Alcan springs

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Grease Cruiser said:
Here is my personal experience with Alcan. Long story short:

a nice little dent in my oil pan.
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sorry to hear about your bad experience, your one of the very few. that dent though is your fault. i am interested in what your "new" suspension is going to turn out. i have thought of, planned and prototyped almost everything and have come to the conclusion that for me, simple, strong and reliable leaf springs work.
 
Grease Cruiser said:
Here is my personal experience with Alcan. Long story short:

I had a set of Alcans about 3 years ago. As I ordered the springs, I gave them all the specs that I needed and that they were for an FJ60 with a Cummins 4BT in it. I told them the dimensions and the extra weight I was carrying and it needed to be at least 4" of lift.

I got the springs and figured they were to my specs. I put them on and in 2 weeks, I lost 2.5" of lift resulting in a nice little dent in my oil pan. I also had problems with the springs being too long and locking my shackles to the frame.

I spoke to Alcan to see what they could do for me. They told me they were made to my specs and they would not warranty them. But, how come they did not hold up to the extra weight that I had told them about and the fact that they were made too long? After about 2 weeks of fighting with them, they took their springs back and refunded me the money.

FWIW, I was forewarned about Alcan ahead of time by someone who had had problems with them. But, I went ahead and ordered them anyways as I had heard really good things about them like some of you have. I did not listen to someone that really knew what the hell they were talking about and I ended up having problems.

So, Do I have alterior motives when it comes to bashing Alcans? Yes, yes I do. My motive is to forewarn people of their products as not being the end-all-be-all solution as some people make Alcan out to be. If I can prevent one person from having problems with Alcan, my bashing was worth it.

As far as my other solution for a FJ55 lift, it will not benefit me in any way nor the Land Cruiser shop that I work for. It is just something that I came across which most people would not have the opportunity. One of the perks of working with Land Crusiers every day.
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I don't get it, why are you so disgruntled then? it sounds like they were fair with you and refunded your money because you were not happy. Seems to me that they are being fair with you.

and what's the big "secret"?? if you have another good solution post that s*** up, sheeeesh.
 
Soooooooooooo..................................



This thread died, and the OP never got the spec's.

Any update?
 
Well,

I ordered mine a couple of weeks ago:

5" lift
1" longer
650 lbs. over rears
250 lbs. over fronts

Should get them the second week of Jan.

I'll keep ya posted
 
have had mine on now for 2 years and very happy.....asked the tech support guy for bone stock, and guess it is what I got but soo much better than the pitted crap i took off........just my personal experience FWIW

Lou
 
had em in my 60 and loved them. bought them used and when they crapped, i couldn't wait for a new set to be built, so i bought pinnacles from jto....at least when greasecruiser had issues with his springs, alcan refunded him. my pinnacles were crap from the minute i put them on and i couldn't even get the a-holes at jto to answer my calls let alone refund my money.

rode in a few different rigs with alcans and still enjoyed them. put em on the raffle rig and the limited amount of driving i did was comfortable.

as mentioned, spec them 1" longer than what your spring actually measures out.
 
PabloCruise said:
Grease - let's hear about it!!!
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https://forum.ih8mud.com/fj55-iron-pig-preservation-society/203518-ome-fj55-suspension.html

tacollie said:
Didn't he end up with hzj 75 springs? NOt a bolt in solution but close enough for me.
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Yes indeedy. Still have them on and ride great.

nuclearlemon said:
....at least when greasecruiser had issues with his springs, alcan refunded him. .
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After 2 weeks of arguing with them on the phone and me finally driving to Grand Junction and throwing the springs on their shop floor........Yes, they refunded the money :rolleyes:

Again, my pleasant experience with Alcan was quite a few years ago (spring/summer 2005) on my 60. Maybe they have gotten better in the last few years? I don't know but all I can tell you that from my personal experience, I will not be dealing with them any time soon.

I know they are very highly thought of in some circles.... like here in the 55 section. If you go over to Pirate, the Jeep guys don't think very highly of them.... at least the last time I checked.
 
I know they are very highly thought of in some circles.... like here in the 55 section. If you go over to Pirate, the Jeep guys don't think very highly of them.... at least the last time I checked.[/QUOTE]

That actually sounds like more of an endorsement. I now own Iges 60, with the now pretty old Alcans, they have lost maybe .25" in that time (starting as 5inchers) Now I think they have actually improved, still offering 4.75 inches of lift with good flex.

I also know and have a ton of respect for your shop...I guess it just confuses me...the disparity between my experience and yours
 
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Trapper50cal said:
I know they are very highly thought of in some circles.... like here in the 55 section. If you go over to Pirate, the Jeep guys don't think very highly of them.... at least the last time I checked.
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That actually sounds like more of an endorsement.[/QUOTE]

BPPPPTTHHAAP! HAA, HAAAA! Classic.
 
Trapper50cal said:
I also know and have a ton of respect for your shop...I guess it just confuses me...the disparity between my experience and yours
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FWIW, it's not my shop..... I only work there. I am not a spokesperson of the shop that employs me.

There is no doubt that a lot of people have had great experience with Alcans but there are other customers out there that have not. I was merely trying to bring a different perspective by telling my experience of a certain manufacturer. If I were looking into having custom springs made (or anything custom made for that matter), I would want to hear both good and bad experiences of that particular manufacturer.
But, maybe that's just me.

Still can't figure out why the dent in my oil pan was my fault (as someone previously mentioned) due to poorly made leaf springs?
 
Thanks for the kind words Trapper...

...and I know I appreciate all angles/sides when it comes to making an important decision/purchase, such as springs. That's the beauty of this forum. The folks that participate in these discussions are truly invalueable. I have also been mulling over an Alcan spring swap on my Princess Pig for some time... Thanks again everyone!
 
Trapper50cal said:
Oh I know, I said "your shop" meaning the one you work at. What hit your pan? draglink? I imagine people are referring to checking your bump stops to make sure everything was clearanced.
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I just wanted to be clear and not give the impression that I was a spokesperson for the shop.


The top of my differential hit the bottom of the oil pan. Essentially, the Alcans were made too long as well as not maintaining their arch. After 2 weeks of highway driving, the springs flattened out and were pushing my shackles to the frame where they would get pinned.
 
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