G'day, Does anyone here have some of these, or know someone who does? Thinking about getting some for my '89 widetrack, Ruf with 2inch lifted springs, running 30x9.5R15's on -15 15x7rims. Basically wondering how they'll go with my setup and if the twisting of the spring and shackle will affect steering at full lock, or if theres anything else to watch out for and mainly if there any good. http://www.superiorengineering.com.au/shackles.htm
Thanks
Emu
Notice: We request that you don't just set up a new account at this time if you are a previous user.
If you used to be one of our moderators, please feel free to reach out to Chris via the facebook Outerlimits4x4 group and he will get you set back up with access should he need you.
If you used to be one of our moderators, please feel free to reach out to Chris via the facebook Outerlimits4x4 group and he will get you set back up with access should he need you.
Recovery:If you cannot access your old email address and don't remember your password, please click here to log a change of email address so you can do a password reset.
Superior 4wd Drop Shackles
I am not a big fan of any sort of drop, folding or "wacky" shackle. Generally, they involve a lot more work than they look like needing and they have some nasty side effects.
You will need longer shocks to get anything out of them. This will require cutting and welding of the shock mounts and careful choice of shock to not harm the ride/handling. Also factor in brake lines, and possible driveshaft effects (particularly on the front)
They do nothing to improve ride. the biggest cause of 'orrible ride in sierras is a very short front spring. This has a high resonant frequency- so tends to be "choppy" at the best of times.
The may acually mean you have to decrease tyre size, or do more work to open the guards up. (this is true of any method to increase articulation) once you can droop a wheel right down, you need to be aware that that means that the compressed wheel is getting higher up into the guard. Take this into account when figuring out how much more articulation you can add without a whole lot more work.
when drooped, the unfolded front shackle limits approach angle, and they end up being "overloaded" and damaged when jammed into stuff once opened up. I wouldn't recommend them at all on the front.
they have a habit of unfolding when the car is on side angles or has a wheel in the air. rears can even unfold on steep descents, which will feel really uncomforatable. Sometimes poeple leave them locked shut under these circumstances but I reckon if a mod makes the car worse some of the time off road it is pretty useless- we all spend as much time descending as climbing off road.
when they are unfolded and power is applied, remember the spring now has no control over wheel position, so you tend to get a lot of awkward bouncing about and clacking as they flap about, especially if the car has soft shocks fitted.
If you are investing in 4 longer shocks and the cutting welding and fab to fit them, don't stuff around, go RUF and get the travel along with improved ride and more firewall clearance. dont worry about the back, with the 4" of extra droop inthe front you won't really feel lik you need much more travel, and back having less travel than the front makes the back hook up really well and keeps front wheels on the ground.
sorry for the rant
Steve.
You will need longer shocks to get anything out of them. This will require cutting and welding of the shock mounts and careful choice of shock to not harm the ride/handling. Also factor in brake lines, and possible driveshaft effects (particularly on the front)
They do nothing to improve ride. the biggest cause of 'orrible ride in sierras is a very short front spring. This has a high resonant frequency- so tends to be "choppy" at the best of times.
The may acually mean you have to decrease tyre size, or do more work to open the guards up. (this is true of any method to increase articulation) once you can droop a wheel right down, you need to be aware that that means that the compressed wheel is getting higher up into the guard. Take this into account when figuring out how much more articulation you can add without a whole lot more work.
when drooped, the unfolded front shackle limits approach angle, and they end up being "overloaded" and damaged when jammed into stuff once opened up. I wouldn't recommend them at all on the front.
they have a habit of unfolding when the car is on side angles or has a wheel in the air. rears can even unfold on steep descents, which will feel really uncomforatable. Sometimes poeple leave them locked shut under these circumstances but I reckon if a mod makes the car worse some of the time off road it is pretty useless- we all spend as much time descending as climbing off road.
when they are unfolded and power is applied, remember the spring now has no control over wheel position, so you tend to get a lot of awkward bouncing about and clacking as they flap about, especially if the car has soft shocks fitted.
If you are investing in 4 longer shocks and the cutting welding and fab to fit them, don't stuff around, go RUF and get the travel along with improved ride and more firewall clearance. dont worry about the back, with the 4" of extra droop inthe front you won't really feel lik you need much more travel, and back having less travel than the front makes the back hook up really well and keeps front wheels on the ground.
sorry for the rant
Steve.
