Well, I gotta say I LOVE having my own ramp. I'm like a little kid who just got a jungle gym in his backyard. But I learned a lot last nite.

I've only had the Bronco on a ramp once before, and I didn't have time to get out and closely examine things.

First I just started off going forward. I quickly discovered NOBS was right and I'll need to finish off the ramp surface. The 2x3 ladder pieces are 14" apart and the 37's still fall in enough for it to be obnoxious. Since the ramp was on my blind side I stopped once the rear tires hit the ramp (could've repositioned but didn't want to without a spotter):

http://www.superford.org/getfile.php?id=90746&toggle=fullsize&f=ramp 001.jpg

It was tons of fun to be able to crawl around under the truck:
http://www.superford.org/getfile.php?id=90749&toggle=fullsize&f=ramp 008.jpg

Once I started backing up I was really surprised. I pretty much maxed it out here, I was able to see what I was doing since the ramp was on my driver's side at this point. I've never seen quite this much travel out of the front before:

http://www.superford.org/getfile.php?id=90754

Also never seen a front tire stuffed *that* much:
http://www.superford.org/getfile.php?id=90753&toggle=fullsize&f=ramp 014.jpg

Driver front drooped, the Bilstein still has about 1" avail downtravel here:
http://www.superford.org/getfile.php?id=90752&toggle=fullsize&f=ramp 013.jpg

This is definitely my favorite shot:
http://www.superford.org/getfile.php?id=90751&toggle=fullsize&f=ramp 011.jpg

But here's where I learned the most:
http://www.superford.org/getfile.php?id=90756&toggle=fullsize&f=ramp 018.jpg

That main leaf is from a Moab junkyard and looked _a little_ tweaked as soon as I put it on; nonetheless, you can see that my combo of a stock F250/350 main leaf and a leaf from a rear spring pack doesnt' work together. This is at least part of the reason I broke a main leaf in Moab. The arches are considerably different (the main leaf more or less has no arch while the rear leaf wants to have lots of arch).

Also, it's just too flexy. See that dark object just below and in front of the outermost u-bolt? That's the front of the spring! IOW, there is a TON of negative arch going on here. Also, look at how close the spring plate is to the framerail - I need a bumpstop!

Finally, viewing the same spring from the front, you can see the minimal clearance between my drag link and the spring. You can also see how hard that main leaf has to work. Also, I'd need more lift to run hysteer, look at the top of the knuckle in relation to the framerail.

http://www.superford.org/getfile.php?id=90757&toggle=fullsize&f=ramp 022.jpg

The plan for now is to take a complete stock pack from an F350 and see how that does. This will have two THICK leaves, rather than my current setup of one thick and one thin. Also their arches will match so hopefully the main leaf will gain better support.

Originally posted by Keith_L

This is definitely my favorite shot:
http://www.superford.org/getfile.php?id=90751&toggle=fullsize&f=ramp 011.jpg


what are you afrad(sp?) of stalkers? :lolup

well i gotta say its lookin pretty damn good man keep up the good work.:beer :beer :beer :beer

I think you should put the TTB back on :thumbup
http://www.superford.org/getfile.php?id=48761&toggle=fullsize&f=Articulation_1.4.jpg

Do you get nervous climbing up the ramp that high?...:toothless


Looking Great, Keep us posted with the updates

Originally posted by Keith_L
Also, I'd need more lift to run hysteer, look at the top of the knuckle in relation to the framerail.


You saw my email about this, didn't you? I'm going to have to move the drag link to the underside of the high steer arm because it's hitting on the damn frame.


The plan for now is to take a complete stock pack from an F350 and see how that does.[/B]

My spring rate is too high as it is.....

http://www.superford.org/getfile.php?id=90756&toggle=fullsize&f=ramp 018.jpg

Is that a Chen Shin White Shock I see?

Originally posted by seboh
You saw my email about this, didn't you? I'm going to have to move the drag link to the underside of the high steer arm because it's hitting on the damn frame.



My spring rate is too high as it is.....

Yes, I did see your email which is what made me look at that.

As for spring rate........I think just like anything else it's not just as simple as a number. I'd argue if you take two leafs with identical rates, but one is flat and one is arched........the flat one will flex better. I have NOTHING scientific to base this on, but something *tells me* it's right, and I usually trust my gut (don't have much to lose at least in this case LOL)

Remember Doc always talking about how his buddy used the stock 2 leaf pack in the rear of a YJ and it flexed like mad (of course we don't know how much they were in-boarded, etc)? Well, I believe him based upon how easily that one leaf gets tweaked around. Also, I think I need more spring rate (or I need something, would it technically be spring load?), that leaf is just moving around and getting worked TOO much. I'd welcome a slightly stiffer setup.

IOW, I think you've got too much spring rate *and* too much arch.........or something. Plus your springs are from a completely different application.

Crazed, it's spooky when you're on the downhill side IME

EDIT: and yes, that's the Chin Shen Rancho shock o'crap. Never had time to put the other Bilstien on. Geez, look at my brake line, it's still zip-tied in place from Moab failure.

