Short Vid, where do I start?

[Muddi44]

I race a much modded Suzuki Samurai in a race series in the UK (no this is not a wind up I really do!) The suspension is next item to spend some money on, currently it is fitted with stiff springs with about 9"-10" travel at the rear & 7"-8" travel at the front, shocks are Pro-comp ES3000. I intend to fit resevoir shocks all round (probably Fox), I may fit parabolic springs.
I have linked to a short vid which shows the current problem inasmuch that the truck keeps on bouncing after each bump.
The class I race in is purely for leaf sprung trucks, if I fitted coil overs I would be severly outclassed, anyone got any suggestions for the way forward.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxP02a_vFCk

(Mine is the black truck at the start, #416)

Tim

[Josh_K]

Call Deaver Spring in California. I dont know there # but there in Orange County. They can make you a set of soft long travel springs for that thing. They might even have somthing close sitting on there shelf.

Plus run at least one 2.5" shock in each corner. A 3" shock would be better. The bottom line is you need more travel and wheel controle/dampening.

As a side joke "DAMPENING" was for Kritter.

[smokey]

Do your class regulations allow you to run longer than stock springs? Going to a longer leaf will give you potential for more travel, and a softer rate.

I am also building up a samurai, but just for fun, no racing. I went to YJ leafs, which are about 44 inches long. I think the stock fronts are ~35", it's been a while, so I might be off a little, but in that area. The rears I believe are 39.

Either way, I ran stock 4 leaf yj packs, stock 5 leaf packs, and custom mixed 6 leaf packs to experiment. The ride at speed was much improved with a better rate, and much more up travel. They're also 2.5" wide, over the stock 2" wide samurai springs, which I've heard helps combat axle wrap and sway.

I realize that Jeep springs may be hard to source in the UK, but the same concept should apply to any spring pack.

If I was you, and limited to leaf springs, then if your class permits longer springs than stock, figure out what the longest you can feasibly run with new custom spring and shackle hangers, then order a set up from deaver to fit those specs.

I'd plan to build it as low as possible with good uptravel, so likely the fenders will need some trimming to clear at full compression.

As recommended, better shocks, and maybe some air bumps to make your limited travel more progressive.

Not that it helps you any, but I got tired of working around the limitations of leaves up front, and went with fox coilovers and stretched the front axle forward 10" so it tucks up in front of the engine for max up travel with a relatively low ride height. I ditched the front clip, and now my tires just clear my hood at full compression. I removed enough sheet metal that at full compression it sits lower on 35s than it did on the stock 26" tires. The nice part about playing with leaf packs was they were all weekend jobs...now my truck hasnt left the garage in half a year, but it's getting close.

[Muddi44]

There are no issues within the class apart from that it must be leaf sprung on all 4 wheels, all else is free as long as it is safe! I have been thinking of moving the front axle forward so that I can get more up travel without hitting the sump.
I am considering using Series landrover spring packs as they are easily obtainable in the UK, however I can get anything made up if I can give the thickness of leaves & length to the spring manufacturer. Most UK manufacturers cannot do the calculations so will only copy what has already been made.
WB is currently 93", 100" -105" is considered ideal for racing in the UK (courses are tighter & shorter than in the US so vehicals need to be more manouverable.)

Tim