[lcwizard]

Man-a-Fre and I have been working on a new group of springs for the 40 and 60
These will be much softer and articulate better than any production pieces on the market. The springs will accomodate longer shocks than what is traditional for the 4" lifts. In the 60 case, the OME N74L seem to be working ( 80 series long travel ). I like shackle reversals so I needed a long travel slip. A six" to 8"
slip will do well. The 60 set will have two "optional" leaves per spring, unclamped, for easy removal to allow tuning to your rig. It seems the 60s out there vary wildly at the scale. Rather than a single 400~500lb overload leaf, at the rear, we will use three lighter overload that will work progressively with the final rate being approximately the same. Military wraps on the 60 springs and Berlin eyes for strength.
Money being scarce these days the project is moving slower than we'd like but hopefully the 60 will be ready in about 8 weeks

[GLTHFJ60]

That's a great amount of flex!

[calstyl2]

Double Mil wrap? My biggest issue with some cruiser springs was no military wrap, having bent or broken a few I can say that wraps work.

[CruiserCase90]

wha kinda inexpensive are we talking about?

[lcwizard]

these will be close to Dakars in price

[Butt Ugly Chuck]

(again)

Butt

[CID 96]

Dave,
Do you work at Man-a-Fre? If not, who should I talk with on the phone at Man-a-Fre?

Sid

[calphi27]

my front ome's are starting to get old. i am about ready for some new ones

[Spook50]

What lift measurement will these be available in? I'd like to have a new set of springs that flexes better (and rides smoother) than my stock springs with the full length Add-A-Leafs that're on my 62 right now. I'm tired of feeling like a bobble-head doll whenever I drive down the crappy roads in Spokane.

[lcwizard]

These will be about a 4" lift.

Originally Posted by Spook50

What lift measurement will these be available in? I'd like to have a new set of springs that flexes better (and rides smoother) than my stock springs with the full length Add-A-Leafs that're on my 62 right now. I'm tired of feeling like a bobble-head doll whenever I drive down the crappy roads in Spokane.

[lcwizard]

I'm out in arizona ,I build the 4plus products for man-a-fre so we work together on many projects that are mutually beneficial. I've been friends with Al at Man-a-fre for nearly twenty years so we spend a lot of time trying to develop better
cruiser parts. I focus on the 40 and 60. I've got an 80 but it just never took with me as a hardcore truck.

Originally Posted by CID 96

Dave,
Do you work at Man-a-Fre? If not, who should I talk with on the phone at Man-a-Fre?

Sid

[Kynot62]

Dave
My main concern is the softness of the springs. I run my rig heavy (6000+ ready to roll and loaded with the family and the dog) and soft springs tend to put me into trees on leaning curves and side hills are sometimes not too fun. Recently we had the rig leaning 35 and 40 degrees on a run in Naches, WA.

Promise me that some of the engineering will be for loaded rigs that get wheeled. I had to add a leaf to my front Dakkars and I am going to add the DXL leaf to the rears here shortly. Will the 4'" lift require shackle reversal? Longer than stock shackles?

Tony

PS The flip kits work great, saved a stuck several times now and my buddy finally bought his.

[lcwizard]

Body roll is a disadvantage of soft springs. These will be a great alternative to spring over as far as ride
and wheel articulation but with a lot less work. So many owners are giving up cruisers, especially the 40,
because of the harsh ride. Because of the cost of wheeling today the average customer is older (I'm50) and more finacially able and the thought of wheeling all day in a truck that beats the fillings out of your teeth is less appealling. I'm hoping these springs will fill a missing gap. A usuable lift ( about 4" ) with a great ride good articulation. I'm guessing the average trail oriented 60 weighs in between 5000 and 5500 with two adult passengers, big tires, bumpers and a winch . This was a target weight. My truck scaled at 5380lbs with only myself. Add a passenger , my fat dog and camping gear maybe 5900.
I notice more body roll on the highway than the dakars I had on, a slight bit more off road but not nearly as much as a 4" lifted 80. The stiffer springs, not just Dakars, all the off the shelf brands available, may handle flatter on the highway but I don't drive a land cruiser the race dodge vipers
at sears point. If we can get a softer ride maybe the lady drivers, wives and girlfriends can throw away
those 8 ply steel belted bras.

[fj80toyman]

I'm very interested to see the result here. I've owned several bits of your stuff and appreciate the thought that goes into it.

I'm right where your target market is, about your age and own a 40 for when I need to remind my kidneys that I still need them!

Let us know when these are available, I'm a bit away from getting springs but when I do, these are on the 'A' list from how you describe them.

I hope they're inexpensive enough, this is money sponge #3 that these are going on.

Thanks, Dan.

[Butt Ugly Chuck]

Rookie question....
Does this amount of lift (4") put you in hy-steer territory?

Butt

[lcwizard]

most people running a 4" don't go hi steer but is is getting to that borderline.
5"...probably, 6" I'd definately be considering it.

Originally Posted by Butt Ugly Chuck

Rookie question....
Does this amount of lift (4") put you in hy-steer territory?

Butt

[Bomar]

To achieve the 4" do you have to do a shackle reversal?

So the ones of us that are going to just slap these on what kind of shackles are we going to need since the springs are longer? Are we going to need the 4+ long shackles are can the anti inversion OME shackles work?

I hate to be the one to ask but any other option to buy these than from Man a Fre. He KILLS you on shipping. I can use my own FedEx account with no discounts and ship for half the cost.

I am very interested but been burned once before on the shipping from MAF.

You make great products and keep up the r and d.

[calphi27]

Originally Posted by Bomar

I hate to be the one to ask but any other option to buy these than from Man a Fre. He KILLS you on shipping. I can use my own FedEx account with no discounts and ship for half the cost.

I am very interested but been burned once before on the shipping from MAF.

You make great products and keep up the r and d.

x2 Could you sell directly to us???

[cruiser88]

If you use stock shackles butt and his lift you are fine ..if you go with his 4 inch lift PLUS the big anti-inversion shackles I would look into high steer.


My concern is even with my heavy OME's the front end would dip really deep into the corners . If you are going to make a softer ride riding springs then what takes place? Not bagging on you just asking because my passengers would grab the bar and ask"wtf just happened?"

[cruiser88]

You answered my question

Originally Posted by lcwizard

Body roll is a disadvantage of soft springs. These will be a great alternative to spring over as far as ride
and wheel articulation but with a lot less work. So many owners are giving up cruisers, especially the 40,
because of the harsh ride. Because of the cost of wheeling today the average customer is older (I'm50) and more finacially able and the thought of wheeling all day in a truck that beats the fillings out of your teeth is less appealling. I'm hoping these springs will fill a missing gap. A usuable lift ( about 4" ) with a great ride good articulation. I'm guessing the average trail oriented 60 weighs in between 5000 and 5500 with two adult passengers, big tires, bumpers and a winch . This was a target weight. My truck scaled at 5380lbs with only myself. Add a passenger , my fat dog and camping gear maybe 5900.
I notice more body roll on the highway than the dakars I had on, a slight bit more off road but not nearly as much as a 4" lifted 80. The stiffer springs, not just Dakars, all the off the shelf brands available, may handle flatter on the highway but I don't drive a land cruiser the race dodge vipers
at sears point. If we can get a softer ride maybe the lady drivers, wives and girlfriends can throw away
those 8 ply steel belted bras.

[Mace]

Sweet, love the additional options for springs

[lcwizard]

Since the leaves are longer stock skackles are too short. You should run two inch longer shackles which would raise you an inch if the shackles sat verticle at rest but with these springs the shackle angle negates a lot of the lift.
Keep in mind the final rear springs are 1/2" longer than these prototypes, so the shackle will lay down a little more and the final fronts are 1/2' shorter
so the front shackle will stand up a bit more

Originally Posted by Bomar

To achieve the 4" do you have to do a shackle reversal?

So the ones of us that are going to just slap these on what kind of shackles are we going to need since the springs are longer? Are we going to need the 4+ long shackles are can the anti inversion OME shackles work?

I hate to be the one to ask but any other option to buy these than from Man a Fre. He KILLS you on shipping. I can use my own FedEx account with no discounts and ship for half the cost.

I am very interested but been burned once before on the shipping from MAF.

You make great products and keep up the r and d.

[Bomar]

So my Old Man Emu shackles will work or they will not?

Any update on time table and cost?

[CID 96]

Any idea when these will be available?

Sid

[lcwizard]

I'm not certain whether the OME shackles are 25 mm or 50 mm over stock. If they are 25mm , the rear can be used in the front. You'd need a longer rear to be safe.
The first batch is in production. I'd have to ask Al at Man-a-fre for sure but I was told in about six weeks

Originally Posted by Bomar

So my Old Man Emu shackles will work or they will not?

Any update on time table and cost?

[cruiser88]

Patience kids these things take time and testing.

[ntsqd]

God, grant me patience, RIGHT NOW!

[lcwizard]

I wish that were true. Outside of the original Aussie made OME's, I can't believe
any other springs were tested for anything but fit. They all seem to be knock-offs of someone elses success.
This is especially evident with the FJ40. Every brand follows a standard spec sheet someone decided was good in the early 80's. Wheeling is on average a bit more extreme now. I've found all the other 40 springs are between 35 and 50 percent stiffer than they need and designed with about 20 percent less deflection ( travel) potential.
The 60 spring on the market are closer in spring rate, about 20 to 25 percent heavier than need be but all lack potential travel.
The aussie OMEs were the best mass produced spring but lost something in the Malaysian translation.
This is what springs should do effortlessly:

Originally Posted by cruiser88

Patience kids these things take time and testing.

[Bomar]

please keep us updated

[ginericLC]

Did MAF get a good manufacturer this time for the springs? I know their previous versions had a lot of problems.