Freds 4wd add a coil. Anyone used?

[mattsluxtruck]

Hi all
Im just looking at suspension options with my runner. Its leaf front and rear and i enquired about the add a coil conversion by Freds 4wd. The guy is very helpfull and he quoted me just over 2k to do the conversion front and rear , then i have to engineer it. I have been quoted around 2k to renew my existing leaf setup sp im seriously looking at the add a coil. Has anyone got them or used them before? Im just looking for a bit of honest feedback on it all and any recommendations on which way to travel?
Cheers Matt

[Ruffy]

I haven't used Fred's set up, But years ago i did run coils in my 60 with some leaves removed from the leaf springs. It gave a better ride and handled beter. I'd presume that Fred's have put in more R&D than what i did and therefore should be a great set up.
Hope it helps a little.
Cheers Dan

[Willy Hilux]

Cheap way for the rear is find a coil spring that will go between the bumpstop on the spring and top hat on the chaisi. Can't run 12.5's as they will rub on the spring. I've seen alot of luxes do this and I ran it for a while.

[Sic Lux]

mate (death x 4x4) ran vl coils for a fraiser trip one fell out turning near botanic gardens went flying across the road at 4 in the morning and then used the high lift to put it back in woke alot of people up so i wouldnt run them i think i had rangie ones in mine when i bought it one fell out (when flexed) the other was removed haven't been in since

[Brad]

I looked into this a few years back and found a few guys who were running them and really liked them. I drove their cars and they felt better than what my leaf sprung 95 D/C Lux did.

The theory is fine and it all seemed solid. Fred has been doing it for a lot of years and has methods to stop springs falling out etc.

My big issue then and still is that if he has a great product and has done so many of them why isn't he providing engineering for it ? He must get asked this a lot and when I asked I didn't like the answer so I went with a complete EFS setup and saved over $1000 on Freds setup and didn't have to worry about engineering or insurance.

Cheers,

Brad

[ausyota]

The problem I can see with the add a coil setup is that by removing leaves from the pack and replacing with a coil you will have very little axle rap controll and I reckon you will bend your leafes after a while.
I havnt seen the setup though so I cant be sure how they controll axle wrap.

[Dane]

I owned a hilux with Outback coils all round and it had very good ride and flex. I put a commodore V6 in in and gave it some and it handled it well. This same vehicle ran a 308 in it before I got it and the bloke was bragging about pulling third gear burnouts with 32 inch BFg muddies. It had two leaves in the front and anout four or so in the rear. I can email you some pics if you like. Outback was still in operation in the Melbourne are about 2 years ago.

[mattsluxtruck]

Dane if you could email me some pics that would be a great help. Email addy is matt_brown@unwired.com.au

I think why he doesnt engineer them is because all states are different and the paperwork would be a night mare. Probably have to be engineered to each vehicle like an engine conversion when you buy a kit. Im still looking into it all. Thanks for your help guys , ill let you all know what i work out.

[coxy321]

Hi all. Quite a few of my mate have run extra coil springs (only in the rear) because they were always loaded or towing. The most common one was cut falcon springs into the rear of single cab IFS and live-axle trucks. One of the guys just fitted some springs from the rear of a Nissan/Datsun Bluebird into the rear of his 3.0L twin cab hilux. They're just fitted between the bump stops and the diff. He reckons it rides a lot smoother loaded and unloaded.

Cheers - Coxy