Toy Leafs... decrease height/keep rate?

Caver Dave

Caver Dave

Just holdin' it down here in BFV
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OK, after 2 years, the 3" Downey Toy mini-truck leafs flex great! (Thanks again Seaflea!)They do well supporting the V8, 4"x4"x3/16"bumper, winch, & heavy old school sheetmetal fine also. However, I'd like to drop the height a bit (without going to lower perches/re-engineering the hangers, etc.).

Figured I'd drop a leaf out of these packs to flatten them a bit, but unsure the best leaf to grab. I don't have a ton of wrap on the front axle, so maybe the bottom (thicker) leaf?, but don't want to pooch them due to lack of wrap resistance either...

In the attached photo, the Downey pack is in the back (foreground pack is the previous OEM junk) & here's the breakdown of the Downey packs:
- Overleaf w/ mil. wrap on back eye (6mm)
- Main is eye-eye (6mm)
- 3rd is 3/4 length (6mm)
- 4th is 1/3 length & same thickness as above (6mm)
- 5th is less 1/3 length, but 10mm thick & appears to have a bit more arch than the rest.

Based on my use, which would yank to drop them down 1"-1.5"?
Which one(s) would you KEEP & why?

Everything is loose and ready to go if there's a concensus on what to yank... :beer:
 

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Dave, how does it look arch-wise when bolted up and sitting settled? E.g. is there a lot of arch to it now? I'm assuming so.
I'd look at the pack as it sits w/ weight, and seei f there is a partiular spring or two that seem to be doing alot of the lifting. E.g., my guess is that at the ends of one-two of the leafs, the ends are not flush w/ the leaf above it, suggesting the one above has more arch. My Pro Comp leafs are like this, therre is a space between #s 3 and 4. it's smaller now that i moved the shackle perch, actually improved the ride b/c now i don't have one that's really flexy slapping against the stiffer others, instead they seem to move as a more uniform pack now.
You might try taking one of the leafs from your old set or a stock toy set and swapping them w/ the lower ones, that way the length is right but the under-support will be a bit less.
i don't think yo uwant to remove the overload 9bottom) one b/c 9in theory) it shouldn't be riding heavily on that one anyway, so that would only net you 10mm,... and if it IS actually riding on the lower leafn then removing it could lead to flat/negative arching.
 
Well, decided today was THE day to do it (working & loading tomorrow, leaving Tuesday for WindRocks), so...

Ended up pulling the bottom 10mm leaf, hoping the "anti-wrap" perches do their job. Appears to have leveled the front, the packs are close to flat and have a much better angle at the shackles.

Hoping to take it for a spin tomorrow to check the new TBI tune (AFTER double-checking all the nuts from today) before putting it on the trailer... :shaking:
 
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