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Removing leaves from spring pack - need advice.

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 4:55 pm
by GRPABT1
Hey guys/girls, since fitting my calmini 5 inch lift the front has always sat a little higher than the rear. So in the effort to even it out and to gain a little more flex I would like to remove a leaf from the front. The front has 4 leaves now so this will leave me with 3 front and four rear which from research seems to be reccomended. Also from searching I found that it is reccomended to remove the lower most leaf from the spring pack.

This is where I come into a small dillemma. The bottom leaf on my springs is the one which has the clamps on it (opened up for travel) to stop sideways movement of the individual leaves. So will it be okay to remove the next leaf up or will this cause damage to the leaves in the serious ruff stuff?

Also as it's a first time for me, some "how to" pointers would help and be good for the bible as I couldn't find anything there on this subject. Is it just a matter of removing the centre pin? Is this just a bolt with thread on the leaves themselves?

Thanks in advance peoples.

Re: Removing leaves from spring pack - need advice.

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 7:37 pm
by VR Rodeo
GRPABT1 wrote: Is this just a bolt with thread on the leaves themselves?

Thanks in advance peoples.
It's a nut and bolt, undo the nut and the leaves seperate ;)

As for the rest I would love to know as I am in the same predicament :roll:

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 7:38 pm
by alien
when you open up the pack of leaves, youll notice theres a "load leaf" its normally near the bottom of the pack, if you stand on it its the one that hardly moves... this is the one to take out.

If its got those clampy things on it, its fine to take out, but youll have to stay vigilant in checking the leaves dont twist out of line (in which case you take the weight off the spring and use a mallet to "adjust" things).

after you've done it take it for a really good test drive on road - make sure theres no adverse feelings when heavy braking / accelerating and steering.

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 7:49 pm
by GRPABT1
The "load leaves" are usually the flat ones on the bottom aren't they? Cause mine doesn't have those, they're all curved.

I may weld some new clampy things on the other spring if I can't remove it.

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 7:59 pm
by dank
GRPABT1 wrote:The "load leaves" are usually the flat ones on the bottom aren't they? Cause mine doesn't have those, they're all curved.

I may weld some new clampy things on the other spring if I can't remove it.
I wouldn't bother...

I've been running a custom spring pack in the front to give me good flex and height with a bar and winch with none of the aligning brackets and only every now and then I give them a smack with the mallet to line them up. If you've done your suspension correctly and tight it won't move about enough on a short trip to give you any dramas...Although I always carry a hammer :cool:

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 11:15 pm
by GRPABT1
It's a daily driver and I know a good welder so it may be worth it. I'll take some pics tomorrow of the leaf packs in the car so people can give opinions on which to remove.

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 11:45 pm
by alien
be careful welding spring steel too... lol prolly safer to just leave it alone - most of those bracket things are drilled and bolted in.

Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 11:15 am
by GRPABT1
yeah righto, might just keep the bottom spring in and remove the next up or see if I can transfer the bolted in clamps.

Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 1:03 pm
by Rhett
instead of a spring clamp why not put a steel hose clamp round it. I have done itbut have seen it done

Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 1:07 pm
by alien
or just gaffa tape and cable ties... go nuts =)

Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 1:27 pm
by GRPABT1
Rhett wrote:instead of a spring clamp why not put a steel hose clamp round it. I have done itbut have seen it done
Because that's booty fab :p

Nah actually I thought of that but tight it would reduce flex and loose it would rattle around and make noise.

Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 1:40 pm
by GRPABT1
Here's some pics of the springs in question guys. THey are calmini 3 inch light duty springs.

http://s269.photobucket.com/albums/jj51 ... C00250.jpg

http://s269.photobucket.com/albums/jj51 ... C00249.jpg

Ok if anyone feels like explaining to me how to post pics on this bloody forum that'd be great. But that's the address to them on Photobucket up thee ^^^

Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 1:55 pm
by alien
when you post, click the "IMG" button up top, then after the "{img}" bit you put the link to the pic, then click the button again to get "{/img}" after it....

Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 1:56 pm
by alien
oh, and it looks like the 2nd leaf from the bottom is the one to remove...

Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2007 10:23 pm
by GRPABT1
Tried that....didn't work.

Great cause that's the easy one to remove.

Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2007 2:16 am
by dank
GRPABT1 wrote:Here's some pics of the springs in question guys. THey are calmini 3 inch light duty springs.

http://s269.photobucket.com/albums/jj51 ... C00250.jpg

http://s269.photobucket.com/albums/jj51 ... C00249.jpg

Ok if anyone feels like explaining to me how to post pics on this bloody forum that'd be great. But that's the address to them on Photobucket up thee ^^^
Its too easy mate! when you are viewing the pics on the photobucket website there are four links under each pic.
Email & IM
Direct Link
HTML Code
IMG Code

Click on the IMG code and it will pop up saying "copied" jump onto the thread post that you are writing and either go to edit --> paste or right click --> paste... TOO EASY! :D :armsup:

and just for fun...

Image

Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2007 9:17 am
by GRPABT1
dank wrote:
GRPABT1 wrote:Here's some pics of the springs in question guys. THey are calmini 3 inch light duty springs.

http://s269.photobucket.com/albums/jj51 ... C00250.jpg

http://s269.photobucket.com/albums/jj51 ... C00249.jpg

Ok if anyone feels like explaining to me how to post pics on this bloody forum that'd be great. But that's the address to them on Photobucket up thee ^^^
Its too easy mate! when you are viewing the pics on the photobucket website there are four links under each pic.
Email & IM
Direct Link
HTML Code
IMG Code

Click on the IMG code and it will pop up saying "copied" jump onto the thread post that you are writing and either go to edit --> paste or right click --> paste... TOO EASY! :D :armsup:

and just for fun...

Image
Thanks mate ;)

Image

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 4:25 pm
by GRPABT1
All done now guys, thanks for the help. Sits nice and level now and fair bit softer too.