Improving articulation?

[Limey]

Geez, I feel like a post whore!!! Does anyone have any tips and ideas on improving the articulation in my Hilux. Its a 1982 Lux... leaf spring up front and in the rear.

I'm looking for cheap ideas, so any will be helpful!

[BenHur]

Start of by making yourself a longer set of shackles at the rear. Make it with more then one set of holes so that you can move it up and down a bit till you get it the way you like it. Remember that your shock will at one stage limit downward travel so a longer travel shock might be needed.

Once you are happy with the rear you can look at something similar up front. The only other thing that you need to look at there is that the angle on the universal joint not become too big.

[Cookie Monster]

Hi Bennie will that change the ride hight at the back too?

[BenHur]

Jip and with the increase in height comes an increase in upward travel before the suspension travel is limited by bump stops.

[Cookie Monster]

Cool I hope so coz my van is a little low at the back even though the springs are fine

[Limey]

Bennie, the shackles on my truck have already been done - it just seems that the springs arent very supple - they arent soft enough.... note that these are leaf springs...

What else is there to do?

[BenHur]

Then you need to look at the blades itself. post a few pictures of them so we can see and maybe some of the okes here can supply advice

[Sifu-Lux]

How's this for articulation

See the story at: http://downunder4x4.net/dgr.html

[SYRON CONVERSIONS]

Yes that truck does have a little articulation, however it is a specialized vehicle, the guy most probely puts it on a trailer to the venue where he uses it, when a person wants more articulation on their vehicle, there are always the pros and the cons to consider and thus you will have to make some decision's what is best for your application, on the one side you might want more articulation, but to do this you will have to remove some of the blades from the spring packs, try looking it this way, have you ever tried bending a piece of steel that is the same thickness as the spring pack.

Thus if there are less blades this will mean that the spring can bend more, however a negative point here to remember is that you will not be able to load your vehicle as much when you remove blades.

Have you asked yourself why do I want more articulation on my vehicle?

There are also other ways to make a vehicle perform better that you can consider as well.
Will you be using this vehicle a lot for tar driving?

Do a body lift make up some nylon spaces, drill some 10 or 12mm holes through them, use the existing rubber body spaces as well and then add these 45mm extra spaces, but to fit these spaces there are a few other mods you have to do as well.

Thus once you have done a body lift, fit some bigger tyres and some 8 J rims, you will then see a vast difference in the performance of your vehicle, you will have more ground clearence under the diff pumpkins.