blackened'14

Were the 295/45/18 nitto's ok on the 18x8 titan wheels? How did they perform compared to the same tires on your lady's 18x9 mk6's? That's the tire I'm looking to run, & im trying to decide if I need 9" wide or if 18x8s will work...

Steve-O-08

iTrader: (5)

That size tire worked fine on those wheels. Both of the trucks had NT-05's on them.

Overall the tire is ok. Definitely not the greatest thing out there, but we are extremely limited on tire selection. There really isn't a whole lot out there that will work with a truck on a 18" wheel. The options open up a little on a 20" wheel but the task turns into finding a 6 lug 20" wheel that's not stupid heavy.

Steve-O-08

iTrader: (5)

Got my arms mocked up the other night to double check shock measurements. Got the shocks ordered. Waiting on an ETA. Having them valved for the truck vs off the shelf valving.



While I'm waiting on shocks I got started on the leaf springs. Sticking with the rear leaf springs for now. Just going to try and make them work as well as I can for what I'm doing with the truck. A 4 link and coil-overs may still be in the future, but for now they'll have to wait.

Going with a slightly modified version of our Hotchkis Swivel bushing kit and possibly adding a leaf from the set of dodge leaf springs I found along with the overload spring. The front of the leafs will get the modified swivel bushings, the rear of the leafs will have new poly bushings and I'm going to machine up some more delrin for the shackles.





Had to turn down the collars to clear the spring pockets.





Pressed out the solid bushings.





And the new bearing retainers pressed in:



Energy suspension leaf spring kit, Sadly I'll only be using the rear leaf bushings and the sleeves.



Going to get the rear springs pressed out this week and then tack the front sleeves in place just to make sure they don't go anywhere. Then I'll get the passenger side spring back in and do the same to the driver's side.

blackened'14

I understand why you removed the caltracs to accommodate the swivel bushing (VERY COOL), but I'm a bit confused about spring rate... assuming you are adding the dodge leaf for a higher overall spring rate? Is this better for running through turns? Weren't the old hotchkiss replacement leafs a lower overall spring rate than stock? If a higher rate is better, could you of added preload to your caltracs to effectively increase rate? Thanks- trying to figure out my rear (have removed middle leaf + caltracs)

Steve-O-08

iTrader: (5)

I was considering adding spring rate to stiffen up the rear. Our Hotchkis leafs were the same rate as a stock spring.

Adding preload with the Caltracs isn't adding spring rate, it's just putting the front of the leaf into bind, With little to no preload the caltracs keep the lead from wrapping up in a launch, good for straight line, but not too great when it comes to turning. I tried preloading them when I first took the truck autocrossing and it kept the back of the truck so stiff I could barely get traction.

After checking the other dodge leafs the additional leaf was good for about 50lbs of spring rate. If I find myself needing more spring rate in the back I'll add one of the leafs to the pack.

moregrip

iTrader: (8)

looking awesome bro! love it! Do those swivel joints add NVH?

Steve-O-08

iTrader: (5)

Thank you Sir. I don't think I'll notice an more noise coming from the swivel ends. The Caltrac's replaced the front leaf spring bushing with a solid aluminum spacer. I don't see them being any more noticeable that those.

Looks like it'll actually be sunny today. Going to try and get the springs back in if I can.

Also have some new parts that should be here today. Which is exciting haha.

moregrip

iTrader: (8)

yeah I think you're right, prob quieter without the caltracs! get'r'done!

Steve-O-08

iTrader: (5)

Got the other leaf spring finished up this week and ready to be installed. Hoping for a break in the rain we have been having to be able to install them.








Also decided while I had the U-bolt Plates out that I would cut out some tie-down hooks and weld them on.







Luckily I had a few hours of better weather to work with and got the leaf springs back in the truck. Still need to trim the ends of the U-Bolts, but I am going to wait to see if I need any pinion shims.






Just received a new pair of hubs for the front. Front springs and shocks will be here this week. Finally able to get the truck back on the ground. Then I'll need to align it and test it out.

Steve-O-08

iTrader: (5)

Some small progress made on the truck this week.

The parts are still accumulating. Have front springs, rear shocks, new front hubs and a bunch of parts for the eventual manual swap.





When I got the shocks in a few weeks ago I found that the fronts had the wrong bodies on them. (compression adjuster on the bottom instead of on the side) so I sent those back to have them swapped out. Still waiting on them to come back from Afco.








In the meantime I got the rear's installed after I made some reducer spacers for them. (1/2 bolts in 14mm holes) I still need to modify the shock extenders to make sure they don't loosen up again.










Once the front shocks come in I can get the new hubs on and take it to work and align it. Unfortunately I also have to smog the truck by the end of the month too... Also kinda hard to do without the truck drivable. Stupid California... End rant.