Looking to firm up rear springs with stock ride height. Ideas?

[ppressle]

Hi all,

I have been using my stock 99 cruiser to tow a car to the track. When the trailer and car are loaded properly (3klb car and 1.5klb trailer w 10% tongue weight), the rear of the cruiser is very low. All the gear I am schlepping doesn't help either.

This is mainly the kid hauler vehicle, and I would prefer to maintain the stock ride height.

Is there anything that will firm up the spring rate by 10%-20% yet retain the stock ride height? I am also open to replacing the torsion bars if there is a matching set that are correspondingly stiffer.

I have seen quite a few springs that raise the car, and recently I saw some lowering springs as well. Nothing that will preserve stock though.

fwiw, I purchased the air bags for the rear springs, but am not convinced that is the right way to go.

Thanks for any recommendations.

Pete

 

[hoser]

Have you seen this link on the Timbren overload springs?
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=79131

Seems like it is exactly what you need since you don't want to change the ride height. Under no/light load, it should ride exactly like stock. It's cheap too.

 

[calamaridog]

Pete,

Any decent spring shop can fabricate what you need. They may want the stock ones for measurements.

Why don't you like the air bags?

 

[hoser]

You also might try the OME 862 rear spring for the FZJ80, used on the 80 for an increased spring rate but with little height increase.

http://www.cruiseroutfitters.com/tech_OME_coils.html

 

[ppressle]

Thanks,

I'll check out the timberland springs. I have not come across these yet.

The air bags require you to whack the bump stups down (in half?) and then maintain 5 lbs or so pressure in the bags to duplicate the bump stops.

This seems like additional maintanance that a proper set of springs would not have.

Also the routing and install of the little air hoses is more work to do properly than just installing proper springs.

 

[SamoL]

You can find spring rates/lengths here:
http://www.cruiseroutfitters.com/tech_OME_coils.html
I don't belive that with OME862 the car will be any lower than with OME866. I want the same as you do: to have firmer springs and not much lift. I will install OME865 on Monday and according to measurements posted on this forum I should gain about 3cm of lift. If there will be more lift, I'll cut the springs.

Regards
Samo

 

[Brentbba]

For some reasonable comparative info (on an 80 anyways). Towing 3500lb, I first did just shocks w/o much change in the sag. Unfortunately, I did both the 862 and Airlift airbags at the same time, so coils completely w/o airbags I can't really compare. I have done the hookup w/o much more than minimum in the airbags, as you point out about 5lbs, and even with the new 862's the truck sagged. Bumpstops are completely removed, and maintaining minimum pressure isn't all that much of an issue. If you are looking for stock height, improved handling and no sag towing, do both the 862's and the airbag. I believe Shotts also swears by the airbags in his 100. Quick search will reveal lots of info on this (maybe in the 80's section tho).

 

[Gene3x]

Timbren Springs are a quick easy install where the regular bump stops go and much less expensive. They would easily add the extra 10 to 20% you are looking for.

 

[sk8rider]

Anyone running the Timbrens on their 100? If so how are they?

Thanks!

 

[Jim_Chow]

Airbags is what you need if you need the extra capacity while towing but not while driving around town. Check out posts by Dinibli. He has a LC sahara w/ AHC, front/rear ARB bars, subtank, towing a trailer, etc and the weight would exceed the AHC's capacity and revert to "low," a problem since he was doing this all offroad. He spent many hours researching it, checking springs rates, looked into having custom springs made, etc., and his conclusion was airbags. If you just stick stiffer springs in the rear, the ride will be harsh and rear will be too high around town. If you do this on a AHC vehicle, you can't get it into "low" since you need the springs to be able to compress to the stock height w/ no load.

 

[sk8rider]

The Timbrens don't replace the existing springs. They're rubber and prevent sag under load and they're supposed to help wth the body roll too. http://www.timbren.com/timbren-application-guides/application-pdfs/TORSEQ.pdf
I had never heard of them before but it looks like an interesting concept. Looking at their website it looks like they have happy customers..but I haven't heard of anyone with them on a 100.
I'm considering airlift airbags too, but the Timbrens seem like less maintenance/hassle...unless they fall apart..I don't know.

 

[dclee]

The Timbrens don't replace the existing springs. They're rubber and prevent sag under load and they're supposed to help wth the body roll too. http://www.timbren.com/timbren-application-guides/application-pdfs/TORSEQ.pdf
I had never heard of them before but it looks like an interesting concept. Looking at their website it looks like they have happy customers..but I haven't heard of anyone with them on a 100.
I'm considering airlift airbags too, but the Timbrens seem like less maintenance/hassle...unless they fall apart..I don't know.

What maintenance are you talking about? Keeping air in the bags? If you get thier automated system (Load Controller II), it senses when pressure drops below a level that you set and automatically engages an air compressor to add air. No maintenance necessary, you just forget it's there unless you need to tow or carry a lot of gear, then you just hit the button to add more air. Simple as can be, and you get to keep your nice ride around town unladen, yet can firm it up for load at the press of a button. I've had them on two trucks with no issues, and already have a set for the 100 sitting at home waiting for me to get off my lazy butt and install it.

 

[mmaakk]

check out the 866 OME rear springs, they are a constant weight spring approx 400 lbs. and it only gives you a 2" lift if that. but you might have to upgrade your shocks to compensate for the spring effect. i dig the ride even when empty. most the time i ride with the whole family; 6 of us plus luggage and thats the main reason i got them. heck! just get the full set up with torsion bars and shocks all
around. its very reasonably priced.

 

[spressomon]

check out the 866 OME rear springs, they are a constant weight spring approx 400 lbs. and it only gives you a 2" lift if that. but you might have to upgrade your shocks to compensate for the spring effect. i dig the ride even when empty. most the time i ride with the whole family; 6 of us plus luggage and thats the main reason i got them. heck! just get the full set up with torsion bars and shocks all
around. its very reasonably priced.

FYI: The OME 866 is a progressive rate spring; the OME865 is a constant/linear rate spring.

 

[mmaakk]

What i meant by constant weight is that they are designed to operate under the constant weight of say a rear custom bumper,
tire & jerry can carrier etc. in other words they ride nicer and arent as stiff with the weight constantly on. that is why I think they would work better if you are towing a tailer; they will probably handle the trailer weight fairly well.