Ronmar
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You can level all you want, that wont balance axle weights, and that's an issue if you run CTIS…
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Thoughts on removing coil springs on A1R
- Thread starter aw113sgte
- Start date
- 538
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- Texas Hill Country
After our off road experience in the empty truck showing a lack of rear traction and reviewing the difference between the tare front and rear axle weights we are planning to move more weight rearward in the habitat in an effort to attain more balance. We have also noticed while hauling debris to the landfill, adding a ton or more weight to the rear really smooths the ride characteristics overall—
Ronmar
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Yep, thats why I am not concerned building my habitat out of steel like a ships hull(1/8X3 ribs, 14ga skin). The cab and chassis curbs at ~14.8K i removed a few hundred in the tire crane and lift bars, and am moving much of the mid structure(arch and tire) to the rear so I am starting a little under 14.5K. 1078 curbs ~17.7K, so i am figuring a all up weight approaching 20K should get me in the balance ballpark. now I don’t have the 600# of crew weight included in that curb figure, but I am not counting the added weight for the fairing and cab mods which will mostly cancel that out, or slightly lighten the front axle weight
i bought 4.5K in steel so far and I need a little more to finish the tire crane, mount and interior structure, so that will have me approaching 19K plus a few hundred for internal finish. Will have ~800# of water, but that is located near the trucks CG so that should mostly add axle weight equally…
i bought 4.5K in steel so far and I need a little more to finish the tire crane, mount and interior structure, so that will have me approaching 19K plus a few hundred for internal finish. Will have ~800# of water, but that is located near the trucks CG so that should mostly add axle weight equally…
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- La Crosse, WI
Well, they are off!
Not too bad to remove, They ended up being stroked out with just a tiny bit of compression still left after jacking the tire off the ground from a point on the frame. I was easily able to tap the bolts out in this position with little resistance.
I measured before and after heights (to the fender) - note there is a slight slope and my driveway is not perfect so you can't compare left to right, but you can the relative height change of each side. Left 55.4 -> 54.6, right 54.4 -> 53
I then drove to a fairly flat area to see the effect front-back. Before I had approximately 2.5" height difference in the habitat (rear being lower). Now that the front dropped by roughly an inch it is much closer.
Front right:50.7"
Front Left: 50.0"
Rear right:51.0"
Rear left:50.5"
Basically no height difference now so I'm super happy with that.
As far as suspension feel, I didn't have the dampers on so that will change things a little but the front suspension now feels much more plush. Was crossing over train tracks I have many trips across and before it would be harsh and rattle the cabin, now it's way smoother and you can feel the suspension soak up the bumps. Very very happy and seems like this is how A1Rs should be considering the only reason they have these springs is to support very heavy armor - that never happened. I may add a few hundred pounds in roof rack but that's probably it so I have no concerns there.
Now going to bust out a cutoff wheel and get those springs out.
Not too bad to remove, They ended up being stroked out with just a tiny bit of compression still left after jacking the tire off the ground from a point on the frame. I was easily able to tap the bolts out in this position with little resistance.
I measured before and after heights (to the fender) - note there is a slight slope and my driveway is not perfect so you can't compare left to right, but you can the relative height change of each side. Left 55.4 -> 54.6, right 54.4 -> 53
I then drove to a fairly flat area to see the effect front-back. Before I had approximately 2.5" height difference in the habitat (rear being lower). Now that the front dropped by roughly an inch it is much closer.
Front right:50.7"
Front Left: 50.0"
Rear right:51.0"
Rear left:50.5"
Basically no height difference now so I'm super happy with that.
As far as suspension feel, I didn't have the dampers on so that will change things a little but the front suspension now feels much more plush. Was crossing over train tracks I have many trips across and before it would be harsh and rattle the cabin, now it's way smoother and you can feel the suspension soak up the bumps. Very very happy and seems like this is how A1Rs should be considering the only reason they have these springs is to support very heavy armor - that never happened. I may add a few hundred pounds in roof rack but that's probably it so I have no concerns there.
Now going to bust out a cutoff wheel and get those springs out.
Last edited:
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Sweet! I'm going to delete the springs off my old set and give it a try!
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Spring was easy to cut with the cutoff wheel, just watch out when it lets go, you might fracture the cutting disc.
Requires 2 cuts to release pressure, second cut has almost no tension, then you can screw the springs together and a few whacks with a hammer you can take it all apart. Easy peasy. Threw on a coat a paint and polished up some corrosion on the shaft. Shock isn't gas charged - it will stay where you move it. Very easy to reinstall.
Requires 2 cuts to release pressure, second cut has almost no tension, then you can screw the springs together and a few whacks with a hammer you can take it all apart. Easy peasy. Threw on a coat a paint and polished up some corrosion on the shaft. Shock isn't gas charged - it will stay where you move it. Very easy to reinstall.