possible ifs suspension solutions?
Sep 28, 2009 | 01:03 PM
#21
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Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Inverness,FL
TB's and coils ride feel is fairly similar with the proper setup, much smoother than leafs. With TBs it is important to use aftermarket UCA and LCA poly bushings that are free floating and non-binding. The stock bushings are bonded to the steel shell and sleeve and do not allow rotation. When you cycle extreme rotation with that design the rubber bushings bind and eventually chunk apart. Once the bushing problem is solved the ride is much nicer, very similar to coils. The next issue with TBs is strengh. If you use a properly designed TB like the 25mm SAW, the Downey 26mm, and the Rancho 24mm you are not maxing out the pre-load of the 22.5mm stocker's. You also need to upgrade the Torque Arms that connect the TBs to the UCAs. Use the heavy duty ones from a late model V-6 ot T-100. With these issues addressed TBs will ride very well and are plenty strong. Part of the equation to TB strength is proper bump and droop stops. I keep hearing people complaining about TBs who only have experience with stock TBs and stock suspension configuration. In the development of my Blazeland LT over the last 5 years I experimented with both methods of spring set up and each has its advantages. The extra complications and cost factors involved with coil over conversion is a major concern. I ran a coil over for years and I am back to the TBs. TBs are a good design. Check out the Blazeland website at www.blazeland.us
Sep 28, 2009 | 01:09 PM
#22
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From: maple ridge, British Columbia, Canada
I'm running aftermarket Tbars. They still suck. I've also got poly bushings. They flex better, but still, the ride is nothing like even a stock set up on a 3rd gen runner or a taco.
Tbars are strong, just, to me, they ride like garbage. If I do any more modification to my IFS, CO's are the direction I'm going.
Tbars are strong, just, to me, they ride like garbage. If I do any more modification to my IFS, CO's are the direction I'm going.
In my experiances my front end rides much smoother than a coil'd front end of a similar year truck.... Smooth, tucked up out of the way
Sep 28, 2009 | 01:40 PM
#23
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From: Arvada, Colorado
Tucked up?
They are in the way for skid plate cross members, and mine are the lowest point on my belly now. I've been wanting to torch them off but need to figure out where I'm going with the front first.
Even if they aren't the lowest point, they still hang you up whenever you're trying to slide around a rock, or go up something that has a spot in the middle for your tcase stuff, and diff, but is high on the sides where you'd expect to be able to drive through.
Last fall before my flatbelly, the only thing holding me up on this obstacle was the damn tbar mount on the driver side. I had to spend quite a bit of time with a die grinder trying to get the bolt head back into a shape that would hold a wrench.
For the OP, I think its a great idea. If you decide to go for it, I'll definetly be watching.
Last edited by AxleIke; Sep 28, 2009 at 01:45 PM.
Sep 28, 2009 | 02:05 PM
#24
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From: maple ridge, British Columbia, Canada
I guess the ride quality is a personal preference thing. Mine ride awful.
Tucked up?
They are in the way for skid plate cross members, and mine are the lowest point on my belly now. I've been wanting to torch them off but need to figure out where I'm going with the front first.
Even if they aren't the lowest point, they still hang you up whenever you're trying to slide around a rock, or go up something that has a spot in the middle for your tcase stuff, and diff, but is high on the sides where you'd expect to be able to drive through.
Last fall before my flatbelly, the only thing holding me up on this obstacle was the damn tbar mount on the driver side. I had to spend quite a bit of time with a die grinder trying to get the bolt head back into a shape that would hold a wrench.
*snip*
For the OP, I think its a great idea. If you decide to go for it, I'll definetly be watching.
Tucked up?
They are in the way for skid plate cross members, and mine are the lowest point on my belly now. I've been wanting to torch them off but need to figure out where I'm going with the front first.
Even if they aren't the lowest point, they still hang you up whenever you're trying to slide around a rock, or go up something that has a spot in the middle for your tcase stuff, and diff, but is high on the sides where you'd expect to be able to drive through.
Last fall before my flatbelly, the only thing holding me up on this obstacle was the damn tbar mount on the driver side. I had to spend quite a bit of time with a die grinder trying to get the bolt head back into a shape that would hold a wrench.
*snip*
For the OP, I think its a great idea. If you decide to go for it, I'll definetly be watching.
Get better shocks?
Hell, mine rides awume and I have low end poocomp shocks and worn out control arm bushings!
Your truck is pretty radically modified so I guess we can't really compair it to mine.. And I don't rock crawl much
I like going fast..
Sep 28, 2009 | 02:19 PM
#26
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From: dayton ohio
imo torsion bars definitly work but, when i compare them to springs, twisting a solid steel bar or a spring? i don't know but twisting a steel bar for suspension just doesn'y seem very promising. but what do i know 
they have been working for years, even the ones on my truck are 21 years old and still strong.
one very convincing point i found (as far as it working) is on my bros 240sx. the rear suspension is set up similar to the front on our trucks ie. upper and lower a-arms, cv through them. he just has the stock struts and coils tho. i wish i could find a pic but if u find a pic of the rear susp. on a 1990 or similar 240sx check it out.
yeah i know his car is a unibody but u know what im saying right?
they have been working for years, even the ones on my truck are 21 years old and still strong. one very convincing point i found (as far as it working) is on my bros 240sx. the rear suspension is set up similar to the front on our trucks ie. upper and lower a-arms, cv through them. he just has the stock struts and coils tho. i wish i could find a pic but if u find a pic of the rear susp. on a 1990 or similar 240sx check it out.
yeah i know his car is a unibody but u know what im saying right?
