Lowering front axle

[tmk81]

Hi all!
Is my front axle allready at as low it will go?? Or what does those two does..

[Ol'fogasaurus]

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The adjusters are friom a kit and are welded in place. There is a centerline alignment limit given in the instruction as to how much you can rotate them when welding them in place to either raise the suspension or lowering the suspension.

As I remember if you are working with BJs there is the BJ limitation that comes into play.

viewtopic.php?f=28&t=136514&hilit=ball+ ... &start=105

This is a BJ beam build for off-road but it gives you an idea of what would be involved in putting adjuster in place if you wanted to if you wanted to remove the old ones. There is a lot of chatter about a lot of things and most of it may be useful. There is also a URL for instructions that are better than what comes with the kits. Just remember that there are drawbacks to too much lowering or lifting of the suspension.

Lee

[tmk81]

Thanks for reply. Do i have to lose that center screw when adjusting?

[Ol'fogasaurus]

B592EE0C-B981-442F-9029-98DFD2F01863[1] copy.jpg

Yes, that curved plate under the nut is part of the detent and rides on the piece that has the ridges in it. They act as a locking device when the nut it tightened.

If you have never played with something like this before I would put a floor jack under the center of the beam for safety purpopses. Once the nut is loose then you can use a jack to raise or, if there is anything left in the adjustment, to lower it.

Lee

[66brm]

Leave the screw in and back off the lock nut, move the plate away from the beam then set the height you want. If the screw is already at the bottom of the slot then it's as low as it can go. You need to do both top and bottom beams

[Ol'fogasaurus]

Leave the screw in and back off the lock nut, move the plate away from the beam then set the height you want. If the screw is already at the bottom of the slot then it's as low as it can go. You need to do both top and bottom beams

I forgot about jjust loosening the nuts only so I agree with what you said but for one thing: somepeople want to soften the ride not necessarly lower or raise the ride so they only use (or install) the top setting to somewhat control the stiffenest of the ride; e.g., have the top torsion stack come in to full use later in the suspension travel for example. I'm just about to start doing this myself but for off-road use but then I have so many other things right now that it isn't a top priority. I did check this idea with someone who know more about it as it is his business as I was just "supposing" the idea to him.

Lee

[66brm]

Indeed, you can adjust one set of leaves more than the other for a progressive spring rate

[eskamobob1]

Indeed, you can adjust one set of leaves more than the other for a progressive spring rate

bugs (not supers) naturally have a progressive spring rate just by how torsional leaf stacks opporate AFAIK. Two sets of leaves in parallel will effect total rate unless one is completely disengaged for a portion of travel as well.

[Ol'fogasaurus]

Indeed, you can adjust one set of leaves more than the other for a progressive spring rate

bugs (not supers) naturally have a progressive spring rate just by how torsional leaf stacks opporate AFAIK. Two sets of leaves in parallel will effect total rate unless one is completely disengaged for a portion of travel as well.

Yes, just like any spring whether it is a torsion bar or torsion stack of leaves the rate of stiffness goes up as the application of loading (twisting the torsion bar/spring goes up. Coil springs are also torsional and work a similar but more compact way but you can also get progressive spring rate coil springs wound or wound for non-progressive spring rates.

Leaf springs work under progressive loading: they are fixed at one end and have pivots/shackles (usually) at the rear of the leaf so as the arc of the spring changes when the loading occurs.

For example: You can put a single adjuster on the top leaf then set it to come in to full support at a later (longer travel) load. Something I going to do with the BJ beam I am working on for off-road riding as there is no weight in the front of the glass buggy.

You can also put adjusters on both torsion stacks on the beam and raise or lower the front of the car that way. You can set them at different positions also to change the spring rate that way. There are also other ways of changing spring rates by notching some of the leaves so they break dropping/chaning the spring rate that way but you also have to do it the right way. The same with removing leaves but again, it has to be done right. Not always a recommended idea.

Lee

[eskamobob1]

haha. ty for the info. I knew that it was technically possible to make non-progressive spring packs so I didnt want to say for sure they were progressive without being 100% sure (definitely have looked like a dumbass in the past doing something like that).

As for coil springs, are the ones for road cars pretty well all progressive coils? As you probably know they are naturally (as in if you just poored metal into the shape) non-progressive unike torsional suspension springs, so just kinda currious since I have basicaly only worked with high end modern systems and torsion tubes (mostly on trucks actualy). I had just assumed that say, a 2007 camry, would have non-progressive springs tbh

[Ol'fogasaurus]

haha. ty for the info. I knew that it was technically possible to make non-progressive spring packs so I didnt want to say for sure they were progressive without being 100% sure (definitely have looked like a dumbass in the past doing something like that).

As for coil springs, are the ones for road cars pretty well all progressive coils? As you probably know they are naturally (as in if you just poored metal into the shape) non-progressive unike torsional suspension springs, so just kinda currious since I have basicaly only worked with high end modern systems and torsion tubes (mostly on trucks actualy). I had just assumed that say, a 2007 camry, would have non-progressive springs tbh

It depends on how the springs are wound.

Front springs: I am not as faimilar with the Camary springs either but i am pretty sure that they are "progressive" not "linear" so I did a quick search and got this: https://www.bing.com/search?q=Does+the+ ... ca39038f07 It talks a lot about a lot of things.

https://bimmertips.com/linear-vs-progre ... explained/ I thnk this is a better explanation of the difference and use: for those who don't know the difference.

Changing over suspension methods is a daunting mission so one needs to be careful... like you are being.

Lee