Suspension setup

[chadlsaurus]

Are there any reasonably rules of thumb to know how stiff is appropriately stiff for good off road performance? For dirt bikes and mtn bikes I've always heard that a good starting place is to have the static sag be 1/3 of the suspension travel. I don't know exactly how much travel my Tacoma with OME suspension has but there's only about 1 inch of static sag and I'm sure there are more than 3 inches of suspension travel. And lots of people talk about feel and "stiff" and "harsh" but that's pretty open to interpretation when you don't have a good feel for what it should feel like and when other people have different takes on what is and isn't okay. Thanks for the help.

Chad

 

[TEJASYOTA]

Sag depends on many factors.
Weight, weight, weight and more weight.
I know that the popular suspension systems, from OME, ICON, SAWs, etc.
They are tailored for certain conditions... ie trucks
As you probably already know, OME, offer different systems for different conditions (ie weight).
ICON, SAWs, Fox, does not.
If you needed heavier springs to handle the extra load, that is a special order.

The same for the rear leafs.
The majority offered from OME, ALCAN and DEAVER also are for semi-direct replacement of the factory springs... but without the same load rating.
To handle heavier loads, you would need to get custom built units...which it is easy to do with ALCAN and Deaver.
OME, most use an AAL.

For the rear leafs, this I do know.
I use to run Alcan-8s without my custom bumper with a tire gate.
I have since changed them to a custom built Deaver-10 leaf pack.
They are "stiffer", because of the additional leafs and spring rate to handle the CBI Bumper.
As far as I can tell, they handle very well.
Below is my install of the Deavers.
http://www.tacomaterritory.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2012537&postcount=32

Next is my Q&A thread on suspension.
http://www.tacomaterritory.com/forum/showthread.php?t=94262

Hope this helps.

 

[chadlsaurus]

Yeah, that's about what I was thinking. At least OME gives me spring options. I just still don't know what would be good. Since I have or can get the truck's weight, weight distribution, and approximate suspension geometry I could estimate what I should get if I knew about what it should do... but I don't know much about off road truck suspension setup so... :drool:

 

[Applejack]

The very first thing to consider is, What is the trucks purpose. The second is thing to consider is what weight laden modifications do you have or intend to make (i.e. bull bar, winch, trail armor).

For Example: I have a '99 4runner with the purpose of being a DD, and to hall the family our to the desert to explore/camp. Light to moderate 4 wheeling.

I planned for a bull bar, winch w/synth rope, sliders and 75lbs of skids, plus up to 400lbs of gear or pull my trailer.

Then I called ARB and they helped me decide which coils and shocks would best suit my needs, and I am very happy with what I have so far.

 

[chadlsaurus]

In case anyone's curious, I was able to get an answer from ARB's tech support. I was told "The front suspension should have a minimum of 50mm down travel... (assuming you measured the front suspension at ride height and then with the front suspension at full extension, at the same point of reference)...."

 

[offthebeatenpath]

Next is my Q&A thread on suspension.
http://www.tacomaterritory.com/forum/showthread.php?t=94262

Hope this helps.

24 different threads!!!! It will take me two weeks to read all that!
Not that I doubt that there is good info there...... I am interested in some of it, thanks for that link- I would have spent two weeks just looking for all of that stuff.

 

[RusM]

At least OME gives me spring options. :drool:

For the coilovers like Sway-A-Way, Camburg, Icon, King, Fox and Radflo you can order the springs from several different companies in any lenght/weight/diameter you specify, so the options are limitless.

 

[TEJASYOTA]

24 different threads!!!! It will take me two weeks to read all that!
Not that I doubt that there is good info there...... I am interested in some of it, thanks for that link- I would have spent two weeks just looking for all of that stuff.

Believe me it is worth the time to research... and it would save you time and money in the end.
There are thousands upon thousands of threads talking about suspension... most are junk, many are repetitive and some may have good information.
I try to update it with a new threads every year, if I find one that is worthy.
But the BEST option is what I stated in that link...
Hang out at an event and talk to the owners and listen to what they say, see what they have done and ask for a ride in their trucks.

Then when you are ready to install it, host a WAT and offer free food and drinks and we will come out and install it for you.
Way better than paying a company to install it and you get to learn how to work on your truck.

I am a very big believer that if you plan to wheel your rig, you better to be ready for damage and on the field repairs by yourself.

 

[tomesd]

... or OME all around and move on. You won't be sorry.

 

[Overland Hadley]

... or OME all around and move on. You won't be sorry.

x2