suspension question

[toddious]

are the lower arms supposed to sit that flat? I did a 2" TT about a year ago, and don't remember the arms sitting like that. Alot of unlifted explorers i see on the road seem to have the arms at more of a downward angle. I think my shocks are bad, would this cause this problem? thanks, todd.

 

[etc]

That's how my arms are, BUT I'm slightly lowered. No adjuster bolts on B Bars.

Check to see if you have loose balljoints.

 

[slravene]

check to see if the TT has backed out any. I know mine did after a while. If they haven't then check Ball Joints and shocks. I would bet on the TT backing out though.

 

[toddious]

yeah, i think my lower ball joints aren't so hot either, would they cause this as well?

 

[slravene]

its possible, there isnt really a way to check them though other than to change them out. But thats probably a good idea if they are bad anyway. lol.

 

[Lloyd10977]

It is a good idea to record your ride height when you to a TT. With the vehicle level and unloaded, measure from the ground, through the center of your wheel to the lip of your fenderwell. Mine measures 34 inches. When you THINK that something has changed, rechecking this value will confirm suspicions because you have a concrete figure for comparison.

 

['97 V8]

i was looking at your CV angle...dunno hy nobody else noticed, but anyways it seems to be directly parallel with your hub. im sure your bolts backed out. My truck with no tt has a more angled cv and the A arms are not flat like that

 

[chris_miller]

It is a good idea to record your ride height when you to a TT. With the vehicle level and unloaded, measure from the ground, through the center of your wheel to the lip of your fenderwell. Mine measures 34 inches. When you THINK that something has changed, rechecking this value will confirm suspicions because you have a concrete figure for comparison.

Sorry to say but that method does not guarantee a concrete number to compare to. As the tyre tread wears out the number will change, as the tyre pressure changes the number will change, altering the tyre size will change the number. The below method does not have any of these problems. Measure from the bottom of the rim NOT the ground.


Clickable thumbnail

 

['97 V8]

this isnt related but are your rims 15x10 toddious?

 

[gijoecam]

Bad shocks can't cause it. The shocks don't support the weight of the vehicle, they damp the suspension movement. Ball joints are out-board and don't change the control arm position even if they're worn out.

The answer is right in front of your nose: A couple hundred pounds of winch, cable, and heavy-duty grille guard will certainly add weight to the nose. Un-bolt the grille guard and remove the winch, and I'd be willing to bet you get an extra inch if not two without changing a thing.

I would agree with the others that the front end looks a little saggy from that angle. Can you take a pic from straight ahead, front and center?

-Joe

 

[toddious]

[QUOTE='97 V8]this isnt related but are your rims 15x10 toddious?[/QUOTE]

signature.....

 

[toddious]

Bad shocks can't cause it. The shocks don't support the weight of the vehicle, they damp the suspension movement. Ball joints are out-board and don't change the control arm position even if they're worn out.

The answer is right in front of your nose: A couple hundred pounds of winch, cable, and heavy-duty grille guard will certainly add weight to the nose. Un-bolt the grille guard and remove the winch, and I'd be willing to bet you get an extra inch if not two without changing a thing.

I would agree with the others that the front end looks a little saggy from that angle. Can you take a pic from straight ahead, front and center?

-Joe

well, the front end didn't seem to sit like this when the bumper/winch were first installed, so it makes me wonder. i'll try to get another picture taken standing center from 10-15 feet away.

 

['97 V8]

signature.....

just makin sure lol.

 

[etc]

Bad shocks can't cause it. The shocks don't support the weight of the vehicle, they damp the suspension movement. Ball joints are out-board and don't change the control arm position even if they're worn out.

The answer is right in front of your nose: A couple hundred pounds of winch, cable, and heavy-duty grille guard will certainly add weight to the nose. Un-bolt the grille guard and remove the winch, and I'd be willing to bet you get an extra inch if not two without changing a thing.

I would agree with the others that the front end looks a little saggy from that angle. Can you take a pic from straight ahead, front and center?

-Joe

My truck went up about 3/4 inch when I switched out my old worn shocks. =|

 

[gijoecam]

A little bit wouldn't be un-heard of. If the old shocks leaked, the nitrogen likely leaked out too, so you lost the gas charge in them. The gas charge is not a lot of force, but I could see it changing the level the truck sits at ever-so slightly. However, the purpose of the gas charge is not to help support the weight of the vehicle, it's there to stop the oil in the shock from foaming at high piston velocities. The shocks on our trucks are DAMPERS. The weight of the vehicle is borne by the springs (in the case of our front ends, torsion bars). Any weight carried by the shocks is a secondary result of the shock design, but again, the shocks are not designed to carry the weight of the vehicle.

Also, I'm not sure how long ago the front end pieces were added, but the torsion bars can and do fatigue over time, just like any spring. Might be time to give 'em a little more twist, or replace 'em with some heavier-rated ones.


-Joe

 

[toddious]

well, i'm in a tough spot because I am thinking SAS real soon, so i don't want to buy new shocks, just to have to buy new ones again .

I will try tightening the Torsion again. btw, check out my cardomain and you will see that I have the bumper/winch on and the bars are at a more downward angle. That picture was from about a year ago. I'm thinking my air shocks are probably leaking bad causing some of this problem.

 

[Aussie Explorer]

The Torsion bars have sagged, as they are not designed to hold the weight of a winch and bar on the front of the car that and offroading has taken it’s toll on them. They would of taken it for a wile but sooner or later they will and have dropped.

The only way to jack them up and have them keep the height is with HD (heavy duty) torsion bars witch are a larger diameter than factory, the HD bars are designed to have a winch and bar slung off the front of the car and have lift pre-built into them .

It’s a bit like towing a heavy boat around all the time on standard duty springs over a short time the springs will sag.

Nice truck too by the way.

 

[toddious]

Nice truck too by the way.

much appreciated...