Outer Limits 4x4 Board

I have a suzuki based truggy that seems to constantly lean to the drivers side.It has fairly light rear coils with an Aframe link setup and a soft swaybar and a long leaf springover front.When the car tries to climb a large obstacle it tends to twist itself over quite alot and doesnt feel very stable.Would i be better off to try heavier rate rear coils or a stiffer swaybar? I dont want to lose much travel as the rear flexes really well but if anyone has any suggestions or ideas they would be appreciated

thats the "suzuki lean" - most of the zuk is weighted to that side (including the engine torque) and the driver's own weight... so it sags faster than the passengers side - most standard leaf spring lifts counter for this with thicker/stronger leaves on this side of the car (hence labelling the leaves so you get them in the right spot).

if you're not phased about it too much, chuck a spacer in the leaf pack and under the coil on that side - otherwise, you'll have to go down the path of custom set springs (the best option, but at the same time most expensive!)

interestingly - since going SPOA on mine i haven't had the lean occur!

ahh the good ole Suzuki lean, they all seem to do it. Due to light weight vehicle with all the heavy stuff on the drivers side. the driver, the battery etc

Try moving the battery for better weight distribution and try changing bump stop lengths

Have you lengthened the wheelbase? Increased track width? Do you have lockers? Have you done a RUF as this will also help considerably with balancing out flex.

I'd also be trying to balance out front to back flex, if you have to limit rear flex a bit to match the front then so be it. It will make for a more capable vehicle.

I think it has alot to do with the torque from the drivetrain as its very low geared with twin cases and commo v6.The rear coils are only 700 mm apart and it runs a welded mq rear diff with a whellbase of 102in.With the car in double low and foot buried on the brakes I can make the car lean all the way over until the drivers side rests on the bumpstops with only a small amount of throttle input.I will try to put up a pic of the car so you get a better idea.

how about a coil spacer on the lower side? sweet rig by the way

Thanks its starting to come together slowly.Im thinking the issue is with roll stiffness in the rear but is it better to use a heavier rate coil or heavier swaybar

ya dont realise how bad the lean is till ya see it in person, play around with the leaf packs in the front, could help with an extra softer leaf or 2 on the drivers side, as for the rear, check you geometry of your arms etc, springs are a bit close together, also try sum diff rates.

Yeah the lean is a bit of a worry so I will try a few things this weekend I just thought someone might have had the same issues with a project

Mate i had the same issue with the troopy after a coil conversion. Not the lean part but roll stiffness, due to the rear springs being inboarded on the chassis.

Rear flexed like mad but side slopes were hairy and front wouldn't work.

I went back to a single rate, stiffer rear coils. Still flexes rear great but the stiffer rears force the front to work a bit better. Helped the roll stiffness too. I'd rather pick up a wheel and power through on the locker than have a super flexy, but unstable vehicle.

troopy94 wrote:Thanks its starting to come together slowly.Im thinking the issue is with roll stiffness in the rear but is it better to use a heavier rate coil or heavier swaybar

ditch the leaf front and use coils. trying to get a vehicle with front leaves and rear coils to work together is a pain. is like torsion bar front leaf rear, not the best of set ups.

troopy94 wrote:I think it has alot to do with the torque from the drivetrain as its very low geared with twin cases and commo v6.The rear coils are only 700 mm apart and it runs a welded mq rear diff with a whellbase of 102in.With the car in double low and foot buried on the brakes I can make the car lean all the way over until the drivers side rests on the bumpstops with only a small amount of throttle input.I will try to put up a pic of the car so you get a better idea.

I'd be trying to outboard those rear coils. Leave the leaf front alone for the time being.