I have been playing around with a couple ideas for suspension. I do intend on keeping this build on leaf springs. While coil overs are great because you can set your anti squat and anti dive numbers exactly where you want, a well set up leaf suspension is just more reliable and maintenance free. A long travel spring under setup can take a beating without any real worry at a fraction of the cost of links and coil overs.
I will most likely go with either YJ or Toyota leaf springs up front. Shackle reversal style but instead of a shackle I may use a slider box frenched into the frame.
Sliders work well and give a more linear spring rate. It should ride great at speed through the ruff stuff especially when paired with a properly valved shock and air bump stops to control the last few inches of travel.
Both yj and yota front springs are a little more than 22 inches long in front of the center pin. I’d like to keep the front of the spring mounted high, as close to the frame as possible. This will increase the approach angle and allow me to attack taller obstacles straight on.
A spring with a deep arch causes a lot of axle movement forward and back as it cycles through the travel. As the spring compresses the wheel follows a path arched around the solid mounted side of the spring. Reversing the shackles with a arched spring will make the wheel move back towards the body. This smooths out the ride as forward pressure compresses the springs.
My biggest concern is the axles moving rearward and causing clearance issues with the tire/body as well as steering links and driveshaft yoke length. I won’t really know without trial and error. I want a maximum of 4 inches up travel and ideally 8 or more down.
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