[tanshi]

with the compeditive scene in QLD heading more toward speed and tight low speed stuff i thought would see if the collective mids on here have any good ideas about setting up leaves for quick events. Aust4, KOR, etc.

Is it absolutly nessessary to spend $1000s on bypass shocks to get a car to go reasonably quick on the bumps.

there are going to be those who will say link it and use coil overs but i know nothing about links and at this stage have no desire to figure them out.

[JrZook]

Thicker main leaf, thinner supporting leafs for axle control with anti-friction pads in between. You will need more up travel but on short leafs the ride will be real choppy so longer leafs would be the go to reduce the natural spring frequency. Harder spring bushes for better lateral control of the axle. Some sort of absorbing bumpstops hydro/air I'd say would be pretty necessary to absorb bottoming out. Descent shocks bilstien/koni shouldn't need huge bore or reservoirs if they are not super long courses.
I don't think those triple bypass shock things are necessary with the capabilities of the ladder chassis/ light weight/ leaf sprung suspension setup

[got_bar_work]

Try a watts link on the front to get the steering more responsive

[Fatzook]

got_bar_work wrote:

Try a watts link on the front to get the steering more responsive

GL fitting a watts link on the front with tie rod and drag link in place!.

[Gwagensteve]

got_bar_work wrote:

Try a watts link on the front to get the steering more responsive

bumpsteer much?

Panhard in phase with the drag link would be preferable.

Steve

[got_bar_work]

Gwagensteve wrote:

got_bar_work wrote:

Try a watts link on the front to get the steering more responsive

bumpsteer much?

Panhard in phase with the drag link would be preferable.

Steve

Ur right panhard would be the go
Need something to stop shackels from flexing all over the place

[tanshi]

ive seen some recomendations for using some thing like these, Snake oil?

[SierraDan]

Looks like a better version of that style of mounting.
All the ones i've seen are just metal on metal. That one at least has a bearing.

[got_bar_work]

The best ones ive seen have plastic slides
I recon the bearings would flog out to fast from mud and dirt
I have seen a pic somewhere with a johnny joint in the springs instead of the bush to allow more flex

[JrZook]

tanshi wrote:

ive seen some recomendations for using some thing like these, Snake oil?

Damo had some info in them in another thread. That will omit the loading/unloading effect of the shackle will deffo reduce flex. What sort of comp are you actually considering? Full rally or what?

[tanshi]

no, King of the rim. Aust4. fast sections, and in the same comp tracks, rock crawling etc.

Im looking at options for making the ute better on the fast stuff.

Defintly dont want to loose offroad ability/ flex etc

[31zook]

What about track bars F&R, and hydro bumps?

[joeblow]

I think you will be chasing your tail with this. Even with coils it will be hard. It really surprises me that comps are still run expecting 4x4's to wheel well AND handle the high speed stuff.

[31zook]

Ever seen KOH?

[atari4x4]

31zook wrote:

Ever seen KOH?

+1

[just_cruizin]

bearings are probably less then ideal as they have a hard outer casing and as mentioned the bearing itself won't like the environment. Not a lot of rotating either so the load won't be spread evenly around the race so it will just develop a wear point. maybe a solid brass slide or similar that could be easily replaced as it wears. Need something that will accommodate the twist in the spring a bit as well.

I'd be more inclined to a hard flat spring with an upright shackle, very firm initially then a bit of flex then firms up again, for speed only though, won't flex well. As you'll be locked it will help make up for flex in the crawling

[got_bar_work]

In cab sway bar disco front and rear
Hilux fronts allround wirh johnny joints and plastic car slider boxes
Panhard rods
Hydro bumps
Seams like almost as much work just as putting some angled radius arms in and some coilovers
Prob end up with as much flex but 10 times as easy to tune

[joeblow]

31zook wrote:

Ever seen KOH?

Yep, and it's usually the tight arses and people who don't have a clue who still run leaves.

Name me some top contenders who run leaves?

[31zook]

joeblow wrote:

Even with coils it will be hard. It really surprises me that comps are still run expecting 4x4's to wheel well AND handle the high speed stuff.

This is what I was responding to.

They all have coilovers... But I think that they are primary go-fast tube buggies, that are 4WD with lockers and that's what gets them through the rocky sections... I'm not sure how they would go competing at a TT style event...

[pedri]

joeblow wrote:

31zook wrote:

Ever seen KOH?

Yep, and it's usually the tight arses and people who don't have a clue who still run leaves.

Name me some top contenders who run leaves?[/quote im sure the hilux that won his class in king of the rim was on leafs

[SierraDan]

Bit naive there..

[Fatzook]

pedri wrote:

im sure the hilux that won his class in king of the rim was on leafs

Did you just compare King of the rim to KOH?????

[joeblow]

[tanshi]

Granted its not ideal. But I wont be shipping my car to the states for KOH. And yes the lower class of king of the rim was won by rellow on springs. I reckon I can take him

[Fatzook]

tanshi,

Have a look at some of the leaf trucks that race at Finke. Should give you a few ideas.

[atari4x4]

pedri wrote:

joeblow wrote:

31zook wrote:

Ever seen KOH?

Yep, and it's usually the tight arses and people who don't have a clue who still run leaves.

Name me some top contenders who run leaves?[/quote im sure the hilux that won his class in king of the rim was on leafs

welcome back hillbilly

[Mattmorgo]

Tanshi im at the same point too, after triple bypass shocks plus hydro bumps its a big step dollar wise, just trying tomake sure it's a functional step forward for a 20year old leaf sprung car. I also don't want to go coil overs and links. So I'll be following this closely

[sideways]

An interesting variation on the sliders.

[alien]

suzuki set up the sierra to be capable on and off road... stock standard theyre a pretty good balance of both.

IMO you'd want to keep it as close to stock as possible so far as suspension goes.

[Highway-Star]

alien wrote:

suzuki set up the sierra to be capable on and off road... stock standard theyre a pretty good balance of both.

IMO you'd want to keep it as close to stock as possible so far as suspension goes.

I'm sorry, I strongly disagree. Standard Suzuki leaf spring suspension is poor for slow technical driving, and although it probably "handles better" than what allot of people's modified Suzuki's would at speed, its harsh choppy ride quality would be a massive killer at speed offroad (mainly a killer of the people in the car's back and arse!).