Suspension Question

[commeracer]

It's not, just low profile tyres, Toyota shocks and rose jointed anti roll bar

"You,re only supposed to blow the bloody SLIDING doors off"
Founder of the 6 speed club

 

[Hubbell]

Whats the advantage of the rear 5 link set up? Is it just for improved handling when taking corners at speed?

 

[commeracer]

It's fully adjustable in every way, so you can set it up precisely. It gives far superior handling, locates the axle in 2 planes, stops it walking all over the place. Used with multi adjustable coilover shocks which can be set for ride height, compression and rebound damping in minutes, along with quick and easy spring changes.

"You,re only supposed to blow the bloody SLIDING doors off"
Founder of the 6 speed club

 

[Hubbell]

Interesting. What I'm going to do is re-set the rear suspension on my van (if its incorrect - still yet to check) then i'm going to source some replacement OE springs and carry out the hi lux shock upgrade and then see how the old dear handles if its still utter rubbish I might just give you a ring. Cheers for that.

 

[commeracer]

Got a set of springs here you can have

"You,re only supposed to blow the bloody SLIDING doors off"
Founder of the 6 speed club

 

[davidcourier]

Would it be possible to have the bottom wishbone modified to have the spring sticking through it, having a kind of box underneath it (the front wishbone sliding "over" it) so you can keep the original spring?
Or have the front suspension crossmember rewelded to take the original suspension only puting it up a bit higher on the subframe?

 

[Panky]

I think both spring locations would need to be extended upwards so the van 'dropped' over them to achieve the effect and still use the original springs without upsetting the geometry. You could run into trouble with the bump stops and anti-roll bar though:I

Harvey & Bonnie

 

[commeracer]

What can be done at the front is lower spring platforms, a stepped or lower spring cup to allow the spring to sit lower in the wishbone. Although this would still mean a loss of suspension travel, some could be re-gained with shorter bump stops

"You,re only supposed to blow the bloody SLIDING doors off"
Founder of the 6 speed club

 

[Panky]

But if you lowered the top spring platform, which is fixed, wouldn't that have the effect of raising the ride height?

Harvey & Bonnie

 

[commeracer]

Lower the BOTTOM ones, not the top :I Drop the spring through the bottom wishbone

"You,re only supposed to blow the bloody SLIDING doors off"
Founder of the 6 speed club

 

[Panky]

But wouldn't that just unload the spring, surely it's the fixed top mount that will dictate the ride height:I

Harvey & Bonnie

 

[commeracer]

No, it allows the wishbone to come up higher (lowering the van). The spring is still loaded the same.

"You,re only supposed to blow the bloody SLIDING doors off"
Founder of the 6 speed club

 

[Panky]

I like these discussions But I'm still not convinced, I'm off to do some thinking

Harvey & Bonnie

 

[commeracer]

Like this MG.

See the spacers between the wishbone and spring cup

"You,re only supposed to blow the bloody SLIDING doors off"
Founder of the 6 speed club

 

[Panky]

Yes I was thinking that was the way you were explaining it, it would drop a little but I can't understand how moving the lower mount down wouldn't unload the spring - in effect you are allowing the spring more room to relax so the car would naturally sink to where the unloaded spring will allow.

Harvey & Bonnie

 

[Panky]

But with heavier springs it would work

Harvey & Bonnie

 

[commeracer]

Well it would affect installed preload, but that does not alter ride height or spring rate

"You,re only supposed to blow the bloody SLIDING doors off"
Founder of the 6 speed club

 

[Panky]

I think I'm getting there. It's nice to learn something new

Harvey & Bonnie

 

[commeracer]

It will lower the van without changing the springs characteristics....................It'll still bounce and wallow all over the road

"You,re only supposed to blow the bloody SLIDING doors off"
Founder of the 6 speed club

 

[Panky]

So the geometry would stay the same as the kingpin holds everything in place and as long as you don't go mad with the spring cup lowering spacers it's safe It's the way to go - have you done it yet Tim
So to answer your question David yes you can drop the spring through the bottom wishbone and quite easily by the look of it

Harvey & Bonnie