Soft ride front springs and cross over steering

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Soft ride front springs and cross over steering

Postby 9312v » Sun Mar 23, 2014 3:17 pm

I have been amassing parts for my truck over the past few months. I decided that right now it would be easier for me to get custom suspension's "softride" front leaf springs, instead of building a ford style radius arm setup. They seem to be designed like the super duties leaf spring, with only two leafs that taper thickness from the center out. http://www.customsuspension.com/store/p ... ts_id=1861

I also decided that it would be a good time to do crossover steering in conjunction with a borgson double u joint steering shaft. There is a little bit of information from the people that have done crossover steering

My parts list for the drag link include:
double ended adjustor
4 tie rod ends
PSC passenger side high steer arm
5' 1 3/8" x 3/16" wall DOM
left hand thread weld in bung for TRE
WJ jeep grand cherokee pitman arm with the alignment key removed and reamed for "chevy 1 ton" taper

Image

With she shocks, I decided to go with a 10" travel shock from Fox. The main reason for the 10" travel ones is because they were in stock and there was no eta on the 8" ones. Factory has a travel of 8.5", my biggest concern was to maintain the factory shock mount/ bump stop bracket. I machined the lower mount to receive the 1/2" shock eyelet, on the frame side I cut the old stud off, drilled it out and welded a grade 8 bolt to the bracket.

Image

The gap between the bump stop and leaf spring measures 3 3/8", there is 3 3/4" of shaft showing on the shock. They do have a rubber bumper on the shaft, from the shock body to that number is 3 1/4". I was worried about the shocks bottoming out during normal use, but after a week of driving around I can tell that there shouldn't be an issue with bottoming them out. Once I get a eta on the 8" travel ones I may purchase a set of those and use the 10" ones on my rock crawler.

This is the best picture that I have of the change in height. The hub center to fender measured 21 1/2" on the drivers side and 22" on the passenger side. After the springs were installed that went up to 24 1/4" on both sides, that number was static and not been drove yet it may have changed.
Image
My tire used to rub the fender with the wheel turned to the drivers side.
93 w250, 366 spring, BD pin, 5x12 Injectors from Eric, nv4500, super B, high volume low pressure LP, PS I/C
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Re: Soft ride front springs and cross over steering

Postby simplysmn » Mon Mar 24, 2014 9:17 pm

I just bought the kit it's simple and easy to bolt on that way . I also built mount's off the bottom D 60 factory one's and installed double shock's then built the top mount for them . turned out sweet .
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Re: Soft ride front springs and cross over steering

Postby Fred_M1010 » Thu Mar 27, 2014 4:47 am

9312v wrote:4 tie rod ends


Don't use TRE:s on the drag link.
They can't handle enough angle.
-91.5 W250
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Re: Soft ride front springs and cross over steering

Postby 9312v » Sun Mar 30, 2014 5:50 pm

With my setup the TRE's on the drag link see almost no angle.
93 w250, 366 spring, BD pin, 5x12 Injectors from Eric, nv4500, super B, high volume low pressure LP, PS I/C
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Re: Soft ride front springs and cross over steering

Postby Tacoclaw » Sun Mar 30, 2014 6:28 pm

Dunno if your truck is an extended cab or not, but I found those springs to ride a bit too rough on my standard cab truck. I didn't drop quite the coin you did on shocks, but I do have brand new Bilsteins.

I eventually pulled the lower leaf and run a "zero rate" add a leaf under it, truck rides very nicely now. I also did a crossover, if you get the chance have someone else steer your truck lock-to-lock and watch the frame at the steering box. Mine moves so much you can watch the whole engine shift sideways some. :lol:

A little frame bracing may not hurt if you run wide tires or do a lot of maneuvering on asphalt.


Nice setup regardless, if your shocks can tame those springs you'll love them. 8)
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Re: Soft ride front springs and cross over steering

Postby 9312v » Tue Apr 01, 2014 5:17 pm

I got the shocks for close to cost and the supplier has told me that he can add some rebound if I don't like how they are riding. I do feel that the smaller bumps and road "jogs" are a lot smother but the big pot holes and frost heaves still get me. A frame brace is in the plans, just haven't gotten around to it. I also have to modify the drag link, as I had to cut some of the cross member out to allow it to clear.

I think my orilleys steering box is going out, its only a year or two old! I can grab the steering shaft and the input shaft of the box moves a little bit. I think the flex of the frame isn't helping that either.

@tacoclaw: trucks a extedned cab, however what if any did you bend your drag link? I know when we did mine, we bent it to 28* and then 28* the other way as close as we could to the first bend.

With these terrible michigan roads I believe I got air in the truck the other day, and have yet to hit the bump stops. I would say I have a good 1000 miles on them already. I believe they are settling in.
93 w250, 366 spring, BD pin, 5x12 Injectors from Eric, nv4500, super B, high volume low pressure LP, PS I/C
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Re: Soft ride front springs and cross over steering

Postby Tacoclaw » Tue Apr 01, 2014 6:04 pm

I've got ~3" lift and a drop pitman arm, no bend needed.

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Re: Soft ride front springs and cross over steering

Postby RumbleFish » Tue Apr 01, 2014 6:25 pm

Pinktaco, got a parts list on how you did that? Im sick of my unequal steering and your setup looks simple enough i could do it.
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Re: Soft ride front springs and cross over steering

Postby 9312v » Tue Apr 01, 2014 6:44 pm

When I purchased my springs I was told I was getting the 2+ ones. It might be because you have a drop arm and I have a wj arm.
93 w250, 366 spring, BD pin, 5x12 Injectors from Eric, nv4500, super B, high volume low pressure LP, PS I/C
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Re: Soft ride front springs and cross over steering

Postby Tacoclaw » Tue Apr 01, 2014 6:50 pm

http://www.chassisunlimited.com/store/s ... studs.html

:mrgreen:

I got the other springless kingpin cap as well, since I was there clicking and spending $$. :grin:



Mine were so the +2 ones. I'd have to get another measurement now that I pulled the lower leaf. It just barely clears the crossmember now, I can't fit my finger between them.


:edited because I'm an idiot and totally forgot what company I bought it off of. Chassis Unlimited dudes were awesome to deal with.

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Re: Soft ride front springs and cross over steering

Postby Sutter1stgen » Wed Apr 02, 2014 8:43 pm

Were you able to retain your factory steering box?
I would probably want a bent drag link with how much flex I have in the front now. But the price of this setup is very appealing, thanks
Eric

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Re: Soft ride front springs and cross over steering

Postby BILTIT » Wed Apr 02, 2014 8:54 pm

Yes you keep the factory box, it just gets bolted into the 2wd holes on the frame.
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Re: Soft ride front springs and cross over steering

Postby Sutter1stgen » Wed Apr 02, 2014 9:52 pm

Awesome!!! Thanks for clarifying.
Eric

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Re: Soft ride front springs and cross over steering

Postby dan123dbl » Fri May 16, 2014 9:57 pm

Hey 9312v .. Would you be able to post an update on how your springs are riding? I've been putting off buying springs for about a year now and I think it's almost time to get a decent riding truck. :lol:
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