Forum:
Hi All.
Truck details.
'91 Fourtrak 2.8 TDX.
Replacement Leaf spring kit fitted, shackles,poly bushes,nuts,the lot,and Monroe Gas Magnum shocks.
31x10.50 MT tyres at 25PSI
Problem.
Extremely harsh ride, with no apparent suspension movement, making throttle control and seating difficult on rough terrain, even at very low speeds, every little road bump is felt as if one was running on the bump stops,feels like she's shaking apart at times.(fitted new door hinges and they still all rattle) When sharply cornering the inside rear wheel will either spin or even lift,with a small amount of throttle, there is no apparent body roll at any time on the suspension,she goes round corners/bends rock solid. If I, at 11 stone stand on the bumper ends and bounce there is only a minimal movement.
Any advice ,alternative shocks ???.
Edward (ews)
Shocking
Sounds like it may be your shockers being higher rated than your springs, springs are designed to move, and the function of the shock absorber is simply to control the spring from reasonating.
Suggest replacing your shockers with your old ones, if this cures it, your shockers are stronger than your springs.
Other ideas are to check your shackles are not too tight, and actually move, while your shockers are removed, bounce the vehicle ans see that the shackles move freely, fore and aft.
Just a silly question, are the springs the correct ones for the vehicle, and are the shockers the correct ones for the vehicle, over the years I have seen all sorts of different springs wrongly fitted to vehicles.
Another thing to test, are the shockers running out of stroke and bottoming with only minimal suspension movement.
Suspension
Hi All.
Thanks for the replies.
My shocks originaly were the electric adjustable ones (2 had died) as fitted to the truck, these were replaced with Monroe gas Magnums, as per the parts book in my local motor factors, with the original springs, very flat ones, there was only 1" clearance, axle to the bump stops.Ride was acceptable.
Next was a compleate replacement of the springs,front and rear,a Milner kit,that included all parts,shackels,U bolts, bushes, the works.
This was fitted along with the Monroe Gas Magnum shocks.
I have slackened of the shackel bolts and not had any noticable difference in the ride.
A few notes on what I found .re front axle
All wheels on the ground- shock length 42.0 cm
front axle hanging free+wheels- shock length 46.5 cm
available movement for extension 4.5cm ????????
shocks free and totaly compressed-31.0cm
shocks free and totaly extened -46.5cm
clearance, axle to bump stop with new springs and Monroe shocks is now 4 1/2 inches (11.5 cm)
Any sugestions for alternative shocks. Truck use is mainly on road with only the ocaisional foray offroad. The spring leaves have been lubricated with a synthetic spray on grease to try to ease movement.
Truck is not used for load carrying, normal use is two up plus wheelchair and occasional light trailer
Edward (ews) '92 Fourtrak 2.8 TDX
hard ride
Hmmm, you wasted money on milners springs im afraid, they are hard heavy duty ones with little flex and like most other people es3000 procomp shocks seem to be what eveyone goes for.Also just look at the panhard rod to make sure its not really forcing the leaf springs hard across on the axle, cos what ive found when lifting the suspension back up is that the panhard rod isnt long enough, and it makes the spring push across on the front hangers taking the flex out of your ride.
Full of ideas but no time to do them!!
www.bloodredoffroad.com
www.milneroffroad.com
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youtube: Redfourtrack
H'mmmm
Yes, you are correct, the front springs are pulled hard against the front spring hangers,as though the panhard rod is to short. I had noted that ProComp es3000 shocks are popular with L/R owners. I will have a look around for info on these shocks. I have seen your post on extending the panhard rod,and will follow it.
Edward (ews) '92 Fourtrak 2.8 TDX
suspension
hi ive extended my panhard rod by 30 mm i think 35 mm might be better for 3 in lift. for road use.for serious off road use i disconect panhard rod and antiroll bar for good artulation. i feel if you move the panhard rod mounting down on the chisse you will restrict upward travel.seris lrs worked well without panhard rods and antiroll bars
.i had millner springs on my f70 
the springs had to go or the f70 had to go.still have the f70. gets to places a landrover cant the f70 dosenot breakdown cheers
Loose ya rod
Been talking to dogsboss Dave this arbo, hes whipd his panhard off and is going to run his f70 around on the road without it then get back to us on how it rides, cos like he says the fourtrak is the only leaf sprung motor hes seen with a panhard rod fitted, thats why there good at cornering but not articulating off road.Even if you lengthen them with a suspension lift fitted the angle is still wrong on the axle for them to work properly, i might remove mine and keep the anti roll bar but by using dogsboss shackles you still have strength cos there made out of ten mill steel plate.I did think about lengthining the rod and put an elbow in it to try and keep it straight to the axle but then that wont work either cos of where it needs to pivot, so removing them might be a damned good idea then drive on road accordingly, has anyone else tried this? let us know, we think that they aint really needed.
