Don't swap the Med for Heavy OEM Springs

[Romer]

Nope, you're right. I crossed up my numbers like Romer did.

At least your in good company

 

[Biff]

Well this is good to know, I was just about to swap my med. OME for Heavy OME. After adding an ARB, rear Hanna, and sliders I'm looking kinda droopy.

 

[Romer]

I received a response back from ARB (At least they are quick)

Sorry for the confusion. You are correct.

OME851 light load

OME850 heavy load (20mm taller than OME851)

Our Land cruiser coils have a linear rate-the spring rate is constant during all stages of coil compression.

We do not have any data regarding the medium spring with spacer versus the heavier spring.

Edit May 2006 Two tables I develepoed from info on Slle and Cruiseroutfitters sites as part of the new FAQ I am doing. Similar to lots of data posted here on. Updated this post so I had a place the link it from.

 

[Biff]

Hey Ken,

So what would you recommend for my setup. Do I go with a few trim packs, if so how many. I'm not looking for to much lift, just a level ride.

 

[ultimauk]

interesting. i was either the guy or one of the guys who assumed packers/spacers would diminish performance compared to longer heavy springs. In my mind it is still true although the advantage may be smaller than i thought if the load rating is idnetical. to take an extreme example, surely a spring half as long with the same load rating would not perform as well dynamically as the longer spring. therefore the shorter medium spring will not perform quite as well as the heavy even with the same load. the difference may or may not be discernible.

here is a question. I believe people have found the ride on the heavies to be stiffer and harsher with insufficient weight. christo leans against the heavies unless you have a winch. this doesn't make sense if the load rating is the same. have people found the same thing using spacers with no winch/or arb?

"I believe people have found the ride on the heavies to be stiffer and harsher with insufficient weight. christo leans against the heavies unless you have a winch."

I have the OME heavies and run without any seats (other than DS and PS) and other than a ARB front bumper; I'm stock or pretty much running as lite as possible.

Everyone of passengers have complemented my 80's handling and ride, thus far.

Maybe, but hopefully not; the "insufficient weight" doesn't apply to me?

"Hey Ken,

So what would you recommend for my setup. Do I go with a few trim packs, if so how many. I'm not looking for to much lift, just a level ride."

With the heavies, my 80 is NOT the bug moble (yes, level ride), but I'd say that they are about 1" taller than stock.

 

[Romer]

Hey Ken,

So what would you recommend for my setup. Do I go with a few trim packs, if so how many. I'm not looking for to much lift, just a level ride.

As Dirty Harry said, " A man's got to know his limitations."

The extent of my knowledge on this subject is contained in this thread.

What I will do after I get a Rear Bumper and winch for the ARB, is to use the spacers. I can always change them if they don't work out. You might PM Nakman, he is using the spacers and is fully loaded.

 

[cruiserdan]

I am replacing my 850's / MR gasket packers tonight with my new 850J's that Ben just sent me...

I had a bit of a lean when I got home from Moab and I flattened a spacer.

 

[e9999]

so basically, if the rates are linear and the same for both heavy and med, and the springs are linear, that would mean that there should be no difference whatsoever dynamics wise between a heavy and a med+spacer the same length, right?

How about sturdiness, stability etc?

 

[Biff]

So whats the difference between the J springs and the heavies?

 

[semlin]

we really need an engineer on this thread but here's another comment from a guy with no physics after grade 10.

is arb saying the springs are physically identical except one is longer or are they saying that the springs are physically different so that, even though one is longer, they both have the same load bearing capacity. I think they are saying identical but longer.

assume you have two springs of exactly the same construction but one is longer than the other. Wouldn't the longer spring have a greater weight bearing capacity? under the same load, wouldn't the shorter spring be more compressed in normal operation? I am assuming every spring has an optimum load rate at which further compression diminishes the responsiveness of the spring. I think the longer identical spring will have a higher optimum load rate.

Conclusion? I think heavies are better for more load/weight. How much better I don't know. If you just want to cure stink bug, then spacers may be more appropriate.

 

[cruiserdan]

So whats the difference between the J springs and the heavies?

The J's are taller, about an inch I think.

 

[Montana Cruiser]

so basically, if the rates are linear and the same for both heavy and med, and the springs are linear, that would mean that there should be no difference whatsoever dynamics wise between a heavy and a med+spacer the same length, right?

How about sturdiness, stability etc?

This is exactly what I'm getting from reading this ..... however, this would not explain why people with heavies and light additional weight experience a rougher ride. So either this theory is flawed or the people with the heavies and rough ride are "feeling" something thats not there?

 

[ryanjl]

So whats the difference between the J springs and the heavies?

Think that was covered in post #19

All these springs probably lift the vehicle their stated height if you have the weight on your cruiser that they are rated for. In other words, add 200 - 300 lbs. to the back of a cruiser with heavy springs and it will probably sit at the same height as the mediums without the extra weight.

J spings would sit an inch higher than the heavies with the same weight.

 

[Gold Finger]

we really need an engineer on this thread but here's another comment from a guy with no physics after grade 10.

is arb saying the springs are physically identical except one is longer or are they saying that the springs are physically different so that, even though one is longer, they both have the same load bearing capacity. I think they are saying identical but longer.

assume you have two springs of exactly the same construction but one is longer than the other. Wouldn't the longer spring have a greater weight bearing capacity? under the same load, wouldn't the shorter spring be more compressed in normal operation? I am assuming every spring has an optimum load rate at which further compression diminishes the responsiveness of the spring. I think the longer identical spring will have a higher optimum load rate.

Conclusion? I think heavies are better for more load/weight. How much better I don't know. If you just want to cure stink bug, then spacers may be more appropriate.

I would suspect that the heavies are comprised of material of a lower tensile strength in order to have the same Lbs/inch rating, if you remember that cutting a spring down increases its Lbs/inch rate!

 

[Gold Finger]

I would suspect that the heavies are comprised of material of a lower tensile strength in order to have the same Lbs/inch rating, if you remember that cutting a spring down increases its Lbs/inch rate!

I have that arse about tit I mean a Higher tensile stength

 

[davisdrafting]

To simplify things you’ll have less space between
your spring coils using short springs+shims compared
to longer springs of the same rate and the same amount
of weight.

What does this mean, simply you’ll have less compression
travel with springs+shims i.e. less space between coils.

 

[tech_dog]

If I'm reading this, the person from ARB that provided the info got the model numbers backwards. That hardly installs confidence.

There has to be someone who has both heavy and medium in their garage. Can someone rig them up to measure them, load them up with 100 lbs, and then measure them again? That would settle this once and for all.

 

[sc40]

man this thread is good, but let me get this right,

j's with load siit one inch above heavies with the same load.

and heavies sit one inch above med. with the same load.




right?

 

[SR.GRINGO]

The J's are taller, about an inch I think.

So I'm running the same height as J's with the heavies and two trim packers on each spring?

 

[alkaline747trio]

Here is what I am gathering from this..

Mediums: 2.5" lift no load
Heavies: 3.5" lift no load, 2.5" lift loaded 200#
J's: 4.5" lift no load, 3.5" lift loaded 200#, 2.5" lift loaded 400#


Sound about right?