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Leaf spring question

Since we know the part #'s (ome-36 and cs042r) we can find it that way...

http://store.arbusa.com/Old-Man-Emu-Leaf-Spring-CS042R-P20999.aspx

My google-fu is good tonight.. Page 26 in the May 2013 catalog. Specs for the spring are on page 123

http://www.arbusa.com/Uploads/PDF/onlineManualsGuides/OME_Guide_current.pdf

~Mark

Those are awesome looking springs. Pretty expensive though. I'm thinking more like an F 150 spring, I could get some from a junkyard locally, just not sure how they would fit. Is it possible to just put them on with out any changes to the axle?
 



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Those are awesome looking springs. Pretty expensive though. I'm thinking more like an F 150 spring, I could get some from a junkyard locally, just not sure how they would fit. Is it possible to just put them on with out any changes to the axle?

When you use the f-150 springs you don't use the entire pack.. You use the explorer main leaf and then use f-150 leaves with it to get some lift and to change the spring rate.. You could even intertwine them for a more custom pack.

The OME springs are worth the money.. There are over 200k miles on the springs I have, which started out on [MENTION=71]Rick[/MENTION]s rig (pumpkin before it was the pumpkin). Springs normally don't like going inverted, but mine have been inverted many many many times without them breaking.

6664844695_88ab18bbd3_z.jpg

truckhaven-rti-2011-1 by maniak_az, on Flickr

You can see the darker leaves in that pack, Those are f-150 leaves I intertwined to get some extra lift and increase the spring rate since I have so many miles on them (that pic is more than a year old now).

BTW.. Here is the Good/Big instruction thread about using the f-150 leaves to get lift.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=101035

~Mark
 






you could also do an add a leaf.....in the past I have done a double
add a leaf.....and it lifted the truck almost 4in.....stiff, but lifted high.

just an option.

when I did the short leaf....I barely noticed the stiffness, and lifted me
1.5in

then I did the long leaf and lifted me just over 2in...and that's when I felt
the stiffness.....but I like it haha

:salute:
 






When you use the f-150 springs you don't use the entire pack.. You use the explorer main leaf and then use f-150 leaves with it to get some lift and to change the spring rate.. You could even intertwine them for a more custom pack.

The OME springs are worth the money.. There are over 200k miles on the springs I have, which started out on [MENTION=71]Rick[/MENTION]s rig (pumpkin before it was the pumpkin). Springs normally don't like going inverted, but mine have been inverted many many many times without them breaking.

6664844695_88ab18bbd3_z.jpg

truckhaven-rti-2011-1 by maniak_az, on Flickr

You can see the darker leaves in that pack, Those are f-150 leaves I intertwined to get some extra lift and increase the spring rate since I have so many miles on them (that pic is more than a year old now).

BTW.. Here is the Good/Big instruction thread about using the f-150 leaves to get lift.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=101035

~Mark

I guess I'm not quite sure why you wouldn't use just the whole F 150 pack with 5 leaves, considering it's the same length and width.
 






you could also do an add a leaf.....in the past I have done a double
add a leaf.....and it lifted the truck almost 4in.....stiff, but lifted high.

just an option.

when I did the short leaf....I barely noticed the stiffness, and lifted me
1.5in

then I did the long leaf and lifted me just over 2in...and that's when I felt
the stiffness.....but I like it haha

:salute:

I would like to do the add a leaf because of the cost but my driver side is becoming inverted so I kind of just want the whole pack or maybe have them re bent.
 






you could also do an add a leaf.....in the past I have done a double
add a leaf.....and it lifted the truck almost 4in.....stiff, but lifted high.

just an option.

when I did the short leaf....I barely noticed the stiffness, and lifted me
1.5in

then I did the long leaf and lifted me just over 2in...and that's when I felt
the stiffness.....but I like it haha

:salute:

Are you talking about something like this http://www.ebay.com/itm/180833450176?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
for the long add a leaf?
 






I guess I'm not quite sure why you wouldn't use just the whole F 150 pack with 5 leaves, considering it's the same length and width.

As I look at it, you will have a much higher spring rate and if you wanted the springs so stiff that it rode like a 3/4 truck you might as well get a 3/4 ton truck. (yes, I know its a 1/2 ton truck spring, but its SUA AND on a 1/4 ton truck)

The trick as I see it is finding the spring rate that works for you.. Comparing OME springs to a full f-150 pack is comparing springs with 2 different goals. One (OME) is for flex and ride while the f-150 is for weight carrying capacity, not flex or ride.

~Mark
 












Maniak,
You make valid points, and you have helped me with other things in the past and I appreciate that but if I could afford a 3/4 ton truck I could definatley afford the OME springs, but I can't. I'm simply trying to look for the most economical way to replace my springs and get a little lift while I'm at it.

I'm thinking probably the cheapest way to go about it is to have my springs re arched and then put a long add-a-leaf on. I'm not concerned about stiffness really. I guess I'm just trying to weigh out my options here. Junkyard route or add-a-leaf.
 






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