Of note is that that shock is _completely_ bottomed right there... and the Bilstien is like 1" longer when compressed. I'm hoping with the additional lift I gain from the soon-to-come springs, combined with a bumpstop, it'll just work out.

Originally posted by Keith_L
Crazed, it's spooky when you're on the downhill side IME

I agree, the heavier front drops over once you reach a point, freaked me out

wow dude Ive never seen that much flex from your rig, impressive:thumbup

I dunno... was that junkyard leaf any different than what you already had? I'm not so sure that these springs are really all that different.... unless maybe they're just arched heavier. They're all 3800# or something.... I can't remember the number now, but the axle GVWs were the same.

What I really need is a pair of gas motor F350s.... that would work a hell of a lot better than diesel springs.

And it's not that mine don't flex -- aside from the lack of droop, I stuffed the PS until the drag link hit (1" left) and the DS until the tire ate sheetmetal (~2" left) That's ~10" at the shock on both sides.

But the spring rate is still too high.


BTW -- is that as far as it goes in reverse? Front left all but off the ground?

so do you just throw it in park when you get to the top? must make for a nice clunk when going back to drive.

http://www.superford.org/getfile.php?id=90757&toggle=fullsize&f=ramp 022.jpg
holy flexing springs batman:shocked

Originally posted by seboh
BTW -- is that as far as it goes in reverse? Front left all but off the ground?

Nah, it still seemed completely stable at that point.... didn't see any indication of the driver's front lifting yet.....I was just too chicken to go any further without a spotter around to keep an eye on that driver's front. I'm certainly not experienced with "ramping" LOL.

The last time I ramped in reverse at Zu Zoo I was stuffing the driver's front, and was basically halted by the tire hitting the firewall. Why the passenger front didn't hit the firewall this time I dunno.... maybe differences in the firewall from driver to passenger side.

Fordman, yeah I threw it in Park but it wasn't happy about it LOL. Actually I turned it off to minimize exhaust while crawling around. It killed the ignition, but I couldn't turn the key all the way to "off." IOW, the safety mechanism within the column didn't think it was fully in Park.

http://www.superford.org/getfile.php?id=90757&toggle=fullsize&f=ramp 022.jpg



Waiting for the snap! :D

Looks good Keith. As for the steering, have you considered just going cross-over?

Chris, that's basically what I have. One arm on the pass side for the drag link and a solid tie rod in the stock location. There's really not any room for anything more. I thought I'd be able to bring the tie rod up to the underside of the Sky arm, but that's where the drag link is going to have to go.

Of course, I do have the 2nd hole in mine.... I'll have to see if the SREs will fit side by side. If that's the case, I could probably use a stubby arm on the driver's side and make it work. Not sure what that does to Ackerman, tho.

you leaf guys and your steering issues ...go coil! :goodfinge

Originally posted by NOBS!
you leaf guys and your steering issues ...go coil! :goodfinge


Um, NO! :D

Originally posted by NOBS!
you leaf guys and your steering issues ...go coil! :goodfinge


.... right. Because coils don't have problems with hitting drag links on the frame? It's probably because they can't stuff that well...... :D

no drag link....no problems!
http://www.superford.org/getfile.php?id=90844&toggle=fullsize&filename=DSC00601.JPG

you leaf guys are slow eh? :goodfinge

Originally posted by NOBS!
no drag link....no problems!

Ya, just one big problem. No steering! ;)



you leaf guys are slow eh? :goodfinge

Ya, but we're still quicker that you coil guys. :D

don't make me show up at your work again.....











those places cost me $$$:toothless

hey nobs, what kind of front shock mount do you have on that axle? home made? i see its under the coil bucket, did it work for you? did you make it or scrounge it?? just curious...

Thats a stock ttb swaybar mount??

Originally posted by Crazed
Thats a stock ttb swaybar mount??
yep

what's the worry about the swaybar mount? :shrug

Very Nice Keith. It must really be nice to get under there, and get a full on glimpse of all the workings in adn out of the suspension. Especially to see what you can do to improve it, without having to break it and replace it.

hey keith,
We have a pair of excursion front leaf springs if your interested.They have two leafs like the ones you have on your rig at the moment

Looks great buddy.:beer

Throw that sucker on your roof when you and Tonya come down for a run.:thumbup

i've never seen a TTB so i didnt know that was a trac bar mount. it looks like where the forward shock would be. just asking.

Originally posted by axaviere
i've never seen a TTB so i didnt know that was a trac bar mount. it looks like where the forward shock would be. just asking. Sway bar...not track bar.Or should I say antisway

Originally posted by Crazed
Do you get nervous climbing up the ramp that high?...:toothless




I'd bet he does.......

gawd knows he stays away from the rocks that big!!!!

;) :slap

AND....you need to put some wheels on that ramp so you can take it with you to the mall too!!!!....I would....that'd be super-sweet...


at least you made it blatantly obvious why you're wasting springs!!!