Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Flicking through a magazine last night i noticed that on some production pickups and the like in the US they run a shock absorber in the same location that one would run a track bar.

I'm guessing that it would have to be a super HD shock but do you think that this would be of any benifit?

There is almost as much on car fabrication involved but no need to build the actual bar.

Personally would prefer a trac bar but interested on peoples thoughts.

James

sierrajim wrote:Flicking through a magazine last night i noticed that on some production pickups and the like in the US they run a shock absorber in the same location that one would run a track bar.

I'm guessing that it would have to be a super HD shock but do you think that this would be of any benifit?

There is almost as much on car fabrication involved but no need to build the actual bar.

Personally would prefer a trac bar but interested on peoples thoughts.

James

I wouldnt think it would be a very good option, as you really want the axel wrap stopped. The shock idea imo wouldnt work to well offroad where there is large wrap loads and locked diffs etc.

many shocks get air in them when stored on their side for a certain period of time. this mostly affects the shocks ability to absorb any shock from the air voids.

shocks to stop wrap is a good idea, but i think it might cost more than making the actual wrap bar. as you said, its got the same amount of fab needed, so why not just go to whats known and works.

i think with a shock, you might still get some degree of wrap. but like SJ mentioned, a super HD shock, or a purpose built one would be needed. and i wonder if the shock would be the same length as a track bar would be?

Depends on the design and the leverage points, but can't see it being as effective as a track bar.

If you were going to fit one shock it would just become a fulcrum for the diff to rotate around. By rights you would need to fit 2 shocks, one above the other for it to work.

i'll see if i can find the picture. Was definitely only one shock mounted over the top of the diff pumpkin.

just because it's on a production machine doesn't mean it is well engineered

I didn't say the idea was well engineered, nor did i say that it would provide the best result.

Was just asking if people think it would work at all. It'd have to be one stiff ass shock.

SiKiD_01 wrote:many shocks get air in them when stored on their side for a certain period of time. this mostly affects the shocks ability to absorb any shock from the air voids.

Just curious.... then what about steering dampers? aren't the aftermarket ones basically a gas shock absorber? they aren't placed upright..

Also, so many atuto parts retailers have the shocks stored on shelves that aren't stocked upright..

It's not to tame axle wrap, it's to tame axle tramp (a byproduct of axle wrap...)

Scott

Axle wrap is a torque reaction that happens over a period of time,
its not a shock load unless ovcourse you add a sudden burst of throttle and sidstep the clutch , so its my opinion that it would suck using a shock of any type to try and control it ,.

personnel experience several tail shafts -sets of springs pinion flange ,and mungrel trips trying to get out of the bush because the damage was to big to fix on the track


Larry.

The boys from South Africa that competed in the Outback Challenge in Hilux's had spring over setups. On top of the axle was a shock mount similar to a control arm mount just inboard of each spring with a damper mounted to each one and then the chassis. They were putting some good horse power through the axels though.

I think its one of the Fords that has it, from memory the damper is a bilstein.
I think it would be effective at controlling a bit of wheel hop in softish stuff like sand (where the spring loads ap an unloads quickly)

Not nearly as effctive as a track bar .. but dont belive it trying to be either . simply there to tame wrap .. not trying to eliminate it ..

i think the ford explorer has a mini damper/shock on its leaf rear end. IFS models? i think these were the only ones released in oz.

I think it is a great Idea if you could get it to work. It would help in taking up load on your axles and help prevent breakages. Maybe some sort of a strut setup.

LudaCris

ludacris wrote:I think it is a great Idea if you could get it to work. It would help in taking up load on your axles and help prevent breakages. Maybe some sort of a strut setup.

LudaCris

A strut would be interesting ...