![]() ![]() ![]() Usually, you’d see a coilover here, but the owner has elected to use air springs instead. It also uses trailing arms (lower) that the bypass shocks mount to. This show-ready four-link setup has triangulated upper links that help locate the axle, stopping it from wandering from side to side. Axle wrap is also a concern, but can be taken care of with a set of traction bars fairly easily. There’s just too much of a rotational load on the front end to make them safe at all.ĭrawbacks to truck leaf spring solid axles are mainly a lack of “tuneability” when compared to four-link setups (see 4-Link section below). Lifting or modifying a front leaf spring rig should only be done with new leaves or with parts designed specifically for the front of a leaf spring vehicle. Getting new leaves made will make the ride just about whatever you want it to be. Adding blocks will give you a stock-like ride with stock-like performance with the benefit of larger tires adding a leaf will make the ride stiffer, and for the most part will just add more room for tires re-arching the leaves will generally make the ride stiffer, and again, only add room for more tires. So, the use of blocks should be kept to just a few inches in lift, anything higher and you should consider getting new leaves made, adding a leaf to your existing pack, or having your existing leaves reached by a qualified shop. Suspension lift with a truck leaf spring setup is simple in the rear, blocks can be used, which simply put a spacer in the suspension, raising the vehicle by whatever thickness the spacer is, although these blocks will create added axle wrap under acceleration, wearing out driveshaft components or worse. It’s a much more robust spring designed to only come into play when the rig has a large load on/in it. ![]() Below that spring (and sometimes above it) is an overload spring that takes over when the vehicle is loaded. Stock leaves generally have a main pack, which allows for a pleasant ride during normal, unloaded daily driving. The axle is mounted to the center of the leaf (in most situations) and the frame secures both eyelets of the spring, one solid mounted and the other with a shackle to allow for suspension travel. This pack has also been powdercoated to match the vehicle.īy far the simplest design and cheapest to modify, a long travel leaf spring setup is just multiple pieces of spring steel (a steel with memory that returns to its original shape after being deformed) stacked in varying widths (rates) or amounts of leaves depending on the need. Here, a race pack featuring multiple smaller leaves is designed to simultaneously carry the weight of the vehicle and move freely, allowing for a better ride through rough terrain. But you can still find the best suspension for off road that is also a great riding and performing rig both on and off the highway. There is not a perfect suspension design that does all things perfectly: It’s a give-and-take situation. Most off-road capable vehicles nowadays see much more time on the street than they do on the dirt, so you’ll need to consider how much comfort and performance you’re willing to sacrifice on either terrain in the interest of building a vehicle that best meets all of your specific needs. When picking your suspension setup, to get the best off-road suspension all three need to be taken into consideration. Getting the power down (traction on the terrain) is one important thing, ride comfort and safety are others altogether. If the best tires for cars can’t make effective contact with the terrain then they won’t get you anywhere. But what many don’t understand is that the proper suspension setup is much more important than the right set of shoes. Tires help get power to the ground, and without the right set, it’s possible to sit in an infinite burnout and not go anywhere. ![]()
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