Colorado B/S Thread

[jimgrms]

Re: The Colorado BS thread

Got rust?

Doing some fixin' on this '01 and replacing this crusty bumper is one of the tasks on the list.

Previous owner had a body shop replace and paint the rear bumper 5 years ago. Been a Colorado rig all it's life but this bumper looks like a Titanic artifact........

I'm guessing its the combination of Certifit crap and bad paint prep....:dunno:


I stepped on it and my foot went through it

Did the same to the other side when I lightly kicked it

This is after just 5 foot stomps along the top edge

Barely any metal left at all

you are a little heavy )))

 

[djlarroc]

Re: The Colorado BS thread

Very nice looking Limited!


But yeah, the position of those leafs is no good at all. Flat means they have no more travel left. They're sitting fully stretched out at ride height. The leaf packs should look like that when flexing the axle upward, not at ride height. As they sit, the shackles are likely going to pull in as the axle travels up, instead of push out as the leaf pack compresses........ make sense?

No harm being done really, they're just going to flatten out and sag more over time anyway. Gets ya by until you can afford some quality leaf packs. :thumbup:

Uh oh... they are brand spankin new OME leafs!

 

[xj-grin]

Re: The Colorado BS thread

OME leafs are generally pretty flat -- I'm with dutch more or less, if you have sufficient shackle travel (and it looks like you do), you'll be happy with both the ride and the travel.

 

[YELLAHEEP]

Re: The Colorado BS thread

I wasn't really commenting on the ride that flat leafs vs. arched leafs provide, but rather on their load carrying ability. Without some positive arch, they aren't going to provide much load bearing ability. They'd have to be pretty stiff to carry a load and sit almost flat.

It's simply my opinion that this setup isn't ideal - but I won't disagree that it worked well on Dutch's YJ. Then again, his YJ wasn't designed for DD use or hauling stuff. And the YJ body even with the cage was likely quite a bit lighter than this XJ.

 

[djlarroc]

Re: The Colorado BS thread

i'm gona roll w/these leafs for a few mos, and see how they sit.. i can either move my shackle back to get more lift, or contact OME about the leafs being flat so much. i dont mind the flat, as long as they dont get worse and i lose height. i rarely carry anything in the back aside from my 60lb boxer

 

[O-Gauge Steamer]

Re: The Colorado BS thread

IMO, a set of flat leaves give a better ride than high arch springs. As it turns out, they are designed to arch in both directions. Explains why they are flat. Means that you really need to pay attention to the shackle angle.

Example of flat springs:
http://bds-suspension.com/product?ma=7&mo=29&ty=38&yr=1987-2001

Look at how little arch ther is in these unloaded springs. I run these and they ride nice. Extra load? Don't know, have not tried putting more than 150 pounds in the back. So far, so good.

 

[DutchVDub]

Yep, my 3.5" RE packs sit almost flat and I like it a lot.

 

[in4aride]

Re: The Colorado BS thread

Well got the the trans output seal replaced. That 231 seemed a lot heavier than a jeep one...or maybe im just old lol. But while i was under there i found that i had tweaked a lower control arm so gonna order up some tube arms to replace the shit stock one. Still waiting for my Damn fuel pump assy to show up.

 

[time2getdirty]

Re: The Colorado BS thread

I had played the game with crappy leafs so I bought some $$$leafs from BigOffroad, but alas, they are on there way to flat very fast.

 

[DutchVDub]

Re: The Colorado BS thread

Those are so arched its pathetic. Looks like it would ride like total arse.

Leaf springs are like a strippers stomach, the flatter the better.

If you want some true high quality and big money leafspirngs you need to man up to some Deavers. I'd love a set but I ain't got enough hair on my chest.

 

[KRONIK]

Re: The Colorado BS thread

My leaf packs are pretty arched. I'm surprised that mine rides good and flexes so much.
Some of you have seen my leaf packs. But some have not so here you go.

Some RTI shots.

Flexing on the trail.

That doesn't seem to bad for how thick an arched the packs are. :dunno:
I don't know if they are deaver leaf springs. But they look very similar...

 

[time2getdirty]

Re: The Colorado BS thread

Mine flex and ride superb too, althought they have settled a lot. Thats all that bugs me.

 

[KRONIK]

Re: The Colorado BS thread

That's how the springs are on my white jeep. Ride good, flex good but they have started sagging a bit and it's lower...
Green jeep doesn't have that problem so I guess it's ok. Lol

 

[O-Gauge Steamer]

Re: The Colorado BS thread

Kronk, IMO, those springs would qualify as "flat" They look good. I have seen some that are as round as a coffee can with the Heep sitting on the ground.

Other day... I was a Predator and there was another 98 sitting in the parking lot. I commented to the Predator Employee that had just parked it that it must ride like it had struts instead of shocks due to the high arched springs. The Owner walks up behing me and agreed. Then he looked at my BDS springs. Took him for a run and gained a flat spring convert.

I'm telling youse guys, flat leaves are the way. It is a compromise. Overload springs can be added in but then the upwards flex is reduced.

 

[djlarroc]

Re: The Colorado BS thread

kronik, how many leafs are in that pack?? never seen that many on an xj. flexes pretty good for that many leafs. mine has 5.

 

[in4aride]

Re: The Colorado BS thread

I count 8.

 

[KRONIK]

Re: The Colorado BS thread

Close mike. There are 9.
I had to go count to make sure.

 

[DutchVDub]

Sounds like deavers to me. Lots of really thin leaves.

 

[KRONIK]

Re: The Colorado BS thread

Yeah. They are at most 1/4 of an inch thick each.
I like em.

I'm glad I finally have an "idea" of who made them

I had no idea. But have always wondered.
Thanks Dutch!

 

[time2getdirty]

Re: The Colorado BS thread

I got my new to me 37x12.50x17s on allieds on today... miss the green, but I am gunna let the silver stay for a while...

Tomorrow the plan of attack is to get as much done as possible off my list:

Front end-
Truss installed
tubes welded
c's Braced and welded
Lower control arm skids
Cut and extend lower control arms for more stretch
maybe have to move track bar mount (cut and weld forward a bit)
Front frame stiffners

Middle-
fix the damn transfercase linkage by welding in little spacer.
Door guards (skinning the lower half like my quarter pannels)

Rear-
Finish making rear truss
Install it
weld tubes
Inside swing out rear tire carrier for spare 37 maybe...

All around goal:
get jeep ready to wheel with 37s. Stretch Bumpstop, and ontop of that I might move my shock mounts to retain same amount of travel, but in droop instead of uptravle.