Suspension Continued
Last time I posted some new stuff, I was addressing the suspension. When we originally installed the suspension system, I worked with Icon Vehicle Dynamics to have some shocks made up to fit the Jeep. This required me to take some reccommendations from the suspension mfg. (Rubicon Express) and some measurements of my own. Due to my Greed and desire to have redonkulous articulation I decided to add an inch or maybe a little more to the can length. After hitting the trail and finding some spots to fully articulate the rig, I discovered that the shocks were just too damn long. Yes, I failed. Don't get me wrong, it worked, and worked well, but the shocks would bottom out during full twist. If Icon were to provide these as parts for other ZJ owners, they need to be perfect
So, I turned up at Icon and worked with Dylan Evans to make the appropriate changes. We were both pretty floored to see the amount of available twist with this short arm system.
Upon further inspection, the suspension was finding quite a bind at the end of the travel both in bump and droop positions. Even at full bump, we still had well over an inch before the tires were close to the body shell. I had to make a decision, and that was to make slightly shorter shock, or extend the bump stops. In theory, if we shortened the shocks, we could unbind the suspension slightly, and drop the articulated ride height by over an inch and still retain the same articulation. Here are some shots to illustrate how pissed off the components get when put in this position.
The rear bump stop, articulated
This rear coil wants out bad!
the front all smashed together
So, up in the air it goes to yank the shocks and rebuild them with better tuned dimensions, aka measurements taken by Dylan
Dylan immediately got to work sourcing the cans and shafts to make the shocks. After a quick discussion, we decided to leave the valving exactly as it was removed, because I have never had a more perfect match between spring rate and valving. This thing rides better than I would have ever imagined.
What a cool set-up to build shocks! Every one of their shocks are built in house in Riverside
Dylan looks pretty serious in this picture, I guess putting a few hundred pounds of nitrogen in a new shock for the first time can be interesting
Fresh decals on fresh shocks ready to go!
After we re-installed the shocks, we brought the forklift back out to check the results
It passes Dylan's inspection
The result is the exact same articulation, with the tires about 1/2" from hitting the inner fender well now!
We are very looking forward to getting out on the trail again to test this out. Thanks to Dylan at Icon Vehicle Dynamics!
