06 H3's Rancho build!

[benlaud87]

I make a loop around every parking lot looking for an H3 before I park. There arent many in the city I live in. The one time I did find one everyone was staring at me while I took a few pictures. I guess there isnt much exciting going on.

Im sure the Deavers will work out. how much are they supposed to run you for the set? If my airbags crap out on me for some reason i'd like to consider them as an option.

 

[06 H3]

800 and the credit is gonna be around 650. I have no problem forking out 250 for a superior spring. I will give a review on them when I get em.

As for the pics, I have done the same, theres a lot of 3's but none with an open spot next to em.

 

[Hunner]

Since you posted that here of the comparison I thought this would also fit here.
I would have thought you might have seen this. I searched for it on here but got tired of looking. So maybe it never made it here.
Here is mine with the torsions at 23.5 and 33 tires between a Tuff Country on the right and a Rancho on the left. My excuse for lookin short is I'm sitting it the path well worn and they are on raised creek bed gravel?:shifty::giggle:

ps check the sleeve thread squeaky.

 

[06 H3]

ahhh I guess I should never say never I should use the word rare...I have seen this but it slipped my mind :huh:

 

[benlaud87]

800 and the credit is gonna be around 650. I have no problem forking out 250 for a superior spring. I will give a review on them when I get em.

As for the pics, I have done the same, theres a lot of 3's but none with an open spot next to em.

looking forward to the review. Actually the H3s and H2s that I do see are usually parked in a handicapped spot, so I can't park next to them.

 

[06 H3]

Actually the H3s and H2s that I do see are usually parked in a handicapped spot

Ill never forget when I saw the old man come out the H2 with the dmax swap...It was muddy too but he didnt know what a forum was lol

 

[06 H3]

Bump...I know, sorry this thread wont die but Jeff at deaver called and my leaf springs are done!!!!!!

Thursday is the day I am heading down there to get em installed. They will be doing the install because they want to make sure they the ride height and ride quality is perfect. Once they are in I have a few more things to do before the shakedown run and then its time for moab!!!!!

 

[06 H3]

Hunner and I have exchanged emails about the concern with the weld on leaf spring skids. I told him I would post up about it but delayed...My bad hunner!

I think it is possible to cut off the ends of the skid with the springs on but it would be much easier with them off. Here they are cut and fully flexed out, almost touching. (actually with no shocks on this allowing more flex)

Hunner feel free to take the crappy pics I do have and use them for your thread and customers that will be buying these in the future who are rancho lifted, tuff country lifted, or a custom spring setup. I must say these skids really help the structural integrity of that mount. Those mounts would be destroyed and probably in need of the BFH and a torch to straighten them up if I didnt have these...

Cut this much off.

 

[Sierra H3]

Looking forward to seeing how the Deaver springs turn out. Where are they located, El Cajon?

 

[Hunner]

Yeah apparently the Rancho springs have a different curve at that end than the OEM. I started having a bit different curve in them to give more room at full droop on the OEM springs by laying them back some. The problem with making them even shorter after that was they did not have enough room that close to the end to fit in the 100 ton press and get a grip.

I cut a set for somebody but can't remember who right now. I was hoping to get some pictures of that.
We will just have to adjust for lift kit installs on an individual bases, for you "special guys":shifty:

This was just one hit.

I test mine often. Color does not seem to help!

 

[Hunner]

Ill never forget when I saw the old man come out the H2 with the dmax swap...It was muddy too but he didnt know what a forum was lol

Heyyyyyyyyy watch it! Old guys rule!:emb::shifty::giggle:

 

[06 H3]

They are in Santa Ana. I pass Disneyland to get there....If deaver pulls through disney will have nothing on them when it comes to happiness :wink:

I can agree hunner...olds guys are pretty cool haha

 

[06 H3]

Going to deaver after class tomorrow. getting kinda nervous, I hope they didn't make it too tall :what:

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[06 H3]

Deavers are in update and write up soon

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[cgalpha08]

:corn:

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[06 H3]

Ok so the deavers are in.

