Which leaf do I ditch to improve ride quality?

Website · Post by **murcod** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 9:39 am

OK, the plan is to remove one of the leafs from my rock hard springs to improve the ride.

So, which one should I remove? My guess is the lowest one in the main pack (ie. leave the short overload spring and get rid of the one above it?)

Any suggestions?

Website · Post by **murcod** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 9:40 am

Hmmmm.... Having another look at that photo I could be better off getting rid of the overload leaf?

Post by **Steve F** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 10:48 am

That overload leaf wont be doing much until the pack flattens out with some weight on it, I'd try the 3rd leaf from the top and see how it goes.

Cheers
Steve

Post by **Dangerous Dave** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 10:48 am

Dave, the thick bottom (load) spring only comes into play when you've got a shit load of weight on. It dosen't start to move until the other springs are level with it. I'd take out the one above it. And then put the over load spring back on.

Whats that car in the back ground. The wheel looks a little porche boxterish. :oops:

Post by **Toyhatsu** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 12:43 pm

I think that the Feroza springs are tooo flexible

Website · Post by **murcod** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 1:44 pm

Dave- I wish it was a Porsche; that's the Mondeo. It's for sale at the moment, and if it doesn't sell I might be selling the Feroza. :cry:

I thought maybe the overload leaf could be coming into play over the large bumps- doesn't look too far away from the main pack in that pic?

Kent, that looks like my old standard leaf pack! :rofl:

Very soft ride, think it was actually bottoming out all the time. They were all warped and flatish when I took them out, not much of an arch to them at all!!

So far one vote for the third and one for the forth leaf down?

Post by **mudtoy** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 3:25 pm

load leaf would be good to start with and then work up from shortest.
Unfortunately it is catch 22, removing short leaves will improve comfort and flex BUT will lower the ride height and leave the pack more susceptable to flattening out.

Website · Post by **murcod** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 3:49 pm

Lowering the rear height a little bit doesn't concern me. If the backs a bit lower I can wind down the torsion bars a bit. The front end will behave better then as currently it's topping out a bit and hitting the bumpstops.

I might start with the overload first - purely because it doesn't involve having to straighten out any of those leaf clips to remove it.

Website · Post by **murcod** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 6:42 pm

Change of plans- am now removing the fourth leaf.

Have discovered the following so far:

1. Those bent metal spring clip things are near impossible to straighten so you can remove a leaf;

2. The a*#$holes who made the springs hammered over the end of the centre bolt that holds the pack together (with a bloody big sledgey by the looks of it.....)

3. They don't paint in between the leafs- so a coat of paint will be needed over the new lower leaf;

4. The leaf pack centre bolt isn't threaded very far along it's shaft- which of course creates problems with tightening it up once a leaf is removed :roll:

;

5. The leaf pack cetre bolt is a special type that is impossible to find quickly on a weekend.

On a positive note one side is nearly done.

Post by **lowndsie** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 6:51 pm

Dave, refering your pm.

I couldn't see any difference between your springs and mine. I must admit that mine were a little concering when first fitted in the comfort department. But then again, i was expecting that. After a few hundred km's they really settled down (or i got used to them).

I can honestly say that i'm happy with the ride of mine so i'm a little shocked that your having probs with yours.

Website · Post by **murcod** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 7:53 pm

It could just be the roads here in SA??

But over big bumps it will literally launch you out of the driver's seat. Over small slow bumps the only flex I get is the tyre's sidewall moving- same if you try rocking it sideways.

It's done around 700km since I put them in. At Easter with it fully loaded, including a 330 litre luggage pod on the roof and towing a full 6x4 trailer the ride was very good. Empty it's a shocker.

Website · Post by **murcod** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 9:59 pm

All done; test drive tomorrow.

Post by **SimplyPV** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 3:54 am

david... try using the seatbelt. that'll help hold u into ur seat.

Post by **Croz** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 6:54 am

Extended shackles will give you a much softer ride as they allow the spring to travel more easily and flatten more quickly... but there are other issues with them.

I certainly found that with mine they gave the car a much more acceptable ride.

As for not painting between the leaves... even if they did it wouldnt last long...

Post by **Dangerous Dave** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 7:28 pm

Dave the Mondeo's got Koni's!!! Nice

Website · Post by **murcod** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 10:51 am

Yep, top adustable Sports @ around $1300! :shock:

Do you want to buy it?!

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... 1253b5a661

The Feroza's ride has improved- but the height has dropped significantly and is now only around 15mm higher than stock. :cry:

Post by **Dangerous Dave** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 5:55 pm

Sorry Dave, I don't have a spare $21000 at the mo!

Post by **Chris F20 maniac** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 7:32 pm

hi,

just a suggestion, from what ive read to start with you should of undone those clips that hold the pack together thus allowing the springs to open down a lot more and give better wheel travel, if the U bolts on the axel are done up tight enough you dont really need these clips.

like the other guys said that overload spring doesnt do anything untill the springs are mega compressed.

so realy to get more flex and abit of a softer ride the overload spring should be removed allowing the axel to travel further up toward the body and those springs compress down nicely, and in doing so softening the blow of sudden compression

sounds like you have a daily driver at the moment as well so dont be affraid to experiment with you leaf set up!

:twisted:

go crazy with flex its a great thing!

cheers mate

Website · Post by **murcod** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 9:57 am

I'll keep experimenting; it's just a PITA ripping the leafs out all the time....

I'm happy with the ride at the moment, was just a bit disappointed with the height dropping so far.

Post by **rowdy24** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 9:59 pm

The leaf above the overload was the right one to take out to improve the ride but It also changes the ride height the most. I wouldn't suggest tinkering with any of the other leaf's because your spring set will eventually sag bad.

I had to take a similar leaf out to lower the vehicle because of a tailshaft problem, but I ended up with a nice ride.

Website · Post by **murcod** » Sun May 01, 2005 10:19 am

I'm considering a "hybrid" leaf pack using one of my thinner old leafs from the standard pack with the new ones. Just need to work up some motivation to do it all. :lol:

Post by **rOd** » Sun May 01, 2005 4:35 pm

This isnt the best of photos coz its been scanned, but it might be useful to someone.

Lovells 50mm lift leaf springs for NT Feroza with rs9000 shocks.

Post by **flynn** » Thu May 12, 2005 7:59 pm

so as a daily driver who spends as many weekends offroad as possible, would you recommend taking off the load spring???
i was going to take the clips off anyway for more flex.

and yes flex is everything!!!

Website · Post by **murcod** » Fri May 13, 2005 8:50 am

I'll let you know- that will probably be one of the things I'll try. Just need to work up some motivation to pull it all apart again!

Made the mistake of putting some Loctite Stud Lock on the centre bolt; some I'm not looking forward to undoing it again....

Post by **rOd** » Fri May 13, 2005 1:26 pm

murcod wrote:Made the mistake of putting some Loctite Stud Lock on the centre bolt; some I'm not looking forward to undoing it again....

Use heat.

Website · Post by **murcod** » Fri May 13, 2005 3:20 pm

OK, thanks Rod.

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Which leaf do I ditch to improve ride quality?

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