Posted by Paul (in NY) on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at 3:14PM :
In Reply to: Anyone interested in replacement leaf springs for their powe posted by Dan Shockley on Monday, January 16, 2006 at 11:11PM :
I guess we all know or should know that the springs in our PW' range from 36 to 60 years old, and most have seen hard service. The springs are fatigued, sagging, and potientially ready to break. We change the spring bushings and add new pins but leave the old springs untouched.
I talked to a lot of spring companies when I had the Carryall Springs built. Places like Detroit Eaton wanted around $350 per spring to duplicate the original ones. And if tweeking was required, the customer would have to UPS the spring back to them. They told me right up front that it might take a tweek or two to get it right. And this is duplicating the old springs. Believe me, UPS shipping on Springs is expensive.
Buying old NOS springs, gives you old technology, and you may always wonder, are they really NOS or clean take off's? In my opinion, if ARB will duplicate the PW Springs, TEST them on a stock PW, do the engineering and tweeking on the TEST PW, and then build them with all the new technology, you have a winner. And if the price stays around $800 for 4 springs you cant go wrong. Eaton Detroit wanted around $350 each x 4 =$1400 to duplicate 4 springs. You cant believe the ride improvement with new springs.
The above is based on a STOCK PW. I know that if your doing a engine swap with a heavy engine (gas or diesel) stock springs wont cut it. You need more support/spring. In this case of repower, I believe it would be dangerous to buy a spring built for a stock PW.
Especially when the builder is not local. For the repowers, I would perfer to deal with a more local company that can help you if their engineering burps and you dont have the support/ride wanted.
To give you an idea on the cost to have a spring pak 'designed' for a special application, such as my Carryall with the Cummins, the rear springs with UPS cost $984.16. The fronts have yet to be done later this winter.
So Dan, great idea for Stock PW's, hold close to that price, new technology, great ride and cost effective. For repowers, I would not go this route.
Paul
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