offrd63 said:
gaining that 3.5 inches by flipping your springs you will need to reposition shock mounts, run longer brake lines and drive shafts, and you will need to trim the fenders.
Rear Spring Flex (or lack thereof) with SUA - pics
- Thread starter msahr
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gaining that 3.5 inches by flipping your springs you will need to reposition shock mounts, run longer brake lines and drive shafts, and you will need to trim the fenders.
http://www.ih8mud.com/tech/woody/shackle.html
(yeek...1998...and I coulda at least washed it....ah well...)
(yeek...1998...and I coulda at least washed it....ah well...)
dgangle
total rice
Don't feel bad. After 5 years my 4" SUA BTB's are finally starting to soften a little. I have removed 2 of 6 leaves. I guess when it starts to sag I'll put a leaf or two back in as needed. At least the springs are made to place the rear tire in the center of the wheel well opening which looks alot better IMO. See link in sig for pics.
- Thread starter
- #24
So the general consensus is moving the rear shackle hanger FORWARD... Hmmm Never thought of that. I think I'll try it, but I just can't get my mind around the idea. I thought a longer spring, with a shackle hanger and a shackle of the appropriate location and size, would allow a lot more droop.
I want to see if I can loosen up the spring clamps and the shackles. Looked at the spring clamps and they look like /__\ with the flat part being the spring... definitely need to fix that!
The springs only have 5 leaves... doesn't seem like an excessive amount. Not sure which leaf I'd remove with only 5... The 2nd (from the top) one?
I want to see if I can loosen up the spring clamps and the shackles. Looked at the spring clamps and they look like /__\ with the flat part being the spring... definitely need to fix that!
The springs only have 5 leaves... doesn't seem like an excessive amount. Not sure which leaf I'd remove with only 5... The 2nd (from the top) one?
did you put the rear springs in the front and the front springs in the rear... thats what it looks like to me.
- Thread starter
- #26
Nope... triple-checked it. But I just checked and the rear springs are "long end rearward" which of course is what the instructions say to do... but that puts the rear tire forward in the wheelwell.
Looks like I'm gonna flip the springs and loosen the clamps. More later...
Looks like I'm gonna flip the springs and loosen the clamps. More later...
if you flip the spring you will need new drive shafts
- Thread starter
- #28
You're right... I plan to anyway. Just thinking about what would work at this point. Before I move the axle back I need to make sure it will clear the (ConFerr) aux fuel tank (which I'm not sure will fit because of the Metal Tech cage-to-frame attachment tubes) 
so it's a work in progress. Also planning on a ToyBox which necessitates driveshaft mods anyway.
so it's a work in progress. Also planning on a ToyBox which necessitates driveshaft mods anyway.
- Thread starter
- #29
Oh and the 2F and H42 or H55... that adds to the whole dilemma as well.
heh, this thread is getting funny. Deffinitely just try the easy stuff first. Once your springs flatten out a little and you get them loose, then go after the other more extreme fixes. I would NOT take your hanger off and move it. Especially for those springs. Those MAF springs are standard and theres hundreds of rigs out there running them. No need to start altering the frame to compensate for them. As Mark stated, I would also get some different shackles that arent anti inversion. That will let the tires droop more. But in the mean time, go with the easy stuff.
-Dustin
-Dustin
rear flex you want 
dropin a 37 below the rocker
XJ rears
but yes the issue is your shackle angle, need to get that bad boy kicked out to 45deg, so you need to push your mounts forward, or, get some different springs. I'm not really a big fan of 55 springs simply because they are getting harder to find, and if you break em, you may have a hard time getting another. 60 series springs would be a good choice. You could get a lift spring but be forwarned that there will need to be some work done to the mounts to get them to fit. The best option I would say, if you want to stay SUA in the back, is, to call alcan and have them make you some springs.
dropin a 37 below the rocker
XJ rears
but yes the issue is your shackle angle, need to get that bad boy kicked out to 45deg, so you need to push your mounts forward, or, get some different springs. I'm not really a big fan of 55 springs simply because they are getting harder to find, and if you break em, you may have a hard time getting another. 60 series springs would be a good choice. You could get a lift spring but be forwarned that there will need to be some work done to the mounts to get them to fit. The best option I would say, if you want to stay SUA in the back, is, to call alcan and have them make you some springs.
- Thread starter
- #32
bustanutley said:
Exactly! Really should have done that in the first place. Oh well live and beat your head against the wall
Nice rig BTW
My vote if you want better flex is to sell your new rear springs. Put your stock one back on buy a set of perches for 12 dollars cut the old one off spring over the rear and spend your left over money to lenghten your DS. Could be done easily in a day.
Mark W
Yep, I really don't really care that much I guess.
msahr said:
Moving the shackle hanger forward with the same spring is a compromise and not a good one IMHO.
The spring that you have on there, like many (most?) lift springs is too short. Put longer springs on (FJ55 rears are a great choice if you can find a set that are not worn out). This (the '55 springs) moved you axle back about 4 inches from the front of the fender. It lets you run much longer shackles at a very mild angle which results in no unneeded left, a very soft ride and LOTS of axle travel/articulation.
Easy swap.
Mark...
in your first pic there appears to be a white sticker on the end of the spring.
did it say *MADE IN CANADA*????
if so good luck getting it to do anything you want to. After 3 years on the rig I pulled the bottom 2 leaves (only 3 leafs on the rear springs now), installed a hardtop, and it STILL rides like utter crap.
I don't know where Man-a-free gets their springs, but if I'm right about the sticker, they're probably the same springs i have.
and yes, the shackles are almost vertical
did it say *MADE IN CANADA*????
if so good luck getting it to do anything you want to. After 3 years on the rig I pulled the bottom 2 leaves (only 3 leafs on the rear springs now), installed a hardtop, and it STILL rides like utter crap.
I don't know where Man-a-free gets their springs, but if I'm right about the sticker, they're probably the same springs i have.
and yes, the shackles are almost vertical
Mace said:Link it up, cut all your fenders off and make your cruiser look like a jeep from behind
I couldn't resist.
How about putting your spare tire and carrier back on. That would add anothe 60 to 70 lbs in the rear. From the looks of the pic your going downhill which throws even more weight to the front and less in the back. It looks like there is no weight in the rear. Try it again with a couple friends in the back. I bet you will have different results.
thats what i'm talking about started ouy searching for better flex out of a spring he already had, no were talking major surgery. 
nurse scapel:whoops:
nurse scapel:whoops:
