Thread: Is independent suspension that much better than leaf spring?

That's what I was trying to say dave. But according to frank I have no idea.

Track got it right in the nineties with 60 series leaf springs
google track eagle, mirage or oasis
Later models got the sugar glider independent for a short time, then mc2 style was introduced
Arguably the best constructed trailers STILL going around today

Short trailer springs belong on golf buggies
I've always wanted to build a trailing arm independent trailer suspension like the track mc style with d2 rear gear( with watts link

Steve, what's the difficulty using cruiser ute leafs (sprung under) on a trailer?
Wouldn't the hanger and shackle bush sit on/in the outside/frame rail?
Do you envisage any problems?


David

David

78/79 springs are around 1400mm long eye to eye
So you will need about 1500mm of chassis to attach front and rear hangers

This means the springs are wayyyyy longer than your guards

Not difficult but packaging could be difficult. I have installed them on two boat trailers.
With a pair of dampers and running the leaf packs sans load leaves and removing one or two thin leaves they ride as smooth as coil spring trailers I have built.

As they are on boat trailers I made up some 50mm b 50mm by 5mm angle slides that each shackle welded to. These slides were then bolted to the underside of the chassis rails.
Works well on boat trailers and lets you adjust to ball weight.

Bit harder on a camper trailer where you likely dont have clean chassis rails to attach to.

Independent swing arms are popular because they are neat to package NOT because they are a superior suspension design. I agree that the Track cross linked swing arms is a very well designed suspension.

On independents, lack of left right load sharing means you need to run higher spring rates and thereby have less control. Now that may not be an often experienced problem but it certainly is not a superior suspension design.

Just running ARB would likely improve the performance of inde trailers but I guess that removes some of the neat packaging

S

Would love to know the story on this;

http://www.exploroz.com/uploads/memb...00.jpg?_112771

But not surprised at the location of failure. The inner arms of inde swing arms have to take huge loads due to leverage and poor geometry

I know this kind of failure is not particularly common but interesting none the less

s