Builds My first '40 and the venture (6 Viewers)

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Update...

I submitted a warranty claim for the springs with Dobinsons. Really looking at them underneath - they are rubbing the pin bracket something fierce. The pictures don't do justice (or at least focus well)... Here are some pictures with a light shining from the other side to see how much clearance I have between the top of the wrap and the the frame/bracket. A few I tried to show where you can see it rubbing the frame - worst one is where I have the frame crack.

IMG_8928.jpg


Hard to see but it is digging into the bracket where the gold color is
IMG_8929.jpg


Slightly better picture and see it digging in on the right side
IMG_8930.jpg


Different spring/frame interaction with light...
IMG_8935.jpg
 
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This is what I wrote in my claim trying to keep it on the up & up...

Dear Dobinsons USA,

I am writing to formally lodge a warranty claim regarding the poor manufacturing quality of the military wrap on the leaf springs installed on my Land Cruiser, early 1980 FJ40. Upon inspection, it is evident that the wraps on the leaf springs are excessively large, resulting in constant rubbing against the vehicle's frame.

This defect is not only compromising the structural integrity of the leaf springs but is causing wear and damage to the frame. The continuous friction is a concern for the longevity of these components and could lead to more severe damage if not addressed promptly.

As documented in the attached pictures of every military wrap (4) in my FJ40, one cannot 1) slide a piece of paper between the wrap and frame or 2) see light between the wrap and frame when held from behind.

I am also including a picture when I got the spring and a picture of a competitor military wrap I found yesterday. You can see how much larger wraps on the Dobinsons are on the top closest to the frame vs others.

I request that the defective leaf springs be replaced under warranty with properly manufactured units that fit correctly and do not cause any interference with my vehicle's frame. Please advise on the next steps to resolve this issue as soon as possible.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Bryan Baker
Pre 8/1980 FJ40 Toyota Land Cruiser with 25 mm leaf eyelet.
 
Here are some springs that I measured when I got them. Can see how the wrap is a long way away from the eye.

Last pict is the TT parabolic - see how close those are to the eye.

Kurt @cruiseroutfit on a different thread I posted these images to said...
cruiseroutfit said:
I'll have to measure some different Dobinsons 4x springs at the shop. That almost looks like the #2 (military wrap) spring from a late model 35mm spring (HJ47-7L-F for example) used with the #1 leaf of a 25mm spring (HJ40-7L-F for example). That said, full disclosure we've run into interference with their military wraps on 25mm 4x applications so it's not an unknown issue around these parts. Because OME uses the 35mm spring for both the 25mm and 35mm applications by using a conversion spring bushing, they don't use a military wrap on their 1F/1R/2F/2R springs. 30+ years and thousands of springs later, lack of military wrap hasn't proven to be an issue in that application for any of our customers. On principle I prefer a military wrap like the OE setup but again, it's not been an issue and I have customers with OME springs older than many forum members :D
Click to expand...
so maybe something valid for Ian and I with our claims submission.

IMG_5224 2.jpg

vs TT - see the wraps on the left side.
Parabolic+kit+copy.jpg
 
Well for the past 6 weeks I thought it was just me regretting my suspension purchase from Dobinson's. Searching Mud I found you and @RevISK have had the exact same problems, with the Dobinson's fixed pin's bolt holes not lining up AND the wrong leaf with the oversized military wrap. I should have purchased everything from @cruiseroutfit like I did 9 years ago for my 60, but I purchased directly from Dobinson's. I already have weeks of email exchanges/pictures with them about the lack of torque #'s and the need to grind the bolt holes on Dobinson's pins so the retainer bolt threads don't get ruined/marred up. It ended with them saying there is nothing wrong with what they sell.
After the relief of getting everything installed, all I hear is grinding and popping of the military wraps against my frame when I start, stop, shift and turn. I rode for a few days with 1/4" rubber strips between the wrap and the frame, but it wore through quickly. Now reading your thread and this one I wish I had also bought OME like I did for my 60, not anything Dobinson's. I follow @wngrog here and on Instagram and I went Dobinson's based on his awesome work, and it does ride nice if you can ignore the grinding and popping.
Should we start a thread warning other 40 owners about Dobinson's springs? I can't believe I had to GRIND on all the new fixed pin holes to get the retainer bolts to fit, and now I have to remove my new springs to CUT off the military wrap.
@OlYellr have you heard anything back from Dobinson's on your warranty claim?
OlYellr said:
Update...

I submitted a warranty claim for the springs with Dobinsons. Really looking at them underneath - they are rubbing the pin bracket something fierce. The pictures don't do justice (or at least focus well)... Here are some pictures with a light shining from the other side to see how much clearance I have between the top of the wrap and the the frame/bracket. A few I tried to show where you can see it rubbing the frame - worst one is where I have the frame crack.

View attachment 3718579

Hard to see but it is digging into the bracket where the gold color is
View attachment 3718580

Slightly better picture and see it digging in on the right side
View attachment 3718582

Different spring/frame interaction with light...
View attachment 3718586
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
I am not a Dobinsons dealer but I use them exclusively and I’ve not had any of the problems you guys have had.

