Better Flex !?

[my45]

Just wondering which springs to remove to get better travel on my fj45 :) ;). I'm about to do a SOA so the springs will be easy to change. Do the load bearing springs make much diferance to the travel at full compression?Should they be removed?

Cheers
Adam

[wooders]

If you are planning a SOA I wouldn't look at removing any leafs untill you let it settle in.....Reason being you are much more likely to experience axle wrap with a SOA, and if you remove a leaf (or 2) it's going to be even more likely.
However as I said in my last response in the other thread I've little experience with leafs...so it's just my thoughts and not my actual experience (Think it's important for you to have this context)....

[big red]

wooders sounds like he is on he right track but a couple i've seen used original springs that sat fairly flat so i dont know how many leaves they removed.
shane :)

[my45]

will a 4-link stop axel wrap?

[The Goodz]

Excuse my ignorance, but can someone tell me what is axle wrap?

Alex

[my45]

I think that its when under acceleration the axel may twist the spring ~, this is not a good thing.

Correct me if i'm wrong.

Cheers
Adam

[wooders]

Pretty much correct.
Alxe wrap is where the troque of the engine combined with the traction of the tyres leads to a twisting force in the differential housing.
With leaf springs (especially SOA) the housing twists the leaf into a slight "S" shape, and then naturally releases giving riase to another "feature" called "axle hop"....Axle wrap is not desirable becuase it inhibits smooth appliaction of power and in many offroad situations will mean you loose traction where you really need it....
Sorta make sense??

[Guts]

To add to wooders reply, if the wrap is bad enough it can cousre the uni in the tail shaft to lock up which in turn will snap your pinion off :o

[wooders]

Especially since you got the turbo huh mate ;)

My 45, many beers ago, I removed the 2nd stage, except the large fat one which I cut the back off so it stuck out the front upside down, this prevented axle wrap, allowed flex, and I removed 3 leaves from the primary pack, the first is the army wrap safety spring, the 3rd is the most important in the pack, but if your load is constant, the closer to all the same length the leaves are the more flexible the spring, and more like a coil spring rate. so you can remove the shorter "packer" springs.

My 45 had the chassis removed at the rear hangers, a light weight rear bar, 35's so rear weight wasnt an issue either.

But you can add a track bar to the diff like a front hilux design in principle, but toallow more flex, just ensure it is the same length, and works in the same arc as the leaf compression/extension does.

To make them ride better, add greasable shackles, file and round all the sharp leaf edges that rub, get the faces that rub sandblasted and painted, and then add the stickiest grease you can find between them too.

USe the leaves to "suspend" the car, use the shocks to control the movement, if the bumpstop clearance is right, the car hits the stops because the shock is to soft, not because the spring is... [within reason obviously]

[my45]

Thanks 4 the tips Shed Guy ;D ;D ;D

No worries, feel free to pm or email me if you have any more questions.

[my45]

Sorry to be a pain, but what are BULLOCKS? Bigballs O/R makes them, and they say that it increases travel?

I have absolutly no idea what they are or how they work :-[

Thanx

[my45]

Sorry to be a pain, but what are BULLOCKS? Bigballs O/R makes them, and they say that it increases travel?

I have absolutly no idea what they are or how they work :-[

http://www.bigballsoffroad.com/prod94.htm

Thanx

They are a bush replacement for the spring which rotate freely, unlike a bush which binds, they may increase travel, but they will make the travel you have work a little easier.

[my45]

so do u think that they'd be worth the money (about $100)

Cheers

depends on what you want,,,,
the factory bushes are cheaper and easier to maintain, there are lots of areas's to improve travel, longer shocks being one of them.

[wooders]

Well the other option is the Revolver style shackles.
They are somewhat conroversial right now as some believe they clatter and other they they can lead to bending the spring - but others again ARVE abot the huge increase in flex that the revolvers provide.....Need more details??

[my45]

Nah, i've seen the claimax shackels. they look like a good and easy way to gain a bit more articulation.