show some 1/4 eliptic pics!...

rooinater · Mar 23, 2007

Well, i'm just hunting around for some pics of rigs with 1/4 eliptic suspensions in action. Eventually that's what i'll be running. I almost have everything minus the dom tubing. So I figure in a year or so, i'll convert over. :stirpot:

phew · Mar 23, 2007

Gaylord · Mar 23, 2007

Regular long leafs will deliver just as much traction. I ran that 1/4 eliptical on my YJ for a year and ended up taking it back off and installing coils. It looks cool becuase the travel is so long but in reality it is not giving you and additional traction. Thats my opinion anyway.

Money Mark · Mar 23, 2007

Do not take offense......Don't do a 1/4 eliptic suspension.

Binder · Mar 23, 2007

Quarter eliptical is just a different way of mounting a spring. If that's what you have room for go for it. If the spring rates are right it will work as well as any other spring. The link geometry has much more impact on the suspension quality.:;

SkicoFab · Mar 23, 2007

Binder said:
Quarter eliptical is just a different way of mounting a spring. If that's what you have room for go for it. If the spring rates are right it will work as well as any other spring. The link geometry has much more impact on the suspension quality.:;

i have your old 1/4 springs :redneck:

MT894runner · Mar 23, 2007

The bad thing about this suspension set up is that on the road it is really bouncy. I'm sure you can figure out some way to fix that.

Binder · Mar 23, 2007

SkicoFab said:
i have your old 1/4 springs :redneck:

Which ones? With or without the overload?

rooinater · Mar 23, 2007

MT894runner said:
The bad thing about this suspension set up is that on the road it is really bouncy. I'm sure you can figure out some way to fix that.

some good shocks should help that.

03RUBICON said:
Regular long leafs will deliver just as much traction.

but i'd like to cut that departure angle down too... and long leafs doesn't help, i got 'em already...

for springs i have the bluetorchfab/alcan springs, which i bought a few years ago... for a different project that i canked. so they were factory built spring packs. so the basic setup i'd be running is those alcan springs, bbcs 15" shocks, triangulated 4 link and an atv winch mounted over the rear axle to a small limiting strap. so that i can sinch it down a little for down hills. that way the suspension doesn't unload on me.

rooinater · Mar 23, 2007

ToyBug said:
Do not take offense......Don't do a 1/4 eliptic suspension.

what's wrong with the 1/4 eliptic?

TreeClimber · Mar 23, 2007

rooinater said:
what's wrong with the 1/4 eliptic?

A well set up coil, or full leaf spring set will push down AND pull up. A 1/4 will only pull up with the one main leaf. So it pushes down with the whole pack, but only pulls up with the main. That's why they flex soooo good, because they can droooooop. This creates problems in some areas. I've NEVER ran this setup, so this is SPECULATION on my behalf.

But I have watched Kevin (JPFREAK) roll lots of times, and until he tweaked his 1/4 with a heavier rear anti-sway (and limiting straps??) he was really rear floppy. Can't describe it better than that, but if the front end got light on one side, the inertia would raise the front, and because the rear was so light on the springs it would allow the rear of the same side to continue to raise up, to the rollover point. It was wierd how easy it happened. It's firmer now. Maybe he'll post up a better explaination...

Tony

PORTER · Mar 24, 2007

If setup with a set of leaf packs that were intended for 1/4, or a homeade set that is setup springrate wise to your rigs weight it will work well. Like Binder said your link geometry will have a big bearing on performance. I have ran it before with the bluetorch fab kit and was pleased with the outcome. Its all the Bootyfabbed setups people run that gives it a bad name. Theres my been there done that opinion.:;

Money Mark · Mar 24, 2007

rooinater said:
what's wrong with the 1/4 eliptic?

Nothing's wrong with it. Someone that understands suspensions can make most any design work. It's just the 1/4 elliptic might end up costing you the same as a traditional four link with air shocks......in the long run.

I've just seen too many buddies go the supposedly less expensive route and ended up with a less than par suspension.

Just one man

Berne · Mar 24, 2007

I don't see how this is STILL a debate...

1/4 eliptic is not a "style" of suspension.....

it ONLY describes how/what the springs look like....

ALL the springs do is push up.....if they are doing any more than that, they are doing more than they are design'd to....

do coil-overs limit drop........NOPE.....at least not the spings....
do my un-restrained coil springs???....NOPE...

neither do 1/4 eliptic's....
all a limit strap, a shorter shock, whatever.....don't blame the spring for doing its job.......it pushes down, thats what its designed and engineered to do, WTF more do you expect it to do..????

if you poorly design a 4 link......you can put air shocks, coil overs, or big rubber bouncers between the axle and the chassis, it'll all work like ass....

my $.02

--B

rooinater · Mar 25, 2007

the airshocks were going to be my next question...

but i'll be switching from leaf to a traingulated 4 link in the next year or so. i already have btf 1/4 elliptical springs, that i bought a few years ago. along with all the heim joints and shackles for the 1/4 elliptic. either way it'll be cheaper for me, in my opinion. already got the springs and mounts laying around. so as long as i build a good link system. it should function well.

i know i've seen some link calculators around. is there any that calculate for a triangulated 4 link? and what are some tips for a good link system?

Long&Low · Mar 25, 2007

It's like anything else, anyone with some shade tree fab skills can throw together a 1/4 eliptic, but it takes more than merely thorwing pieces parts at your junk to get it dialed in correctly. There is a difference in between just doing it, and doing it correctly.

Shifty*EBP* · Mar 26, 2007

rooinater said:
what's wrong with the 1/4 eliptic?

Unless you run limiting straps downhill drops will be a completely new experience for ya, invest in washable seatcovers. The link geometry is key. You would be better off with a coilocer or air shock.

rooinater · Mar 26, 2007

so airshocks won't unload on downhills?

i'll be running a small atv winch to the center of the diff, with a limiting strap. so i can suck it up, when i come to a downhill, and the suspension won't unload.