Stiff T-leaves in Warrior beam

[wythac]

I have a 6" wider warrior beam with 10" towers running Bilstein 5150 10" travel shocks and seatbelt straps on my Manx clone. I have the "split" torsion leaves (one set for each arm, not just one in each tube) and stock arms with a relocated lower shock mount.

Here's my issue: when putting the seatbelt straps on, which were only 1 1/2" shorter than the topped out suspension, it was all I could do with some ratcheting tiedown straps to crank the arms up enough to get the seatbelt straps on, and this is without the shocks. Suspension is now solid as a rock, which is not what I want or expected. I'm hoping that while the chassis sits (car is still under construction, months away from driving it) the leaves will take a set and soften up, but I am not really buying into that. I can stand on the beam and jump up and down and it doesn't move. Bushings aren't binding..this is purely a spring rate problem.

Any suggestions? I've done a search here already and not had much luck.

[QRP]

what is the valving in the 5150s ?

[90xjlimited4x4]

is the beam adjustable?

when you put the arms on what angle were they at?
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[1mechanic]

[QRP]

Sorry I missed that part

[baja5]

I may be off here, but with 4 sets of leaves, that would make them fairly short in comparison to a stock set.And having them shorted would seem to make them harder to twist.
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[QRP]

the leaves are shorter but the distance from the center screw and the one on the arms is still the same.
( or did I put my other foot in my mouth. )

[90xjlimited4x4]

[QRP]

if your beam is 6'' over & the adjusters are 4'' apart then the leaves would be 1'' longer ( I think )

[baja5]

The way he described it, sounded to me like there are 4 set screws in the beam.i have seen them done that way, where there is like 8 inches or so between each set screw.
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[baja5]

It could also just be stiff from being not quite broken in.I know everytime i disassemble and reassemble my beam it is very stiff.
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[90xjlimited4x4]

[QRP]

then from center to center you should be 6''
but we are both off the original subject.

[HamburgerBrad]

as far as i know, all of the prefab beams require you to cut up four leaf packs, keeping your spring rate the same as stock.
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OGST | CU05 | OGJHC
1970 baja|1953 oval

Wanted: two beat up, ugly, curb rashed 6" phone dial wheels

[wythac]

Sorry guys, I posted this and then haven't been back on the web in a few days. I bought 4 "split" leaves from Chirco. There are four grubscrews in the center of the beam. I went with purchased ones because if you simply cut the single long leaves long enough for one set, it doesn't leave(no pun) you with enough to do four leaves, but only two. I haven't thrown my original leaves out, so I might consider making two cut down leaves from the two original long stock ones, in the interests of softening things up, putting one on each side, but I have no information on what the effect of two different spring rate leaves would have on the suspension.
I have heard that these things can be really stiff to start out with. I have checked to see if there is any stiction, and there is not. To reiterate, this beam is stiff as hell before attaching the shocks. I would be less concerned if I thought my car was going to weigh in over 2 tons...the bulk would take care of things.

Scott C

[caromin]

I just went through the same thing, 6" over beam with 2 adjusters in each tube. I ordered (out of stock) aftermarket leave packs, got tired of waiting so I bought 2 sets of stock torsions and cut them down. All that's required is to cut the pack 1/4" past the center grub screw notch and the stock leaves fit just like the aftermarket ones. Haven't driven it yet but pushing down on the front end I can get it to compress about 2.5" (no limiting straps on it yet) The adjusters are backed off all the way so that isn't an issue. It seems a little stiff to me but I was going to try it out for a few rides and see if it loosened up some. As it stands now I've got about 1" of sag. I figure if it remains too stiff I'll pull the eight outer (split) leaves from the upper tube and replace them with short sections of torsion material to keep the packs in the arms and adjusters securely.
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Chris
59Rag
86 Westy
Sandrail
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[wythac]

I have the original torsion leaves, which I could make just two of the four leaf sets I would need. I could put the OEM ones in one tube and see if that makes a difference.