- Location
- Thornton, CO
I just prefer to know who is actually making the parts rather then just slapping their sticker on it. That way you have a better idea of what you're actually getting.
Weasel said:Most companies don't give that information out.
Why would it matter?
Stumpalump said:Could you recomend a 3 or 3.5" spring for me? Soft and flexy would be OK because I am Fabing up a antiwrap bar.
I'd tend to agree with this leaf recommendation. The OME leaf with their OME extra leaf would be great for your application.91 Jeep Project said:2.5" OME with the OME AAL. OME ZJ V8 coil up front.
DPG said:I don't have any problem posting spring rates. I'll dig that up and post it.
I spoke to a well known suspension company years ago and asked about their spring rates. They said they couldn't tell me. That's ridiculous. If I'm building my rig a certain way, I want to know that. (For example: I don't want the light spring rate of an OME 2" spring at 5" of lift, and I'd prefer a slightly lighter spring at a lower lift height, etc.) I told him that I wouldn't be buying their product. I don't care WHO makes it for them, but they could sure let me know some details about HOW the springs are made, in regards to spring rate.
There are certain details about what type of spring steel is used, if that is mixed with a different type of steel in the pack, etc, etc, that many off-road dealers/mfg's won't give out because they want to protect their R&D. That's also some technical info that really won't make any difference to the end user and I doubt that anyone can tell you that info about the leafs they bought from anyone!
What the customer really needs to know is most importantly the spring rate and a few of the obvious, important details. Beyond that, it's really up to the springs to prove themselves in the marketplace. No matter what the tech info is, people still have to approve of the product in practical application.
If it stinks, people will know soon enough. If it's a great product, people will know that too. You don't hear people asking those kinds of questions about RE or OME leafs because people know the quality through years of experience. People buy those products every day without knowing any of the questions being asked here.
Of course, on the internet, I still see debates on product quality of different products that have been settled in my mind for years! Many guys just don't have experience with a wide range of products to be able to say with certainty which one's are better. That's why opinions vary so much on the net. Whatever a guy is running on his rig is always the BEST product you can get...
MANY of the big name leafs and coils are imported nowadays. Some from as far away as Malaysia, etc. They get 'em CHEAP. Even those can still be a very good leaf or a very poor leaf. Most any large leaf manufacturer can turn out high or low quality products.
Our leafs are made in North America at least.
Bushings are RUBBER. I do not believe in poly bushings on a jeep for leafs or control arms. (I don't mind them for swaybar links, etc) I like poly on a street car for handling, but they ride rougher and tend to increase the load on mounts and/or inhibit flex on a jeep.
Our 7 leaf pack is firmer than a RE leaf, (for example) but not terribly.
I think that some mfg's are keeping cost down by using less leafs with more arch. That can lend to more wrap and also pre-mature sagging.
It's not rocket science to understand that a 7 leaf pack with less arch should exhibit less wrap than a comparable 6 or 5 leaf pack. Also, we have those little anti-wrap spring clips on the rear of the pack. They do work. Like I said, any pack w/o a traction bar can have some measure of wrap. The question is- How much and is it a problem for a certain application?
Those of you who KNOW me, know that I don't think that way. I strive to build only high quality products, or I don't wanna build them at all.
There will always be products out there that are designed for the low-budget crowd. Ours aren't. I'd MUCH rather pay more for higher quality stuff on my own jeep, and most of our customers prefer the same. I've found over the years that low-cost stuff actually costs more in the long run...
As for reverse arch tolerance's- That question troubles me a bit.
Allowing ANY leaf pack to go into a reverse arch situation is shortening it's life. Leafs just don't like that much.
Dirk
Jeepin Jason said:Yup. We haven't busted anything on our D30s yet with the 35" MT/R's and our wheeling style, and while the IROKs are noticeably bigger, they don't weigh any more, so I'm hoping we can continue to hold the 30s together [knock on wood trim].
Of course, all that could change once I get a Tera 4:1 or Atlas under my rig later in the year...