rear leaf spring upgrade

dazlyn · Member

rear leaf spring upgrade

KFT · Guru

I have a 2012 Navara and tow a 2.9T caravan and have around 400kg in the back of the ute.

I went to ARB Tamworth and had 400kg constant springs fitted and OME shockies.

Cost around the $700 mark and is the best mod I could have done

rides and tows much better than with original setup. sits level with the van on the back.

frank

dazlyn · Member

thanks for info frank
darrell

Bushy · Member

G'day Dazlyn ,have you thought about getting your leaf springs reset with an extra leaf installed .Could be cheaper than new springs .

ken thomas · Guru

I put on an ironman helper spring on my ranger and lifted it about 45 mm and the van sits level $135 on ebay
Ken

-- Edited by ken thomas on Friday 17th of October 2014 09:17:45 AM

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Increasing the stiffness of the rear springs without similar treatment to the front can cause changes in understeer/oversteer and have the potential to be dangerous.
Proceed with great caution.

Any suspension that needs modification to the degree discussed is probably overloaded.
Perhaps the problem should be addressed instead of the symptom?

Cheers,
Peter

mr glassies · Guru

i have a 2012 crew cab collie and had a sax 3 stag setup installed fixed the sagy ars end also put free wheeling hubs on saves a bit on fuel wear and tear and easy to drop into low range for a little hill or such.

dibs

mr glassies · Guru

hi peter the biggest problem is manufacturers telling little white lies .i have had dealings with holden australia ,brisbane , sydney and melbourne and the last word from them was if unity warter couldn't beat us you won't. as they had the same sag as me .see if you buy a vehicle that is supposed to tow 3.5 tonne you think it would do the job you bought it for its got the power bit doy of the mark but will be dealt with after warranty runs out .

my problem was the sag in the arse end 65 mll with 24 kgs , talked to holden about this . o you must be to heavy on the ball weight na m8 i got a jockey wheel with scales on it . they didn't know what to say cept who and i told them if i put that much tension on the hitch id break there tow bar or something else so i went above the dealer i bought it of and did no good . thats when i went for the sax setup 3 stage gives you good empty ride and takes up as the load gets higher top set up .

its suppose to be able to tow 3.5 tonne so in my book thats 350 kgs on the ball na no way you'd have gravel rash on ya arse but i won't . i did address the problem and fixed it . i don't like air bags as the chassis is not designed for the weight to be put between the spring hangers and have seen my fair share of bent one because of this . and have also herd this from a chassis repairer

dibs

-- Edited by mr glassies on Saturday 18th of October 2014 05:06:00 PM

patrolst · Senior Member

It may be prudent to check with a suspension company and upgrade the front and rear for your towing purpose.

You can obtain progression leaf spring replacements for the vehicle.

SnowT · Guru

Have you also thought of maybe adding AirBag Assist suspension..

Juergen

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Yep assist but DONT pump the system too high.. Leads to chassis damage..

elliemike · Guru

I saw a Ford ute 4x4 about 5 weeks ago in the Flinders , while at the Great Wall. Air bags, camper trailer , large tool box on the A frame. =Bent chassis over the axle arch.

This was a fairly new vehicle and camping set up. On their first big off road trip. Looked like a disaster for the young couple. Felt sorry for them.

The Hats · Senior Member

Most of these duel cabs only have 750kg load that is all load bull bar winch,fuel in longrange tanks plus the extra weight of the bigger tank people dogs stuff in back and tow bar side rails roof racks roof load

dose not leave much for down load. then if you have an issue they will pull the old moment arm card and say that you might be with in weight but the way you were loaded the weight was to for to the back ect.

Most duel cabs will be overloaded. they are not designed to do the job they are purported to be able to do.

Cheers

The Hats

Ron

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

A few years ago we would use a Patrol or Cruiser .. These lighter trucks where hardly considered.
Seems the chassis needs to catch up with engine and trans development !!
Tray type seem the weakest ..

Radar · Guru

Hi All

I also have a new ute Nissan Navara crew cab it is great with a bit of gear in the back but throw the 200 kgs of tow ball weight of the caravan on it drops down and up goes the front.

Before I went away on this last trip I fitted Ironman helper springs they are helping but u bolt hits the chassis have spoken with Iron man about this and they have advised me to adjust them up more but it will make the ride more ridged and do believe it is upsetting the handling of the car it now under steers with a little trial and error I think I can over come this. The cars not unsafe just don't feel as nice as it did.

I am also not keen on using airbags as would prefer to go down the path of making the car handle first buy replacing the springs with better progesive spring rates which would help on rough roads, four wheel driving and when running around without the caravan. I have been assured that when the caravan was placed on the back it will still drops to a level and will not be as noticeable.

Yes it would be nice to be sold a car that would do the job without the need to spend more money. Ralph.

RLLakeside · Member

Hi guys

try aussie springs qld.

just add aussie to your rear end It takes extra 500 kgs and improvides better controll to your ute.

