can i leaf ute keep up with a coil.

[Kazzie]

hey sorry this has probably been brought up before...alot, but im looking at getting a gq ute. i really wanted a coil one but i have found a good leafy.
i havent seen much to do with the leafys, its running 5" lift with 35's.
my question is are the leafs as capable as coils off road, can you get really good flex from leafs, my mates all have coil sprung patrols and i want to be able to go where they can.

cheers

[rumpig89]

its gunna be rougher and not flex as good in short.

prob still get it where they are goin tho.

[Muzza_6490]

Don't see why not, I've got a '97 GQ with all 4 leaves, it's a bit rough but it still goes where most of the others do with 33's and a 2" lift and no issues with coils coming out lol

[tufftruckin]

hey mate, I have a 98 GQ leafy, as stated a lil bit rough but still goes where my mates GU with a 4inch lift and 33's goes. i have 2 inch suspension lift and 2 inch extended shackles and 32's

[tufftruckin]

hey mate, I have a 98 GQ leafy, as stated a lil bit rough but still goes where my mates GU with a 4inch lift and 33's goes. i have 2 inch suspension lift and 2 inch extended shackles and 32's

[thehanko]

the leaf rear has very limited flex due to rubbing on the chassis etc, so you need to widen the track to allow more flex.

leaf is not the end of the world and can work very well. the hard part is that with soft leaves you need to worry about axle wrap etc which isnt an issue in a coil ute.

They are singificantly rougher ride, bit more vauge to drive - more general movement in the axle set up.

but lockers help aleviate the issues of lack of flex.

leaf utes should be a fair bit cheaper.

[charged88]

My 88 GQ ute (2ich spring's and 35's) kept up with my mates SWB (3inch springs 2 inch body and 35's) almost everywhere and mine only has open diffs.
for flex just take leafs out works well apart from a little sag

[coxy321]

its running 5" lift with 35's.

Do you know what the 5" lift is made up of? (2" spring, 3" BL?)

[tufftruckin]

its running 5" lift with 35's.

Do you know what the 5" lift is made up of? (2" spring, 3" BL?)

x2

[tommy182]

3inch extended shackles 2inch body

[thehanko]

so if im reading that correctly, it has:

standard springs
shakles which are 3 inches longer than normal
2 inch body lift

If so it really is only going to have 3 - 4 inches of lift. (plus tyres as shakles can offer as little as 25% lift per increase in length).

if this is the set up it will, ride like poo, flex like poo, be not roadworthy and more vauge on the hard top.

Leaf suspension is not rocket science but alot of people get it incorrect.

I would bet my bottom dollar that the shakles are nearly vertical? if so this is where most of the above comments will come from. in order to allow leafs to work correctly the shakle needs to be more like 45 deg. achieved with a correct spring curve and length and shackle length.

This is so important to ride and flex due to the way force is then applied with load, giving softer more comfotable ride and better flex.

Long ass shakles tend to make them vague on the black top due to the way the allow movment sideways or lean on themselves making the diffs less connected to the chassis.

if this was already clear to you, then sorry for your time, if you want more info ill find pics of correct and incorrect set ups.

[cun7s]

its running 5" lift with 35's.

Do you know what the 5" lift is made up of? (2" spring, 3" BL?)

x2

y not

[tufftruckin]

its running 5" lift with 35's.

Do you know what the 5" lift is made up of? (2" spring, 3" BL?)

x2

y not

what u mean y not?