Using Springs For Body Mount?

[Dano!]

Hey everyone,
i have had this idea rolling around in my head for a little bit and i cant seem to find any info anywhere on the internet concerning this. i have heavy duty springs and their poly-bushing. Using springs with a bolt going through them with a rubber stopper / bumper on the other end to prevent the Nut tightening down from smashing into the frame / body depending how its set up.
I understand that reinforcement would be a good idea for both sides of this bolt that goes through the spring, and welding a cup for the spring to sit in would be a good idea too. i just wanted to put the idea out and see what some concerns might come up.

Spring rating:
Free Length - 3.48 +/- .03 in
Force/LBS Applied 392 +/-5 = Compression to 2.80 +/- .03 in
Force/LBS Applied 585 +/- 10 = Compression to 2.47 +/- .03 in

My idea being, in theory i should get somewhat of a smoother ride with the springs being able to absorb force and recoil to normal ride height.

Concerns? Thoughts?

-Dano

 

[01STrunner]

Hmmm. Interesting idea. I have no insight on this but am interested in what others think.

 

[Spdrcer34]

I don't know what will break first, a mount bolt, or a rivet on the frame.....

Do it....I want to know the answer to that question....

Ryan

 

[IAmTodd]

I don't know what will break first, a mount bolt, or a rivet on the frame.....

Do it....I want to know the answer to that question....

Ryan

I think the rollover will happen a few feet before the breakage will occur. The body will need shocks and sway bars as well.

 

[Ronin8002]

I think the rollover will happen a few feet before the breakage will occur. The body will need shocks and sway bars as well.

I had similar thoughts. Without shocks to dampen the compression and rebound of the "body springs" there might be some bouncyness/oscillation.

Also, will the steering shaft and other components (i.e., hard brake lines going to the booster, hard AC lines, etc.) be able to handle being wiggled around like that over the long term?

I don't want to stifle ingenuity, but there may be a reason this isn't widespread or present at all in OEM designs.

 

[Turdle]

Id be more inclined to use the springs as a seat mount. Possibly a pivoting front mount, with the springs at the rear for softer ride.

 

[Dano!]

The way i would me set it up would be to spread out the weight. a total OS 12 springs, 4 in the front, middle, and back giving the springs some rigidity and minimizing their ability to compress because of their combined weight capacity. The rubber boot on top would kind of be a shock absorber because it would provide a cushion in sense.

By all means this is still just an idea. "Still on the drawing board."

I do appreciate the comments.

 

[01STrunner]

Id be more inclined to use the springs as a seat mount. Possibly a pivoting front mount, with the springs at the rear for softer ride.

Semis and firetrucks have air ride seats in addition to airbags on the cab mounts.

 

[IAmTodd]

Semis and firetrucks have air ride seats in addition to airbags on the cab mounts.

You'll note the air ride cabs also have shocks.

Dano, your rubber bushing is going to do nothing to dampen the bounce of the spring. You'll need a small shock alongside each spring. You're also going to need a series of links to keep the body square on the frame. Otherwise it will be shifting all over the place.

I can't see this idea being practical or safe. You're further ahead to redo your whole suspension of with proper coilovers and links to get your desired ride.

 

[Dano!]

Is there a way to make something of a hybrid of springs and solid body lift? Solid in the back (4 total) to keep it from moving side to side and sheering off and springs in the front adding control to the amountof flex the springs?

 

[01STrunner]

Like before it would at least have to have small shock absorbers and limit straps/bump stops, basically that creates a whole new suspension between the frame and the body.

 

[Turdle]

4 of the "5th shock" mounted at a slight angle, one on each corner of the truck. 120.00 invested.

 

[BigGreenV10]

You would have to brace the body from movement wich would almost defeat the whole reason you are wanting to do that.

 

[mounty71]

Your body will tear itself apart with that much freedom to flex. My truck and friends' trucks have everything from small cracks in sheet metal to completely open gaps where different panels were once spot welded shut, because of the body flexing while offroad with stock body mounts. Whether you take yours offroad or not, I don't want to even imagine what yours will end up like, given even more freedom to flex uncontrollably.

 

[Dano!]

Any ideas for some kind of smaller scale application to try this on something not a DD. I understand that its not practical and going against the norm. If all that comes out of this is a long trial and error process that ends in an "i told you so" then at least it will be a defined failure and a deterrent.i may have to buy another parts truck.

 

[Brian1]

Spring mounting a body is a valid application however not in the way you intend to do it. This has been around a while mostly on heavy/industrial trucks

They use springs so that chassis mounted tanks/boxes/flatbeds do not develop cracks from chassis flex and not as a method of adding a suspension to the body.

I adapted the concept to my rock crawler's fuel cell so it would not crack

I suggest leaving your body mounts as-is and focusing your efforts into tuning your suspension via shocks, springs and links so it rides like you want it to. Alternatively, look into quality suspension seats from Mastercraft or PRP. If you are really set you could do something like others have mentioned already and do like semi-truck cabs are mounted however I do not think an Explorer body is rigid enough without making a subframe for it.

 

[bronchole]

The stock body mounts are springs, they are just not coil springs. They are a relitivly stiff spring with very limited compression. Because of that they get away with not having a dampener (shock).

As has been pointed out above, this is probably not the right place to "add suspension".

I like the idea of incorporating a spring in to the stock body mounts to allow the body to stretch away from the frame in flexy situations. Imaging using a longer bolt in the stock application. inbetween where the nut would meet with the washer that compresses the stock body mount you use a spring. That spring would apply force against the washer that the nut normally sits against. In a flex situation as the body attempts to pull away from the frame it would furthre compress the spring.

Are body cracks an issue with flexed up Explorers? Where should I be looking for these cracks?

 

[Dano!]

You guys are awesome and i appreciate all the feed back. this whole thing came about when i was considering my body lift, i took a look at what i had laying around, and what was being thrown away at work and that brought me here. (i also checked the internet for body lifts)

Todd, Brian1 and Mounty71
You have excellent points, i did not think about the fact that without basically creating a sub frame for the body, Which would only be an attempt to try and prevent tweaking the body, this would ultimately destroy my truck.

I do have access to small shocks, but i have no idea what their capabilities are.

Even if this mod were plausible, i would not do it to an SUV because of the fact you would have to make a Sub Frame to make everything sturdy. i think in the end it would just throw you around in your seat because the "second suspension effect" would whiplash.

Maybe an old ranger. just the cab.