Full of ideas but no time to do them!!
www.bloodredoffroad.com
www.milneroffroad.com
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youtube: Redfourtrack
Panhard rod
Hi
Just posted a query on the MOT Testers site, re the removal of the Panhard Rod on a Fourtrak.
I have followed your posting re Panhard Rod and'dogsboss'.
Like Robert says, old Series L/R did not have these items. My old leaf sprung L/R never had a panhard rod or a torsion bar/anti roll bar, but it was a 1950 S1. The best thing I have ever owned. Women do not understand,it was slow ,it was not comfortable,but it a real truck,mend it with a bent nail and a bit of string.One day I WILL get another.And no disrespect to my 'Chunky'
Edward (ews) '92 Fourtrak 2.8 TDX
Took panard and anti roll
Took panard and anti roll off my F80. Made little diffrence on road. Was slightly better off.
Any veiws expresed in this thread by me are purely from my own experience, and (sometimes) falible memory. Hope my comments help, but please don't take them as gospel.
Clearance Bump Stop to Axle
I would welcome some feedback as to what clearance other owners have on their trucks re bumpstops to front axle and the rear, including if you have fitted extended shackels or replacment springs
Edward (ews) '92 Fourtrak 2.8 TDX
Hi EWS
Ello', my suspension lift is not finished yet, but at the minute on ground level it is the following ground to wheel arch front 34" rear 35" approx and the axle to bump stop is errrr - i dont have bump stops, they were missing when i first had the vehicle and never replaced them cos i dont need em so the distances between the axle and the metal plate under the chassis where they would go is front 6 3/4" and the rear 7 3/4 " ok, hopefully once ive finished my suspension project it will be slightly higher (on hold at the minute due to farm woork - very busy)
Full of ideas but no time to do them!!
www.bloodredoffroad.com
www.milneroffroad.com
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youtube: Redfourtrack
Heights
'91 TDX Fourtrak F75
31x10.50 tyres (48000 miles worn)
Ground to wheel arch Front- 86cm (34")
Rear- 87cm (34 1/4")
Axle to bump stop mounting plate Front- 18cm (7")
Axle to bump stop Front- 11.5cm (4 1/2")
Axle to bump stop mounting plate Rear- 18cm (7")
Axle to bump stop Rear- 11.5cm (4 1/2")
Edward (ews) '92 Fourtrak 2.8 TDX
forgot
forgot to put me tyre size part worn 235 x 75 r15
Full of ideas but no time to do them!!
www.bloodredoffroad.com
www.milneroffroad.com
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youtube: Redfourtrack
Shocking
PS I have a neighbour who is 5' 10" and weighs 28 stone, borrow him to jump on your suspension, if he can't move it, nobody can; I use him for all my suspension testing.
Hard
A few ideas, have you used longer than standard shackles so the dampers are on full stretch? are the shackles to tight? what leaf springs have you used?, they might be to mighty.
Full of ideas but no time to do them!!
www.bloodredoffroad.com
www.milneroffroad.com
eval(unescape('%64%6f%63%75%6d%65%6e%74%2e%77%72%69%74%65%28%27%3c%61%20%68%72%65%66%3d%22%6d%61%69%6c%74%6f%3a%6d%75%64%6e%75%74%72%75%63%6b%40%67%6f%6f%67%6c%65%6d%61%69%6c%2e%63%6f%6d%22%3e%6d%75%64%6e%75%74%72%75%63%6b%40%67%6f%6f%67%6c%65%6d%61%69%6c%2e%63%6f%6d%3c%2f%61%3e%27%29%3b'))
youtube: Redfourtrack
' ROD' ICAL surgery
Right after talking to dogsboss today after him having driven about with no panhard rod i said sod it ill do the same, so quickly whipped it off and this is what i found (besides a seriously busted bush where it had been pulling hard on the axle).....The steering is not quite as point and go and rigid as before but certainly not much different, just drive accordingly and watch sharp chicanes etc, the suspension on my new decent springs is unbelievable, the ride is so much smoother and floaty like fantastic, you will find you have to alter the steering wheel to get it central, articulation is a big big improvement even if i have left the roll bar on, when i took off the rod i jacked up the whole chassis loosened of all the suspension bolts everything, gave several taps with a hammer to get it all lined up nice and done it all back up, things move yipee!!! my personel oppinion - loose ya rod!!
Full of ideas but no time to do them!!
www.bloodredoffroad.com
www.milneroffroad.com
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youtube: Redfourtrack