Flexing leafs

[TBex]

Ive got a diaz chassis with TLT axles and I just installed RC4WD red leafs and hot racing 100mm internal spring shocks. I can only get about an inch to inch and a half of flex out of the system. I tried it without shocks and there wasnt enough pressure to push the spring down when it needed to flex so I put on the shocks with the soft springs. It flexes a little more after but not much. How do I get flex out of them?

 

[gyrene]

From what I've read on here is leafs need to "break in". The more you use them the more flex you'll get out of it.

 

[rhett314]

The more you use them the looser they will get. But also you shouldn't need any springs in the shocks. The shocks should just be for dampening purposes. The leafs should be what supports the vehicle.

 

[TBex]

Without the springs in the shocks there isnt enough weight hanging from the axles to put the spring down, thats why I have the springs in now

 

[Offroader5]

Is the shackle rotating around fully...lining up with the leaf at full droop? What does your shackle angle look like when the truck is just sitting? Is it almost vertical or is it angled? Ideally your shackle should be angled at about 45 degrees or so when looking at it from the side. The leaf end of the shackle should be further away from the axle than the upper shackle mount on the frame.

If the shackle IS rotating all the way around and lining up with the leaf on full droop....then that's all you have...the leaf can't go any further.

 

[TBex]

I cant find shackles so Im a hack job for the shackles but now I just went to lowes and picked up some creative engineering parts that I have good plans for into making a easy quick 10 but set of revolver shackles. The truck had the front of the front axles springs solid mounted to the front of the frame to so I need to flip that set up around and have the shackle in the front of the front axle and behind the rear axle. Right?

 

[madhatter]

you might want to weight your wheels too. generally its the unsprung weight that pulls your leafs down ward during travel.

 

[JeremyH]

Chino mod to the leafs!

 

[TBex]

I put oil in the shocks to lube the seals and took out the springs and it let the shocks cycle alot easier. I havent chino moded them yet but Im going to but I made some shackles that let it flex quite abit more than before. My shackles are on my photobucket : http://s626.photobucket.com/albums/tt346/Baja_XJ/RC/

 

[Nova's Ark]

Chino mod to the leafs!

X2"thumbsup"

I put oil in the shocks to lube the seals and took out the springs and it let the shocks cycle alot easier. I havent chino moded them yet but Im going to but I made some shackles that let it flex quite abit more than before. My shackles are on my photobucket : http://s626.photobucket.com/albums/tt346/Baja_XJ/RC/

From the look of the pictures it looks like you are already getting good flex for a leaf spring truck"thumbsup". The Chino mod is the best thing I have found to work. You already know how to do it, so I am just posting this for someone who may not:

The angling of the leaf spring is nothing new and is known as the "Chino Mod". The only difference I added, was to install thin wall fuel tubing inside the eyelet. This takes up any slop since I no longer use the stock high lift eye bolt. The fuel tubing also adds some cushion so it's not metal to metal. I use a 3mm flat head bolt and lock nut to attach the springs.

Stock High Lift is on the left, modified spring is on the right.

Stock on top, modified with fuel tubbing on bottom.

I install the fuel tubbing 1st and then cut it down to size. I try and leave about 1mm sticking on each side.

Stock on top, one ready to install on bottom.

Ready to install on left, stock on right.

 

[Renslipevol]

Nicely done up there. I also found that just using the red RC4WD leafs wasn't good enough. Sure it flexed but rotational torque of the axle twisted them like cheese sticks. I had to back them up with some helper springs on either side of the main leaf.

 

[TBex]

The double shackle mod I came up with and got to work surprisingly well really helped my flex a ton. I May go ahead and chino the fronts but I cant in the back because my tires already tuck all the way to into the fenderwell on the hilux body and rub but I can give it a little more in the front I just need to rework the steering a little becuase my links are contacting the leafs in full flex

 

[obijuan]

diazh chassis i have seen typically dont flex well, its all in the shackle angle and length.

 

[LOSIASSOCIATED]

I just got a F350 about a week or so ago and the ownerbe for me drove it very little and had all 5 leafs in the spring it was stiff,Well I took out 3 of the leafs and it helped but the more I drive it the softer it seems its getting.
Greg