F310 Rear Suspension Query

[icebreaker]

After abit of debating with built4thrashing about my rear leaf set up in the rear... Namely how many leafs I should have.. I went and had another look the other day to make sure and I've found I only have 1 full leaf spring, and 1 straight bar under it.. (Not sure of it's title).

Now what I'm wanting to know is whether this is stock and correct or whether the previous own has had some leafs removed..

I've got the '94 Wide Track model.


Dan

[Croz]

You have the last of the range of feroza's. They kept removing leaves to soften the ride and ended up with a single leaf and a helper, or overload leaf which is the half leaf.

Thats how mine was when I bought it, its nice an flexxy, but sux to carry stuff.

I got a 4 and a half pack from 4Ways, which I added extended shackles to and it flexes well and rides nicely, but is firmer than the std springs I had in there.

[icebreaker]

Cool, so it's orig..

Now if I want to lift the rear via the springs and not extended shackles, I'm guessing an extra leaf is prob the best way to go?

[Croz]

Here comes the can of worms....


The only real way to lift is buy new springs with more length... longer springs that sit higher. More leaves in the pack support the load better, but reduce flex.

Adding a leaf may make your car sit higher for a bit but wont solve the problem and might end up more expensive than an off the shelf pack and kit.

You can also get the springs reset but this is also up for debate on its longevity.

[icebreaker]

yeah, well I was thinking.. get them reset.. and have an extra leaf added..

I thought this might help support the reset springs.

[murcod]

Dan, a bit of uselss info I found when aimlessly surfing looking at aftermarket springs was that the last model widetracks had parabolic leaf springs. That means they are a slightly different design to normal leafs and the actual thickness of the single leaf is tapered giving them a variable spring rate. Normal leafs do not vary in thickness and need the extra supporting leafs to give them the variable rate.

Supposedly they're the "duck's guts" in leaf spring design and give a better ride. Do a search on "parabolic leaf springs" on google and you'll find stacks of info.

[built4thrashing]

are the leaves the same width as the chasis spring hanges for the shackle??? will a straight extended shackle work for icebreaker or will he need an offset shackle????

[r0ck_m0nkey]

are the leaves the same width as the chasis spring hanges for the shackle??? will a straight extended shackle work for icebreaker or will he need an offset shackle????

Widetracks have straight shackles, so making longer ones is pretty easy.