H3T Hans3T's Tuff Country Build

[Hans3T]

I'de stay away from the add-a-leafs. I had an S-10 with add-a-leafs and it rode like a go-cart...really stiff. Stacking two sets of add-a-leafs is just crazy...you're gonna hate it.

Besides the ride stiffness, do any of you have speculation or experience that there are any other downsides/danger to doubling-up my add-a-leaves?

Like I've mentioned, I don't really have any other choice right now...

 

[Hans3T]

Been doing some light research, and found these Warrior 1.75" shackles for the rear. Would adding these into the mix complicate things or would they work together to give even more lift in the rear?

:edit: I'm not sure if all shackles are created equally or not...so if these are bad, then please suggest a quality brand. I read some good things about these Warrior ones however.

 

[backwoods]

Been doing some light research, and found these Warrior 1.75" shackles for the rear. Would adding these into the mix complicate things or would they work together to give even more lift in the rear?

Paladine71 and i were discussing this the other night but i believe a different brand ...but it should work fine ....as far as doubling add a leafs i couldnt tell ya

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[06 H3]

I know rancho guys run shackles all the time, it could work for you. I remember hunner wasn't a fan of shackles he had on his rig but I don't think anyone else has complaints

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[Hunner]

No sir, it's all good. This SOA / SAS talk definitely deserves a thread of its own though so that folks who are interested in the topic don't have to dredge through the TC stuff to find it.

Wow, that MOAB H3 looks much higher than a 4" lift to me! :whaa:

Well I did once, but easy enough to do again.
http://www.hummer4x4offroad.com/forum/showthread.php?1845-SPRING-OVER-H3-Ideas&p=34355#post34355

 

[4speedfunk]

So it looks like the GM-Moab rig re-used the stock hangers? Maybe cut em loose, chopped em a tad and then re-welded? Interesting.

In response to the pinion angle question: I'm basically leaving the perches un-welded until I'm completely done with both front and rear suspensions. I have the U-bolts snugged down so the axle won't go anywhere. After I get done screwing around (experimenting) with the suspension, and I find the desired ride height...I will put a jack under the snout of the rear diff and rotate it upward to point directly at the T-case. The idea is to get the rear u-joint as straight as possible. Once I get there...I'll tack the perches in place...pull the axle back out and do the final welding and paint. On drag-cars its common to "pre-load" or add a few degrees (-) pinion angle, so that under hard acceleration...the car squats, the housing rotates slightly, and the driveline straightens out during a starting line launch. But on a 4x4, I'm pretty content with simply setting it at (0) degrees in a static condition. Its not like my 5-cyl is gonna roast the tires or anything.

As a sidenote...I did place an angle guage on the existing axle before I tore stuff apart, so I had a benchmark to start from. The Rancho leafs have a correction wedge welded to them, so they sort of had the pinion angle figured-out for you. But, since I'm going back to stock leafs...I'll have to re-set the angle myself. You can purchase wedges to do this but, since I'm re-welding anyway for the SOA...I can account for it during the welding process.

 

[Hans3T]

Been doing some light research, and found these Warrior 1.75" shackles for the rear. Would adding these into the mix complicate things or would they work together to give even more lift in the rear?

Paladine71 and i were discussing this the other night but i believe a different brand ...but it should work fine ....as far as doubling add a leafs i couldnt tell ya

I know rancho guys run shackles all the time, it could work for you. I remember hunner wasn't a fan of shackles he had on his rig but I don't think anyone else has complaints

I put in a bid for the Warrior shackles because they are relatively inexpensive and I saw some evidence that they work via some research on HXC.

I heard from Corey that I will need to drill out the shackles to 9/16" in order to use the factory hardware. The shackles come with hardware, but apparently it is designed for a Jeep YJ and a Corey pointed out that the new hardware will bolt on loose/sloppy in the leaf spring bushings.

Can anyone with the Warrior shackles speak anything of them?

 

[Hunner]

I was about to post that those bolts do not look like the right size diameter after reading the first post. Might just be that image. You will get some slop when that truck full of beer kegs works on those if they are not the right size. lol
I can check this number at the local Mud Connection and see if he can tell me what they are if you want. The bolts were the correct size and no drilling.

