Full width front coil fixes

[quikdrummer]

Hey guys, just wanted to see what you all had done to fix the coil lean after swapping your full width front axle.

I did mine last spring and have just been running it crooked and leany... it looks goofy and after watching some gopro videos of the undercarriage it obviously isnt functioning the way it should.

I know Duff makes a full width upper coil bucket, so thats always an option, but I have the type of shock hoop that bolts to the top of the bucket. So that would involve chopping that bracket off the hoop and fabbing something else up.

I was just wondering what you full width guys have done to correct this. Is shimming the lower cup to point towards the bucket a good idea? Or what about narrowing the lower cup to line up? this would take some stability away, but Im about 90% off road so thats not a huge issue.

thanks for any ideas!

 

[Tito]

I redrilled my lower cups and spun them around (drilled 1 new hole) to make up about an inch or so. It still leans out but it's not a ton and haven't had any issues with it on the trail or street. I had picked up a welded wedge axle just in case I didn't like the setup but I am plenty happy with it. Been running it for 5 years.

 

[quikdrummer]

skip to the 2:25 mark to see how bad mine is... in the freeze frame shot at 2:58 you can see under full compression how bad they bow out...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSbSVrQDaV8&list=UUbQLgoICivmcXVoXDjL9z6Q

 

[quikdrummer]

I redrilled my lower cups and spun them around (drilled 1 new hole) to make up about an inch or so. It still leans out but it's not a ton and haven't had any issues with it on the trail or street. I had picked up a welded wedge axle just in case I didn't like the setup but I am plenty happy with it. Been running it for 5 years.

thats a good idea. i just went and looked real close and the block that the lower cups mount to actually seem to point away from the frame by a couple degrees... I wonder if i'm dumb enough to have put them in backwards lol

btw, your rig has been a big inspiration to me when I was deciding whether to go full width or not. I read thru your whole build thread numerous times lol

 

[siderbox]

That does look like alot of bow. But coming from a GoPro you might take some of what you see with a grain of salt.
That fishmouth view those things give make things look funny.
I know going back and looking at footage from mine there's alot of time I would like to have a 'normal' view to see what is really going on.
Just something to think about.

btw You're making me jealous with all that Bronco in the sand footage and Glamis at that.
Damn nice looking rig you have there.

I'll be following what you do with your springs and how it comes out.
In the processes of putting mine back together, it'll end up with FW also.

 

[ahansen_1985]

I used my factory coil buckets, but made a adapter plate bolting to the bucket location and moving it over as needed.... The bracket bolts in the existing holes. And is welded on the other side to the axle... Drilled and tapped for the bucket
Very easy

1966,351w,m5od,205....3.5" lift, 2" body, 37/13/15 boggers

 

[Ethansdad73]

james duff has some new upper coil buckets now or you can move the lowers as seen above or as seen on my build..

 

[Punisher]

After you get the lower buckets moved over to put your coil buckets more lined up you could try this.
After putting my lift on my coils were bowed and under suspension travel it would bow out and hit the tire like the video above so a couple things iv done to fix it was I made some wedges and welded them to the bottom coil buckets to get the to sit more level.
The I got some U bolts and drilled a couple holes in the upper coil bucket so I could bolt the coil to the coils bucket and pull it in. This helped a lot. Here are a couple pics.
Try to get the U bolt as high as you can so you don't hurt the springs movement to bad.

 

[Punisher]

Here's another.

 

[Punisher]

One more.

 

[Tito]

Wow, yeah that does not look good at all. I thought my springs were soft but man your coil is all over the place in there. Looks like your base plate is bent at an angle magnifying the issues you are having as well. Doesnt seem to sit flat on the top of the radius arm. I'd figure something out to remedy the situation. The pushed out coil buckets may be your best bet. Thanks for the compliments BTW, I have had a lot of fun over the years buidling and changing mine. Next step will likely be going to a 4r70w. Otherwise its about perfect (feeling old these days and rowing gears on the street is making me tired ;-)

 

[quikdrummer]

I used my factory coil buckets, but made a adapter plate bolting to the bucket location and moving it over as needed.... The bracket bolts in the existing holes. And is welded on the other side to the axle... Drilled and tapped for the bucket
Very easy

1966,351w,m5od,205....3.5" lift, 2" body, 37/13/15 boggers

Yeah i like that idea, looks like plenty of strength

After you get the lower buckets moved over to put your coil buckets more lined up you could try this.
After putting my lift on my coils were bowed and under suspension travel it would bow out and hit the tire like the video above so a couple things iv done to fix it was I made some wedges and welded them to the bottom coil buckets to get the to sit more level.
The I got some U bolts and drilled a couple holes in the upper coil bucket so I could bolt the coil to the coils bucket and pull it in. This helped a lot. Here are a couple pics.
Try to get the U bolt as high as you can so you don't hurt the springs movement to bad.

thats a good idea too, keep the upper part securely mounted cuz i think thats part of the problem. the retainer keeps it from popping out but the inside part unseats.

