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Coil springs on an MQ/MK?

Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 4:50 am
by RMP&O
Like many guys I am looking to upgrade the suspension on my MQ in the future. Right now money is the limiting factor...

But there are a few options available. Could do a 2" spring lift and a 2" body lift. That will give 4" of lift and should be able to run 35's. Yet, just a standard lift won't help flex a lot. Could go spring over axle, either using the stock springs or new springs. This option will require fabbing, welding and so forth. Should be able to run 36's or even a little bigger with SoA.

Now I don't need anything bigger than 36" rubber on my MQ. But what I am after isn't big rubber so much. Of course the increased clearance bigger rubber gives is better. But I am more concerned with flex and also ride on the road. I want my truck to be able to flex a lot which I know is possible with leaf springs. Using something like drop shackles can really get them flexing but I have heard mixed opinions on the drop shackles. And from what I understand getting leaves to flex a lot will give crappy handling/ride on the road.

Any ways, what I am getting at here is it seems to me if you want flex coils are the best way to go. You can get max off-road flex and also a nice on the road ride with coil springs. You also get rid of those big leaf springs under the truck which can get hung up on stuff if you get really wild off-road. By studying my truck it looks to me like it would be fairly easy to convert the suspension to coils. The front end being the trickiest. A 3, 4 or 5 link all looks possible under the SWB MQ. The amount of welding and fab work doesn't look to be much more than doing a SPOA. Yes obviously more work but not heaps more. I am also interested in moving my rear diff back a bit under the truck. With coils that would be easy, with leafs it may or may not be easy. All the parts to do coils can be bought for decent prices and there is a huge selection to choose from.

So my questions are....has anyone done a coil conversion on an MQ/MK? Or has anyone even thought about doing it and researched the mod? Do you see any probs with doing a coil conversion? Any reason you think using parts from a Jeep, Rover or Bronco wouldn't work? I am in the USA and that stuff is readily available to me plus have lot's of choices and it won't kill my wallet. And lastly, do you know anything about these guys are the conversion they list on their website?
http://www.overkill4x4.com/suspension.html

Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 4:18 pm
by Screwy
shortyMQ from this board has done coil rear on his..... its in the members section somwhere would be a fair way back by now.....

there are also pics of it on the offroad images website under the latest XRCC competition.

screwy

Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 8:24 pm
by ozy1
a while back when i had an MQ i looked into it, i was going to use GQ rear coils, as they would be mount inboard fo the chassis rails, the link set up on the rear, id probably go with either a triangulated 4 link, or run a3 Link 2 lowers and an upper A Frame,

As for the front, it was recomended that i use Range Rover (i think) coils as there over all diameter is smaller, this helping because of the narrow diff, and either use a 5 Link front end, or there is even the possibility of a 3 link with panhard,

so really the options are limitless, you just have to take alot of measurements to see what sort of coils fit,

you could always go a set of coil overs if you could get your handsa on them, as they have a smaller overal diameter again,

Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:58 am
by MARKx4
You could buy a set of GQ diffs and put them under, they have the spring locators in place.

Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 12:30 pm
by g@z
GQ diffs are centered, MQ/K are offset so you would end up with some less than optimal angles in the rear drive shaft.

Regards,
g@z.

Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 5:29 pm
by MARKx4
g@z wrote:GQ diffs are centered, MQ/K are offset so you would end up with some less than optimal angles in the rear drive shaft.

Regards,
g@z.
Nothing wrong with that, screwy runs a GQ transfer to MQ diffs no problems and there are zooks out there running lux diffs with zook transfer with minimal problems. So it can be done.

Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 5:34 pm
by InSanE
just buy a cheep GQ shorty there is plenty around

Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 1:38 am
by lexi
Not in the States there aint!
Alex