[quote="greg"] some say he is a man without happy dreams, or that he sees silver linings on clouds and wonders why they are not platinum... all we know, is he's called the stevie.[/quote]
Sounds like Mr Emu has RUF already.
I haven't used the superior shackles myself, i have however used some scissor type shackles. Mr Gwagensteve has seen these in action.
These were/still are in my red sierra. Originally installed due to the lack of time to install the hilux springs on the shackle mounts that i put on the car too far forward. The "whacky" shackles effectively gained me around 2 inches of spring length and saved me from inverting shackles for a weekend trip.
The front end of the car did have great flex, however the suspension was continually loaded and unloaded. Being that i have MQ diffs i'm not too worried about busting CV's when this happens. With a sierra CV this may be an issue.
What you really need to work out is how much flex you need to wheel the car in real life situations, by that i mean in the bush and not on an RTI ramp.
If you're running 30" tyres i don't think you're doing the mega hard stuff yet, perhaps you should look at upgraging something else that will provide you with greater benifits? Maybe a locker if you don't have one already??
James
BTW from what i hear, Superior Engineering are quite open to the fact and also notify people that their shackles are not intended as a straight bolt on part. I believe that they do advise people that you need to modify/install other components to get the most out of their product.
These may include, trac bar, limiting strap, shocks etc etc.
I have dealt with Superior with Hilux parts and have found them to provide a quality service and quality parts. Maybe give them a call and talk to them before you make up your mind.
I haven't used the superior shackles myself, i have however used some scissor type shackles. Mr Gwagensteve has seen these in action.
These were/still are in my red sierra. Originally installed due to the lack of time to install the hilux springs on the shackle mounts that i put on the car too far forward. The "whacky" shackles effectively gained me around 2 inches of spring length and saved me from inverting shackles for a weekend trip.
The front end of the car did have great flex, however the suspension was continually loaded and unloaded. Being that i have MQ diffs i'm not too worried about busting CV's when this happens. With a sierra CV this may be an issue.
What you really need to work out is how much flex you need to wheel the car in real life situations, by that i mean in the bush and not on an RTI ramp.
If you're running 30" tyres i don't think you're doing the mega hard stuff yet, perhaps you should look at upgraging something else that will provide you with greater benifits? Maybe a locker if you don't have one already??
James
BTW from what i hear, Superior Engineering are quite open to the fact and also notify people that their shackles are not intended as a straight bolt on part. I believe that they do advise people that you need to modify/install other components to get the most out of their product.
These may include, trac bar, limiting strap, shocks etc etc.
I have dealt with Superior with Hilux parts and have found them to provide a quality service and quality parts. Maybe give them a call and talk to them before you make up your mind.
[quote="Harb"]Well I'm guessing that they didn't think everyone would carry on like a big bunch of sooky girls over it like they have........[/quote]
i wouldnt suggest superiors on the front. its looks like an insane amount of travel/flex steer wich would make steering where u want a hard task.
due to the light weight of the zooks, they dont work 100%. however once
bigger tyres, heavier wheels etc the seem to open up better, since they are mde to provide droop not lift to make all 4 touch the ground adding to
stability.
u dont need all that jazz to make it work either. mick offers kits with ladderbars, shocks, mounts etc if u want to take ur car further
>>>THEY ARE NOT "MUST HAVE ITEMS"<<< as far as i no but i am not
an authorized distributer or technical dude just info i piece together thru
observations of customers rigs.
my personnal preferance would be scissor shackle the front and superior droppies for the back.
due to the light weight of the zooks, they dont work 100%. however once
bigger tyres, heavier wheels etc the seem to open up better, since they are mde to provide droop not lift to make all 4 touch the ground adding to
stability.
u dont need all that jazz to make it work either. mick offers kits with ladderbars, shocks, mounts etc if u want to take ur car further
>>>THEY ARE NOT "MUST HAVE ITEMS"<<< as far as i no but i am not
an authorized distributer or technical dude just info i piece together thru
observations of customers rigs.
my personnal preferance would be scissor shackle the front and superior droppies for the back.
MULL
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest