Military Wraps

[Highway-Star]

For those not sure what I mean, its the curled second leaf around the main leaf.

What I'd like is some opinions on is if the military wrap on the front of Sierra leafs are really needed? I know they are supposed to prevent serious damage if you hit your springs into something with great force. But are they really worth having? I personally think you'd do damage either way anyway...

My fathers Hilux runs them front and rear and you'd have next to no chance of whacking these agianst something with a decent force anyway (chassis brackets would hit first), so is there a special function of them I'm failing to see?

I've heard some people say that you should "never" use leaves without them, though they fail to fully justify to me why? ("because I said so" sort of attitude) And I do see a fair few vehicles getting around with no "militray wraps".

Sorry for the horribly mundane question, but its been nagging at me for a while.
Thanks.

[Gwagensteve]

OME springs don't have a military wrap, but the Miliary wrap does add a lot of support to the springs in an area where they are likely to bend, and the help to resist axlewrap by stopping the mainleaf and secondary fanning apart.

Because they require a full length secondary leaf though, they will increase harshness and rate a fair bit though.

For the last word in beefy military wrap springs, look at TT's Bonz-Eye springs.

Steve.

[Highway-Star]

OME springs don't have a military wrap, but the Miliary wrap does add a lot of support to the springs in an area where they are likely to bend, and the help to resist axlewrap by stopping the mainleaf and secondary fanning apart.

Because they require a full length secondary leaf though, they will increase harshness and rate a fair bit though.

For the last word in beefy military wrap springs, look at TT's Bonz-Eye springs.

Steve.

My OME fronts do have a military wrap (like standard Sierra fronts), however the rears don't. My fronts have 3 full length front leaves (one very close anyway), and I am toying with the idea of playing with the packs, wondering if the wrap leaf should be target #1...

I see what you mean about the axle wrap, I find it intersting as I've always thought of military wrap as a 4WD and truck specific thing, but it therefore would be very usefull in a car also! (I don't have much to do with road cars, hence my ignorance).

Those Bonz-Eye springs are all messed up! strange half length leaf on top, inverted eyes etc etc. They do seem to be built with SOA in mind though, and that is where axle wrap is more of a serious issue, hence the beefy wrap. Makes sense.

Thanks.

[Gwagensteve]

It's ages since I've seen an OME front as I don't use them. In the case of a front, It'll be there to prevent the pack opening up and the axle rolling under hard braking (i.e the packs resistance to opening up is doubled becuase of the wrap)

The Bonz-eye springs are 100% targeted at SPOA and provide the lowest overall height with acceptable arch and rate. IMHO they're a very clever solution to some of the SPOA problems.

Steve.

[Highway-Star]

In the case of a front, It'll be there to prevent the pack opening up and the axle rolling under hard braking (i.e the packs resistance to opening up is doubled becuase of the wrap)

Thats something a bit more serious that I'll have to consider. Thanks.

Might find a way to do some hard braking tests in a controlled environment.

[NIK]

As steve said rears dont have them and there are alot of zuks running ruf without a prob. The only negative I see is if the main breaks yuor in trouble but not sure how much the milatery wrap would help IF the main broke but it might help stop it happening??
Nik