Sep 28, 2009 | 02:22 PM
#27
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From: Inverness,FL
Sep 28, 2009 | 02:24 PM
#28
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From: Inverness,FL
dis is cooler http://www.fatcatfabrication.com/sit...ctures/333.JPG
Sep 28, 2009 | 02:28 PM
#29
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From: dayton ohio
Sep 28, 2009 | 02:42 PM
#30
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From: Arvada, Colorado
My truck and my girlfriends 4runner (hers more so) ride so smooth. Better than some of the newer trucks/cars I have driven/ridden in...
Get better shocks?
Hell, mine rides awume and I have low end poocomp shocks and worn out control arm bushings!
Your truck is pretty radically modified so I guess we can't really compair it to mine.. And I don't rock crawl much I like going fast..
Get better shocks?
Hell, mine rides awume and I have low end poocomp shocks and worn out control arm bushings!
Your truck is pretty radically modified so I guess we can't really compair it to mine.. And I don't rock crawl much
I like going fast..I'm running OME shocks, medium duty, so they shouldn't be too stiff.
To give you an example: my dad has a 97 4runner with an OME suspension on it. My mom has an 04 taco with stock suspension. Both have coilover front ends. 4runner has coil rear, and the taco has leafs.
They live up a washboard and rutted dirt road.
When I drive my truck up there, and hit a bump at 40 miles per hour, even before I modified it, I felt like I'd just been hit my a train. Same bumps, in their trucks, you notice the bump, but it isn't harsh or rough at all. Its nice and smooth.
And, for reference, I've got the poly LCA bushings, and ball joint spacers relaxed back so the truck sits at stock height. I guess you guys are just lucky, or have different tastes in ride quality. Me, I like a cadilac ride on the bumps. Don't want to feel them at all.
Last edited by AxleIke; Sep 28, 2009 at 02:44 PM.
Sep 28, 2009 | 02:46 PM
#31
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From: Arvada, Colorado
The forces are the same though. The spring still experiences torsional forces and twists in the same way the torsion bar does.
Sep 28, 2009 | 03:00 PM
#33
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From: maple ridge, British Columbia, Canada
Going slow, the torsion bars don't really bother me. Its going fast.
I'm running OME shocks, medium duty, so they shouldn't be too stiff.
To give you an example: my dad has a 97 4runner with an OME suspension on it. My mom has an 04 taco with stock suspension. Both have coilover front ends. 4runner has coil rear, and the taco has leafs.
They live up a washboard and rutted dirt road.
When I drive my truck up there, and hit a bump at 40 miles per hour, even before I modified it, I felt like I'd just been hit my a train. Same bumps, in their trucks, you notice the bump, but it isn't harsh or rough at all. Its nice and smooth.
And, for reference, I've got the poly LCA bushings, and ball joint spacers relaxed back so the truck sits at stock height. I guess you guys are just lucky, or have different tastes in ride quality. Me, I like a cadilac ride on the bumps. Don't want to feel them at all.
I'm running OME shocks, medium duty, so they shouldn't be too stiff.
To give you an example: my dad has a 97 4runner with an OME suspension on it. My mom has an 04 taco with stock suspension. Both have coilover front ends. 4runner has coil rear, and the taco has leafs.
They live up a washboard and rutted dirt road.
When I drive my truck up there, and hit a bump at 40 miles per hour, even before I modified it, I felt like I'd just been hit my a train. Same bumps, in their trucks, you notice the bump, but it isn't harsh or rough at all. Its nice and smooth.
And, for reference, I've got the poly LCA bushings, and ball joint spacers relaxed back so the truck sits at stock height. I guess you guys are just lucky, or have different tastes in ride quality. Me, I like a cadilac ride on the bumps. Don't want to feel them at all.
Im the same way. I like a smooth ride
I know the difference, my rear end is very stiff and bounces around pretty good!Im not sure how the OME shocks ride (no experiance with them). But I kid you not, my girls stock suspension rides like a caddy! Over bumps its very smooth, and im talking at speed
I will be putting bj spacers and rear coil lift in it soon so...We usually use her truck for camping, and we usually take unmaintained (used by logging trucks too) forrest roads. Usually takes at least an hour of 30-50km/h driving to get where we want to go. Loads of potholes and brake bumps.
Im willing to bet the poly bushings have something to do with it, but didn't you mention you had aftermarket torsion bars??
Last edited by Jay351; Sep 28, 2009 at 03:01 PM.
Sep 28, 2009 | 08:24 PM
#34
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From: Arvada, Colorado
Yes, the aftermarket bars are OME as well. Middle of the road between stock and the Downey/SAWs.
They are about right, however, since I've got 200lbs+ of armor alone in the front end. They ride way better than the truck did with stock bars and the BJ spacers.
They are about right, however, since I've got 200lbs+ of armor alone in the front end. They ride way better than the truck did with stock bars and the BJ spacers.
Oct 1, 2009 | 08:44 AM
#35
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From: Santa Clarita, Ca
Oct 1, 2009 | 08:46 AM
#36
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From: Santa Clarita, Ca
Oct 1, 2009 | 05:11 PM
#37
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From: Tucson, AZ USA Age:60
Yeah, that's something that a lot of people just don't understand.
A coil spring is nothing more than a torsion bar that's coiled up, or, put another way, a torsion bar is nothing more that a coil spring straightened out.
The work/act the same.
Fred
A coil spring is nothing more than a torsion bar that's coiled up, or, put another way, a torsion bar is nothing more that a coil spring straightened out.
The work/act the same.
Fred
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