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I'm getting a headache thinking about this.... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />
I think the T-bar spring rate is not linear...The difference in force needed to compress the suspension increase as you compress the suspension. When you crank the t-bar, you basically increase the force needed to compress the syspension. That's what people refer to as "preload".
Another way to look at is the resistant of the t-bar from the rest state increases as the bar is twisted is not even. As the t-bar gets cranked, more down force is needed to move the suspension downward. This translates in to stiffness.


I talked to my friend Chris (pismoboy from ttora), who used to design tbars for a major nissan aftermarket company, and he says the tbars are in the linear elastic region throughout their travel. Cranking the tbars does not exert any more torque on them at ride height. If the truck is raised 2 inches, then, yes in the last 2 inches of compression, there will be more torque on them.

BTW guys, I'm at work right now so it's kinda hard to reply to everything, but I'll do my best. Hopefully frank can help out when he has time, too.


All springs HAVE to operate in their elastic region or they are no longer springs.(springs have to return to their original shape or they are just bent pieces of metal) If it was out of that region, every time your flexed it, you'd bend it, and you'd lose ride height. You'd have to adjust it after every bump <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> and it will fail in short order.

You are aboslutely correct regarding the torque in that last 2".

Frank.

1994 4runner, 3.0, auto, 4.88's, 31's, BJ spacers, Coil spacers, air shocks, D-ring anchors, 4Crawler F/R swaybar discos.
www.sdori.com