My New Springs

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Just talked to Jason at Alcan. I think there is a little blame on both sides. He says he's willing to come to common ground.

I have two options:

1) Send the rears back to him for rework (wtf do I do, put the old springs back on while I wait? Don't want the rig sitting on kackstands for however long)

2) Move the rear perches back ( I don't trust my welding skills enough for something this important, so I'll see what it'll cost to have that done.

Any suggestions?
 
Move your mounts,
1. the longer span ,will make a better ride. Your load is heavy so longer span will equal better ride with that load.
2 Your welding skills are better than the welds on that frame in 78, just grind and sand to good clean metal, there some beefy hangers on the market that would work good, and you can set your shackle angle.
Or take a road trip out here some weekend and I will do it..........
 
calstyl2 said:
Move your mounts,
1. the longer span ,will make a better ride. Your load is heavy so longer span will equal better ride with that load.
2 Your welding skills are better than the welds on that frame in 78, just grind and sand to good clean metal, there some beefy hangers on the market that would work good, and you can set your shackle angle.
Or take a road trip out here some weekend and I will do it..........
Click to expand...


:cheers:

Thought about this after I got off the phone:
If I move the mounts, should I set the shackle angle in the empty orientation or fully loaded?
 
bogus one said:
:cheers:

Thought about this after I got off the phone:
If I move the mounts, should I set the shackle angle in the empty orientation or fully loaded?
Click to expand...

Fully loaded to your expected weight, my 40 shackles are just slightly rearward of vertical, which is what HFS recomends. I would load it to your expected weght, jack it up and remove the hanger.
Put your hanger where you think its gonna sit, tack weld it and lower the Pig onto the shackles and see where it sits. Adjust as needed.

But slightly rearward of vertical is what I think you want.
 
calstyl2 said:
Fully loaded to your expected weight, my 40 shackles are just slightly rearward of vertical, which is what HFS recomends. I would load it to your expected weght, jack it up and remove the hanger.
Put your hanger where you think its gonna sit, tack weld it and lower the Pig onto the shackles and see where it sits. Adjust as needed.

But slightly rearward of vertical is what I think you want.
Click to expand...

That's what I was thinking, but what won't it set at vetical or possibly even inverted empty?
 
Also, I don't understand why the front's seem to set perfectly, but I have this issue at the rear. Is there a chance I could have this issue up front down the road?
 
bogus one said:
That's what I was thinking, but what won't it set at vetical or possibly even inverted empty?
Click to expand...

Yes, That thing is gonna settle out, you will be inverted empty, you are already gonna be rough empty as you spec'd them for a load. And most of your driving is gonna be loaded............its not a every day driving rig.
Isnt the 55 and 40 fronts the same?
 
calstyl2 said:
Yes, That thing is gonna settle out, you will be inverted empty, you are already gonna be rough empty as you spec'd them for a load. And most of your driving is gonna be loaded............its not a every day driving rig.
Isnt the 55 and 40 fronts the same?
Click to expand...

55 fronts have the center pin "in the center"
 
OK,
So I'm gonna move the rear shackle hangers. After talking with my buddy Leadhead last night, I have some questions for the rest of you gurus:

My stock hangers are riveted to the frame. Should I re-use these hangers with grade 8 bolts and tack welds at the corners?
Should I get some a/m hangers and do a full weld job?

Thoughts on the bolt/tack idea were that it would give some flex at the connection, posibly matching the factory rivet connection.

Will I put too much stress on a fully welded connection?

Also, I have not found any a/m hangers that match the 55's, with a tab running up the side of the frame rail.

Thoughts?
 
bogus one said:
OK,
So I'm gonna move the rear shackle hangers. After talking with my buddy Leadhead last night, I have some questions for the rest of you gurus:

My stock hangers are riveted to the frame. Should I re-use these hangers with grade 8 bolts and tack welds at the corners?
Should I get some a/m hangers and do a full weld job?