Great shop great customer service. Jeff is a really cool guy and I really liked it there. One of the guys getting springs there drove from AZ (he said 500 miles one way) just to use deaver. At first I called Tim and was kinda like "ehh" on the springs. My one problem was that the leaf pack is so much thicker I lost G.C. under the axle. It kinda pist me off but he (jeff @deaver) did explain the downsides and upsides to a Spring under and Spring over while at the shop. The spring under really supports the axle much better but the downside is the loss in G.C.

They flex well...I tested em out, no doubt that the shocks are now the limiting factor. They also ride nicer, I dont really wanna give a full detail review until I can get some real testing done. A 14 hour drive (one way) to moab and back can really help me with determining the DD aspect of deavers. Moab trails can determine off road performance. I think the flex and added height really will help the only downside will be the loss of G.C. under the axle.

I know they will do well on high speed stuff, I think they will perform well on rocks with the flex, its just a clearance issue now...time will tell in moab.
Old welder

Leaf spring galore!!

My springs

Rod halls springs...they are basically the same that he uses for his H3 that runs the baja race.

Ride height. The front may come up a bit...not sure yet, gotta check

Thickness of the pack

3inches

1 1/2 for the rancho spring

Loss of G.C.

With the military wrap spring they had to chop out part of the skid...Its a lot tougher as it wraps around the end but still may find a soultion for it

Military wrap

So time will tell on the review...I am pumped, While there are a few downsides they all have solutions. This may be "the answer" to the rancho spring or may not be...I am the first one to go with a completely new spring pack so its kind of a crap shoot with the success or failure of this...I guess I am just blazing my own trail with this route but it will most definitely help Rancho H3 guys in the future with my results...

 

[cgalpha08]

Looks very nice! But why is there is gap between the bottom of the axle and the leaves? Or am i seeing things?

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[06 H3]

which picture? that way I can answer your question better

 

[cgalpha08]

This one

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[06 H3]

the gap is big because there are a lot of leaves...11 actually Rancho is like 5 or 6. These are thinner leaves, In theory you will get a better ride and articulation with more thinner leaves then less thicker leaves.

 

[cgalpha08]

Ok i gotcha

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[06 H3]

http://www.race-dezert.com/forum/showthread.php/3658-Leaf-springs-miltiple-thin-or-a-few-thick

 

[Hunner]

I will answer your email after I have some time to read and look up some images to compare about the springs.
The vehicle looks like it sits nice.
The front skid, I increased my order today even though it may still be awhile. I ordered more fronts extra and also asked to wait to bend those until we could meet and talk. We can work on some ideas for yours and maybe somehow modify a set or make them bolt on and come down a bit. Maybe a 1/4 inch to clear that military wrap.
How are you getting the bolt out of the drivers side front spring mount?
I got to run right now.

 

[06 H3]

How are you getting the bolt out of the drives side front spring mount?

I pulled the gas tank skid then it comes out.

I have a few ideas for the skids we will talk via email


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[Portager]

the gap is big because there are a lot of leaves...11 actually Rancho is like 5 or 6. These are thinner leaves, In theory you will get a better ride and articulation with more thinner leaves then less thicker leaves.

I think Cgalpha08 was referring to the black wedge between the leaf stack and the axel. Since it is black it appears to be a gap.

Squeaky is looking much better now! :thumbs: I don't think you'll miss that ground clearance too much. It is so close to the tire that it is hard to hit there. Just look at the number of scratches on the low profile shock mount. Yours look pretty good in the pictures to me. I'm sure you will hit them more now, but they can take a lot of abuse. Besides, I can still brag that I have more ground clearance than you. :mock:

I'll be waiting for additional reports, especially reliability reports. How many month before you can upgrade to AAA premier?

Did you replace your front drive shaft yet? That concerns me doing a long trip like Moab. Anybody got a spare front drive shaft laying around?