[SierraDan]

What springs have you guys used that are a 50mm lift, retain the stock eye to eye length and give good flex?

[JrZook]

SierraDan wrote:

What springs have you guys used that are a 50mm lift, retain the stock eye to eye length and give good flex?

Question: Why do you want to retain the stock eye-eye (im assuming main leaf) length?

What you end up with is a very deeply arched spring that have the shackles against the anti inversion plates. This will offer minimal if any gain in flex and just increase your static ride height.

But FYI OME rears are only like ~5mm longer than stockies and ride ok. There are 40mm lift.

[SierraDan]

The springs I got from Lovells were shorter eye to eye and not only made it a prick to fit, it is harsh as hell as my shackles are vertical. So I want the correct angle back.

[JrZook]

SierraDan wrote:

The springs I got from Lovells were shorter eye to eye and not only made it a prick to fit, it is harsh as hell as my shackles are vertical. So I want the correct angle back.

How are you measuring this eye-eye?

[SierraDan]

Straight line from eye to eye. Not along the leaf.

[SierraDan]

Sorry if I'm not making sense. I'm still learning suspension geometry.

[CairnsZook]

Measure them following the curve, along the top of the main leaf.

[JrZook]

SierraDan wrote:

Straight line from eye to eye. Not along the leaf.

Well when we all talk about leaf spring length the only real measurement that helps is the actual length of the main leaf like cairnszook explained.

If you are still learning about suspension just have a quick look under your car and have a look how the spring sits. Then think of/see what happens when the spring unloads or the chassis is lifted. The length of the main leaf along the curve will always be the same but the eyes will move closer together. On the other hand is the spring sits flat the eyes will naturally move further apart and give more/better shackle angle.

If your dobinsons are a bitch to get in I assume they are hard up against the anti inversion plates hence pulling the shackle backwards. This is usually caused by too much spring arch (camber) for the given spring rate.

Does your setup flex to the bumpstops as is? How many leafs in the pack? Whats the shackle angle when sitting, dead vertical?

You may have too higher spring rate causing the shackle to rest near vertical when the zuk is sitting.

Dan

[Ben_Sierra]

Lovells Sierra springs are longer than stock ones... I know this because I have them in my Sierra...

[SierraDan]

The front shackles have an acceptable angle, still not great. The rear shackles when I first put the springs in the shackle was past 90 and yes hard up against the inversion plates. Now the rears are about dead vertical.
The front springs have 4 leaves, and the rear has 4 plus the load leaf.
The springs only seem to meet the bumpstops in the front when really pushed, the rears are miles off.

Yeah I think I was unlucky and got a shit set of springs. Cos I did measure the springs when I first got them along the leaf and they were 15mm shorter

[JrZook]

SierraDan wrote:

The front shackles have an acceptable angle, still not great. The rear shackles when I first put the springs in the shackle was past 90 and yes hard up against the inversion plates. Now the rears are about dead vertical.
The front springs have 4 leaves, and the rear has 4 plus the load leaf.
The springs only seem to meet the bumpstops in the front when really pushed, the rears are miles off.

Yeah I think I was unlucky and got a shit set of springs. Cos I did measure the springs when I first got them along the leaf and they were 15mm shorter

I would have a bit of doubt about your measurement here. 15mm shorter and 50mm lift wouldn't even fit Id say! Since your rear is miles off the bumpstop try dropping the leaf out above the load leaf and see what happens. Yes you may loose a bit of lift but will gain comfort, flex and shackle angle.

Dan

[CairnsZook]

Ben_Sierra wrote:

Lovells Sierra springs are longer than stock ones... I know this because I have them in my Sierra...

Are your springs 2" lifted?
Have you removed any leaves?

[SierraDan]

I had to put the shackle sort of half in the hanger and leaf and get a pry bar and a hammer to get the shackle past the inversion plate then hammer the shackle the rest of the way in. It took hours.

I'm thinking that's a good idea too. People take the load leaf out, but it doesn't really affect anything till the spring is near fully compressed is that right?

[JrZook]

SierraDan wrote:

I'm thinking that's a good idea too. People take the load leaf out, but it doesn't really affect anything till the spring is near fully compressed is that right?

Correct, that's what there ment to do. I guess tho if you arn't going to carry many big loads you mite as well take it out also if you pull you pack apart.

[boostedbrick]

SierraDan wrote:

I had to put the shackle sort of half in the hanger and leaf and get a pry bar and a hammer to get the shackle past the inversion plate then hammer the shackle the rest of the way in. It took hours.

