stink bug stance and caster

[Waggoner5]

I run the 850Js up front and 860s in rear and it sits level and rides great. Not to harsh at all.

 

[alia176]

Gary,

No fair man, you can't mix and match!!!

 

[MoJ]

So many opinions - making my setup decision tough. I'm planning on ordering Monday but still haven't made up my mind which setup to go with. Thinking mediums all around with Mr. G's up front to level things out. Book I've been reading lately (4-wheeler's Bible) greatly discourages mixed spring rates, claiming decreased articulation as Hoser did above. I think I've read everything I can get my hands on but still no clear choice.

 

[Waggoner5]

Actually I am all for mixing spring rates as long as its done correctly, especially front to rear.
The fronts are 850Js with a bar diameter of 17mm and there rears are 860s with a bar diameter of 18 which is actually closer to the same spring rate than going with the 863Js which have a bar diameter of 19. Normally in a daily driver I would want less spring rate in the rear for better ride, being that the rear has less sprung wieght. But with adding gear and larger spares and such , I understand having a siffer spring rate for the rear. My 80 seems better balanced and drives mucho better than stock. It does need some more caster now.
Christo when are the plates going to be available?
G

 

[hoser]

Actually I am all for mixing spring rates as long as its done correctly, especially front to rear.
G

I am too. But keep in mind that the bar diameter of a coil spring is just one factor in the equation--the length of the spring and it's number of active coils also determine the spring's rate.

Rarely do you want the same effective spring rates in the front and rear. The rear often has a higher spring rate to kinda "catch-up" to the front's oscillations when hitting bumps on the freeway. Otherwise, you can experience that "bronco" motion I mentioned earlier.

 

[Waggoner5]

I agree 100%, just trying to keep it simple. I understand the number of coils, height and bar diameters, together make the rate and height according to weight. I use my 80 different than most so I set it up for my application. I guess I left outa point that my setup uses the same amout of coils and the same bar diameter as the corresponding 1" lower spring. In other words the 863 rear constant load spring has the same rate and bar diameter as the 863j spring which is 25mm higher, and makes my truck sit level while riding just like a rear J spring would.
G

 

[hoser]

The fronts are 850Js with a bar diameter of 17mm and there rears are 860s

Wait, you said you had 860's in the rear. Did you mean 863's? Nevermind...
I agree 850J's (front) with 863's (rear) sounds like a good plan for those who don't want the stink bug syndrome.

 

[Waggoner5]

My mistake. I sell so many sets of these that I don't even know what I have.

 

[sleeoffroad]

Christo when are the plates going to be available?
G

Plates are ready, but waiting to get all the bolts & nuts. Need some special M18 bolts. It might be to much caster for just J springs. They are made for about 4" of lift. Might be ok with J springs and no bumper though.

 

[Waggoner5]

Whats the issue with the bolts?

 

[sleeoffroad]

I need M18x25mm bolts. So I had to buy M18 x40 and have them cut down. No-one makes a M18 bolt that short.

 

[concretejungle]

There's a place around here called automotive fasteners. I'll bet they would have them.

 

[MoJ]

or www.fastenal.com

 

[concretejungle]

or www.fastenal.com

Nice Moj, that's the other i was trying to think of. If they don't have em' they don't make em'.

 

[sleeoffroad]

Actually kicked Fastenall out of the shop. They are NotFastAtAll. We have a good local Metric fasterner place. If they can not locate a M18x25, then I am pretty sure it does not exist. Catch is that is what we need to make it work.