Old Man Emu - Leaf Springs

[Meldge]

Hi All,

Needing new front shocks for my FJ73 Middy Cruiser.

I am thinking Old Man Emu as I have been told that they make a longer spring pack that gives height, but also keeps some flex in it.
Done by a longer spring pack, they don't have to make a standard length spring pack extra hard to give the height, it is still soft, and does drop when the weight is added to the vehicle, but because of the extra in length, it still retains the lifted heighted reasonably well...

That is my understanding, fill me in if I am wrong please...

Is there any others I should look into, I would like to get these reasonably soon, will be needing longer shocks too, and maybe even some bigger shackles...

What other springs should I look into, is anyone else looking into buying anything soon, might get better prices that way?

[My Lil Lux]

Only personal experience, but would recommend everything else but Old Man Emu , I bought new one's and they lasted about 200 k's before they looked like the stuffed ones I had replaced em with, go to a spring shop and get a custom set made up, wouldn't be much more than what OME will rip you off by, OME are only cheap imported springs from India made with shit steel ,

Flat long springs are the go for good flex, maybe get your height with shackles or dropping spring mounts.

[slosh]

Only personal experience, but would recommend everything else but Old Man Emu , I bought new one's and they lasted about 200 k's before they looked like the stuffed ones I had replaced em with, go to a spring shop and get a custom set made up, wouldn't be much more than what OME will rip you off by, OME are only cheap imported springs from India made with shit steel ,

Flat long springs are the go for good flex, maybe get your height with shackles or dropping spring mounts.

What My Lil Lux said. We've all been thru the aftermarket leaf suspension route only to discover with a bit of knowledge you can use custom leafs or get something from the wreckers for a fraction of the price that does as good usually better than the $2000 kits, altho you still need good shockies.
Getting the flat long packs will give good ride and off road ability- however if you are concerned with springs sagging maybe consider parabolics.
Josh.

[Roctoy]

i run hilus ifs rears on the front and back of my hilux.

i was running stock toyota springs, then before our cape york trip i bought a set of 2 inch lifted OME springs.

i was very dissapointed when i put them in as they did not lift the truck at all!

other than that, the ride quality is nice, the are softer than the stock springs and they flex better!

that was nearly 6 months ago and now the springs in the front look like a w shape.

I personally will NEVER buy OME leaf springs again.

Chris

[Frenzal]

I was also thinking of replacing my W-shaped springs with OME until I read this thread. I'll think otherwise now.

I might sound a bit nieve, but what and how do parabolics work?

[slosh]

I was also thinking of replacing my W-shaped springs with OME until I read this thread. I'll think otherwise now.

I might sound a bit nieve, but what and how do parabolics work?

Parabolics are normal length leaf springs that only run two thick leaves per pack, instead of 6 or 7 in normal packs. They are claimed to offer better ride due to less inter leaf friction- and they work OK, but seem to be suited to heavy loads. Due to the thick leaves they can handle the weight w/out sagging over time.

[Frenzal]

I was also thinking of replacing my W-shaped springs with OME until I read this thread. I'll think otherwise now.

I might sound a bit nieve, but what and how do parabolics work?

Parabolics are normal length leaf springs that only run two thick leaves per pack, instead of 6 or 7 in normal packs. They are claimed to offer better ride due to less inter leaf friction- and they work OK, but seem to be suited to heavy loads. Due to the thick leaves they can handle the weight w/out sagging over time.

Thanks mate. By 'heavy loads' I take it you mean heavier than a lux. You reckon I'd just be better off looking for a better brand of leaves other than OME?

[grimbo]

I have had nothing but excellent results from OME. They are designed for load carrying and a better ride not as a rockcrawling suspension. it comes down to what results you want from them and your intended use. For some applications they won't work as well as others and vice versa.

I'm pretty sure it is their dakar range which are cheaper and made in india not all of their springs. As my ones were made in Australia and they are OME

[vraamm]

in addition to what has already been said, i think parabolics are designed to offer an even spring rate throughout the suspension travel, unlike conventional leaves that have a lower initial spring rate then higher as the spring compresses more.
has anyone used these springs?
if so how did they go??

[mudtoy]

Parabolics are now being dropped by a few suppliers as they never lived up to their promises and certainly have limited flex.

Speak to someone about the EFS stuff. I run it and it is awesome. Longer mains, sleeved eyes, anti friction pads and heaps of flex.

