Hi all, I’m building a traditional g***er style ladder bar setup with floating leaf springs using leaf spring floater brackets as pictured. I’ve done a lot of reading on previous H.A.M.B threads but I can’t find pics of this style fitted. Can I see some pics of these in your car please? There’s 2 types I’ve posted pics of. I’m interested in either style and your opinion on which one is better? Many thanks. Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
I will be closely following this one, as I am doing the same and have been wanting to see the same. There are all kinds of pictures and places to buy them but nobody really has any good info on setting them up or pictures or articles on installing them. Hopefully you get some good input on this subject , I have been going to ask but I figured the only response would be the ones that hate the idea and want to tell you how stupid you are for wanting that type of set up. Sent from my SM-T387V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
If you're using ladder bars, what you want is a 'slider', not a 'floater'. What you show would be used in a leaf-link suspension.
If you propose to use parallel leaf springs be warned that the g***er ladder bars and rear end each travel in different arcs creating binding in the rear suspension. The distance between the front spring eye and the axle housing will change as the spring changes under load. Even placing the ladder bar pivots in line with the front spring eye still will result in binding. The longer the bar, the shallower the arc. The axle to spring attachment either needs to be a slider or a rolling pivot so that everything can move in the necessary arc and minimise binding. If the rear axle can move freely back and forth it takes the bind out. If the ladder bars are welded solid to the axle or bolted to welded brackets, then you're sure to have limited or restricted travel. However depending on how your rear suspension is set up, it's possible to work without a floating spring mounting point. Roller style leaf spring sliders replace rear spring shackles permitting the free movement of the spring. These slider bracket acts like a shackle allowing the spring eye to move forward and backward. Another option is eliminating parallel leaf springs and using ladder bars with coil over shocks. This however requires a panhard bar or watts linkage to prevent lateral (side to side) movement. https://www.facebook.com/134670546543829/photos/a.666119116732300/977776965566512/?type=3&theater This is a floating axle mount that is designed to eliminate suspension bind and maximize weight transfer. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/floating-axle-housing.821957/#post-9116522 These weld on mounts are height adjustable. I'd suggest adding some form of restraints on the front of the ladder bars to capture the ends should there be a failure, no nasty surprises and cheap insurance. This an old Pepe Estrada formula to calculate the correct ladder bar length.
Yep crazy Steve is correct, you need to start looking at sliders. Look at some designs and if your up to it you can easily build your own.
Thank you. Informative and helpful information you’ve provided. Ladder bars and coil overs are out of the question on my project, so it’s leaf spring all the way. I agree with the slider theory indeed. Ideally I’d prefer to use the slider that mounts directly on the leaf spring and diff housing. This is essentially doing the same thing as the sliders that mount rearward of the leaf springs correct? Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
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