ARB Dakar Spring Problems

[CUMAPART]

I got my heavy/heavy kit from Kurt and have had no problems. I put it on in late May and have about 8000mi on it. No problems with the bushings on the front. I have the rear spring hangers in the rear off it now to replace the inner channels in the frame. I examined the spring bushings and no signs of the shoulders getting chewed up or pinched. I have the anti-inversion shackles that came with the ultimate kit at the four corners. I will keep watching them once I put it all back together after what started as a simple tank cleaning. Mike

 

[cruiseroutfit]

UPDATE:

I just spent some time on the phone with one of the tech guys @ ARB USA, he was more than helpful! Below are some answers he provided as well as some I've dealt with in the past. Hopefully this is helpful.

Why the insert?
The spring eyes are handformed, they could have made them to fit the 35mm bushings just as the old springs did, however it was decided that by using an insert, the bushing would have a much more consistent surface to ride against, as well as be less likely to be damaged by the spring itself. According to the tech, it is pretty uncommon to have sleeve move, but the fix is easy. If you can pull the sleeve all the way out of the spring, do so, and slightly "crush" it in a vice to make it an elongated shape (very slightly). Then, press it back into the spring, this should hold it for good. If it moves a bit, but not enough to completely remove it, use a punch to "stake" it into the spring, the best location being right where the main leaf eye termintates as there is a small gap there.

Why the OME bushings with OME springs?
Some of the poly bushings on the market, are not made to the same tolerances of the OME springs, this isn't to say every manufacture, but there are some. This play can lead to premature wear of the bushing. Also, some are using a much harder poly material, while harder might sound better... its not always the case. The harder bushing is more likely to fail by loosing the "ear" than a similar bushing made of a softer material... make sense?

Why are my shackles not sitting perpendicular to the frame?
Well, the issue resides in your axle, not the leafs or the shackles (assuming your frame isn't tweaked at all). While the spring has a center pin that locates it into the spring perch on the axle... there is a slight amount of "play". When you install the axles on the vehicle in the air and then you sit it down, things might be mis-aligned slightly, and with the u-bolts tight its going to stay that way. The easy fix would be to put the frontend in the air (on jackstands) to that the axle is free-hanging. Loosen the u-bolts enough that you can "slide" things a bit... either by hand, or using a rathet strap between the leafs, "suck" them together. Make sense?

Eventually tech like this will be on my website, I have a huge back-log of similar info I need to get up there, in the meantime, ask

 

[RockDoc]

Thanks for looking into it and sharing Kurt. Once again showing why you have such a good reputation here.

 

[flybynight]

x2

 

[Rigger]

X3

 

[crustyBJ60]

Interesting...

Out of all the Dakar springs we've sold (100's of kits now), I can't say I've run across one yet that had an issue with the bushing sleeve moving around on the bushing. I've got some Dakar kits that are coming up on 2 years old now at this point that I see on a regular basis, I'll have to check into that.

Keep in mind, alot of retailers are supplementing different bushings with the OME kits, I know MAF sells their poly bushings, and I've seen others using the Energy Suspension bushings instead of the OME ones (half the price). I'd be interested to know if this has something to do with the issue as well. The aftermarket poly bushings such as the Energy Suspension ones are great bushings, but they might be built to a slightly lower tolerance than that of the OME bushing. That additional "slop" could lead to bushing failure?

Regardless I'll keep my eye on this thread, and I'll start taking a close look at Dakar equipped rigs that come my way.

that guy would be me.

had some "clunk" coming from the rear springs and thought it was just the poly bushes.

got worse for a few months, had to check it out. sleeve in the spring was loose and the bushings were toast.

not really a big deal, new bushings and seems fine (dunno how long it will last as i sold the 42 about 2weeks ago)

Cruiseroutfitters is where i got my springs, never thought it was their fault or crappy ARB springs, i'm happy and will buy them again. best product out there.

kurt's alright too.

crusty

 

[grant5127]

There are a couple cruisers in my area that had this problem and both had bent frame horns...a lil tweaking on the frame machine did the cure....

 

[grant5127]

loose inserts

a spot weld on both sides in the gap does the trick........

 

[cruiseroutfit]

...kurt's alright too.

crusty

Thanks!

 

[donny paradise]

My springs were shipped strapped to a pallet and one spring sleeve insert was missing and one was hanging 1/2 way out I had a hard time convincing the seller what had went down plus it took like 2 weeks to get a replacement Seems they would have better quality control over there in "Malaysia" IIRC thats the origin

 

[cruiseroutfit]

My springs were shipped strapped to a pallet and one spring sleeve insert was missing and one was hanging 1/2 way out I had a hard time convincing the seller what had went down plus it took like 2 weeks to get a replacement Seems they would have better quality control over there in "Malaysia" IIRC thats the origin

Sounds like you should get better "quality control" over your vendor

I've had hundereds of this springs in my hands, and hundreds of them drop-shipped to customers, I'm yet to have a missing sleeve issue. That doesn't say it can't/won't happen, it surely could. That just proves IMO that the QC isn't the issue, but customer service AFTER the sale is.

I would pop one out of a spring in stock and have it to you in a couple of days at most if it did, even if you didn't buy the springs from us. I would think the delay on your part came from the retailer, the tech department @ ARB would have got one out to you in a jiffy had the been given the chance.

 

[grant5127]

I've never had a sleeve actually fall out in shipping, but pushed a couple out by hand when inserting a bushing........

 

[2HH55F]

Some food for thought, P.O fitted OME springs , I think about 6 or 7 years ago, shackles and pins standard. I Bought a set greasable shackles and pins and overhaul kit for springs, new centrebolts and nylon pads etc. There was no sleeve fitted, and standard polyurethane bushes were a tight fit. Problem is that grease squeezes out between the bushes and doesnt get forced along the bolt as well as it should, without the sleeve. My 2c, the sleeve is an afterthought to contain the grease, what other reason could there be?? Mine without sleeves are not showing any sign of chewing out the shoulder on the bush.

 

[grant5127]

The sleeve didn't come into play until the "DAKAR" line, thats when the supplier source changed.... they now don't have the technology to produce a complete round spring eye as Kurt posted in #42 "Why the insert?"...............

 

[2HH55F]

Thanks Grant5127, with the problem I have greasing the shackle bolts, do you know if the inserts will fit the older type ARB springs??

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Thanks Grant5127, with the problem I have greasing the shackle bolts, do you know if the inserts will fit the older type ARB springs??

No, the have the same ID as the ID of your springs... its possibly you could find an insert that would fit, though you would be forced to use a different bushing with a smaller OD.

 

[2HH55F]

Thanks Kurt, Ill look at doing something next time I change bushes, Ill get ARB bushes and make sure they compress together within the spring once tightened. Cheers

 

[AfricanToy]

My 3year old Dakkar lift kit with OME bushings has one of the rear inserts sliding around in the eye of the shackle hanger and you can hear the clunk during turns...

DO I need to replace the insert or the bushings? and what grease would you use? oh I forgot to mention I am using stock shackles?

 

[flybynight]

Sounds like you just need to follow the steps outlined in post #42. Scroll up and look at it. Double check the bushings for wear while your in there.

 

[AfricanToy]

flybynight

I checked and they all seem fine....nothing being sqeezed. However like I said the shackles are stock. Maybe they need grease? how do you grease a shackle that doesnt have grease nipples LOL

I will retorque the U bolts and see if that doesn't solve the problem