ARB or TJM

[jacm]

Hi all,

discovering that the standard (STX-550) springs are sagging under load (tub full of camping stuff and heavy trailer ball weight) and I am looking to replace the suspension.

I think I should do the lot but I don't want the ride to suffer too much - does anybody have the ARB or TJM suspension replacements have any comments on what the fundamental difference was compared to the original.

I also happy if the standard height comes up a bit (40/50mm)

Thanks
John

 

[wasa68]

Hi all,

discovering that the standard (STX-550) springs are sagging under load (tub full of camping stuff and heavy trailer ball weight) and I am looking to replace the suspension.

I think I should do the lot but I don't want the ride to suffer too much - does anybody have the ARB or TJM suspension replacements have any comments on what the fundamental difference was compared to the original.

I also happy if the standard height comes up a bit (40/50mm)

Thanks
John

Hi John,
I bought a new D40 last month and changed suspension the next week to ARB OME with a 2" lift. 200kg constant load rated in the back as we load up with gear in both cars and take camper and boat when we go away. Have only had camper on the back so far, but very happy with the ride. Only thing is that I get the winch bar next week and think the front will drop a bit then, so will be talking to ARB about that when it happens.
As for ARB v TJM... everyone has their preferences and will rate both products to their experience, what I can tell you is that I have had ARB OME on both my 100 series and the Navara, and been very happy with both. The cruiser did over 80k with them, and it had a 6.5lt Chev diesel in it, and no sag at all.

 

[killerdriver]

if you really want a quality suspension that will give you a comfortable ride when empty or full look at the sax 3ds springs, they provide the best comfort of any spring available,

 

[Old.Tony]

I've replaced my factory springs + shocks with ARB's OME Dakar springs & OME Nitrocharger Sports shocks (chosen for their high heat dissipation rate).

I'm stoked with the suspension now. It's like chalk and cheese. We've towed with it and we're very happy. We've even taken her off-road and it's performed brilliantly. Front end rose about 40mm and the rear maybe 70mm but feels like 100!

 

[joe2006]

OT, what spring rates did you choose?

 

[grasshopper]

I would choose ARB over TJM. No contest.

 

[Old.Tony]

I just pulled out the paperwork which doesn't bloody say what the constant load is, but they're the HD springs and I think that means 300Kg (could be 400Kg). I almost ALWAYS have the Engel 60L in the back, the deep cycle battery is always there and I usually have tools, generator and other stuff in there too.

What was interesting was the before-and-after height measurements that they took.

They measured all 4 corners of the car @ 710mm (rim to guard). After fitment & 500km of driving (and towing) they measured 750mm at the front and 795mm at the rear.

That means the front rose by 40mm and the rear by 85 - I'm not unhappy with that.

 

[joe2006]

The problem is getting a consistant answer from them. I was at their head office yesterday and when I made mention of 2 stage leaf springs he had no idea.

Also been told by one store that the difference between their medium and HD coils is spring rate and the other store said rate is the same but difference is spring length.

Some of their sales guys are also very conservative with the stated lift heights.

Obviously don't want a harsh ride but want to make the change worthwhile.

 

[Old.Tony]

Ask about the Emu Dakar springs. They're not dual rate for all vehicles though, but they told me that the D40's springs WERE. So far, I've no evidence to prove otherwise - the ride is superb whether loaded or not.

 

[joe2006]

We were standing in front of the OME suspension display with me pointing at the leaf springs and him telling me they were Hilux ones. Should have guessed hey

 

[JASON-D40]

SAX 3 stage springs, just put a full SAX lift in and I am very happy with it, gained around 70mm lift all round, ride is exceptional. Best of all SAX offers a 5 yr warranty and money back guarantee if your unhappy with the ride and performance.

 

[joe2006]

The above company called me on Tuesday offering me half price shocks and struts if I ordered by 12.00pm today.

What's the time now?

Bugger

 

[JASON-D40]

worth every cent, got the same deal, $2060?

 

[Nakkers]

Whats up with there website?

 

[joe2006]

worth every cent, got the same deal, $2060?

Was $2025 plus $100 delivery although until questioned, had originally doubled up on the delivery charge.

The coils are $320 a pair which is a fair bit more than the OME gear or anything else around.

The most important thing is that your happy with the quality and overall cost of the package.

Still tyre kicking here, until convinced anyway.

 

[jacm]

Folks,

Thanks for your responses - having pulled into Cairns late last week looking to get the ARB (OME) version done this week before heading home, it seems that business up here is booming and nobody can do anything for many weeks. I have found a smithy who specialises in spring resets who will reset the original set and add an extra leaf to the set. This will apparently give the same ride as before unladen, but allow better load take up.

If it works as described then the front end can be done later, if not at least it is a reasonably cheap option to help cope with the load.

Has anybody had a spring reset/extra leaf added, and any comments?

Thanks
JM

 

[ozlauterbacher]

Folks,

Thanks for your responses - having pulled into Cairns late last week looking to get the ARB (OME) version done this week before heading home, it seems that business up here is booming and nobody can do anything for many weeks. I have found a smithy who specialises in spring resets who will reset the original set and add an extra leaf to the set. This will apparently give the same ride as before unladen, but allow better load take up.

If it works as described then the front end can be done later, if not at least it is a reasonably cheap option to help cope with the load.

Has anybody had a spring reset/extra leaf added, and any comments?

Thanks
JM

John, How did your spring reset go? I have a similar issue and was looking to do something like you got done.

 

[jacm]

A good result is the short of it.

The bloke in Cairns (Stan - Springs and Blacksmith) knows his stuff. He originally thought that one leaf would be needed with maybe new shockies as well in the back. In the end he did 2 leaves and left the shockies alone. I think he also did some magic over the original springs themselves.

In the end the ride empty is only slightly firmer than before, and laden it rides very well (and comfortable) although as you would expect you know about the extra weight. In short, you hardly notice.

Ride height empty at the back is now about 45mm higher than original (empty). Loaded with camping stuff (chairs, chainsaw, tools, spare tyre) and hooked up to the Kimberley it now sits level all the way through (tail down before).

Although I haven't tried it yet, I think that wheel articulation may have suffered a bit (but the days of going bush up hard tracks are behind us). I reckon that for most of my bush track driving it will cope OK.

The best thing is that I didn't need to replace the whole lot yet (that may come later). For 500 bucks I am happy.

On our holiday (Canberra to Cairns via the Darling, Cooper Creek, Hughenden, Einasliegh, Forsyth and then down the coast) we talked to the odd caravaner (towing big vans) with Navaras, where some of them had had exactly the same thing done.

By the way (and perhaps not unexpected) is that Stan is doing a lot of Navaras, BT-50's and Rangers the same way - he reckons that any of the dual cab's cannot carry the claimed load.

 

[Old.Tony]

By the way (and perhaps not unexpected) is that Stan is doing a lot of Navaras, BT-50's and Rangers the same way - he reckons that any of the dual cab's cannot carry the claimed load.

Definitely NOT unexpected. DC utes are being aimed squarely at the large sedan market. Sedan-like comfort that can take you places sedans can't.

The obvious downside with this is a capacity similar to the sedans. Look at the Navara's rear leaf springs - they're almost a straight line. This allows the spring to flex more than concave springs like you find on the Hilux, which is about the only ute NOT aimed at the sedan market - because they have market presence already.

 

[ozlauterbacher]

Thanks for that info John.
I was thinking about fitting the SAX equalizer springs until I saw your post. I may need to re-think.