Double A arm, broken spring

Jim C · 10-02-2019, 07:06 PM

I've got a generic (madjax unlabeled I think) double A arm 6" lift less than 3yrs old and the leaf spring has broken. Get what you pay for I guess.

Simple fix (I think) is to take the original front leaf spring and cut it to fit and put it in.

But I have been contemplating making the top arm an "A" eliminating the stock shock and getting a coil over shock to go from stock top mount down to bottom A arm.
Anyone done this?

slonomo · 10-02-2019, 08:53 PM

I haven't done it on a club car, but other carts. Geometry is tricky. If you don't get it right it can make the cart handle funky, even dangerous to drive.

What is your objective with this cart? Are you looking to improve the ride quality and steering feel?

Jim C · 10-03-2019, 10:02 AM

It is 99% off road.
I'm to going to change the geometry all that would be left as is. I would just re do the top arm so the spring could go thru it and attach to the bottom arm in the same location that the leaf spring attached.
This lift was a noticeable improvement over stock, so getting that back would be sufficient, but I would imagine this would even be a better improvement.

slonomo · 10-03-2019, 01:55 PM

I see. Getting the spring rate and shock dampening right is key here. Too much suspension movement will cause the steering to feel spongy and anemic. Too little will cause the opposite. I like the Suzuki Z400 atv front shocks. They are about 17" long, but you will have about 4" of sag loaded, and are soft so ride quality is great. Side by side shocks will be too stiff, tried that. A utility atv might offer something in between, like front shocks from a Grizzly 660.

Your plan looks good.

What about steering? Is it a rack and pinion setup now?

NCPW · 10-03-2019, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim C

It is 99% off road.
I'm to going to change the geometry all that would be left as is. I would just re do the top arm so the spring could go thru it and attach to the bottom arm in the same location that the leaf spring attached.
This lift was a noticeable improvement over stock, so getting that back would be sufficient, but I would imagine this would even be a better improvement.

I've been mulling over the same idea Jim since making my rear into a 4- link. The rear end is so much smoother compared to the front now. I might try removing 1 of the leaf springs in the front to see how much of a difference that makes first.

Here's a thread I bookmarked a while back as a point of reference. It might give you some ideas too.
http://www.buggiesgonewild.com/lifte...c-ds-pics.html

Jim C · 10-03-2019, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slonomo

What about steering? Is it a rack and pinion setup now?

It is stock.

WalterM6 · 10-03-2019, 07:50 PM

I have an AllSport Lift and I always wondered if this is possible. I'll be watching.

Jim C · 10-03-2019, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NCPW

Here's a thread I bookmarked a while back as a point of reference. It might give you some ideas too.
http://www.buggiesgonewild.com/lifte...c-ds-pics.html

Thanks a lot!
That's a bit simpler to do than what I was thinking. And even easier with my lift than the one in the thread, as mine has a wider base.
But a quick search and I don't see the one's he used on the front on ebay, I only see the others he had.

Jim C · 10-04-2019, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoleFan4Ever

You have 4 (somewhat) independent fulcrum points as is. With your design change you basically will only have 2. You have removed the lower suspension spring and end-link bushings. These allow for shock absorption and independent travel. You have removed the standard length shocks and tied the top independence to the bottom making them one long unit now (2 sides) and shocks become stiffeners in that scenario and create a weak-link due to length.

I believe you will find it a very stiff and unforgiving suspension and may have a lot of durability issues because is the length of the new style shocks. May create camber issues too.

With all that being said, there are several companies that make a HD lifts that will stand well to the rigors of off roading/hunting.

It wouldn't be changing any of the geometry so camber shouldn't be an issue.
It would be very similar to the long travel suspension that only utilizes the coil over shock, and the long travel is supposed to be the best of the suspensions on carts.

I think with this upgrade it should handle what ever I need without spending money unnecessarily.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to go the same route as alwhite00, in the link NCPW posted.

NCPW · 10-04-2019, 10:40 AM

Jim; what I planned on doing different from the thread I linked was using longer coilovers and coming from the top, stock shock dampener locations, to the lower control arms as wide was possible. Of course this is with eliminating the leaf spring.

10-02-2019, 07:06 PM	#1
Jim C Gone Wild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Wildwood, FL Posts: 742	Double A arm, broken spring I've got a generic (madjax unlabeled I think) double A arm 6" lift less than 3yrs old and the leaf spring has broken. Get what you pay for I guess. Simple fix (I think) is to take the original front leaf spring and cut it to fit and put it in. But I have been contemplating making the top arm an "A" eliminating the stock shock and getting a coil over shock to go from stock top mount down to bottom A arm. Anyone done this?

10-02-2019, 08:53 PM	#2
slonomo Searching for The Way Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Medina, Ohio (NEOHIO) Posts: 11,441	Re: Double A arm, broken spring I haven't done it on a club car, but other carts. Geometry is tricky. If you don't get it right it can make the cart handle funky, even dangerous to drive. What is your objective with this cart? Are you looking to improve the ride quality and steering feel?

10-03-2019, 01:55 PM	#4
slonomo Searching for The Way Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Medina, Ohio (NEOHIO) Posts: 11,441	Re: Double A arm, broken spring I see. Getting the spring rate and shock dampening right is key here. Too much suspension movement will cause the steering to feel spongy and anemic. Too little will cause the opposite. I like the Suzuki Z400 atv front shocks. They are about 17" long, but you will have about 4" of sag loaded, and are soft so ride quality is great. Side by side shocks will be too stiff, tried that. A utility atv might offer something in between, like front shocks from a Grizzly 660. Your plan looks good. What about steering? Is it a rack and pinion setup now?

10-03-2019, 07:50 PM	#7
WalterM6 Gone Wild Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: SE TN Posts: 2,227	Re: Double A arm, broken spring I have an AllSport Lift and I always wondered if this is possible. I'll be watching.

10-04-2019, 10:40 AM	#10
NCPW Just Gone Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,549	Re: Double A arm, broken spring Jim; what I planned on doing different from the thread I linked was using longer coilovers and coming from the top, stock shock dampener locations, to the lower control arms as wide was possible. Of course this is with eliminating the leaf spring.

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