Wow, yeah that does not look good at all. I thought my springs were soft but man your coil is all over the place in there. Looks like your base plate is bent at an angle magnifying the issues you are having as well. Doesnt seem to sit flat on the top of the radius arm. I'd figure something out to remedy the situation. The pushed out coil buckets may be your best bet. Thanks for the compliments BTW, I have had a lot of fun over the years buidling and changing mine. Next step will likely be going to a 4r70w. Otherwise its about perfect (feeling old these days and rowing gears on the street is making me tired ;-)

Im pretty sure that part of it is the fact that only half of the coil is really compressing... they are Deaver superflex so they are soft for sure, but that just seems like too much.

I think my best plan is to get a new set of lower cups, like the heavy duty ones WH sells, and inboard them with a brace plate like ahansen's idea.

 

[quikdrummer]

That does look like alot of bow. But coming from a GoPro you might take some of what you see with a grain of salt.
That fishmouth view those things give make things look funny.
I know going back and looking at footage from mine there's alot of time I would like to have a 'normal' view to see what is really going on.
Just something to think about.

btw You're making me jealous with all that Bronco in the sand footage and Glamis at that.
Damn nice looking rig you have there.

I'll be following what you do with your springs and how it comes out.
In the processes of putting mine back together, it'll end up with FW also.

yeah, the lens does exaggerate it some, but its still a pretty bad problem. when I cinched the suspension down to trailer it home the inside of the coil unseated from the upper bucket!

and thanks!

 

[ahansen_1985]

Yeah i like that idea, looks like plenty of strength



thats a good idea too, keep the upper part securely mounted cuz i think thats part of the problem. the retainer keeps it from popping out but the inside part unseats.



Im pretty sure that part of it is the fact that only half of the coil is really compressing... they are Deaver superflex so they are soft for sure, but that just seems like too much.

I think my best plan is to get a new set of lower cups, like the heavy duty ones WH sells, and inboard them with a brace plate like ahansen's idea.

If you need more detailed pics, or measurements lemme know...


1966,351w,m5od,205....3.5" lift, 2" body, 37/13/15 boggers

 

[quikdrummer]

Well I got started tearing it down a little bit to see what my plan of action is gonna be

this is at ride height... they definitely are getting worse

this might be part of the problem

the way these arms are there is a block that goes between the arm and c-cap. it raises the coil cup up a little bit, but apparently also puts some stress on the edges. so the cups are all screwed up.

these are the blocks

I had a thought to move the cups inboard while I have it off, cuz I am gonna go ahead and get some new cups. But tell me what you think of this plan.

What if i were to cut an angle across each of these blocks like so...

then weld the corner to the opposite side to make a parellogram. they would still bolt in both holes to the arms, then the top holes where the cup bolts to would be moved in about 2". they blocks are 1" thick solid steel, so I dont think I would need to be concerned about strength.

 

[quikdrummer]

Oh and because of the way my trac bar riser sits, doing a bridge would be really difficult without redoing the riser. thats why I'm looking for easier alternatives lol

 

[Weatherman]

This is my first post but have been reading and learning for the last couple years. Anyway I am in the process of a full with swap I will be using a Dana 44 and 9" out of a 79 FS bronco. My question is to quikdrummer where did you get your track bar riser? I will need to do the same thing on mine, I got the ruff stuff chevy 1 ton steering setup and plan to go tie rod over so the track bar will be way off. Your ride looks awesome ! I will be trying to fix the bowed spring issue also so this is very interesting keep us posted on what you do!!

Thanks

 

[quikdrummer]

This is my first post but have been reading and learning for the last couple years. Anyway I am in the process of a full with swap I will be using a Dana 44 and 9" out of a 79 FS bronco. My question is to quikdrummer where did you get your track bar riser? I will need to do the same thing on mine, I got the ruff stuff chevy 1 ton steering setup and plan to go tie rod over so the track bar will be way off. Your ride looks awesome ! I will be trying to fix the bowed spring issue also so this is very interesting keep us posted on what you do!!

Thanks

hey thanks!

the riser is from ruffstuff. its the offset panhard bracket, link.

 

[Weatherman]

Awesome thanks !! What axles did you use ? Do you have a wright up somewhere ?

 

[Punisher]

That would move your coil over and get it better lines up with the upper bucket but you have to make sure you get a good weld there. Grind it way down and get a good groove to fill with weld. Or maybe you could have some more of them blocks made that are longer and move your coil over. It don't look like it would be to hard to make.
Also I think the U bolt on the upper coil bucket will help you out a lot too. I have the same coil as you so I know how soft they are. Even after getting my lower coil bucket as streight as I could my coils still bowed a little bit and the U bolt put them right where they needed to be.