Leaf spring clips

Post by **mtb4x4mad** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 12:17 pm

How much would the undoing of the spring clips on the front and rear of a hilux affect the on road handling?
Is the increase in travel worth it for a daily driver?
Any suggestions?

Post by **spazbot** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 1:08 pm

i cut mine off and didnt notice any differnace for onroad driving

Post by **MissDrew** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 6:48 pm

It want make any differance. But only open them up DON`T cut them off, I cut my off origanlly and the leaves would walk themselves side ways all the time. I now run with the bolt type of clamp but without the bolt, this way it still has something to hold the leaves in line.

Post by **beebee** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 6:54 pm

I opened mine up and the cops highlighted this when they gave me a defect notice. Consider yourself warned

Post by **MissDrew** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 6:57 pm

beebee wrote:I opened mine up and the cops highlighted this when they gave me a defect notice. Consider yourself warned

One word for them, WANKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Post by **Heathx4** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 8:18 pm

You got defected because you removed a few cm's of metal from under the car? Did your car happen to be inverted at the time? I stuggle to imagine how someone would notice, really.

Anyway, I certainly planned on doing the same to my MQ springs. When I get the chance, I was going to flex the suspension to the max (which is not saying a lot yet!) and see what cutting off the part of the clamps which wrap around the top will do.

Post by **MissDrew** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 8:23 pm

Don`t cut them off, just open them up so they are striaght up.

Ruff and Nick can tell you how much trouble I had with my springs when I had the clip cut off level with the top of the main leaf :roll:

Post by **beebee** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 8:34 pm

Guts wrote:
beebee wrote:I opened mine up and the cops highlighted this when they gave me a defect notice. Consider yourself warned

One word for them, WANKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Being wankers doesn't change anything. They had a very close look at my suspension - couldn't imagine why. Was it the fact that the vehicle's door handles almost touched the ground when I turned the corner in front of them :shock:

Post by **RUFF** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 8:42 pm

"DO NOT CUT OFF THE CLAMPS" Not only do they fan out but when they do fan out they usually cause the centre bolt to stretch or loosen.

I have also tried cutting them off entirely.
Just fold them out and straight up or as Guts said use the clamps that take a bolt through the top. If you use long ones of these you can even leave the bolt in.

The one problem you can get from opening the clamps is bad Axle Wrap. In the front of a hilux this is bad especially if you are trying to back down a steep climb as while you are on the brakes the springs open right up and allow the axle to move forward and the front Tail shaft falls out.

Post by **308LUX** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 9:01 pm

RUFF wrote:"DO NOT CUT OFF THE CLAMPS" Not only do they fan out but when they do fan out they usually cause the centre bolt to stretch or loosen.

I have also tried cutting them off entirely.
Just fold them out and straight up or as Guts said use the clamps that take a bolt through the top. If you use long ones of these you can even leave the bolt in.

The one problem you can get from opening the clamps is bad Axle Wrap. In the front of a hilux this is bad especially if you are trying to back down a steep climb as while you are on the brakes the springs open right up and allow the axle to move forward and the front Tail shaft falls out.

DOH

i just did this today

Post by **spazbot** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 9:56 pm

im going to fix mine now aswell ive had my fronts sut level with the top for like 8 months that explains why one of my center pins was a little bent and twisted

Post by **Gazzaj** » Sat Oct 18, 2003 9:23 am

open them up then drill a hole through them and use a quick release pin remove for them for offroad them insert them when on road

Post by **MQ080** » Sat Oct 18, 2003 5:55 pm

Guts wrote:Don`t cut them off, just open them up so they are striaght up.

Ruff and Nick can tell you how much trouble I had with my springs when I had the clip cut off level with the top of the main leaf

Did this on the old MQ and it now has nice flex

Post by **MissDrew** » Sat Oct 18, 2003 7:40 pm

Opening them up is good, cutting them is bad.

Post by **MUSS** » Sun Oct 19, 2003 12:03 pm

so can this rule apply to all leaf spring packs? i am runnin arb OME leafs (bout the only good piece of suspension they make) and have the bolt type clamp thort of undoing them and flaring them out but have been tyrin to find all the pros and cons bout doin it does this put extra stress on bushes...and can it damage or warp or ware the leafs quicker?

Post by **DR Frankenstine** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 7:30 pm

JAKE wrote:so can this rule apply to all leaf spring packs? i am runnin arb OME leafs (bout the only good piece of suspension they make) and have the bolt type clamp thort of undoing them and flaring them out but have been tyrin to find all the pros and cons bout doin it does this put extra stress on bushes...and can it damage or warp or ware the leafs quicker?

yes \yes \ and yes but you cant have everything!!

Post by **Area54** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 7:47 pm

I think you are better leaving the clamps closed - if your spring packs, shackles and shocks are matched in length, how can you achieve more flex? Opening up the clamps will only lessen the control you have over the diffs while driving - on or off road. The spring packs are the links as well as the means of suspending the weight of the vehicle - add drive from the engine and you just flex the suspension (axlewrap), not necessarily put that power to the ground. Keep it simple, keep it strong, leave 'em clamped.

Post by **MUSS** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 8:37 pm

just replace the bushes with jonny joints less stress on the leaf pack

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