Ontop of that, have just had a message from a die hard OME Suzuki nut who used to be an ARB fitter...loves the EFS and will be giving it a go.

[quick60]

Ive had OME on the 60 for 10-11 years now. Ive never had a problem with them, never replaced them etc and they have been all over the place including long trips where I am fully loaded such as the Simpson Desert, Cape York, High Country, countless weekend trips, hours and hours of driver training with the TLCC, competitions, and the rest of the time rock crawling. The 60 has 35" centipedes, air lockers and crawler gears, with a tweaked 80 series factory turbo engine, so they are under a lot of stress when the power goes on.

I can't see how 1 opinion would sway your decision, and if they were that bad, wouldn't OME be out of business?

I can thoroughly recommend the OME springs and shocks, but just make sure you tell them EXACTLY what you will be using the vehicle for, and what type of loads you are likely to carry. This will ensure you are set up with the right spring pack and shock valving.

Ask aroud or see if they (ARB) can give you a drive of a similar setup.

[bazzle]

quote: My Lil Lux

wouldn't be much more than what OME will rip you off by, OME are only cheap imported springs from India made with shit steel cussing #Rofl ,

end Quote:



God Some people post Crap..


Bazzle

[Meldge]

Well I have actually just ordered my gear for the front of my truck.

I went for the OME Dakar Range... It is cheaper. I would have liked to go for a custom setup but I am limited in time as I want to be driving it next saturday night, (i dont get the gear until saturday morning)...

Items include:

Front Leaves
Front Shocks
Steering Dampner
Greasable Shackles and Pins
U-Bolts
and Bushes

$1070

Happy with that for now...
35s and new Sunrasias on the way too...

[Meldge]

Well I have actually just ordered my gear for the front of my truck.

I went for the OME Dakar Range... It is cheaper. I would have liked to go for a custom setup but I am limited in time as I want to be driving it next saturday night, (i dont get the gear until saturday morning)...

Items include:

Front Leaves
Front Shocks
Steering Dampner
Greasable Shackles and Pins
U-Bolts
and Bushes

$1070

Happy with that for now...
35 MTRs and new Sunrasias on the way too...
Spray on Lining for the floor aswell - still being looked into...

[My Lil Lux]

quote: My Lil Lux

wouldn't be much more than what OME will rip you off by, OME are only cheap imported springs from India made with shit steel cussing #Rofl ,

end Quote:



God Some people post Crap..


Bazzle

Please enlighten me Guru Bazzle, as I'm only going on what I've been told, Oh Obi Won, but to date the two sets of Old Man Emu springs I have had, one set was on the car at purchase, and I put the second set on, have both gone on the front passenger side in the shape of a W, Perhaps you can help me with what would cause this other than rant and rave about whats posted, I purchased these springs under the belief they were Australian made, and after the second set going, was told by my helpful ARB dealer, "thats how they go on a Hilux", I've had no problems with the rears which are OME, It's only the front I'm complaining about, and the lack of help from ARB on this issue.

There's some more for you Old Man Bazzle

(Flame suit on)

[HIL01X]

The same thing happened to my OME front left and apparently the spring perch on the diff bends downwards causing it. When i took it back to my local ARB shop ( where i bought them but i fitted them) they bent the perch back up and welded in some reinforcement, then fitted a plate in there that was thick at the ends and thin in the middle. That made the spring sit flat again and it's been there for the last 120000kms. The springs are starting to sag a bit now tho but i've had a good run out of them. The dakar spings are about half the price of OME for the same thing only made O/S. I'd try them. But then I'm a cheapskate

[scotto]

But then I'm a cheapskate

with yer fancy mufflers and such pffff

$0.02 : see what options you have by not going for a full suspension "kit"

try ring someone like carrolls springs who make kits but also look beyond the square.. tell them you are after longer spring packs for flatter set up = more flex etc. i bought new springs for my 40 earlier this year and now kind of wish i had done that cause for an extra "couple of hundred bucks" i probably could have had better custom ones built (for my 40 it would be the rear - this would move diff <-- back three inches or so but the wheel travel benefits would be greater still) i am now looking into options....DO YOUR HOMEWORK

anyhoo i may be wrong - but is certainly an avenue i reckon i should have looked further into. also there is plenty of hype about aussie steel vs cheap asian stuff and they will all tell you their's is best...try read between the lines?

cheers scott

[HIL01X]

But then I'm a cheapskate

with yer fancy mufflers and such pffff

An empty plastic bottle and a bit of foam
I AM A CHEAPSKATE