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Custom spring flex

Mastiff

Mastiff

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I'm expecting the custom springs I ordered to show up any day now. I got them mostly to improve the ride, so I can stand driving the rocky roads near me without my fillings coming out. Flex is also a great thing though, so I'm wondering how much more to expect. With my sway bar disconnected, will my shocks be the limiting factor (factory K5 mounts). Should I start planning on some shock mount mods to make the most of the springs? Thanks.
 
I'm going to say that you need to plan on moving one or the other mount. Perhaps both.

Even if the travel length works the actual up or down travel may not work right
 
They'll use all of a 14" travel shock in articulation at either end, the stock mounts don't support that so plan on new mounts if you want to use all of the available articulation.
 
38377k5 said:
They'll use all of a 14" travel shock in articulation at either end, the stock mounts don't support that so plan on new mounts if you want to use all of the available articulation.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Is it okay for shocks to be the limiter, or will it harm them over time?
 
Chris is definitely right, the shocks will become the limiting factor. I'm running 4 inch ord springs up front with cheap rough country shocks until I get myself together enough to build shock towers that will work correctly. My shocks have served as bump stops and limiting straps for about 6 months now.(please don't read that as a recommendation, just note that they will experience those forces)

I think that for street driving you will be totally fine with running stock location shocks, but for wheeling, to get your moneys worth out of the springs, build some towers and get some big travel shocks. :thumb:

Also, you probably want to lose the sway bar completely. I haven't missed mine.
 
What's the right thing to do in the mean time, limiting straps?

Regarding sway bar, I have the ORD disconnects right now. I'd love to just get rid of the sway bar, but a lot of people claim the handling is pretty iffy on road without it. I'll probably just try it without and see how it feels. I'm not an aggressive driver, maybe that has something to do with it.
 
I have driven my truck in every possible type of situation without the sway bar and never noticed it missing. I towed a small trailer out to colorado, drove all through the mountains, drive in a bunch of fast paced Boston city traffic, and never once have I felt uncomfortable.

I'm guessing you are going with crossover steering? I'm not 100% sure there will be room for a sway bar.
 
ok can someone straighten this out for me. if the shocks are not supposed to be the limiting factor what is? the spring? im new to leaf front ends and just wondering.

currently my limiting factor is my brake lines lol. im ordering new ones from ord this afternoon. also thinking about the swaybar disconnect right away, but only for the extra inches it gives to improve location with a lift, for now.

i dont go very far off road, but i do drive on the limestone shelf along and in lake michigan,this point used to be under water. its a good place to launch jet skis. if something is going to break its going to happen to me when im somewhere im not supposed to be.
 
Richcz28 said:
I have driven my truck in every possible type of situation without the sway bar and never noticed it missing. I towed a small trailer out to colorado, drove all through the mountains, drive in a bunch of fast paced Boston city traffic, and never once have I felt uncomfortable.

I'm guessing you are going with crossover steering? I'm not 100% sure there will be room for a sway bar.
Click to expand...

Normal steering for now. Maybe all this flex will change my mind later.
 
chicken joe said:
ok can someone straighten this out for me. if the shocks are not supposed to be the limiting factor what is? the spring? im new to leaf front ends and just wondering.

currently my limiting factor is my brake lines lol. im ordering new ones from ord this afternoon. also thinking about the swaybar disconnect right away, but only for the extra inches it gives to improve location with a lift, for now.

i dont go very far off road, but i do drive on the limestone shelf along and in lake michigan,this point used to be under water. its a good place to launch jet skis. if something is going to break its going to happen to me when im somewhere im not supposed to be.
Click to expand...

For all suspension types (Leafs+Coils) you really need a good bump stop.

The bumps need to be set with a leaf to keep it from going past it's designed parameters as far as negative arch. Some leafs are designed to go into negative arch and not die from it, other springs may break down if taken negative.

For coils the bump is set just before the coil goes to coil bind OR the shock bottoms. There are a few (very few) coil over designs that allow for coil bind but it isn't recommended typically.

For either of the suspension types you should have a limit strap but can get away with out them with leaves.
You really need straps with a Coil suspension as the springs can't limit droop well/at all and it is really bad for any shock to be the droop limiter.

A leaf spring has the ability to act as it's own droop limiter provided the shackles can't invert. If the shackles can invert you need a limit strap to stop that from happening.

Cliff Notes: bump stop before negative (or the design parameters of the spring) arch OR coil bind OR shock bottom out. Limit strap before shackle inversion, OR full shock extension OR pulling the coil apart.
 
miniwally said:
For all suspension types (Leafs+Coils) you really need a good bump stop.

The bumps need to be set with a leaf to keep it from going past it's designed parameters as far as negative arch. Some leafs are designed to go into negative arch and not die from it, other springs may break down if taken negative.

For coils the bump is set just before the coil goes to coil bind OR the shock bottoms. There are a few (very few) coil over designs that allow for coil bind but it isn't recommended typically.

For either of the suspension types you should have a limit strap but can get away with out them with leaves.
You really need straps with a Coil suspension as the springs can't limit droop well/at all and it is really bad for any shock to be the droop limiter.

A leaf spring has the ability to act as it's own droop limiter provided the shackles can't invert. If the shackles can invert you need a limit strap to stop that from happening.

Cliff Notes: bump stop before negative (or the design parameters of the spring) arch OR coil bind OR shock bottom out. Limit strap before shackle inversion, OR full shock extension OR pulling the coil apart.
Click to expand...

thank you for the input an for dealing with my new guy questions
mike
 
chicken joe said:
ok can someone straighten this out for me. if the shocks are not supposed to be the limiting factor what is? the spring? im new to leaf front ends and just wondering.

currently my limiting factor is my brake lines lol. im ordering new ones from ord this afternoon. also thinking about the swaybar disconnect right away, but only for the extra inches it gives to improve location with a lift, for now.

i dont go very far off road, but i do drive on the limestone shelf along and in lake michigan,this point used to be under water. its a good place to launch jet skis. if something is going to break its going to happen to me when im somewhere im not supposed to be.
Click to expand...


Lake Michigan? Where you live? The sand dunes will show you what your limiting factors are :D
 
swaybar disconnect

Saw you were looking at ordering a swaybar disconnect. I have one from ord that has been used for 200 or so miles. If your interested I would be willing to sell it. Works great but I am going to be removing my swaybar as my truck is pretty much for offroad use only.
 
chicken joe said:
almost straight across from you, im an hour north of milwaukee. its all lime stone here, sand sounds likr fun
Click to expand...


Ride the lake express over for the hillbilly dune party next july. We will show you a good time :thumb:
 
metalneverdies said:
Saw you were looking at ordering a swaybar disconnect. I have one from ord that has been used for 200 or so miles. If your interested I would be willing to sell it. Works great but I am going to be removing my swaybar as my truck is pretty much for offroad use only.
Click to expand...

eventualy, kinda tight for $$$ till next month
 
So will the new springs seem like they have too much lift at first, until they settle a bit? Nothing conclusive yet, but I have just the rear springs installed and it seems quite a bit higher than it used to, and compared to the front. The lift theoretically didn't change. Though the old springs may have settled some too. It's still on stands, so I can't be totally sure of anything...
 
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