Suspension Travel ??

[Hombre259]

Got a question. I am in the process of mocking up the front suspension on my new project. this truck is going to be converted to 4x4, and I am using a Dana 44 front axle. This axle normally has parrallel leaf springs, That usually would be fine, but on this truck I am looking to make it quite a bit lower, even though it will be 4 wheel drive. So it looks like I am going to go with a 4 bar in the front and "airbags" instead of the leaf springs. But even doing that to get the ride height I want I am going to have to "C" notch the frame. So the question is: How much axle travel is really needed?

Wide open question I do realize but I have found that in this begining stage, or planning stage,more opinions are usually a good thing.

Roland

[Dave Severson]

Kind of at your own discretion, Roland.... If it's a going to be a boonie basher, then at least 7" of travel would be good.....but then another thought, could be something like the old "Quadradeuce" style, which had about 4" of travel. With bags, it's easy to have about 6" of travel but it does take some careful planning with a 4 bar to keep the geometry as close to correct as possible....

As for how much travel is actually needed, the run of the mill coilover setup usually has about 3" to 4" of travel. Your intended usage has to be deciding factor on how much travel you build into it.....

[Hombre259]

Dave, Quadradeuce??? When I read your response I said to myself "Quadradeuce" Just what in the world is a "Quadradeuce" So I went and found out. So I went and found the dang thing--- Damn what a car!!

No nothing quite as grandois as that. Just a simple 4x4 system using a Dana 44 Front Solid by the way. Your explanation of 3 to 4" for a regular coil over "Type" suspension is a real good place to start. I had no clue what amount of travel is really needed.

While this is going to be a 4x4, it is going to be mainly a street truck that just happens to be 4x4. Instead of a 4x4 that just happens to be a street truck. Know what I mean by that?

My plan is to keep it as low as I can, I don't mean slammed but low within reason. A few years ago there were a series of Early Bronco's raced by Bill Strope. Because these were real race trucks they kept them with a pretty low center of gravity, thus low. While the truck I am building is certainly nothing like an Early Bronco I would like toi maintain that look.

Thanks Dave !!!

RS

"The Quadraduece"

[Dave Severson]

Yup, the Quadradeuce is one heck of a machine!!!! What a wonderful engineering exercise!!!! Got to see the car in person and wasted about 3 hours just studying it!!!

Anyway, I've done some playing with all wheel drive stuff for the street, one was a slammed Bronco, bags with travel limiters all around.... Took a bit of work, but it handles like a dang slot car now!!!! A real blast to drive...anyway, going off my (weak) memory, had about 4" of travel in the front and 5" in the rear...Big thing was to get the right shocks and sway bars, but the effort was really worth it....Oh yeah, and it's powered by a 501 BBF with a C6--lots of fun!

Another thing we learned with a bagged 4WD, for some reason the truck works better with the top of the shocks in about 15 degrees as viewed from the rear. Tried them at the usual wider angle first but had a tough time planting the tires in a turn....Straightening up the shocks a bit and getting the travel in the "sweet spot" of the shock really helped!!!!

Have fun with the project!