Leaf Springs

[dingy]

Guys my car has leaf springs and i would like to know whether i could convert it to a coil spring system thank you

[Sylvi]

  On 5/17/2013 at 7:01 PM, dingy said:

Guys my car has leaf springs and i would like to know whether i could convert it to a coil spring system thank you

dingy,

For what reason you want to do this. You want for better comfort?

Can do the modification. I think you want for rear only. Get hold of a good mechanic who will understand the job.

If not you will have problems.

Sylvi Wijesinghe.

[CJ5]

  On 5/17/2013 at 7:01 PM, dingy said:

Guys my car has leaf springs and i would like to know whether i could convert it to a coil spring system thank you

Of course yes anything can be converted to anything that you want. I converted my FWD petrol car into a RWD diesel van. The car had coil springs and when it was converted to a van it had leaf springs. Now I am planning to convert the van into a lorry.

[dingy]

  On 5/17/2013 at 11:52 PM, Sylvi said:

dingy,

For what reason you want to do this. You want for better comfort?

Can do the modification. I think you want for rear only. Get hold of a good mechanic who will understand the job.

If not you will have problems.

Sylvi Wijesinghe.

The handling is not at all good coz the back is really bouncy

Edited May 18, 2013 by dingy

[Sylvi]

  On 5/18/2013 at 6:45 AM, dingy said:

The handling is not at all good coz the back is really bouncy

ding,

Your post is quite correct. Had bumping on a very small bump.

Overcome by changing Shock absorbers. Present S A are designed to leaf springs.

I did a conversion some years back. Had to use different Shock absorbers with a higher load capacity.

Sylvi Wijesinghe.

[CJ5]

  On 5/18/2013 at 6:45 AM, dingy said:

The handling is not at all good coz the back is really bouncy

How good are your shock absorbers????

[dingy]

  On 5/18/2013 at 7:55 AM, CJ5 said:

How good are your shock absorbers????

Shocks were put replaced about 6 months ago

[CJ5]

  On 5/20/2013 at 9:42 AM, dingy said:

Shocks were put replaced about 6 months ago

What's the vehicle? and did you change the shocks because it was too bouncy?

Usually a bouncy suspension, whether that be leaf springs or coil springs, is due to worn shock absorbers and not because its leaf spring as even a coil spring suspension can turn bouncy with defective shocks. I have been using many vehicles with rear leaf springs and there were no issues of unusual bouncyness except that they do not offer the ride comfort of a coil spring suspension. The leaf springs are good for loading whereas the coil springs are not.

If you load the vehicle considerably and travel on undulating surfaces it would significantly reduce the life of a shock, but then again 6 months does pose a question. Were the shocks of a reputed brand bought by you from a reputed retailer and were they fixed by a reliable garage? I personally know of instances where though the garage charges for the part the parts in fact were never replaced. These are so called "large" garages with networks and popularly patronised by many.

[dingy]

  On 5/20/2013 at 12:43 PM, CJ5 said:

What's the vehicle? and did you change the shocks because it was too bouncy?

Usually a bouncy suspension, whether that be leaf springs or coil springs, is due to worn shock absorbers and not because its leaf spring as even a coil spring suspension can turn bouncy with defective shocks. I have been using many vehicles with rear leaf springs and there were no issues of unusual bouncyness except that they do not offer the ride comfort of a coil spring suspension. The leaf springs are good for loading whereas the coil springs are not.

If you load the vehicle considerably and travel on undulating surfaces it would significantly reduce the life of a shock, but then again 6 months does pose a question. Were the shocks of a reputed brand bought by you from a reputed retailer and were they fixed by a reliable garage? I personally know of instances where though the garage charges for the part the parts in fact were never replaced. These are so called "large" garages with networks and popularly patronised by many.

It's a lancer a70...the shocks are koni my dad got it from abroad and he does not trust the echanics so he gets them to come home and do it............also i have realized that when there is about two people in the back then its okay

[CJ5]

We also had a A72 S/W with the rear leaf springs and it was ok. Did you camber the leaf springs or do anything like that? ie. without a load does the rear look a bit higher than the front?

[dingy]

Nope no height difference