(RAS®) RoadActive Suspension Vs. Bounce and Rebound | A Comparative Test

[@awfab3517]

This is bugging me, obviously if you have a big load and your leaf springs are maxed out maybe even flat you need something or you shocks wont slow the bumps and you wont have enough clearance for the suspension to take it all up. Adding the RAS system or just even adding the correct weight leaf spring the overall stiffness of all the springs combined is higher and the truck sits where it should again for suspension clearance and to work like it was designed to. How is this better than just adding a spring? I see it can be adjusted which a leaf spring can't which is definitely better anything else? I need to buy something soon with my new flatbed that weighs a lot more.

[@victorshaw7173]

How does this compare to stiffer shocks?

[@brikanofficial]

The big thing is that leafs are progressive, springs are linear. Basically it is like making a hybrid leaf coilover, kinda like going from the VVSS to the HVSS suspension on late M4 Sherman models. RAS just merely operates as a small horizontal coilsping in conjunction with a leaf spring, more so acting like a independent sway bar due to it's low capacity of 2k lbs max on the standard RAS, but is always in tension unlike an add a leaf spring.. Progressive springs, which is almost all leaf springs, are additive, example starts at 1# per inch at rest and for every inch of travel the force is multiplicative, 1#, 2#, 4#, 8#, 16# per inch of travel. Linear springs, like most coil springs are, well linear, say it is a 4# spring, example starts at 4# of force per inch of travel, 4#, 8#, 12#, 16#. No matter how far or little you stretch a linear spring, you easily determine how much force it exerts if you know how far it is being stretched or compressed. This is why shocks are hard to get right on leafs springs because it is entirely dependent on what the expected weight is and if you fall within that narrow performance envelope of the dampening ebound to curb weight. The RAS basically widens that performance envolope, allowing for a smoother ride under a wider range of curb weights. However, unlike an add a leaf or a higher capacity leaf pack, RAS is a bit on the small side to help out if the leaf springs are maxed out, i don't know what the spring rate is for the heavy duty version, but the standard version maxes out at 2k lbs, so not really ideal if the current leaf springs are being maxed out.