It’s a pretty big sample too.

I assure you I would not be so bullish on this product if this was common. I build stuff and send it away. If I had issues like this with customers hundreds and thousands of miles away I’d never use them.

Sorry you are having issues but I just have not seen them with 30+ kits in 4 years.
 
wngrog said:
Take a 3.5” cut off wheel and take that military wrap section off. It’s not doing anything but ruining your life.
Click to expand...
Should a consumer have to augment a product to have it perform as it was intended? Especially with something as essential as suspension in an automobile?

Nolan, that’s awesome you’ve had great success with your Dobinson’s experience, some of us haven’t. I’m 50/50 so I know they can be good. But my experience with my 40 springs has been terrible, both with the product and the “support”.
There were also several folks at SAS that were less than pleased. Maybe you get springs from a special pile?

I truly think had a bad/funky batch and won’t admit to it even when they kind of did to me in an email.

The lame thing is not standing by their product, I have emails where I was told I’d need to heat and bend my springs to work right, that that is what they were going to do in house and then that they never said those things later in the same thread.

I’ve essentially wasted $1,000 and countless hours on these springs.
 
BigRiggs said:
Well for the past 6 weeks I thought it was just me regretting my suspension purchase from Dobinson's. Searching Mud I found you and @RevISK have had the exact same problems, with the Dobinson's fixed pin's bolt holes not lining up AND the wrong leaf with the oversized military wrap. I should have purchased everything from @cruiseroutfit like I did 9 years ago for my 60, but I purchased directly from Dobinson's. I already have weeks of email exchanges/pictures with them about the lack of torque #'s and the need to grind the bolt holes on Dobinson's pins so the retainer bolt threads don't get ruined/marred up. It ended with them saying there is nothing wrong with what they sell.
After the relief of getting everything installed, all I hear is grinding and popping of the military wraps against my frame when I start, stop, shift and turn. I road for a few days with 1/4" rubber strips between the wrap and the frame, but it wore through quickly. Now reading your thread and this one I wish I had also bought OME like I did for my 60, not anything Dobinson's. I follow @wngrog here and on Instagram and I went Dobinson's based on his awesome work, and it does ride nice if you can ignore the grinding and popping.
Should we start a thread warning other 40 owners about Dobinson's springs? I can't believe I had to GRIND on all the new fixed pin holes to get the retainer bolts to fit, and now I have to remove my new springs to CUT off the military wrap.
@OlYellr have you heard anything back from Dobinson's on your warranty claim?
Click to expand...
I think a specific thread would be good.
 
@RevISK @BigRiggs and anyone dealing with this. Rest assured your comments do not go un-noticed. Your next email to the company should include a link to the volume of forum readers and potential impact of word of mouth. Back in the old days, 1970’s…. I remember hearing a commentary on poor customer service that went something like this:

A happy customer may tell 1 or 2 people about their experience but an un-happy customer will exceed those numbers well over 10x.
Send a note to the suit who sits at his desk

Word of mouth is a powerful tool as we all know just by loving the Land Cruisers and talking about them. You want stories…. I’ve got lots.
 
wngrog said:
Take a 3.5” cut off wheel and take that military wrap section off. It’s not doing anything but ruining your life.
Click to expand...
Thanks!, This is my plan moving forward.

RevISK said:
I truly think had a bad/funky batch and won’t admit to it even when they kind of did to me in an email.

The lame thing is not standing by their product,
Click to expand...
It's not standing by your product despite the claims that you do (i.e. warranty) that gets me too. All I got was ghosted after talking to the USA office on the phone and emails/pictures (Not even a "claim declined." ghosting). I have no problem with "life happens" - how they are choosing to deal with it...

While I wished I would have got them via @cruiseroutfit for the awesomeness of his company... when I think about it more, is that the only way to get customer service? Have Uncle Kurt call them up and push them? Good service should be good service in-spite of who you are, not because who you are.

Standards are what you tolerate. So I started to draft a letter to the corporate office in Australia about my experience. Not expecting anything at this point - hence ok to cut the offending appendage off. And that is your Halloween spookiness, me dressing up like Lorana Bobbitt and cutting off the wraps.🔪
 
@OlYellr good…I hope it works for something and lights a fire under somebody’s butt

I wrote a letter to Frito Lay about the package handling by shelf stuffers in the supermarkets. I have watched these folk on MANY occasions grab 6-8 bags of potato chips certainly crushing the top layer in the bag and then jamming them onto the store shelves. We unwittingly walk by and pick up a bag of chips only to find a bag of broken pieces and chip dust when we get home….apparantly they could give a flyin F. It has been 6 months and I’ve Never heard back

That really (pi$$e$) annoys me…as much as persons Who fail to use directional signals to indicate their intended path of travel behind the wheel as the driver behind them< your options are reduced or even eliminated
 
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