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Post by Ari Bezuidenhout on Sept 13, 2011 8:53:21 GMT 2
I actualy still have the gabriel lifter shocks (works with air that you pump into it), because I only wanted to lift the back, because the Lada normally looks lower at the back. The benifit of this arangement is that you keep your standard shocks and suspension configuration (safety and reliability), and lift the vehicle when required (like when showing off in town - because a Niva does not have to show off offroad ;D. Even a hydraulic cylinder will do this show-off job!! My cent's worth - have not done it yet. Fanus, would you have the Gabriel lifters in the standard shock mounting or is it an extra mounting configuration? I have noted that Kursk is lower in the back. That might be because of the bigger fuel tank and tyre-rear-mount I have fitted and/or my (perhaps) busted rear shocks. If your ride height is lower it IS NOT the shock but it is the springs. Ari
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Post by jaco1978 on Sept 13, 2011 10:20:28 GMT 2
Eish Ari, sort of not what I wanted to hear. But I guess I might just as well put longer springs in while I'm at it to do the lift.
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Ladaniva
Full Niva Petrol Head
A Lada Niva for a new lease of life
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Post by Ladaniva on Sept 13, 2011 21:25:13 GMT 2
Hi Ari,
Indeed - if the vehicle is lower at the back it can only be the springs that are compressed (by extra weight) or it lost some of its spring.
The thing with the jackers (look exactly like strong shock absorbers) is that if you pump air into them they become higher/longer/stiffer, lifting the vehicle (it actualy supports the springs - to push the vehicle up or prevent sagging when loaded). The obvious advantage is that you can lift (or support) the vehicle as and when required in a very short space of time (the very small diameter pipes are permanently attached to the jackers and connected to the air pump. These jackers were generally used by people towing caravans).
I am not sure if they were intended to be fitted in the place of the normal shock absorbers, because I wanted from the outset to fit them as a way to lift the Niva when required off road (they also did not fit as replacements). I realised in the meantime that there is no need to lift a Lada for offroad work (it may of course be a totally different story for 4 x 4 with long overhangs front and rear - but luckily I do not entertain myself by taking a block of flats offroad). ;D
A thought that only recently come to mind is to fit variable rate springs to my Niva, which in theory should improve the ride even further. But that is for later. I am not a fan for lifting a 4 x 4, because my experience was that the higher the vehicle the less chance there is to rectify a handling booboo (very scary, especialy with a cold one in the in die linker gryper) when in a little bit of a hurry to the next camping spot. (I am left handed and when I get into a tight spot I always go for the gear lever, two gears down and voet in die hoek as 'n precaution - I prefer to die fighting and fight dying - it worked so far - much of the fighting of course not to prevent beer spilling into your wide open eyes). ;D
Jaco: can one not stiffen the coil springs like leaf springs?
Regards,
Fanus
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Post by jaco1978 on Sept 13, 2011 21:48:37 GMT 2
A thought that only recently come to mind is to fit variable rate springs to my Niva, which in theory should improve the ride even further. But that is for later. That had me pondering for a while now since I saw my boss' Unimog had 2 coil spings (I think they are from a Buffel) and he explained to me how it works. Nifty stuff! ;D Like a 2-phase spring. Thought as much with my City Golf and now I have a 4x4 City Golf! I'm not quite familiar with leaf springs. Perhaps like I mentioned with the 2-phase coil springs above?
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Post by Ari Bezuidenhout on Sept 13, 2011 22:00:02 GMT 2
As far as I know you can retemper coils as well.
Ari
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Ladaniva
Full Niva Petrol Head
A Lada Niva for a new lease of life
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Post by Ladaniva on Sept 14, 2011 21:40:43 GMT 2
Hi Jaco,
It always pay to share thoughts and hear what others think: two sets of springs is a new one for me and definately something I am going to look into. It may very well be something that guys that lift their Ladas may look into. I may be wrong but my logic tells me that if you lift your Niva, that you increase the likeliness that the standard coil spring may come off its base/retainer plate(s) under heavy going. If my memory serves me right I have seen it happen on TV, but of course one very seldomly get the whole story - like something else that broke that caused it etc.
