Stock 52" spring travel....

[Deuling]

Does anybody know what kind of bump travel you can safely achieve with stock 52s with the overload before you start ruining them?

Im setting up my air bumps in the rear with the intent on running some ORD springs in the future. But for now I will be running the stock springs... My bumps will be set just shy of 6" static bump travel. But I can install a tube spacer between the can and bump stop so that I dont kill these springs really fast in the dunes if it is necessary. And then remove the spacer later on when i pony up for the ORD springs.

 

[blazinzuk]

Set full bump when the spring is flat. Those will really start to wear when they go into negative arch

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Give us a call on Monday when we're open, spring going to negative arch isn't a problem with good springs.

 

[Deuling]

Set full bump when the spring is flat. Those will really start to wear when they go into negative arch

Really? All the flexing people do with 52 front spring swaps etc and that's as high as they will go? That's only like 3" bump travel... Just figured at least 4"

Give us a call on Monday when we're open, spring going to negative arch isn't a problem with good springs.

Ok will do.

 

[cybrfire]

Really? All the flexing people do with 52 front spring swaps etc and that's as high as they will go? That's only like 3" bump travel... Just figured at least 4"

Only like 3" on your already worn out springs. But yeah, not much more than that on a new set. Not much arch to them to being with but that's the point I guess.

 

[blazinzuk]

Really? All the flexing people do with 52 front spring swaps etc and that's as high as they will go? That's only like 3" bump travel... Just figured at least 4"



Ok will do.

trust me I have ruined a couple sets.

 

[Deuling]

Well I talked to Stephen, he gave me some good info and some things to look out for on my suspension setup..... But i think im still gonna setup the bumps with a tube spacer to run 4.5" of bump travel with these springs.



Ill make it an experiment

 

[sreidmx]

Wow 4.5... I have bent plenty of these to know that's quite a lot.. The most I ever came up with stock springs on a stock truck was around 11 inches vertically max.. After that they bend and sometimes break. Ask me how long it takes to swap these? I've done it 10-15 times.. But I got a strong back and arms now lol.. Facepalm

 

[sreidmx]

Oh I'll add that doubling up on the longer springs if you can will help prevent it from bending and spring clamps also make a big difference but reduce down travel.

 

[Stomis]

Set full bump when the spring is flat. Those will really start to wear when they go into negative arch

Yep. I was going to say the same thing. Or even 1/2in below that just for longevity sake.

These springs are 30 years old, lets not forget. I believe the rule of thumb has always been that if the spring was arched from the factory its not suppose to be put past that arch. If it was flat or negative that obviously its fine.

 

[Deuling]

If I set them to 3", my bump stops will have to sit on the pads at ride height...

Ok maybe I'll try 4. You guys are no fun

 

[6.2Blazer]

Not sure that "negative arch" is a true issue. I'm a mechanical engineer and worked for years in the automotive world and never heard of this prior to it coming out on the internet (everything on the internet is true, right?).

I think it is just the total amount of deflection the spring is subjected to regardless of whether it is negative, positive, blah, blah, blah. When springs go into what people call negative arch it is simply that they are deflecting a lot, and any piece of metal will eventually fatigue/bend/break if bent far enough. Also keep in mind that when springs compress, to the point of "negative arch" there is a lot of force and weight put on them. You don't see the issue when the suspension droops because it is just the weight of the tire and axle pulling down the springs which isn't nearly as much force as when it compresses under the all the weight of the vehicle.

 

[Blue85]

I've been posting this same thought for a while. The spring steel has no idea if the overall arch is negative or positive. It only knows how much it has deflected from the static position. And like you said, even ride height is compressed from the static "free arch", while droop is not much below it.

A 12" lift spring will be destroyed before even getting close to flat, while a stock front spring is negative while you're parked at the curb. A 2" front lift spring is probably going negative/positive 12 times every mile.