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View Full Version : Hummer Coil Spring Conversion



Crasher
04-28-2008, 03:45 PM
I've been monitoring this site for about 6 months and have gained a lot of info for setting my ZJ up for the trails we want to run. My son has an H3 Hummer that he wants to improve its articulation. It has the stock leaf springs and would like to look into converting the rear to coils. He ran my ZJ thru Charaleau Gap (near Tucson) and was so impressed with what the coils can do, He wants to convert his H3. He has already built a 3/4 ton F250 into a mudding truck with massive articulation, so he's no novice to it. Does anyone here know if it's been done? Where would he go to see if the rear half of a long arm kit for a ZJ or WJ could be made to fit?
I told him to go buy a ZJ and build it, but he likes his H3.


Thanks for any help, Doug

OverkillZJ
04-28-2008, 03:49 PM
Hasn't been done to my knowledge, but it should be no different than any other leaf to coil conversion: build some coil perches, build some control arms, and wheel it.

tywilson88
04-28-2008, 08:12 PM
yeah thats a good idea, take a $30,000 hummer and make it like a jeep... sounds like a good idea to me...:smt075


GET A JK!
'h3 w/ coils' and it cheaper.

IndyZJ
04-28-2008, 08:40 PM
If he wants to improve the articulation, why not put a solid axle in the front with coils/ coil overs and ditch the ifs? Leafs can be made to flex fairly easily and still be very stable, which is important, too. Longer shackles at a good angle (mignt have to relocate the hanger) along with longer (relocated/ triangulated) shocks will do a lot in that department.

PassRunnerZJ
04-28-2008, 10:34 PM
This is funny especially since an H2 has coils, why they changed, oh wait to save money... Like it has been said cut, weld, and fab. Since you are stating out from scratch you should model it after other four links vs. using a track bar but then you will have to make sure you have clearance underneath.

Work the rear, see what you can get the attack the front, but that will be a lot more work.

minydigger
04-29-2008, 08:51 AM
You say why the change? The reason the H3 has leafs is becuase its just a re bodied chevy colarado. What an over priced piece in my opinion.




This is funny especially since an H2 has coils, why they changed, oh wait to save money... Like it has been said cut, weld, and fab. Since you are stating out from scratch you should model it after other four links vs. using a track bar but then you will have to make sure you have clearance underneath.

Work the rear, see what you can get the attack the front, but that will be a lot more work.

ZJ TINS
04-29-2008, 09:04 AM
Go buy a junk ZJ cut off the lower half. Cut the H3 in half. Weld lower ZJ to upper H3. Then you have a ZJH3/2,:supz: half the fun and twice the problems.

fsjtrash
04-29-2008, 10:16 PM
yeah thats a good idea, take a $30,000 hummer and make it like a jeep... sounds like a good idea to me...:smt075


GET A JK!
'h3 w/ coils' and it cheaper.

I just paid 32k for a JK.
Hummers are over 50k around here haha.

Crasher
04-30-2008, 10:38 AM
Last year he paid 34K for his H3. He is looking into the shackle possibility for the rear, and a frend is looking into a way to release the front sway bar. It can't be discoed and flipped up without hitting the wheel. A real dumb design for an offroad heep.

Thanks, Doug

Z
04-30-2008, 10:49 AM
Last year he paid 34K for his H3. He is looking into the shackle possibility for the rear, and a frend is looking into a way to release the front sway bar. It can't be discoed and flipped up without hitting the wheel. A real dumb design for an offroad heep.

Thanks, Doug

WKers have the same disco problem with IFS. Some of us are investigating the idea of a sleeved link - pull a disconnecting pin and the (cut) link can move like a piston within the sleeve. Since the IFS will restrict overall flex, you don't need to fully disconnect, just allow more movement.

Derek33
08-09-2008, 12:18 PM
Id put my money into a SAS in the front before i worked on a 4/5 link rear.

With work, leafs can perform very well... Ive never had faith in an IFS setup.

theksmith
08-10-2008, 04:55 PM
Id put my money into a SAS in the front before i worked on a 4/5 link rear.

With work, leafs can perform very well... Ive never had faith in an IFS setup.


agreed 100%, put money into SAS instead of changing rear. learn from the toyotas and nissan's, most everyone with them will leave the leaf's and put a solid in the front long before they get around to messing with the rear at all. my XJ even with short arms in the front and leafs in the rear flexed great, and if i wasn't getting rid of it then i'd be spending my money on longarms up front long before considering replacing the rear leafs.

i'm not saying a well done rear coil setup wouldn't be awesome, i just think you would see way more bang for the buck bay ditching IFS, better articulation, more options for aftermarket stuff, less likely to break

nierace
08-10-2008, 05:23 PM
If you're going to invest into the H3, the articulation from the rear axle is definitely not its weakest link...the front axle is where he is missing out on a ton of flex.

Doesn't make sense in my eyes to spend all that extra $ on the rear axle when that actually is working well and the front axle is the problem for flex.

Does his H3 even have a lift on it ? I think I'd go that route first before doing axle swaps, I bet he'd be able to do what he needs with 5" lift for the extra flex all around + 37's.

IndyZJ
08-10-2008, 07:14 PM
Bring out your dead...

Lifting an ifs suspension is generally a waste anyway if it's going to get wheeled (there are some exceptions). H3s come with 33s stock and I've seen a couple with 35s with very slight trimming. I'd doubt the average H3 owner would be into trails that couldn't be done with 33-35s and a locker (don't they come stock with one in the rear?). Wheeling an ifs rig is different, but definitely do-able. If this guy is still around, I'd suggest ditching the swaybar(s) first and throw on some MTs if you haven't done something else yet.