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Originally Posted by DHABHAR.BEHRAM How may times I must have mentioned this but people still pay good money to spoil their vehicles. What can you do except pity the vehicle. |
Heh, heh, heh... you make this statement and I go ahead and do the following.
Ok, my CJ340 just got composite fiber leaf sets installed. This is the first set made for a SWB Jeep, I volunteered to be the guinea pig. However, I don't think this is a radical mod. I heard that Boleros did come with factory installed CF leafs couple of years back. I am not sure whether it was from the same CF leaf manufacturer.
When it landed in my office 12 days back, I was quite apprehensive. I knew original U-clamps won't fit, and I was worried about the shackle angle and compression of the shocks at normal conditions. However, I couldn't do much about it immediately since I got busy at work, mahindra workshop got busy with the festival holidays and the rush afterwards to dwell into this experiment.
Meanwhile, I discussed the problem with many Team-BHP gurus and finally decided to go for a shorter U-clamp than use extra shim packs. I even took the help of a veteran taxi owner/driver (the Innova driver who came to Munnar with me) to go U-clamp hunting and finally found something that appears to fit. I just bought a single pair for testing.
Finally the Jeep went to Mahindra workshop today. The leaf specialist there took some time understanding the CF leaf. We still didn't know whether the OE shackle will fit or what is the effect on the shocks.
At 4PM I get the call. The U-clamp fits perfectly and they had similar sized U-clamp in the part shop for the other side. What's more, the OE shackle and OE shocks too fit perfectly. Now the Jeep slightly raised by 3/4 of a inch. The shackle has slightly moved inward, and the shocks maintain their original position.
Now let me do the pics do the talking.
Look at the gap in the wheel arch.
Finally goodbye to the uneven traditional leaf set. Since they were of different strength (old vs new leafs), I always had a tilted rear side. Now it is much better.
BTW, the Service Advisor told me that some Boleros used to come with factory fitted CF leafs. But he is not sure from which CF manufacturer. He also said they used to shed layers along the surfaces. Hopefully this is a newer gen CF leaf.