soften the military suspension

ktm25089 · Post by **ktm25089** » Fri May 02, 2008 12:35 pm

hello,
i have a problem with my hard military suspension.IT'S HARD.i have lost all my fittings from my teeth on the road!!
and the back are solid from the rust.
i will take out,dissasembly them,clean with wire brush,apply some grease between the leafes and assembly again all the four.this is the only thng i didn't restored to my jeep and have a lot of problems.
i want to ask if i will take out 3-4 leafs from every set wil be softer?i think yes.have anyone test it?
it's the standard 13back-11 front m3a1.
i use the jeep only in the road and i rare load more than 2 persons.i know that this a military jeep and it's 50+ years.and will never would be like caddy.but need something something softer.and something last,i don't have the money to buy new sets.they are very expensive.

thank you
George

Rick_L · Post by **Rick_L** » Fri May 02, 2008 5:16 pm

When I had my springs re-arched by a spring shop, they said you should not remove leaves from the pack to try to change ride height or soften the ride.

From Eaton Spring:

A spring is designed so each leaf is equally as important as the next one. Each leaf supplies support to the leaf above and the leaf below it. They all work as a team.

Each leaf is mathematically calculated to be a certain length. The distance between the end of each leaf is critical. Each step should be nearly equal to each other. Removing the 2nd stage or overload will lower the amount of contact the upper stage has with this leaf. However, the 2nd leaf will not have the proper support and will increase axle windup which will decrease handling. Removing any leaf will change the integrity of the spring. Go to our Tech Information Page and download our Spring Tech 101 booklet to read about the designs of springs.

http://www.eatonsprings.com/atqRemovingLeaves.htm

maeserik · Post by **maeserik** » Sat May 03, 2008 2:17 pm

I put my tires on 20 psi instead of 25 psi, much more 'confort' and i use the whole face of the tire, not on,ly the middle of it. I use the jeep and tires for two years, about 6000 miles on normal roads and no problems. I now swtichtes the front tires to the back. Just to wear them all tte same. I use omaha bargrip tires, not expensive.

Erik

45auto · Post by **45auto** » Sun May 04, 2008 4:24 pm

I feel you will be able to tell quite a differance in how your M38 rides after you pull the springs apart, clean the rust off the leaves and apply powered graphite--not grease--to each leaf.

I bought a M38 and when I pulled it home just a short distance, it would bounce off the ground at the slightest bump!! The springs were rusted in place after years of sitting.

The M38 is still hard riding on a rough road---but the springs do flex.

ktm25089 · Post by **ktm25089** » Sun May 04, 2008 5:18 pm

it would bounce off the ground at the slightest bump!! The springs were rusted in place after years of sitting.

that's the same problem with mine.when i was restore the jeep because of a time problem i was not dissasemble and clean the springs.BIG fault.i think that they are frozen from the rust.ecause front and back i haven't suspension.only the tyres compress a little (YOKOHAMA GEOLANDAR).