Eliminating sprung suspension from a crawler

I've looked at several newer models and brands of dozers and found that the under carriage is rigid usually attached in the front and back from each side of the machine.

I've been considering making the undercarriage non-movable on my crawler and eliminate the leaf springs that it has. The logic is that if it can be done for the the newly manufactured dozers then why not on my older one? It would eliminate part and wear points. Also, since this is a loader, the varying weight on the front causes the crawler to nose-dive and puts the strain on the moving suspension.

There are some 3/4" diameter holes already through the undercarriage's matching plates. It looks that I can raise/lower the crawler's front to align the holes and intall some grade 8 bolts in them.

My question is: Will this hinder some way the usefullness or steering of my crawler? I know that the original idea for the suspension was for track compliance to the surface, but does it help that much?

What's your experience and opinion on this?

Ken McWilliams
Dayton, OH

Every CASE 310 with loader that I've seen has the leaf spring suspension.

KRM

I started with a 3 roller early CASE 310 and began to look for a parts tractor. I bought a CASE 310D which is several years newer and has the 4 roller under carriage.

Yes, the idler slides/brackets are much beefier than the early version.

I changed my plans and the parts tractor became the project and the project tractor became the parts tractor.

How was your suspension modified to be stationary?

KRM

Thanks, that's what I plan to do, also. It just seemed to be too easy, and I must be overlooking something.

KRM