A Shocking Question

[Johnno1969]

Alright, once you have forgiven me for the corny play on words, I'm just interested in people's opinions on shock absorbers. I've got a IIA 88, with standard (ie not parabolic) springs. I have been talking to various folks about softening the springing a little, but I haven't really made any decisions on shock absorbers yet. I'd be really interested to hear some thoughts from the assembled company here, after hearing everything from "This is the shock for you!" to "No shock absorber makes much difference to a cart-sprung IIA".

Personally, I am leaning towards something on the heavy side.

Thoughts?

Cheers,

John

[Blknight.aus]

put the one tonner springs in.... then you dont have to worry about shocks...

OR...

dont run shock and just weld some box section in at the height you want it to ride at...


Ok sarcasm over (wheres the sarcasm font)

pretty much any shocks going to be fine and softer is going to be better unless you go for the parabolic springs then you need to be a little more choosy. If you dont have the check straps make sure the shockies for the rears can handle being used as an extension stop.

[Johnno1969]

dont run shock and just weld some box section in at the height you want it to ride at...


Ok sarcasm over (wheres the sarcasm font)

pretty much any shocks going to be fine and softer is going to be better unless you go for the parabolic springs then you need to be a little more choosy. If you dont have the check straps make sure the shockies for the rears can handle being used as an extension stop.

Thanks for that, Dave. I had been thinking of heavier just from the point of view of slowing the spring's rebound if it was going to help me keep in my seat. Thanks for the checkstrap advice too. I have been mindful that without them I would need shockies that can handle the force of halting extension.

You're right, we might need a sarcasm font. Mind you, sensitive Land Rover types are probably able to spot it anyway...

Cheers,

John

[4x4_bugsy]

Hi,

I have softened up my leaf springs just by disassebling the packs, clean off any dirt and rust from the leaves and reassembling the packs with a smear of grease between each leaf to stop them from binding.
While they are separated you could also reset them in a press or with a hydraulic pipe bender to raise them or correct any sag.
If the leaves arent binding they will be heaps softer, better on and off the road and no more squeaking.
I wonder if you could just soak the spring packs in a bath of oil so it soaks in between the leaves, acheiving a similar result but with a bit less work...?

[Johnno1969]

Yeah, cleaning them up certainly does help. People are pretty divided on the whole "greasing leaves" thing. Some swear by it, others say it just makes grinding past with dust. It seems that just about every trick is liked or disliked by somebody: grease, Innox, graphite, tapering, soaking... the list goes on. I'm going to clean mine up for a start and take it from there, I reckon......

I'm actually soaking them in diesel at the moment.

Cheers,

John

[Tonestar]

What I have done on mine to get a softer ride and better articulation, is
that I have reduced the number of leafs in each spring pack. Have only
half the number of leafs in each pack, using every 2nd leaf, so I only have
5 leafs in the rear and 6 leafs in the front with shocks that travel longer
to give the articulation. :D

[Johnno1969]

How long has it been like that? What sort of workk does the vehicle do?

[Tonestar]

How long has it been like that? What sort of workk does the vehicle do?

It's in the process of being rebuilt and modified, its going to be a play thing to do more hardcore tracks. It will be double diff locked and 33's
with a 2" lift when finished. Follow the link to photobucket.

[ashhhhh]

I have just fitted the Rocky Mountain parabolic & Pro-comp shock kit so will say "don't expect too much" in the comfort stakes.

This kit is widely regarded as the number one upgrade kit for series vehicles and the ride is not significantly better than the stock suspension in GOOD condition IMO.

Articulation and offroad performance is great but the ride is still rough and bouncy.

My point, I doubt shocks alone will make much difference to you. ;-)

Ash

[Johnno1969]

I have just fitted the Rocky Mountain parabolic & Pro-comp shock kit so will say "don't expect too much" in the comfort stakes.

This kit is widely regarded as the number one upgrade kit for series vehicles and the ride is not significantly better than the stock suspension in GOOD condition IMO.

Articulation and offroad performance is great but the ride is still rough and bouncy.

My point, I doubt shocks alone will make much difference to you. ;-)

Ash

That's interesting. I've heard people rave about the improvements in ride with that kit, though it has to be said that it's naturally being compared with whatever it has replaced, which most likely was old and tired.

I've decided to stick with standard semi-elliptics for two reasons:



cost
better the devil you know

I've got a good set of rear leaves (though I am considering tapering them and may drop a leaf or two before I put them back on the vehicle) and am looking at a new front set (the old ones were a mishmash of different thicknesses accumulated through numerous owners and circumstances).

Thanks for the tip on shocks; I've heard that said before. All the same, I am tempted to try something different and don't mind the cost of an experiment, as long as it isn't really silly.....

John

[chazza]

I was keen on parabolics until I read Isuzurover's post here http://www.aulro.com/afvb/series-3/48812-parabolic-leaf-springs-7.html

Lubricating springs is essential and any talk of grinding-paste ignores completely the fact that dry springs not only don't do the job they are supposed to, but they wear out anyway with a dry-grinding-dust,

Cheers Charlie

[Johnno1969]

Lubricating springs is essential and any talk of grinding-paste ignores completely the fact that dry springs not only don't do the job they are supposed to, but they wear out anyway with a dry-grinding-dust,

Cheers Charlie

Yeah, I've always kind of wondered about that.....

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Can I ask a stupid question here?

How do you get a 2" lift on leaf springs, particularly when half the spring pack has been removed ?

Don't tell me it's done with 4" longer shackles, without also explaining how the caster problems will be corrected.

[4x4_bugsy]

I have just standard leaves with military shackles in my truck, and if I drive it up onto a ramp, regardless of how hard they seem, they still will travel from bump stop to fully extended shock absorber.
This tells me that the spring is exactly the right rate, or am I missing something?

[mick88]

Before I put parabolics on my old girl, every so often I would jack her up by the chassis for a weekend, then spray the springs with "Innox".
Not the pressure pack, but I would buy 5 litres of it, and use a spray bottle. The five litres will last you a life time..unless your under five years of age, and it works fantasticly.....it gets the springs moving freely...loosens the rust...etc, etc.
Parabolics are great...but "innox" is $50 and "Parabolics" are $750...so you make the choice :)

[dullbird]

Can I ask a stupid question here?


How do you get a 2" lift on leaf springs, particularly when half the spring pack has been removed ?

Don't tell me it's done with 4" longer shackles, without also explaining how the caster problems will be corrected.

Leaf over axle???

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Leaf over axle???That's at least a 4" lift.

[dullbird]

even with leafs taken out?