Anyway - Took some flexed pics in the drive way with a 9" ramp and the hi-lift to get some droop with at least a wee bit of compression on the opposite side to check that it shortened, not lengthened the drooped shock:

http://xterrafirma.com/albums/TJs-X-Winch-Stuff/drooped_with_Hi_Lift_and_opp_side_ramp.jpg

http://xterrafirma.com/albums/TJs-X-Winch-Stuff/Hi_Lift_Ramp_D_Side_Drooped.jpg

http://xterrafirma.com/albums/TJs-X-Winch-Stuff/Drooped_with_Hi_Lift.jpg

http://xterrafirma.com/albums/TJs-X-Winch-Stuff/Revolvers_extend_to_about_9_inches.jpg

http://xterrafirma.com/albums/TJs-X-Winch-Stuff/D_side_bumpstop_wingies.jpg

The drooped shock actually needs to go to about 28-29" if the axle drops straight down...but only 26-27" if the opposite side is more stuffed...

...it seems that once the one side is drooped, lifting the other side merely raises the shock mount position on the drooped side, as it's inset about a foot or so from the axle end.

So - the tire on the drooped side droops lower when the opposite tire is stuffed, but the inboard axle is lifted (2nd degree lever action..., so the MAXIMUM shock length IS actually needed for a FLAT/LEVEL axle droop, not an opposite stuff droop.

:D

I did see that the OEM bumpstop's metal wingies impinge upon the inner tire sidewall area when stuffed a bit...So, I'll need to BFH them up out of the way to save the sidewalls.

At rest, the ground to rear arch distances were 41"

The at rest center of hub to top of wheel arch distance was 26.5" for both sides.

The drooped number was 36" hub to arch...or flexed to 9.5" lower than at ride height.

Putting the P side tire onto a 9" ramp raised the D side hub to arch distance to 29", or by 2.5"

:D

I did notice that the Revolvers, which open to about 9" eye to eye, open more fully when on a flat/level droop, than the do when one side is also stuffed...so flat, the 9" unfolds readily...opposite stuffed, 8" comes easy, the rest is kind of tight.

Not sure if that's from binding due to tension of the leaves being twisted, but that's my theory so far.

When I took out the drive shaft, I noticed (Before running the revolvers) that the shaft had been hitting the side of the gas skid under compression...ther were marks on the skid, and the flange of the shaft clse to the diff was rounded at the corusponding contact point, like it had been lathed.

I had no clue about that before this...and the marks look old...so it might have been from a particular prediciment historically...but now that I know it CAN happen....I'll be looking for further evidence.

:roll:

Any way - I also Re-Weighed the truck, loaded this time...

ouch.

5,460 lb.

:shock:

2,820 on the front

2,640 lb on the back

I think I'll need to further revise my shock valving calculations.

:shock:

I really like the extra wheel travel the Revolvers give...and I'm psyched to run some rocks. (Dirt hills and road work so far, some mud, etc.)

The ride and handling has been the same as with the Calmini shackles.

I would like to see Revolvers for the new X's.

The only thing that I can wait for is the price. Those buggers are expensive.

I'm going to make a wild guess that the leaves for the new X's dimensions are the same as the old one's...and as revolvers only need to get the pack at the bottom (Same 2.25" width, etc...), and the frame mount at the top (Should be a std size I think...)...that new/old are either exchangeable, or easily modified to fit.

:D

Wow. Just Wow. I don't think I have anything else to say that would cover it...

Looks like the shock calculations work out to about 255/100 for the valving...and with 17-29" travel, that means a Bilstein 7100 short body.

:D

No way I'll get that built before the East Coast Xterra Challenge.

Oh well, maybe a week after it.