I'm thinking that's a good idea too. People take the load leaf out, but it doesn't really affect anything till the spring is near fully compressed is that right?

This is what everyone reckons.. But when I removed my load leaf I gained wheel travel and ride comfort, not that you can tell some people that.
In the end, i removed a second leaf at the expense of ride height to gain even more flex and comfort.. I still have stupidly high shackels to counter the sag in the springs.

[SierraDan]

In the rear I'm not too worried about height, there's plenty of room and I'm doing a body lift pretty soon. So I reckon that's what I'll do and hopefully that will solve my immediate dramas, if not I'll come back to it.

[JrZook]

boostedbrick wrote:

SierraDan wrote:

I had to put the shackle sort of half in the hanger and leaf and get a pry bar and a hammer to get the shackle past the inversion plate then hammer the shackle the rest of the way in. It took hours.

I'm thinking that's a good idea too. People take the load leaf out, but it doesn't really affect anything till the spring is near fully compressed is that right?

This is what everyone reckons.. But when I removed my load leaf I gained wheel travel and ride comfort, not that you can tell some people that.
In the end, i removed a second leaf at the expense of ride height to gain even more flex and comfort.. I still have stupidly high shackels to counter the sag in the springs.

What springs you run again?

[CairnsZook]

SierraDan wrote:

The springs I got from Lovells...

Can you do me a favour and measure the ride height?
It's the measurement from the centre of the axle up to the lowest part of the wheel arch. Front and rear would be awesome

[SierraDan]

I know it off the top of my head!
Rears are 85cm front is 73cm.

[CairnsZook]

You sure
Standard heights are: front 425mm, rear 460mm.

The measurement is from the centre of the wheel hub, up to the guard.

[boostedbrick]

JrZook wrote:

boostedbrick wrote:

SierraDan wrote:

I had to put the shackle sort of half in the hanger and leaf and get a pry bar and a hammer to get the shackle past the inversion plate then hammer the shackle the rest of the way in. It took hours.

I'm thinking that's a good idea too. People take the load leaf out, but it doesn't really affect anything till the spring is near fully compressed is that right?

This is what everyone reckons.. But when I removed my load leaf I gained wheel travel and ride comfort, not that you can tell some people that.
In the end, i removed a second leaf at the expense of ride height to gain even more flex and comfort.. I still have stupidly high shackels to counter the sag in the springs.

What springs you run again?

EFS 2inch comfort

[SierraDan]

I've always (everyone I know) measured from bottom of the rim. Sorry.
So from the bottom of a 15" rim to the bottom of the guard.

[CairnsZook]

No worries.

Edit: Rim radius is about 210mm.

So you have: front 520mm, rear 640mm.
Thats a lift of: front 95mm (3.74"), rear 180mm (7.1")

[SierraDan]

Haha.. You know what. How about i measure it again after work.

[Red89]

JrZook wrote:

SierraDan wrote:

Straight line from eye to eye. Not along the leaf.

Well when we all talk about leaf spring length the only real measurement that helps is the actual length of the main leaf like cairnszook explained.

If you are still learning about suspension just have a quick look under your car and have a look how the spring sits. Then think of/see what happens when the spring unloads or the chassis is lifted. The length of the main leaf along the curve will always be the same but the eyes will move closer together. On the other hand is the spring sits flat the eyes will naturally move further apart and give more/better shackle angle.

Dan

I have had 3 sets of custom springs made up and have only ever told them the straight across eye to eye measurement, without any dramas.

[SierraDan]

Just measured.
REAR: 730mm from bottom of 15" rim to bottom of guard.
FRONT: 710mm from bottom of 15" rim to bottom of guard.


(i knew the 73cm was somewhere )

[SierraDan]

This was my shackle when i put my springs in after a long time with a pry bar and a hammer.




it is now vertical.

[stiky]

Did they give u front springs all round back ones should be longer

[boostedbrick]

stiky wrote:

Did they give u front springs all round back ones should be longer

I wonderd that aswell.. But the backs look like backs... Noice shocks by the way..

[SierraDan]

boostedbrick wrote:

stiky wrote:

Did they give u front springs all round back ones should be longer

I wonderd that aswell.. But the backs look like backs... Noice shocks by the way..

thanks mate

They're definitely rear springs. Had the right part number, had the load leaf, were longer than the fronts, the fronts are reverse wrapped.

Only thing is with the old stock and the new standard springs next to each other, the lifted spring was shorter eye to eye.