Custom Suspension Idea

Unforgiven

solid fixture here in the forum
I have been kicking this idea around all last winter.
What I am looking for is a way to allow weight transfer easier, while still using my leaf springs.

I will add pics tomorrow to make it easier to understand.

My Idea is to remove 3-4 leafs out of the 6 leaf stack and add a spacer to fill the void left on the perch.
I then was going to remove the shocks and replace them with variable rate coilover shocks.
Most guys would say to just 4-link it but I want to be different and stay with a leaf spring suspension..
Yes this is on a big 4x4 truck.
I am already set up with a custom made slide link ladder bar set up for the rear, and was thinking that by retaining the leafs , their job would be to not only hold the truck to height, but keep the axle in place from side to side. The coilovers would also help with maintaining the ride height but would allow for more adjustability
for any given event I may enter. Example: I could switch to a higher rate coil for jumping, or, a lesser rate
coil for more weight transfer when drag racing.
There is more to it , but what are your thoughts on this matter.

I will post pics tomorrow.
 
You are made of money so I guess it doesn't matter :cool:, but my first two thoughts are how much
with the coilover shocks plus several sets of springs cost and how hard will it be to change out the
springs? If it's too much trouble then after a few times changing them you might just go without.
What if you need to change them in the field 2-3 times. Don't mean to rain on your parade, but
just thinking thru the reality of the setup.

Why not buy adjustable shocks? It may not be as good, but you will be able to change the dampening
parameter in just a couple of minutes. Go right back out for some test/practice. Actually ..... put the
two together??? Make your best guess at home and then use the shock adjustment to fine tune.
 
I have been kicking this idea around all last winter.
What I am looking for is a way to allow weight transfer easier, while still using my leaf springs.

I will add pics tomorrow to make it easier to understand.

My Idea is to remove 3-4 leafs out of the 6 leaf stack and add a spacer to fill the void left on the perch.
I then was going to remove the shocks and replace them with variable rate coilover shocks.
Most guys would say to just 4-link it but I want to be different and stay with a leaf spring suspension..
Yes this is on a big 4x4 truck.
I am already set up with a custom made slide link ladder bar set up for the rear, and was thinking that by retaining the leafs , their job would be to not only hold the truck to height, but keep the axle in place from side to side. The coilovers would also help with maintaining the ride height but would allow for more adjustability
for any given event I may enter. Example: I could switch to a higher rate coil for jumping, or, a lesser rate
coil for more weight transfer when drag racing.
There is more to it , but what are your thoughts on this matter.

I will post pics tomorrow.
I like your idea using Leaf Springs yet.
I like the Slide A Link Traction bar layout also.
Have a set of Competition Engineering -Moroso Traction bars on my 70 TA.
It used to spin wild Hammering on it any speed unless going 100 mph and still smoke the tires people following me said.
Slide A Links and Mickey Thompson Drag Radials added it hooked instant.
Car still handled nice too cornering.
Different from Cal Tracs.
No one believes me how good Slide A Links work.
I was at Byron 2014 for end of season finals.
A bracket racer ran 9.90 ET in a 1978 Firebird. Small tire car like mine 275 radials.
Slide A Link Traction bars he used from Competition Engineering.
I asked in the pits How he liked and said he Loves them also !

Add a Rear sway bar.
It adds a ton of weight control and plants the rear tires and controls chassis twist.
It's stock on my 70 TA. .875 Inch diameter solid steel.
 
Rick you make some very valid points. That's why I wanted to throw out this idea.
No... I'm not made of money, but I am not afraid to spend the money if it is a well thought out plan that can achieve what I am looking for.
Hell....my motor budget went from $5000 to darn near $11,000 in a blink of an eye! Make no mistake... That HURT!!:eek:
But I fully understand that this hobby ain't cheap.