Regards,
Fanus
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Post by Ari Bezuidenhout on Sept 14, 2011 21:47:23 GMT 2
Off road racing 4WD's use twin springs, normally the sand master type. Heavy duty one at the bottom to take the hard bumps and a softer one above to improve ride quality. But you need to join the 2 springs somehow? normally I think they weld 2 coil plates back to back and then use that to join the springs.
Ari
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Ladaniva
Full Niva Petrol Head
A Lada Niva for a new lease of life
Posts: 240
Registered: Apr 1, 2011 21:33:06 GMT 2
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Post by Ladaniva on Sept 14, 2011 22:02:59 GMT 2
Hi All,
The company that my brother used for refurbishing springs:
Conron.
Springmakers
Tel : 011 813 2038 and 011 813 2039 Fax : 011 813 2933 Email : conron@hixnet.co.za Postal Address :
P.O. Box 10063 Springs 1560
Physical Address :
Industry Rd New Era Springs 1560 Regards,
Fanus
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Post by jaco1978 on Sept 15, 2011 7:57:00 GMT 2
Ari and Fanus, I'll see if I can get a pic of the Unimog's springs today and post it.
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Post by ronnie on Sept 15, 2011 8:33:10 GMT 2
Hi Ari
Any good spring works should be able to make you a set of progressive springs. This will do the same as joining two together.
Ronnie
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Post by jaco1978 on Sept 15, 2011 13:49:48 GMT 2
Here is a pic taken from the back of the rear right double coil of the Unimog... Attachments:
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Post by jaco1978 on Sept 15, 2011 13:51:32 GMT 2
...and the front of the rear right coil of the Unimog. Attachments:
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Post by ronnie on Sept 15, 2011 14:48:50 GMT 2
Hi Jaco
It looks as though the second spring only works as the load is applied. I had double springs on the back of the landy, but both worked all the time. The Defender hi capacity pick up comes standard with them.
Ronnie
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Post by Charles on Sept 15, 2011 16:03:37 GMT 2
Jaco do you have any more pics of the Unimog?
Charles
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Post by jaco1978 on Sept 15, 2011 17:01:13 GMT 2
Ronnie, that is how my boss explained it to me. The second one only kicks in with very heavy loads.
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Post by jaco1978 on Sept 15, 2011 17:02:17 GMT 2
Charles, I'll take some more tomorrow if you'd like. Anything in particular you'd like a pic taken of?
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Post by Charles on Sept 15, 2011 19:15:51 GMT 2
Everything! I love Unimogs. Just a couple of exterior, interior and engine bay shots will be fine.
Thanks Jaco!
Charles
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Post by jaco1978 on Sept 15, 2011 23:14:29 GMT 2
Charles, my boss is in the UK at present so I might not be able to get shots of the engine as I do not know where he hides the key thingie to open it, but I think I will be able to manage the rest. ;D
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Post by Charles on Sept 16, 2011 10:04:45 GMT 2
Thanks Jaco.
Charles
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Post by jaco1978 on Sept 18, 2011 12:16:59 GMT 2
Charles, just for you... Attachments:
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Post by jaco1978 on Sept 18, 2011 12:18:38 GMT 2
... Attachments:
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Post by jaco1978 on Sept 18, 2011 12:20:00 GMT 2
Sorry for the quality, but I do not have the key to the door. Attachments:
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Post by jaco1978 on Sept 18, 2011 12:20:56 GMT 2
... Attachments:
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Post by Charles on Sept 18, 2011 19:32:07 GMT 2
Thanks Jaco. I love those things. Only thing better offroad than a Niva.
Charles
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Post by jaco1978 on Sept 18, 2011 20:07:21 GMT 2
Charles, I would only JUST agree with you that the Mog is better than the Lada off-road. ;D ;D ;D
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chrisjan
New Niva Petrol Head
Only in a NIVA
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Post by chrisjan on Sept 30, 2011 20:02:08 GMT 2
Thanks for the feed back. Bout the Lada with Gabrial on and broke both the shock mounts top and bottom....... went to monroe and what a difference.
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