Thread: front end flex

Originally Posted by 2_door

in my relentless pursuit of more flex, I am turning my attention to front end flex out of my D1.

Has anyone got any experience in using lower shock towers and if so, will the combination of long shocks, lower towers (within reason and calculated properly) really work to their full potential with the standard control arms or will the front control arms max out before the the shocks do

any help appreciated

To get more travel you need HIGHER, not lower towers to accommodate the longer closed length of the longer shocks, you get the increased travel due to the longer stroke.
You'll also need softer or slotted radius arms bushes to get the flex, and they will wear faster and/or result in worse on road handling.

Tony

Originally Posted by 2_door

in my relentless pursuit of more flex, I am turning my attention to front end flex out of my D1.

Has anyone got any experience in using lower shock towers and if so, will the combination of long shocks, lower towers (within reason and calculated properly) really work to their full potential with the standard control arms or will the front control arms max out before the the shocks do

any help appreciated

in short NO!
one thing a rover front end dose ok is flex UP...why do you want to limit up travell???
listen to tonyC

cheers phil

go a 3 link setup

The more you free up the front end, the more on-road drivability deteriorates.

There's a few threads on here about how the geometry of the radius arms act as an anti-roll bar on the axle housing.

In short:

First the bushes bind. Sort that out.

Then the shocks max out. Go longer etc etc.

Then the bushes are at their limit again.

Repeat until you run out of money and/or energy.

Regards
Max P

i can understand the lower mount idea as the only time i loose traction is when the wheel drops into a rut or whole and the shocker isnt long enough.

The shorter mount is a cheap way so you dont need new shocks.

I guess best way though would be very long shocks and longer tower but would cost more.

Hmmm wouldn't a longer shock and moving it UP be the same as a standard shock at the original height for down travel?

Originally Posted by HangOver

Hmmm wouldn't a longer shock and moving it UP be the same as a standard shock at the original height for down travel?

No.

Lets say:
A 8" travel shock has a closed length of 14" (open length is then 22") - something close to original.
A 12" travel shock has a closed length of 18" (open length is then 30")

To fit the 12" travel shocks then you would raise the upper mount by 4" so that the closed position of the lower shock mount is then in the same position as it would be for a standard setup. The longer shock has an additional 4" of travel which will be found when the axle is fully dropped, so the suspension would drop 4" further than a standard setup which gives 4" of additional suspension travel.

Please also note that increased suspension travel doesn't necessarily mean that you will see improved articulation. They are different.

What is the best way to extend the front shock mount? Its something i have to do because my shockers are topping out.They are longer travel EFS ones.

More flex??? You got lockers front and back dude... you sure got some flex issues