Bent Springs & Reduction Transfers

[coxy321]

Hi all. We took the zook up into the high country over the weekend (loaded with two fridges,tucker box, jerry can, and 180kg of passengers), this was just after i had the back diff welded (which i broke over the w/end), and i also removed another leaf from each of the rear packs.

This left 3 leafs in each side, and proved to be WAY too soft for the trip, with the super rough road and all of the extra weight - although i did like how the back end just "rolled" over cross camber diverts etc. Anyways, my problem now is that i want to put a leaf back into each side, but i think i've actually flattened out the packs. They dropped about an inch from before/after the trip.

I have access to a couple of industrial size press benches, so is it just as simple to throw them in and bend away?? Obviously i'll have to put some heat into them aswell.

Also i'm looking at getting a reduction gear set for my car. I'm running 30" rubber (thats as big as i'll go), and i'm not too stressed about a low top speed, otherwise i wouldn't own a sierra. Just wanting to know if a 5.14 reduction would be ok for a daily driver.

Cheers - and thanks in advance,

Coxy

[ronoor]

cold press is ok just had mine done and gearing should be ok with 30''aswell . cheers ron

[coxy321]

Thanks buddy. I'll probly whip it all out this weekend.

Cheers

[Gwagensteve]

Don't put any heat into the springs, you will stuff them, just set them cold.

3 Leaves is too lkight for load carrying. With a loaded car, welded diff and a rockhopper, you will also start getting heavy axlewrap with only 3 leaves.

Gearing should be OK, might be a touch low off road for 30's, but shouldn't hurt too much. Gearing would probably be sweeter on and off road with 31's.

Steve.

[coxy321]

Gwagensteve, thanks mate. After the weekend, i found myself actually driving most of the main roads in low 3rd or 4th gear, and found the stock low 1st to be WAY too tall. My motor has 200,000 original kays on it, so its not exactly as powerful or torquey as it should be, although i was more than happy with overall performance (i didn't mind the "cruisie" 70km'h trip up, or the 80km/h trip back on the front diff alone!!).

I'd rather have the car under-geared too much than over-geared. I can't stand "bouncing" over rough terrain - i'd rather crawl at a snails pace.

Cheers - thanks for the replies!!

Coxy

[VR Rodeo]

Personally I wouldn't run 5.14's with 30's. I've got 31's on my D/D and would prefer to be running 32's with them for lower revs at cruising speeds. Mine sits around 3500 rpm at 100 k's with 30's it will be up round 4000 I imagine

[suzuki boy]

COXY i'm in exactly the same boat as you! I bent my spring so know i need new ones and with 30's i got no no low range at all!

BUT when i do get my gears i'm ready to go 31's! Should be good!

Let me know if you find of a cheap place to get your gears! I'm only a 1st year carpentry app!

[Nev]

IMO if your not too concerned bout going ovr 100kph then 5.14's will be perfect with 30's. I run 6.1 series 3's with 30's on a NT (3.9 diffs) and low is great but I sit at 3900rpm at 100kph-real speed not speedo reading. And this gearset has 22% reduction compared to the 5.14's 18%. They'll be spot on I think.

[lay80n]

I find 5.14's spot on for low and high running 31/32 inch tyres. 30's would be fine too, just not heaps happy with long freeway trips.

Layto....