Forum:
Hi All, just got my Rocky back after a while waiting for time/money to get a engine replacement, was on here a while ago asking advice about the old knackered engine and everyone was really helpful, so a big thank-you for that. This is often not the case with online forums and people who know a lot making people who don't feel stupid but I didn't get any of that vibe here so credit to everyone for making it friendly.
New engine seems good, word of advice about gaskets: avoid cheap kits from ebay, I tried one in the old engine it blew a week later, I assumed it was the second hand head at the time and used the same kit (brand new) for a mate who married the block from my old engine with a reconditioned head and the gasket went again! After only a week, gasket from the same supplier. He did the job again with a gasket from milner and so far no troubles at all.
Anyhow on to the main subject before I start writing an essay, my rocky is lifted with +2" shackles and I'm looking for leaf springs to replace the ones on there and hopefully give a more comfortable ride. At the moment the back bottoms out a lot especially with any weight back there, probably due to the age of the current springs. I don't mind paying a bit for a decent set if it gives noticeably better comfort/articulation I just don't entirely trust some of these cheap import ones. Like to hear anyone's thoughts on making the SWB fourtrak/rocky more comfortable and easier to live with (my back hurts!)
Don't know about where to go
Don't know about where to go (though Millner off road is usually a good bet), but whaerever you get them from try this. Once there on (asumming you haven't fittes monoleafs) jack the back off the ground so the wheels just hang. Then inject grease between the leafs. Alowing them to slide more freely will smooth the ride a little.
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.
Bendy things
Hi.
For replacment leaf springs try "Milner's" or "Bloodred Offroad" , look in "Parts Dealers" at the top of the page.
Milners rear springs are noted for being hard, ( have these), lots of posts re this on site, others have found the ones supplied by Bloodred Offroad, softer giving a more comfortable ride when lightly loaded.
I grease my springs by knocking in a "hammer through screw driver" between each leaf and spray between the the leaves a Non Fling Synthetic Chain lubricant, as used motor bikes/ect, as when required. Why this, I have lots of it !!!, 10 large spray cans for a fiver at a garage sale, knew I would find a use for it !!, and it works well .
I do have a most interesting tool, aquired from a old village garage sale, looks like a "G" cramp, but the anvil/fixed end is replaced with a chisel type point, drilled through, with a grease nipple on the rear. To use, you place the chisel point between the the leaf, screw in the tension/adjuster, part the leaves and connect the grease gun and pump. Made by Britool around the 1950's.
Edward (ews) '92 Fourtrak 2.8 TDX
I gotta say I never thought
I gotta say I never thought of greasing between the leaves... I'll definitely give that a go. I looked on Bloodred's site a while ago and they offered leaf springs from Sweden, but since then their site has changed and they don't seem to be advertised any more, I'll give them a shout next week and see if they still do them.
There seem to be a couple of Australian spring makers who do specialist kits which apparently give a bit of lift with extra comfort, but the cost is way up there even before transport so I reckon it's a no go:
http://www.ultimatesuspension.com.au/vehicle_view.php?detail=large&vehicle_id=14
also has anyone tried these?:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DAIHATSU-FOURTRAK-ROCKY-LK-Leaf-Spring_W0QQitemZ180436813626QQcmdZ
or is that pretty much what Milner are offering, if there are any complaints about Milners as far as comfort I'd rather avoid them...
They still sell them
Just give dave at bloodred a ring and he will get them next day ( i had some recently)
Full of ideas but no time to do them!!
www.bloodredoffroad.com
www.milneroffroad.com
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youtube: Redfourtrack
this maybe better than
this maybe better than grease
UHMWPE is its full abreviation, stands for Ultra High Molecular Weight PolyEthelyne. Coefficient of friction is nearly as low as PTFE, wear restance is very high. Putting the tape between the leaves reduces the interleaf stiction (resistance to initial movement) making the ride softer. The important point is that it actually works. I used it on the racer about 6 years ago, I tested 1 spring with it against 1 spring without. The spring without took about a 30kg load before it would start to move, the spring with took less than 10kg.
If you go down this route ensure that you get the tape with acrylic adhesive, I would also suggest that all paint is cleaned off the springs, they are degreased & then painted with acid etch primer. With my tape the acrylic bond to the paint was stronger than the paint bond to the spring steel & it eventyally pulled the paint off!
this was copyed from the suzuki section of difflock