Thoughts on the bolt/tack idea were that it would give some flex at the connection, posibly matching the factory rivet connection.

Will I put too much stress on a fully welded connection?

Also, I have not found any a/m hangers that match the 55's, with a tab running up the side of the frame rail.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
I plasma cut the rivets and then air chiseled the mounts off. Took about 5 minutes for each mount. I then just fully welded the mounts to the frame. No problems since.

You will more than likely have problems with the front as well by looking at your shackle angle and knowing that Alcans will settle out quite a bit. It may take some time, but the springs will eventually settle.

Sorry you had trouble with Alcans. FWIW, I had the same issues.
 
bogus one said:
Just talked to Jason at Alcan. I think there is a little blame on both sides...
Click to expand...

Can you help me understand what errors were committed by who?

I am somewhat interested in Alcans, but don't want to go through what you are going through...
 
PabloCruise said:
Can you help me understand what errors were committed by who?

I am somewhat interested in Alcans, but don't want to go through what you are going through...
Click to expand...


I think it was a lack of questions on both sides.

Obviously more research needed on my end, and a lack of "what about this" questions on his end.

I'm not bad-mouthing by any means. Jason seems to be a really good guy, the springs are obviously top quality, and I don't regret a thing.
 
Grease Cruiser said:
I plasma cut the rivets and then air chiseled the mounts off. Took about 5 minutes for each mount. I then just fully welded the mounts to the frame. No problems since.

You will more than likely have problems with the front as well by looking at your shackle angle and knowing that Alcans will settle out quite a bit. It may take some time, but the springs will eventually settle.

Sorry you had trouble with Alcans. FWIW, I had the same issues.
Click to expand...


what were the specs on you Alcan's?
 
bogus one said:
what were the specs on you Alcan's?
Click to expand...
My 4" lift springs were actually for a FJ60. I don't have the specs anymore but I needed the springs to be a legit 4" lift and hold up the extra weight of a Cummins 4BT, bull bar, winch, heavy duty rear bumper, and a bunch of gear. They looked a little long when I installed them but I thought they might be OK. They lasted about 2 weeks and then I started having the same issues you are having. I ended up going with my factory leaf packs with add-a-leaves and then SOA.
 
Thanks for the offer, Dan.

I can take care of getting the mounts off and tacked in their new location, and I'll have one of my Certified Welder buddies swing by and finish it off.

One of the perks of the business
 
Grease Cruiser said:
My 4" lift springs were actually for a FJ60. I don't have the specs anymore but I needed the springs to be a legit 4" lift and hold up the extra weight of a Cummins 4BT, bull bar, winch, heavy duty rear bumper, and a bunch of gear. They looked a little long when I installed them but I thought they might be OK. They lasted about 2 weeks and then I started having the same issues you are having. I ended up going with my factory leaf packs with add-a-leaves and then SOA.
Click to expand...


So, let me get this straight.

You ordered springs for your 55 spec'd to a different model, with a bunch of added stuff, and when they didn't work out, you started a thread to bash Alcan?


Am I the only one that sees a problem here?
 
bogus one said:
So, let me get this straight.

You ordered springs for your 55 spec'd to a different model, with a bunch of added stuff, and when they didn't work out, you started a thread to bash Alcan?


Am I the only one that sees a problem here?
Click to expand...


You have it wrong, I never said my Alcan springs were installed on a FJ55. The Alcan springs I ordered were for a FJ60 and were installed on a FJ60.
 
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Grease Cruiser said:
You have it wrong, I never said my Alcan springs were installed on a FJ55. The Alcan springs I ordered were for a FJ60 and were installed on a FJ60.
Click to expand...


I appologize
 
Bogus never updated this thread. But so far we haven't had any problems with the front springs after numerous trips.

Rear springs are working out great with the factory mounts moved back. Welded with grade eights.


And now she does this :D
P3270073.webp
P3270075.webp
 
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