The Lumpskie Build - '96 5-speed

^Hey man! I like that shot. Are you going to hit the loading docks this Friday? (if so, I might bring the Wagoneer out and give it a try...)

 

Yea I'm thinking yes. I really want to get a couple more measurements and set a baseline before i start playing with adjuatments....Its close enough to me that it shouldn't interfere with any plans xtina made for Friday night (if any) maybe we can make it a boys night?

 

Cool. I'll see you there tonight.

 

Had some fun in the Wagoneer... Flexes well for stock suspension 21" vertical before it lifts a tire

 

And, the Waggy needs a lift. Alcans ordered.

 

I was just reviewing my numbers on how high I can flex my truck before it lifts a tire and thought you guys might find it useful/interesting. So, the numbers are vertical inches for each suspension setup followed by some details on the associated hardware. Do any of you keep numbers like this? It would be fun to compare what works and what doesn't for different trucks.


1. ~12"- 650lb front coils, NWOR HD rear leafs
2 . 19"- 650lb front coils, Alcan rear leafs
3. 23"- 600lb Toytec Coilovers, Alcan Rear leafs, Toytec 5.5" extended rear shackles, LR UCAs
4. 24.5"- 600lb Toytec Coilovers, Alcan Rear Leafs WITH Orbit Eyes, 6" extended shackles, LR UCAs
5. 26.5"- 600lb Toytec Coilovers, Alcan Rear Leafs WITH Orbit Eyes, REMOVED 1.5 leafs, 6" extended shackles, LR UCAs (26 5/8" actual measure)

 

Broke my e-brake cable on Monday. Yesterday, I replaced it using this method:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/emergency-brake-cable-replacement.112794/

Worked out really well!

 

Fixed my e-brake and flexed my truck out again. Travel is still slowly growing!


This spring separation is a little more than I expected up front. I might limit it down to the lower bolt hole in the keeper for now:

 

Kinda surprised they don't use a full mil wrap on the second leaf, would keep the separation at bay.

 

Someone is still reading my thread!
Good eye. I have one for the front eye, but I removed it when I pulled one of my other leafs out. Now, I'm considering adding it back in... or just lowering the keeper pin to the lower position. For now, though, I'm just going to enjoy that added flex

 

I'd honestly put the mill wrap leaf back in and remove the one below it. So essentially replace the 2nd leaf with the original 2nd leaf. Then again you could leave it, but I'd be afraid of bending that top leaf.

 

That's probably good advice. Luckily, I'm getting meeting Bill (Owner of Alcan Spring) on Friday about my D44 springs and I'm going to show him these pictures while there. If he says that's too much stress on a single leaf, I'll either add the half leaf back in or put my keeper bolt in the lower position. (that will limit the spring separation by about 50%) I'll be sure to post up when I get an answer from Bill.

 

I don't know a damn thing about a damn thing but I just wanted to throw my guess in the ring to see if I'm right

*** My guess is that he says the spring separation at droop is not a problem and that there's no real stress on that top spring.
But.... the mil wrap is not to prevent separation but rather to allow the vehicle to still sit on the springs and limp home in the event that the top leaf breaks at the eyelet. ***

everything inside the *s is just my understanding and I'm curious to know if it's wrong.

 

Leaf spring opinions? I'm in...
I think lowering the keeper bolt will add more stress to the leaf at that leverage point. I also don't think it's a problem. I'd leave it where it is and keep the flex.
All force applied to the leaf in a droop is the weight of the axle/tire and some minor cantilever action from the other side. I present to you the amount of bend an actual main leaf can handle...



I've seen lots of guys run leaves with the clamps undone, just leaving the side bolsters to keep them aligned, to gain more drop. Rides sketchy on the highway but works pretty good in the dirt.

 

Good to see everyone's opinions on here... especially because I don't know the right answer on the separation issue myself!

Hey Brett,

What's the background on that picture? I know that you helped Squeaky Penguin re arch his springs, but I'm not sure what I'm looking at...

 

Using a press to add arch to the leaf. Pressing minimally will allow the leaf to go back to original state, much like normal use. Pressing to the point you see in the pic will give the leaf a new memory. It will settle a little but still retain more arch than original. I was just showing that you can really bend the hell out of the leaf and it won't break, to a point of course.

 

Maybe you should show Bill at Alcan that picture, that is an Alcan leaf...

Anyways, my keepers are barely above the top spring, I'd be curious to see how much, if any, flex changes with them removed. As Brett mentioned and advised, we built my new packs in a way to retain those keepers specifically to maintain the ride. I did just swap the shackle nuts to nylock to prevent binding, not going to be as good as your obit eyes, but before I did notice I could get a few more inches of droop jumping on the wheel.


Also, any idea how much shock shaft you have showing at full droop?

 

Thanks for the info, Old Brett.

Young Brett, I thought you were running OME springs, weren't you?

At full droop, my total shock length is 26-27". Why do you ask?

 

No, I was running Wheeler's 6 packs (5 packs plus the AAL). They're made by Alcan.

Figured it was a comprable way to compare droop using the stock mounting locations. I'm at 25"ish center eye to eye.