suspension help

[lowndsie]

hoping someone can help me out with some advice....

i was wanting to increase the loading capacity of my rear leaf springs on my 95 fez. I have read somewhere about getting the leafs reset and using a HQ leaf to help stiffen them up. Not really interested in a lift mainly just trying to stop the rear sagging down on camping and shooting trips.

Any ideas?????

[Kell]

Hope someone can answer this cause I would like to know the same thing - mine sags big time (suspension that is)

[murcod]

You'd have to replace the rear springs or get something like polyair airbags to help lift the rear when loaded.

This thread may help: http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... hp?t=21574

[DeVooluff]

I'm still looking into replacing my rear leaves. Some companies give a variety of options including STD (as per original), heavy duty, raised and heavy duty raised.

Otherwise a mechanic specialising in custom work should be able to help.

Personally, I'm looking at a HD set with 1" or 2" of lift, still saving my pennies though. I'm about due to replace my rubber, and would prefer to have the suspension sorted out first. (Eeek, that's about $700 worth of suspension and $1200 worth of rubber)

I've asked in another thread for recommendations regarding brands but have not had the greatest response. Would anyone who has reworked the rear suspension of their Fez please post the brand they used along with any comments.

[ferog]

Replace rather than reset if you can, had mine reset and an extra leaf added, after carrying camping gear around and wheeling, its settled alot doesn't like to carry loads, would've prefered to have gone with a complete kit. Also i think it depends on the method used to reset if its done properly it should'nt sag too much. Adding extra leaves is the best way to go for load carrying though it will sacrifice a smooth ride. See Andys feroza, he's added a few extra leaves or more..

[murcod]

This threads got all the good stuff about resetting leaf suspension:

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... hp?t=22393

[Croz]

I have jsut finished researching this and went for a new set of packs. I was informed that new leaves will last a lot longer than reset leaves but of a few other things as well.

My 94 widetrack currently has one leaf and a helper or load leaf, I think the leaf is 6mm and the load is tapered 12mm. The pack I have purchased is from memory fiveleaves at 5mm thick and a load leaf at 9mm. I will confirm when i get them in.

The idea behind this is that the thinner leaves give the comfort ride when unladen and the heavier leaf if loaded when a weight is placed in the back making the thinner leave droop onto the leaf.

I was warned that running longer shackles is likely to cause the leaves to sag quicker as it makes them flex in ways they are not designed to... It stands to reason, but I will probably run them anyway as they do give a softer ride, the damage only occurs when the car is fully articulated.

Thats my 2 cents worth.

Oh, I got quoted $180 a pack for Dobinsons two inch raised narrow track leaves, not that they are of any help to me.

Wherever you buy your leaves from make sure you get a warranty. I reckon it is worth paying a bit more at the start if you know you are going to get good after sales service, thats when it counts if you do get sagging. Also note the extent to which your retailler gives attention to your needs and wants... make sure they understand what you want from your suspension, for example according to some Lovells really dont like warranty claims so their springs are a hard as... not a comfy ride...

[murcod]

Croz, don't know if this is true or not.... but one spring catalogue I read listed the later model Ferozas as having parabolic leaf springs standard. Hence why the later models only have the single leaf.

Parabolic are supposed to be better.... someone else can probably elaborate further??

[murcod]

OK here's some info:

http://www.parabolicsuspension.com/

[Croz]

That site only lists rockys, I have an F310... not listed.

Anyway, here is a foto of mt Std springs with longer shackles, not very round at all....

[MJHsurfin]

Hey Croz & all,

Who'd you get your springs through ??

The reason the late model Wide Track Feroza's only had one leaf spring & an overload was that they kept removing springs model after model to try & improve the ride comfort - remember, their main competition was the Zuk Vitara until the Hairdresser set came along, & the Zuks all coil suspension was way more comfortable than the Feroza's cart springs.

Leaf springs have a lot of jobs to do - we want them to ride smoothly but take a load without sagging, locate the axles solidly but articulate really well - not sag over time, but twist up like the proverbial......good luck

Brands ?? - Ultimate Suspension in Minto is my pic - loved them ( & their Torsion Bars ) TJM's work pretty well - esspecially on the narrow tracks but some people find them a bit firm. Had 4ways ( Tough Dog ) for a while on mine as well - crap.....but there customer service was even worse - couldn't get them off quick enough.