 

[Hunner]

I know rancho guys run shackles all the time, it could work for you. I remember hunner wasn't a fan of shackles he had on his rig but I don't think anyone else has complaints

Yea well you know how strange I am! I'm usually working on suspensions that corner like a weasel in a drain pipe. I held out a long time before trying them but just because when I packed up for my 10 day 4000 mile trip she was squatting a bit in the rear, on the 06 I tried them.
I put these on and they thru some weight towards the front so I cranked the T bars back up.
Well to me it added more body roll in corners than I wanted. I know it's a truck but still sort of squirrely for me.
Then after a bit of a test ride I noticed the spring pack separating and the rear of the springs appeared to be getting a reversed arch to them.
The ride sucked, like a log wagon on stutter bumps. Yeah perhaps I had too much weight but I needed that "stuff"
I noticed that these being longer put an increased angle further back down on the springs.
So I pulled them. Took out some things I'm glad I did not have to have after all.
I am now running the same stuff and more bolt on weight on the Alpha and no problem. So I don't know if my springs on the 06 were shot or the Alpha has stiffer ones.
That was just the opinion I formed with my particular experience.
See what you all think.

Happy set of Alpha springs with stock shackles. Loaded, back from Moab trip, and a coat of red dirt!

I already was impressed with the articulation stock and did not feel like I needed them for that if they adversely affected the handling.
Just one opinon in one case or circumstances I guess.
Stock 06 rear springs no shackles.

Fairly good for showroom stock!

 

[Hans3T]

Well, I just got the Warrior shackles. We'll see how they hold up. I'll be sure to take photos and all that jazz, as well as post intermittent updates once they are on.

 

[06 H3]

WOAH! Hunner those shackles seem like they are in the correct spot! Weird, not used to seeing them that way lol

 

[Hunner]

Notice how the extended shackles are lower than the rear bumper and could be a problem on departure or say oh some shelf rocks.

 

[4speedfunk]

Yeah perhaps I had too much weight but I needed that "stuff"

So true. Thats the problem with the H3...you have to bring spare half-shafts, spare front axle, spare tie rods, spare driveshaft, and a NASCAR tool box! Hardly any room left for a tent & sleeping bag!
:giggle:

 

[Hans3T]

Notice how the extended shackles are lower than the rear bumper and could be a problem on departure or say oh some shelf rocks.

I did notice that, but then I got to thinking: My spare tire is under there, and it hangs down somewhat below the bumper too. So I probably will not lose any clearance with these shackles.

Hunner, when you had the shackles and your leaves began to bend, do you accredit that to the gear you carry? I do not carry much gear full time (just a jack, some very basic tools, cb antenna, etc.). Would the weight of a basically empty vehicle cause the deformation of the leaves do you think?

 

[Hans3T]

Does anybody know of a larger leaf spring clamp? (Circled in yellow.) I was thinking about it, and there is a possibility that the clamps will not fit after I add the second set of add-a-leaves. The U-bolt (circled in red) has plenty of room for more.

From what the technician said, the leaf spring clamps really just prevent noise. Not sure if that is 100% true or not. I'd appreciate some guidance! (ARE YOU ALL SICK OF ME YET!?)

Also, my shackles are set to arrive today. Just fyi.

 

[Hans3T]

Weeelll...tomorrow is the big day. I hope they can get it up to where it needs to be. I'm optimistic that with the additional leaf and the extended shackles that I should be good.

:whaa::huh::sigh:

 

[06 H3]

keep us posted!

 

[backwoods]

What he said^

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[06 H3]

Hans as for the clamps, I am not sure how much you will need em but I did a google search and saw them online for under 10 bucks...may be something to look into if you need them.

 

[Hans3T]

I'll definitely let you know. :hans:

 

[05Mudiak]

as for the clamps prior to pour 3 I would have said don't worry about them but when we got our 3 it didn't have the clamps and the leafs kept getting misaligned

 

[Hans3T]

:no: Looks like I am being pushed to Thursday because the shop guys are behind... Oh well, you can't really argue when they're comping it. I was thinking about buying a case of Buds for them as a "thank you" for hooking me up.

I'll keep you all posted on progress...

 

[backwoods]

:no: Looks like I am being pushed to Thursday because the shop guys are behind... Oh well, you can't really argue when they're comping it. I was thinking about buying a case of Buds for them as a "thank you" for hooking me up.

I'll keep you all posted on progress...

Bring it over ill put it on for ya

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[Hans3T]

UPDATE

This looks a little more better, eh? :wink:

My hands aren't very steady, so the photo makes the front look higher than the rear in this pic because I was shaking, but that's not the case.

Here's the addition of another leaf and the extended shackles.

 

[Nacho]

Looks much better. When are the 35's going on?

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