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That’s about what I was afraid of and why I decided to start thinking the junkyard route
You wanna come build it for me? I don’t have any money so you’re on your own with getting here and building it for me, but I’d sure appreciate it!
Those main springs looked perfectly fine until they went under the truck and got weight on them. I stood on them and all before they went in the truck. Now, the picture doesn’t quite show it well, but the leaf immediately under the main and the leaf on the bottom are from a heavier rated pack, they are thicker with less arch than the pack that the main and the second down leaf and I’m wondering if that’s what’s making the problem, the first leaf under the main and the rest of the pack doesn’t want to flex as easily as the main, so the main is flexing in ways it shouldn’t.
Front looks the same. First time I’ve built a pack that did this and I really didn’t like how it looked. Has never been a problem even when I’ve mixed slightly different arches, but I think I’ve always used a heavier main.@lil_Blue_Ford :
OK, has you have noticed when you go from spring over to spring under, you must account for the thickness of the spring pack (1-1/2 to 1-3/4" depending on which model/payload package you have).
The other one, which you noted at start, was Ranger axle isn't in the middle of the spring, but closer to front (~25" from front/~30" to rear). Part 2 is the axle is almost in the middle, so the "effect" of longer shackle is reduce. If it was exactly in the middle, if you made rear shackle 3" longer than stock it wound raise the truck 1-1/2", but due to the differences in fore/aft lengths, it only raised the truck 1-1/4"*. Which is why DJM lowering rear shackles are significantly longer than stock ones. And they're just trying to limit the amount of lowering, not put a 4x4 back to approximately stock height...
*My dimensions on spring length were off by a little so I didn't have to go into 1/128ths for amount raised.
Next problem:
We'll skip the theoretical and go directly to your issue.
You have built up a spring from a number of leaves others. So, the leaves weren't manufactured with mating curvatures. Also, as you have shortened leaves, they also don't thin at ends like leaves did from factory.
When you assemble the leaves, you are able to preload the leaves, so it looks correct. But as you can see when your load the springs the wrong curvature of the lower leaves isn't pushing continuously against the top leaf, but concentrating its force at end. Which is making the top leaf do funky things. That stress concentration is also bad for longevity of the leaf - it will fatigue and break there.
As it is behind axle, it will just let you down at some point (pun intended).
I'd like to see front as well. If main leaf breaks in front, it dangerous to rest of us on road with you.
Not at all trying to argue, just trying to figure this out, I appreciate all the help and I know I’m not always best at explaining things. Should have put up a pic or two from the start.
You wanna come build it for me? I don’t have any money so you’re on your own with getting here and building it for me, but I’d sure appreciate it!
Bout what I figured, lol. So that’s why it didn’t go 4-link. Not saying it’s completely out of the realm of possibilities, but it’s pretty far down the list. Possibly beyond coil-overs for the front. So I’m on to plan….uhh… C or D or F or some dumb thing… sigh…
It looks to me like the lower leaves are concentrating too much pressure on the main leaf right where they all come to an end. You have to think of it sortof like a pyramid... the more evenly the leaf lengths are tapered, the less of a stress point you will have in any one area. If your 2nd leaf were longer, and the 4th leaf shorter, should spread the load out more, which should reduce (or eliminate) the bowing of the main leaf.
They’ve been sitting around a few years, but he would notice. They sit right behind his lawn tractor. He keeps close tabs on his parts. I’ve learned to ask before taking any even if I’m replacing it promptly.
Spring pack. Rangers. Usually a pack of springs has 3. Sometimes 4
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