BJ73V Turbo, Leaf Springs?

[roscoFJ73]

Roscoe,

No clue what their chart's info used as its standard, what the specs refer to. They DID say that it would lift it about 2 inches in the process, and perhaps as much as 70 mm overall, including some sag in the current system. I couldn't possibly care less if it lifts it a little bit... but $2k is just too much for freight.

If it includes a lift, I suppose the original leaf springs are a little shorter, so they have less bow?

Wow thats a lot but not unexpected
AFAIK springs are measured from centre of eye to eye,horizontally regardless of the bow or arch.
The axle is not centred in the spring so they are 565mm from axle to front and 645 from axle to rear.
The camber is the height of the arch in the spring.

Ironman are Australian and do plenty of Landcruisers so they should have it right.

Ok,so what next? Is it possible to find some leafs off an old truck and have the locals cut them down to size,or even better find some new spring steel and make some new leaves.
I remember reading a blog about some people from France who had their suspensiom repaired in North Africa this way

 

[Ron R]

[John,
discussing your problem about your leafsprings with Paul Heystee of Parabolic Suspensions, he mentioned that your rig probably is an 'Amsterdam-Dakar barrel', as we call it over here. A 'barrel' is a poor maintained, barely driveable rig.
It's a phenomena that developed maybe ten years ago. Idea was to get a cheap car (or for nothing) and drive it to Dakar, sell it, donate the earned money to charity (locally)and return home, flying or hiking.
At the beginning these vehicles were pure cr@p. Only target was to get money out of it an since it had to be sold to locals, the cheaper the better. Some even didn't get there.
The last few years quality improved. Some people now donate their rig instead of selling it. These vehicles tend to be of reasonable to very good quality depending on the available money.
Actually Paul sponsored one of those in 2006. You can see pictures of the Dutch couple (actually living next village to where I live and I gave them a hand now and then during their preparations)here
It must be in your region, maybe you have spotted it.

Anyway, Paul is looking into the options/costs to get leafsprings for you to Dakar. Assume you'll receive an email as soon as he has sorted it out.

 

[Gyrkin]

Ron,

Yeah, there are some down here like that, I suppose. But the biggest reason they are in poor shape is that ALL cars here are in horrible condition if they are more than a year or two old. Roads are hell, everyone has dents all over their vehicles in no time, and there is no such thing as a legitimate garage or mechanic, even at the dealerships who charge ya 25000 Euros for the things new.

I think this one will pull out of it alright once the suspension and details are tended to. Sure, it could be better, but this is Africa, and the standards we are used to just don't apply or exist here... but you know that already.

One local guy, and older fellow, father and son "yard", says he can fix all that ails it including a pair of rear "almost new" leaf springs, and half a dozen minor ills, for 250,000 CFA - about $550 USD or so. Unfortunately, that price goes up for new shocks and front leaf springs. Since I am pretty sure the front leaf springs are supposed to be ATTACHED to the shackles, not just resting there on top of it, I tend to think a full suspension kit is in order.

Thanks very much for the assistance. I am looking forward to hearing from him soon!

 

[Gyrkin]

Just when I thought it couldn't get much worse...

... with the leaf springs...

Took it to a mechanic today, as he had CLAIMED he worked on Sundays. There is a big huge international Islamic convention here in Dakar beginning this week. Lots of heads of state, soldiers, motorcades, etc., and Senegal is trying to put on their Sunday Best, so...

The boards that enclosed the guy's work area were down from his fence. He is probably still in business, but... he ain't working today.

Release a deep sigh I hadn't realized I was holding, then head back home. Turning off the main road, I hear/feel the bump and drop. The last of the leaf springs has broken in half, and the body is now sitting on the wheel... in a country where there are no tow trucks and everything that isn't nailed down or welded in place may be considered fair game. I am seriously thinking of taking the batteries back to the house tonight, to keep them from being taken. In fact, I think I just decided I will.

So... now what? They insist they have to take the pieces off to get a match on a used pair. Can he put it up on blocks (safely) and then go get the parts?

Just when I thought it couldn't get much worse!

Any thoughts or suggestions on a temporary fix so I can drive it to the guy's yard/shop?

 

[Ron R]

What we did was to put a wooden block between axle and frame when during our Kazakhstan trip one of the rigs broke both springs, left and right.
That way we drove another 75 km's, max speed in the 15-20km/hr range....

 

[roscoFJ73]

Another way is to get a branch,cut it to the length of the springs,lift the body. Then strap the branch tightly, to the underside of the spring with fencing wire.in effect you will have a wooden spring leaf
Or you could weld tabs across the broken secions of spring

 

[Ron R]

Another way is to get a branch,cut it to the length of the springs,lift the body. Then strap the branch tightly, to the underside of the spring with fencing wire.in effect you will have a wooden spring leaf
Or you could weld tabs across the broken secions of spring

Get a branch.......

No tree for hundreds of km's

Welder? In the next village......75 km's down the track....never seen one like that before..
Just a bunch of wires, more or less in the shape of a transformer. No starting capacitor, the electrode connected by wrapping one of the wires, originating at the 'transformer', around it...

Sometimes conditions are not quite that what we are used to.....

But you are right....sometimes simple solutions can save your @ss

 

[roscoFJ73]

Get a branch.......

No tree for hundreds of km's

Welder? In the next village......75 km's down the track....never seen one like that before..
Just a bunch of wires, more or less in the shape of a transformer. No starting capacitor, the electrode connected by wrapping one of the wires, originating at the 'transformer', around it...

Sometimes conditions are not quite that what we are used to.....

But you are right....sometimes simple solutions can save your @ss

I kind of expected north africa to be like that but you never know. Maybe there is some driftwood at the beach

Nice big square lumps of wood donT drop out of the sky very often either

I have seen 3 batteries joined together to patch broken springs together with plate steel

 

[Gyrkin]

Stiff and riding high

Well, the gods were with me. Though it was supposedly not possible, when we went to get the used leafsprings today, I was offered a new pair for about 75 USD more. SO, it now has Japanese shocks and god-knows-who-made-these leaf springs on both sides of the rears.

Needless to say, it is riding a LOT higher now... and the suspension is WAY stiff. But it cost less for the parts than the shipping would have been. So far, the total for the parts is 200,000 CFA, including a little weld that the guy put onto the edge of the two smallest plates to keep them from splaying out... I dunno about that, but it did need some keepers, so... If the weld is too much, hopefully the weld will break, not the centers.

Now it feels like I am about to do a nosedive. I will change the front shocks, hopefully with something a bit more aftermarket than the Jap "original" ones. I am still not certain how much the shocks do separately of the leaf springs on this beast. Gotta think they SHOULD work together?

But it is good news... I'm on the road again, and it feels much better.

THanks for the tips... I kept the parts that were replaced. The leaf spring on the other side has one plate that is broken, but hasn't been lost yet. Maybe I will have it welded and keep it for a spare, if I find I have extra space somewhere.



J

 

[Ron R]

Good news at last John..

Have PM-ed you several times regarding the manual.
Mail was bounced several times, because added files were not allowed.
Should have worked now and be in you mailbox.

Have fun

 

[Gyrkin]

Ron,

Got the emails, STILL can't log on to the account... I am about to give you a FTP account on one of my sites.

Maybe the issue is that I am on internet cafe machines... MANY thanks for the attempts to assist!