovers".

 

[flatlander757]

There aren't really any coil springs that will truly give you "crazy flex" with the performance of coilovers... because in order for "crazy flex" you will without a doubt unseat a coil from the bucket to do so.

Just get whatever springs happen to give you the correct height and that's about all you can do.

I can't say much for the rear coil springs, but stock TJ front springs are about 12" with the weight on the vehicle. Add "X" amount to that to determine what size "lift springs" you need to find. From what I've heard most Rubicon Express springs sit a bit higher than advertised, usually close to an inch higher. This works out great if you have a lot of weight added to the chassis(like a big ass winch or heavy bumpers, etc).

My 3" Full Traction springs up front measure 15" with the weight on them. Go figure.

:homer:

edit: The springs that have the largest free length vs smallest compressed height will have the most USABLE flex. I do know that the Rough Country 2.5" springs are known for being great for this.

 

[AgitatedPancake]

Yeah, Your downtravel is pretty much limited by cloil length as Flatlander said. You can get super soft coils that are really long and stay seated through your entire flex, or inboard your stiffer coils to get the same effect but you lose a TON of your stability as you start doing that, having a much higher tendency towards body roll.

In my WJ at the moment, I've got both front and rear suspensions downtravel limited due to coils unseating. I've got the absolute maximum amout of droop possible on both ends. There is one way to get more useable travel out of your setup, allow more uptravel. I'm very satisfied with how my WJ works, but I've been redesigning everything around a ton more allowed uptravel, with the same useable downtravel means I'll have more overall movement.

In the front end I have my springs clamped top and bottom, they try to unseat just as my 12" long shock maxes out. In the rear I have triangulated shocks so I had to put a limit strap to stop the rear coils from dropping out stupid distances. I let the top mount slide down the spring post a couple inches before the straps pull tight, with the bottom of the spring clamped to the axle.

It get's the job done pretty damn well. Rear was just starting to unseat here, and the tires touch the fenders at full bump.

My springs are Claytons 6" springs with an approximate 200inch/lb spring rate up front, and 220 out back, truck weighs 5500lbs.


AFAIK Rubicon Express coils are a softer 185 inch/lbs, should be a little more stretchy for you and better for a lighter rig

 

[revor]

Thanks for the responses guys, fair and honest.
The more I know the better decisions I can make one this matter.

 

[Beat95YJ]

There is a thread with a bunch of tj spring data in it. Search for it.

If you are really sold on a lot of flex, look for progressive springs like synergy's jk stuff.

 

[rockchip]

I use ford areostar rear springs on mine they work great they are variable rate, you can get them at some parts stores about 50$ is what I paid.

 

[Skorch]

Spring rates

I am pretty sure I got this from that thread. I can only attest to the Superlift #s as that is what I have and have previously rated them before install. They were within 5lbs of the chart. Mark

 

[Hucky]

There are a few places you can have custom springs made, cost is about 180 a pair. I made a set for my LJ that ended up being a smidge too light. I was going for the low centr of gravity stance of about a 2.5 inch lift with 13 inches of travel (4 up and 9 dn) and not coming unseated at full drop. I can tell you one set i had made had a free lenghth of 25.5" with a rate of 105lbs/inch. They probably should have been about 120/inch and require a progressive rate bump stop like a timbren or air bump. The down side is about 4 weeks lead time and you need to be very very accurate on you sprung weights. Btw you'll need a long travel shock with a very short collasped lenght. Doetsch was the only company I found that made them.

 

[revor]

Very cool information.. That list helps! I could not find it in all my search's, just bad at it I guess.
I am also considering custom coils but I'll have to commit and buy something for mockup which is okay.

 

[bjordan]

What do you have against coilovers? If you are thinking about getting custom coils why not use that money and just go coilover and have unlimited spring rate combinations? You can get coilover springs from summit for 40$ if you want to change the rates and lenghth.

 

[AgitatedPancake]

If that quote of $180/pair for custom rate springs is accurate, That's the same price you get any pair of coil springs for, still weeeellllll below the cost of coil overs

 

[Hucky]

Custom springs from Coil Spring Specialties ??? Kansas

I believe thats what coil spring specialties charged me for what i described above. And that was just over a year ago. Add another 95 each for the Doetsch 2.2 shocks and you are around $190 a corner which is 1/2 what coilovers cost. After a few trips on the trail, I spent another 45ea for some tembren bump stops to help with the higher speed stuff ( i have a fat right foot). Im using the stock coil bucket and shock mount at the top and built a big landing pad inside the coilsprings which doubles as the coilspring mount. If you decide to order custom coils you have to be pretty specific about what you want. Tell them they are for a buggy not a jeep. Once you say jeep people have a tendency to think of lift kits and want to sell you whats in the book and standard for a lifted jeep. Also take a look at the tembren bumpstops as they actually become part of the suspension cycle. Mine collapse 2.75 inches and really increase the overall springrate at full compression. They help with smooth landings when you put the frontend in the air or just want to go fast in the whoops.