Design ?? well I'm no spring designer ( now this is an art !! ) but "generally" look for a spring with several thin leaves rather than a few thick leaves if you want decent travel & smoother ride. Also look at how the springs are cut. Better to have the springs get gradually shorter over a fairly equal distance than for them all to be cut only 1 or 2" from each other.

If you do nothing but fit slighlty longer shackles to the same leaf spring then it will make bugger all difference to the sag rate - they are not going to make the spring move "that" much more. However, if you open up the spring clamps, remove the overload leaf & let them twist up like all crazy then yes - they will sag quicker. Is that bad ??

It's like everything in life - a good balance is what's needed - best to talk to the actual Spring maker in some cases - not the salesman behind the counter.

Later - Mike H.

[built4thrashing]

i did the swap with a HQ leaf. i had replaced and set set the leaves a few times and it always sagged coz of the extra weight of my gas tank. once i did the hQ leaf it NEVER SAGGED id go camping with a full tank of petrol and gas and all the camping gear all the time and it never made it loose its shape. It did when loaded but always sprung back.

[Croz]

I wenrt with tough Dog fourways, The brand you just wrote off...

Ultimate were out of my price range by a long shot, Tough Dog were highly rocomended by a few places and they sat right in the price scale. Ill find out when they are on and let you know what happens.

[murcod]

That site only lists rockys, I have an F310... not listed.

....

I just meant that they have a good explanation of the difference between the different leaf spring types (and how parabolics work)- not that they made any to suit.

Yours look like they might be parabolic- parabolics taper the leaf thickness from the shackle end to the leaf centre. Have a read of the blurb on that site.

[crowey]

I got a set of base model springs from a wrecker, got them reset and had an extra helper leaf put in.
That was 3 years ago now and i havent noticed any signs of sagging, and there is still plenty of travel!

I have towed plenty of trailers and no matter how heavy it wont drop.
Even when the car is fully loaded up it might drop half inch max.

Still rides well.

I threw in a few poser shots cos i was bored!

[MJHsurfin]

I wenrt with tough Dog fourways, The brand you just wrote off...

Ultimate were out of my price range by a long shot, Tough Dog were highly rocomended by a few places and they sat right in the price scale. Ill find out when they are on and let you know what happens.

G'Day Croz & all,

Tough Dogs !! - they're a great spring, yeah, loved them, pick of the lot

My experience with the Springs was pretty average, they sagged very quickly, were reset at no charge to me & sagged right back again -
My experience with the actual staff at 4ways was what left the sour taste in my mouth. The Tough Dog springs were actually designed using MY Feroza as a test vehicle - they has it for a week to measure & test some springs - then I waited for 3 weeks for the springs to be made, then had them for 2 months & they sagged back to original height. I went in, they measured them, agreed & they pulled them off to be reset - another 2 days off the road. 1 month later, sagged again. Back to 4ways & they said too bad, so sad - nothing more they could do - they refused to help me any further. Nice Company......my 50mm HD Leaf Springs had no more lift than my 1 lead standards !! By the way, I still had to pay FULL retail on the parts & got 10% of the original fitting costs for loaning my Feroza to them - thats it.

OK - maybe I got a bad lot of springs being 1st Feroza off the rank - maybe they have changed the design since - not really the issue though. 4Ways could have replaced the springs with a set that did what I paid for & I would possibly be singing their praises - instead, poor customer service sank them for me......hopefully you didn't deal with 4Ways directly......( please don't tell me you did )

Good Luck with your springs - sincerely.

Later - Mike H.

PS: like your wheels - look really sweet !!

[MJHsurfin]

PS: like your wheels - look really sweet !!

Oops - it was Crowey's Rims I was admiring - must be getting past my bedtime

[crowey]

Thanks dude!
Saw your wheels in a Magazine and had to get them!
the only thing i dont like about them is that you have to take the centre cap off to lock and unlock the hubs