Thread: potentially stupid question regarding leaf springs....

Hi Blury

Firstly ther term for what you want to do is make an underslung axle., The axle assembly is usually "slung" (fixed) on top of the leaf springs or "overslung".
About the vehicle:
Is it a Skippy? (An ex-Aus Army LR, Or does that only apply to 88")

Does it have extended spring hangers and shackles?

Are you in the REMLR? - If not you should let them know the details of your vehicle so it can be added to the Register.

Why not save an Aussie ex-mil LR - it will be cheaper than shipping a vehicle across.

The issues:
If you do make the axle underslung there will be some problems with the angles of your prop-shafts, possibly requiring replacements with double-cardan joints and you will need to either wedge the housings or preferably re-engineer all the mounting locations but it can be done. However the question would need to be asked, if you want to make a serious rock crawler coil suspension gives you better articutarion.

Diana

thanks for the speedy reply diana,

im not sure if it is 'technically' a skippy but all my old mans mates (army engineers) used to call it that.. but who knows..

yeah i have thought about it and have been looking on tradingpost but have yet to find anything, let alone an ex army 2a...

yeah true, i didn't even think about that... it is stock standard im pretty sure they are not extended.. i was more worried about the ol' there must be a reason why they put them above the leaf springs in the first place? yeah that would make sense about moving the mounting locations..

am not really after creating a serious rock crawler just wanted a bit more clearance... never having been in a stock 2a off road i have nothing to compare it to. (i have had a few 4wd's so far the best i've owned in terms of going anywhere was a SWB 94 Patrol) but if the 2a goes anything like the LR's they had (v8's) when i was in the army then i wont change a thing, they do the most extreme 4wd'n i've ever seen out of anything stock.

nope not in the database but when/if i get it here i will put her in - i dont have any details (VIN numbers etc) here..

Originally Posted by blurryone

...nope not in the database but when/if i get it here i will put her in - i dont have any details (VIN numbers etc) here..

You don't have to have the vehicle here - the REMLR has members both sides of the Tasman and includes Aussi and Kiwi ex-military vehicles.

look on ebay: Ex-Army-Land-Rover

Diana

eek replied above by editing my post

Originally Posted by blurryone

........ i was more worried about the ol' there must be a reason why they put them above the leaf springs in the first place? ........

Since the very early days of motoring, most vehicles have had the axles above the springs, except for cranked non-driving axles. The main reason is that it means less restriction in the spring deflection before the spring + axle hits the chassis. Axle under the spring means that at full deflection the spring has to fit between the axle and the chassis. (Almost the only exceptions to this in recent years are vehicles converted from two wheel drive, where a large lift is needed for the front driving axle to clear the engine.) The desired suspension height is set at the design stage by shaping the chassis and altering the spring mounts and shackle lengths.

John

cheers john, its all falls into place...

man i love this site - so informative.

G'day Blurryone

If your vehicle is an Ex-military 1965 2a, and if it is Ex-Aust. it will have the following, a Chassis No stamped on the REAR of the Left Rear spring mounting, and will read something like 253****** and would possibly finish with "a,b,c," it may (should have cut away front mudguards) and oval cups protecting the tail lights, rear shackle plates of both sets of springs will be lengthened and have a strengthening bolt in the centre between spring and chassis, that gives it a 2+inch lift (Standard Aust Military 61-72) if your vehicle has that you can fit some larger tyre without any issues

cheers

cheers uncle ho - thats awesome. i have to admit i haven't seen it for quite some time. My father and I worked on it while we were living on base. Then when i got shipped off my father 'sold' it to his best mate and it has been sitting out on the farm ever since - we had totally rebuilt everything and sourced a rebuilt engine for it also. The only thing left to do is the electrics (wiring loom etc) so hence the reason i thought i might finish it off, but i suppose it is no small task. Does anybody have any idea if the wiring is a job for a professional or could an amateur fumble through it? (have a pretty good idea about electronics in general)