I have done this to many utes before i retired ,and I think they are better than airbags,--- no air adjustments no punchures.

Ray

Baz421 · Guru

mr glassies wrote:
hi peter the biggest problem is manufacturers telling little white lies .i have had dealings with holden australia ,brisbane , sydney and melbourne and the last word from them was if unity warter couldn't beat us you won't. as they had the same sag as me .see if you buy a vehicle that is supposed to tow 3.5 tonne you think it would do the job you bought it for its got the power bit doy of the mark but will be dealt with after warranty runs out .
my problem was the sag in the arse end 65 mll with 24 kgs , talked to holden about this . o you must be to heavy on the ball weight na m8 i got a jockey wheel with scales on it . they didn't know what to say cept who and i told them if i put that much tension on the hitch id break there tow bar or something else so i went above the dealer i bought it of and did no good . thats when i went for the sax setup 3 stage gives you good empty ride and takes up as the load gets higher top set up .
its suppose to be able to tow 3.5 tonne so in my book thats 350 kgs on the ball na no way you'd have gravel rash on ya arse but i won't . i did address the problem and fixed it . i don't like air bags as the chassis is not designed for the weight to be put between the spring hangers and have seen my fair share of bent one because of this . and have also herd this from a chassis repairer
dibs

-- Edited by mr glassies on Saturday 18th of October 2014 05:06:00 PM

Hard to decipher this,,, don't know why????

Anyway just because a tug can tow a 3.5 van has little to do with how you load it OR usually overload it, especially the tug at the towball. The weight imposed on the chassis well behind the axle is the lurking problem.

Many forums show cases and pics such as this with bent chassis.

As Kiwi says chassis strength is behind engine driveline upgrades on many never 4wd's these days and airbags assist not airbag to take all the load. We stayed next to a popular model dual cab 2 years ago and his rear airbags were 90PSI to keep vehicle level - I'm sure it will be broken by now.

Radar · Guru

Hi RLLakeside

Can you give us more information about Aussie Springs Qld, like to learn more.

I have now tried helper springs, they work but the originals springs are not good enough to assist I been told that I need springs with more camber in the main spring. The standard are to flat allowing the helpers u bolt to hit the chassis now and then under load with the caravan on

I am now enquiring from all spring suppliers looking for who ever will supply at best price a spring pack that will give me ride when empty and then take the extra 200 kgs when the caravan is on.

I am not looking for my car to sit level after its loaded, I would like it to sit higher then it is now, that don,t make sense. Been told there is not a commercial vehicle from new that will not drop at the rear they are built for a price and mixed quality springs to take a average load.

Myself I believe it,s doing just that but I won,t it to do it 75% of the time which in the manufactors view is unreasonable.

Any supplies in the South East Qld area I would look at.

Thank you Ralph.

RLLakeside · Member

aussie springs attach to the front of the leaf springs then goes under the rear axle and attaches to the rear of the spring ,

the amount of weight supplied to the ute takes up the position of the spring. either more weight or less weight, your ute will handle better,also you can raise the lift to 50mm or attach to standed lift.

Try aussiespring.com.au TJM handle them still i think. this is not a helper which is about 50cm long these are a full long spring with hangers and rubber pad.

They only take up to 500kgs but will do the job i assure you.

Ray

Radar · Guru

Aussie Super Springs distributor are TJM about sub 600 hundred dollars.

Maybe a bit expensive but worth a look and learn. Ralph.

RLLakeside · Member

SORRY GUYS JUST NOTICED MY MISTAKE AUSSIE SPRING ATTACHES TO FRONT OF REAR SPRING AND GOES OVER THE AXLE NOT UNDER AND ATTACHES TO THE REAR OF YOUR SPRINGS .

LOOK AT AUSSIE SPRING /FACEBOOK or how to fit aussiespring on google

KFT · Guru

KFT wrote:
I have a 2012 Navara and tow a 2.9T caravan and have around 400kg in the back of the ute.

I went to ARB Tamworth and had 400kg constant springs fitted and OME shockies.

Cost around the $700 mark and is the best mod I could have done

rides and tows much better than with original setup. sits level with the van on the back.

frank

Have you considered doing this?

It works very well and has actually improved the ride and handling both towing and solo.

to me-very good value, good warranty and a free check at 500km after install.

frank

-- Edited by KFT on Sunday 2nd of November 2014 05:55:07 PM

Hydeeeho · Senior Member

Try KING SPRINGS on the Gold Coast, very good indeed

PeterMouse · Newbie

Hi KFT

I am interested in your rear suspension upgrade. Are you still happy with it? Did you have to do anything to the front end to keep everything in balance? Did you keep the OEM springs and just add a leaf or did you replace the whole spring?

Cheers

PDU

-- Edited by PeterMouse on Monday 12th of February 2018 01:16:40 PM