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Old 03-01-2011, 04:43 PM
Roberts68 Roberts68 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JKnight View Post
When coupled with a well engineered lateral locating device, the composite springs are left to do a very specific job; not unlike a coil spring in a link arrangement. They are not very good at controlling lateral movement, so you have to help them out with a locating device (panhard, watt's, etc) With that done, my experience/belief is that the composite leafs do their job every bit as well as a steel spring, while having the benefit of subsantially reduced unsprung weight. That benefit should not be overlooked or trivialized, as it makes a noticeable difference.
I'm neither for or against, if they have merit great and they have always intrigued me since I first heard of them. But... I would be curious whether they save enough weight if they require additional steel in the forms you mentioned. I suppose they may, and that steel leafs may benefit or require the same devices to perform at the same level.
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