Nevyn wrote:bad_religion_au wrote:
optimise your shackle length to suit the length of your springs, pull a couple of leafs out the pack, open up the retaining clamps on the spring packs, make sure you've got flogged out rubber bushings in there not poly, and make sure your shocks aren't limiting travel. remove the bumpstops and trim any body that the tire hits. (last 2 are optional
)
cheap travel
Yep that's what I am talking about when I say "knowhow" and "learn"
I have very little idea what you just told me to do. More specifically how the hell do I do all that and I am talking specifics. Do I need any specific tools to do it?
The Cheap bit sounds good though.
ok follow izuzurovers advice on measuring flex for before and after measurements, and definately disconnect the sway bars if you have them (if you don't know what they look like they'll pretty much be the thing that's attached to the axle housing other than the driveshaft, the leaf springs and the brakeline and diff breather hose.
to remove leafs, get a couple of new spring pins, pull off your springs, cut the old pins off, take out any thick flat leafs at the bottom, plus take one or two of the arched leafs out (try bottom and 3rd from bottom). you'll lose about 1/2 an inch of height per leaf you pull out, but will gain flex. if you lose too much height, take them to a blacksmith and get them reset back to the height you had. if you go taller than you had, they'll make a longer main leaf for you... if your planning on going taller, don't make your shackles up till you get the measurement of your new main leaf
now optimal shackle length
measure your springs bushing to bushing when their flat (use a piece of rope to follow the arc and measure it if it's too hard to flatten them).
now measure the distance between the shackle hanger on the frame and he spring hanger on the frame.
now add 30mm (that's a rought figure, but should be close enough) to the length you got for your springs
now subtract the length you measured between the chassis hangers.
that is your optimal shackle length, pin to pin.
get some 10mm strap, get a couple of shackle pins that fit your spring bushings, drill the strap to take the pins. obviously drill the holes so that the distance between the center of both holes is the same length you got for your optimal shackle length.
so tools for that job = drill and drill bits.
something to cut your strap.
tape measure.
tools to do your shackle pins back up.
spring pack clamps.
if you look closely at your springs, there will be a couple of clamps going around your springs... not the U bolts that hold the axle on
but you'll see them, probably 3 or 4 per spring pack. they have an opening at the top. get a chisel in there and pry them open so the springs can freely come apart. if your concerned about road driving (i've never noticed a difference) drill a hole through the bits that are now poking up, put a bolt in it, and take the bolt out for offroad use
now put it all back together with rubber bushings, without shocks. follow izuzurovers technique (can use a forklift if you have access) to flex it up, to measure for shocks... measure the distance between the top and bottom mounting points on the side with the tire right up in the guard on the front and back. this is the closed measurements. you need a shock thats smaller than this when fully compressed (your front and back measurements will be different most likely). now do the same for the side that has the wheel hanging. this is your extended side. you need shocks that are longer than that distance when fully opened (most shock manufacturers have these measurements). go shock shopping
if for some reason you can't get a shock that is too long when fully compressed, you then need to look at how you might go about extending your shock mounts.
have fun.
if you do this without the reset, your just up for some strap, some shackle pins, and some spring pins, some rubber spring bushings and shocks. the reset'll add a couple of 100 onto the cost.
take the measurements. remember you'll lose about an inch of height when you pull the leafs, but you'll gain height if the shackles need to be longer. if your shackles are 1 inch longer, you'll gain 1/2 an inch of height. if their 2 inches longer, you gain 1 inch in height. so half the difference in shackle length is the height you'll gain. do the calcs and work out if you need the reset, or can live without.
oh and if you get massive amounts of flex, your brake lines might get pulled a bit tight, and it'd be worth looking into longer ones... but again, it probably won't happen.
but remember, swaybars are the enemy of flex bytheir very design.
and old flogged out springs are the best for flex.
oh and i take no responsibility if any of the above mods contravine local laws
that was just the shackles and some longer shocks no other mods.
Which we all know are way cooler 