J spring concerns (1 Viewer)

[ryanjl]

If the caster is too much with the plates, putting OME correction bushings in upside down will reduce the castor?

To do that would nullify the benefits of the plates (i.e. OEM rubber bushing flexibility) and will yeild, if my thinking is right, the same corrected caster as just putting the OME bushings in the normal way without the plates.

 

[Josh83]

The benifit of the plates is not the more flexable stock bushings, it is a greater amount of castor correction. The flexability difference is small. The suspension design limits articulation MUCH more than poly bushings ever could. The plates are for ~5* castor correction and the bushings are for ~2*. The sway bar MUST be dropped to run the plates, if not you WILL have driveshaft/swaybar issues even on the street. I know, it happened to me.

 

[ryanjl]

The benifit of the plates is not the more flexable stock bushings, it is a greater amount of castor correction. The flexability difference is small.

That goes against what many people on this board have said, and several Australians who've suffered cracked and broken axle brackets during hard use with the OME bushings.

Yes, the brackets are for 4" of lift whereas the bushings are for 2.5", but that was a moot point given the context of the discussion.

 

[Josh83]

I thought you were refering to axle flex with the bushings, not the actual flexability of the bushings.

 

[Tools R Us]

Using the plates or redrilling the brackets to correct the caster moves the front mount point down increasing the leverage on the brackets, leading to a greater chance of breaking them.

 

[cruiserdan]

The OME bushings are more rigid thereby transmitting more twisting force into the axle housing mounting brackets. I can see where, over time, that could cause problems in a vehicle that is used in agressive articulation on a regular basis.

 

[Bob_Garrett]

The caster plates correct too much for just J springs. That lift is in between the available off-the-shelf corrections.

I am currently running j-springs + 1" spacers with ARB bumper +12k winch and dual batteries. I'm running Christo's front control arms (which correct for a 5-6" lift) and while my castor is probably over corrected, the steering doesn't seem overly heavy and the return to center seems about normal.

Bob

 

[MADDEN72]

After lifting mine with j's, 1" spacers and bushings it drove poorly so I fabbed up a bracket to drop the back of the control arm using a front shackle out of a F350.This is probably not the best alternative but it worked for me so far. I would have installed the caster plates but I dont think they were avalable at the time and slee's arms were out of my budget. I will more then likely install the plates in the future . I drives great and aligned fine I just don't like the arm sitting any lower then it has to.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

When is someone going to make caster correction bushings specifically for the J springs? Any of you suppliers/fabricators listening?

All of the above reasons are why I did not buy J's, but the J's do provide the perfect lift height for an expedition style 80 IMHO.

 

[cruiserdan]

I see no reason why a J spring front 80 will not drive OK, albeit not perfect, with OME bushings installed. The only case I can think of where it may be too light would be a vehicle with a totally stock front end, IE no bullbar or winch or dual batteries or blower or....ETC. How many "expedition" vehicles fit that application?

 

[Steve-O]

I have seen a few rigs come through that had the bushings pressed in wrong, giving a terrible ride. Other than that, if everything is set up right, the caster bushings work fine with the J springs.

Steve

 

[photogod]

How can you press the bushings in wrong? The directions are very clear. Inquiring minds need to know because I'm just about to do it.

 

[ryanjl]

How can you press the bushings in wrong? The directions are very clear. Inquiring minds need to know because I'm just about to do it.

I've read where some people have dropped them off at shops who have never done them before, and picked their vehicle up with the bushings pressed in the exact opposite way they should have been... yeilding worse caster than stock.

 

[sleeoffroad]

When is someone going to make caster correction bushings specifically for the J springs? Any of you suppliers/fabricators listening?

All of the above reasons are why I did not buy J's, but the J's do provide the perfect lift height for an expedition style 80 IMHO.

They do exist. However there is so little rubber left between the center bushing and the rim that the bushing will not flex. Maybe ok for poser trucks, but not for off-road. Called a 3 degree bushing.

 

[CharlieS]

Bushings were put in upside down, and they installed them in the vehicle anyway? Why?

Charlie

 

[ryanjl]

Bushings were put in upside down, and they installed them in the vehicle anyway? Why?

Charlie

Because the shop didn't know what they were doing.

Vehicle gets dropped off, lift and caster correction bushings installed at shop, vehicle gets picked up.

 

[CharlieS]

Ahhhh, now I get it. Thanks. Sometimes I am slow on the uptake.

Charlie

 

[Dirk Diggler]

They do exist. However there is so little rubber left between the center bushing and the rim that the bushing will not flex. Maybe ok for poser trucks, but not for off-road. Called a 3 degree bushing.

Thanks Cristo.