I've read through some of the old posts. Is SPOA the way to go with my new Sammy?

I'm tackling the suspension next week when I'm back home, so I want to be 100% about what I'm doing.

Thanks all!


steveo

Need more info, what kind of driving are you doing and what kind of ride do you want?

I am more of a fan of SPUA than SPOA.  I just can't stand the ride (or the breakage it encourages  ) of the Spring over. Bear in mind I do a lot of Highway travel as my Sammi is my DD.

visit www.zuwharrie.com, and search

It seems like the general concensus is you go spoa for better offroading, and spua for better on roading. 

Im SPUA after being SPOA for a year, and I prefer the SPUA for daily driving.

I have to agree until we know what kind of driving you are going to do, it really depends.
Daily driver SPUA is way better.  But if you need ground clearance and flex then SPOA is better.
So is this going to be a little muddin Monster.

Pics pics pics too we like pictures.

Bash.

Posted on: May 10, 2006, 10:16:53 pmPosted by: bashzuk
Pics pics pics too we like pictures.

lol It's not much to look at right now! I'll post pics of the frame and the rims all blasted and painted once I get home, as I am still down in Calgary in training.

As for the type of ride I'm looking for, I'm not too sure. I was considering retaining street legality, but it might be a bush mobile... hahaha. I like the idea of flex, but I don't rock crawl as much as I mud. Also, keep in mind I'm putting in a diesel for an engine, so I want to complement that... sigh, so many choices. I've been to all the sites and have been searching and searching. I guess what I'm looking for is some testimonials.

So! In conclusion the suspension I'm after must come close to being:

01. Very tough, can take shit and abuse (no jumping though, but then again...)
02. Competent when dealing with moderate speeds on some of our race-type trails. Kinda baja style.
03. Able to crawl through some decent obsticals, mostly stumps and land contours (ruts, inclines etc....)


steveo

my SPOAed '88 is mostly a daily-driver but can handle pretty much anything on the trail.  I have driven it twice to the ZookiMelt (900 miles round trip) without any problems on the highway.  It also does great offroad.

It's got a 4.5" SPOA kit from Breeze Industries - a company in your part of North America!  Excellent, rugged components.   http://www.breezeindustries.com/.  One of the nice things about a SPOA is (in my opinion) the fact that you can better control the pinion angle on the axles and thus ensure that steering does not go completely wacky in the daily-driver mode.  Of course, if you monkey with the front pinion angle and don't get it right, on-road drivability will suffer.  Rear pinion angle can easily be adjusted to suit your needs without screwing up drivability.

Just to be safe here...  This is for a Samurai, right?  I noticed in your signature that you own a '91 4-door JLX, which indicates to me Tracker/Sidekick/Vitara...

Oh and take a look at my site.  The link is in my signature, below.

Hope this helps!

Ack,

Yeah, I just picked up a battered Sammy a while back and started tearin it apart. The suspension looks like its going to be a breeze with the body off the frame. I'm basically doing a ground up on it. What do you have for a engine in that '88? I'm going to check out you link for sure, since I never thought I'd get a Sammy so up til now I've really ignored any specs or testimonies. Anyway, I'm finishing up on the frame if its nice out this coming week, and I wanted to get some info on possible suspension for the next week. I want the shock factor a little bit as well... I know it sounds vain, but to get some much needed respect from some of the big trucks I wheel with would be great. lol

Do you mind if I PM you if I have some more questions?

steveo

You will get a ton of respect from the "big trucks" after you pass there ass on the trail with a spring under sammy. I have had WAY more fun in lil red than any "big" sammy I have ever driven.
Of course the 16v,4-1 case,emu springs,powersteering,front and rear lockers,calmini rockers,and 30"MTR's help....


Sorry about the big pic, it's not mine.

Ya it looks as if you need to carry a ladder if you go to tall with it. 

  I wheel with a lot of chevs and lifted fords.... I just want to do the things that make the jaw drop once in a while. Coil looks insane for pricing some of the parts, and to go spider would be too much I think so, so far the best thing I'm looking at for pricing and application is the SPOA. I am interested in the SPUA, but I have yet to research... anyway, I'm home and once Sunday rolls around, I'll be posting pics.

Thanks all for the responses.

steveo

Reverse shackle is best bang for the buck.

~J~