OME Springs "Handedness"... True?

[EricWS]

Simple solution is to buy the OME trim packers if your unueasy about the prosepect of a lean. No lean return the packers.

I'd research the spring weight vs intended usage as well. OME has HD MD and a MD/HD. Getting a true HD may be a mistake if you under utilize them. Find the rate for your application.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

As I said in an earlier post, I feel you want to argue/debate large shop vs. small shop as you have in the past with other threads. you have even came out and said you would not do biz with one? It is you choice, I, golo4 and others all offered sound, real world advice, but you want to continue to debate.

I don't understand what you're talking about here. Large shop vs. small shop?

 

[Desertoutpost]

I don't understand what you're talking about here. Large shop vs. small shop?

My opinons are not important and would no longer contribute to this thread.

Good luck with the springs.

 

[MuddyMudskipper]

Yeah? I dunno... I've just not had a warm feeling with them. I called for advice the other day and... Didn't really like how the conversation went. Maybe I need to talk to Ho instead.

Have tried calling OME yet to see what they have to say? Not all of the springs they sell are a progressive rate and if I remember correctly linear rates are all you can get for some applications.

Happy hunting.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

My opinons are not important and would no longer contribute to this thread.

Good luck with the springs.

I tried sending you a PM, but your box is full.

 

[Desertoutpost]

I tried sending you a PM, but your box is full.

Fixed, sorry.

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

I've built a couple leaf spring packs in the past, particularly with SOA options. Land Cruisers at least have the engine/drivetrain slightly mounted to the left. I think the theory is the driver weight would balance it out on a RHD. Every pack I've built I've inserted one extra leaf on the drivers side rear and the truck balances out. The way leaves work is each leaf is designed for a specific weight rating, for example 250 lbs. I think they can tweak this slightly with quality/strength of steel. It wouldn't surprize me a bit if the pack designed for the left had a slight weight inhancement or slightly more arch. Costmetically they look identical but many springs are designed to be installed on certain side. Makes complete sense to me... Hope it helps, andre

 

[cruiseroutfit]

... Costmetically they look identical but many springs are designed to be installed on certain side. Makes complete sense to me... Hope it helps, andre

A & B springs are easy to distinguish in most of the Toyota applications, I would assume Rover applications are the same. In the case of 80 Series, the coils are 1/4"-1/2" different in height, and leaf springs are up to 3/4" different in height. The effective spring rate (product of steel, thickness, wind, etc) is the same for both sides, they just change the free camber or free height during construction.

 

[RAM5500 CAMPERTHING]

I personally think its great to see a company put that much though and R&D into all of their products. Pretty sure OME is the ONLY company to offer this! :safari-rig:

 

[roverdoc]

Ome

EE knows what they are talking about...your truck will lean with unmatched springs...maybe not at first but eventually as they settle....if you dont want your truck to lean...then get matched...I run this setup on both of my rovers. I am not sure why you are so hesitant to deal with EE...John and Ho are always helpful and only sell products that they personally use and test...

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Well, I got the springs "handed" as intended from OME. First thing I noticed is that the difference in the spring height from one side to the other is not as much as reported elsewhere. I measured a free spring height difference of about 1/4", where elsewhere the height difference was listed as 1". I can't really comment on why.

I installed them with A's on the left side, and the truck does not lean at all. I have the measurements at home, and the suspension heights are so close that it's difficult to measure the difference accurately with a tape measure. On the order of 1/8".

 

[Alaska Mike]

Let the springs settle for a few months and see where they end up, and then report back. I bet there are a few people that are interested.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

I'm curious myself, because I've never believed the idea of springs "settling". Steel shouldn't creep at low temperatures, I was taught. But it's such a prevailant internet statement, that I wonder if it's really true.

My pet theory is that the idea of springs "settling" is only because when you let cars with independent suspensions down off a lift, the car is a little jacked up because of the tires trying to scrub across the floor as the control arms translate outward. The car usually "settles" once you roll it back 10-20 feet.

Anyway, mind is open, and I'm curious to watch what happens.

 

[Alaska Mike]

By settling, I mean that any spring is going sag naturally to a certain height under load that it wouldn't while unloaded, and perform differently after being flexed a few times. Every suspension I've installed had a different ride height and/or performance charcteristics after a couple months on the trail.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Just a note to close the chapter on this.

My free length measurements for the springs were:

779 A: 15 1/16"
779 B: 14 13/16"

1/4" difference side to side.

762 A: 16 1/2"
762 B: 16 1/8"

3/8" difference side to side.

Installed measurements
Distance from center of hub to top of fender opening, this is done to eliminate the effects of tires, tire pressure, etc.

Stock
DSF: 19"
PSF: 19 1/8"
DSR: 18 3/8"
PSR: 18 5/8"

Immediately after install:
DSF 21 7/16"
PSF 21 1/2"
DSF 20 9/16"
PSR 20 9/16"

Lift:
PSF: 2 7/16"
DSF: 2 3/8"
DSR: 2 3/16"
PSR: 1 15/16"

That was before adding any extra weight to the truck.

After 1 year, as well as adding the ARB bumper and winch, and recovery tools in the trunk.

DSF: 20 5/8"
PSF: 20 3/4"
DSR: 20 3/8"
PSR: 20 1/4"

Change/Sag:

DSF: 13/16"
PSF: 3/4"
DSR: 3/16"
PSR: 5/16"

So, as suspected, there is no "lean" with the handed springs. There is some "sag" in front, but I did add 200lbs. The rear, maybe a little sag over time, but it's pretty much within my ability to measure accurately.