[RoverMan]

so guys, i am starting with no suspension on my new truck, and i want to run leafs for simplicity. looking around on the web, i see a ton of pics of kick ass jeeps and yotas with fawkin ridiculous amounts of flex from leafs... what are the tricks? i want to stay away from revolver type shacles and buggy leafs for road manners. the truck will have around a 95" WB and should weigh around 4200 lbs (estimate), if any of that helps.

thanks

 

[66CJdean]

The trick is to run buggy leafs and or Revolvers <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0">
I didn't pick up any ill effects on road from putting on buggy leafs and I ran them front an rear for years. One other thing to do is run the longest springs you can.

[ 10-25-2001: Message edited by: 66CJdean ]

 

[RoverMan]

"I didn't pick up any ill effects on road from putting on buggy leafs and I ran them front an rear for years. One other thing to do is run the longest springs you can."

i figure that the longest spring i can run is around 52", maybe 53". 52 would be handy since i could run the leafs off of a GM truck. i really want to stay away from these things though cause there is a fair amount of off camber here in NE and i dont want to unload the uphill side suspension all of a suddent and throw the truck down a mountain side with me in it (without me in it is ok
<IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> )

[ 10-25-2001: Message edited by: Junk Collector ]

 

[RCKRATZ]

Two small things you can do to get a little extra flex, are to open up the spring clamps, and put teflon strips between the leaves. Allows the springs to open up, and lowers the friction between the leaves

 

[Ben W]

Make sure your shackles aren't limiting the springs. The more of an angle the shackle is at when the spring is perfectly flat, the more droop you may have. You want to leave some angle so you don't invert the shackles. Make sure the shackles are long enough that the spring can move throughout its full range of motion wihtout inverting the shackles in either direction.

Open up the spring clamps. Get the longest shocks you can (Usually 14" stroke).

 

[AxlesUp]

coat the leaves with graphite paint.
http://www.vansicklepaint.com/miscprod.htm

 

[RoverMan]

thanks, any other tips? supposing i use 52" GM springs, how many leafs should i pull from them? (95" WB, approx 4200lbs)

 

[NE-RokToy]

Originally posted by Rebel:
<STRONG>coat the leaves with graphite paint.
http://www.vansicklepaint.com/miscprod.htm</STRONG>

I was wondering where to get this stuff and see there based out of nebraska!!!! I've been loking for this crap forever

 

[64rovr]

top

 

[TheLakeRat]

Use thin leaves and teflon, (just like national and skyjacker softride)
Use long, flat arch srings.
Use shackles that don't have a cross between them so that they can move and flex independently.
Use Rubber bushings, they flex more than poly.
Don't tighten your shackle bolts too tight so they can flex. (that doesn't mean to leave them loose)
Use a center type torque arm. Not one on each side.

 

[ausjeep]

look very closely, it is the old invisible spring trick. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

well that is one way to get flex....

 

[64rovr]

sorry but id rather NOT kill myself on my way to school on the highway... <IMG SRC="smilies/rolleyes.gif" border="0">

 

[Al Kaholick]

Originally posted by 66CJdean:
<STRONG>The trick is to run buggy leafs and or Revolvers <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0">
I didn't pick up any ill effects on road from putting on buggy leafs and I ran them front an rear for years. One other thing to do is run the longest springs you can.

[ 10-25-2001: Message edited by: 66CJdean ]</STRONG>

you ran buggies on the front? Ive never seen that done, im guessing your shackles are at the front? otherwise your pinion angle would be jacked when it drooped, can i see some pics?

 

[Scrambled]

Keep everything greased, shackles, steering ect.

 

[jeep77cj5]

I grease the teflon pads and it really makes 'em move good!!

 

[woody]

I get good flex from my leaf springs....about a 1200 RTI on a 23 degree. I've got a 9 leaf spring pack in front and an 8 leaf in rear....LOTS of thin leaves, full military wraps, tapered leaf ends, poly bushings, nylock shackles to keep them slightly loose, springs are graphite painted. Shackles are at a 45 degree when the truck is at rest, springs are nearly flat. I run 14" stroke DT's in front and use all of them. No buggies or double shackles.

The key is the multiple thin leaves...and most pickup springs are too thick and stiff. Aftermarket is really your easiest option, either Alcan or National.

 

[ROKTOY]

And keep standard length perches.
Jay

 

[M.Martian]

Originally posted by Junk Collector:
<STRONG>thanks, any other tips?</STRONG>

I can't seem to find any of the pictures, but an alternative to buggies or revolvers/hinged shackes would be to go with a drop arm.

I saw a few that were nice where the rear shackle mounted up to an arm which hinged off the frame similar to a buggy leaf. The main difference is that you can setup a pin system to lock it down for on-road driving.

 

[Erik D_lux]

Originally posted by M. Martian:
<STRONG>I can't seem to find any of the pictures, but an alternative to buggies or revolvers/hinged shackes would be to go with a drop arm.

I saw a few that were nice where the rear shackle mounted up to an arm which hinged off the frame similar to a buggy leaf. The main difference is that you can setup a pin system to lock it down for on-road driving.</STRONG>

 

[Alfred]

you might do a nice thing to your spring packs and relieve some of the extreme tension that is created if your axle is twisted up...

here's a pic of a SWEEEET shackle... (forget for a moment that its on a 1/4e)...

pretty self-explanatory

alfred