What my goal is .....is to have weight transfer. As of now I do not have very much.
You are correct about the hassle it would be to change out the springs in the field. I really did not think that through.
So what would you think about this... I go through with the idea but have the coilovers matched to the corner weight with them installed
vertically and install the top of the shocks with a hitch pin if you will, then when I need to soften the rear, I could pull the pin
and tilt the shock on an angle and reinstall the pin . Now of coarse I would need to make a upper radius bracket to accommodate
the new pin location. It's just an idea at this point.


Brian... the rear sway bar is a nice idea.

I have uploaded some pics below... the truck is dirty and the front belly pan is hanging so....
 

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The Chicago drag car guys build thier own rear sway bars from tubular steel now.
Some are fancy others basic.
Patterned after Comp Engineering and Alston Race Car the layout.
 
Now that's some heavy duty suspension links!!! Not what I'm use to thinking about. hehehe !!!

So what would you think about this... I go through with the idea but have the coilovers matched to the corner weight with them installed vertically and install the top of the shocks with a hitch pin if you will, then when I need to soften the rear, I could pull the pin and tilt the shock on an angle and reinstall the pin .

Yes the change in the angle of the coilover shocks will change the spring rate. That is certainly thinking
out of the box, I like it!!!
Have you done the research to know what angle would give a new acceptable
spring rate change. I don't think it will be a linear relationship. The ride height will also be lower with the
angle of the coilover shock, will you have to compensate for this?

Also will it be in the range of possible realistic brackets. I realize you are just getting started, so you don't
have all the answers yet. I'm just trying to suggest some things that need to be considered.

If I can do some technical drawings, just say the word ..... I love this kind of thought process/
problem solving. I can do them to scale, just need some hand sketches from you.
Just so you
know, I'm not going to be able to apply myself to this until after the Indy 500.

A drawing something like this .....

RockerRatioVariance01.jpg
 
Thanks Rick... Yes I designed and built everything for the suspension. It,s built FORD TOUGH, but still runs like a CHEVY!! :D
Grumpy has posted some video's in the suspension section , and there is a young man explaining some formulas on spring rates and the effect
of install angles. It's very good info.
You are correct about the ride height changing,.... It has been one of the things I have been trying to overcome somehow. The best I could come
up with so far to accommodate this matter was to make a custom set of boomerang shackles on the rear of the leaf that are wide enough so that I could adjust the length of them to raise the frame further away from the leaf spring. kinda what I have sketched out below.
Now if the coil overs were 32" eye to eye, and I tilted them 30* , that would lower the upper eye about 4- 1/4" . That would be alot to have to adjust
with a shackle , But, if the upper half of the shackle was designed so it could be lengthen itself, that would solve the height issue. Again... this
is all just idea's at the moment.
I have another rough sketch of an upper shock mount that could double as a frame stiffener also. It could be welded in between the frame rails.

Another way to adjust that shackle would be to incorporate a turn buckle. That way there would be no need to remove any bolts. To keep the buckle in place all that would be needed is a jam nut.
 

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What's been in the past with Leaf Springs and has made a Comeback Stealth style Drag Racing and still used Dirt Track where rear leaf springs must be used...
Full floating Birdcage mounts.
Allows the rear end housing to rotate freely with Zero lateral movent.
I have not seen it done on a 4x4 Truck local here.
But it helps works.
 
Ever thought of a single mono leaf spring for the rear and adjustable coil overs?
There are also sliders for the rear of the leaves that mount to the frame. Just don't know about the shackles and them being adjustable as your picture denotes as I see something that will break eventually as hard as the truck will be run. Different lengths would be better and just swap out as needed with electric wrench or air.
 
T.... I like your idea of using sliders! That would maintain a set height as far as the eyelet goes.. also, it would be a hell of alot stronger
than shackles. The mono leaf is something I would love to have but the truck weighs 7500lbs.
I bent a stack of 6 into an "s" shape from landing the truck off a jump. I'm quite sure that a mono would just plain break in half.
I have been researching different rebound settings and I believe I need to move into a 40/60 setting. I must control that rebound.
 
LEAF_6.gif

xleafsprings.jpg.pagespeed.ic.BTuoR_DT7k.jpg

Call Eaton Springs to get answers.
 

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worth watching

 
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