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ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: baltz526 on March 24, 2008, 06:29:49 PM

Title: samurai leaf springs
Post by: baltz526 on March 24, 2008, 06:29:49 PM
 i went to order new leaf springs for 4 corners and bushings for my 87. new arb leafs all parts added up to $370 got to final page and see the shipping options. cheapest is $270  >:( i'm not that stupid. (over night was $1050) so i did a search on the arb site. local les schwab is a dealer. went down today, they never heard of arb springs. have no listing as being a seller in the computer. they are supposed to research it and get back to me.  i'm not holding my breath
Title: Re: samurai leaf springs
Post by: Drone637 on March 24, 2008, 06:42:27 PM
If it is suspension, it will probably be listed under OME, or Old Man Emu.  What size springs where you trying to order?
Title: Re: samurai leaf springs
Post by: Bigzook on March 25, 2008, 10:09:29 AM
Where were you trying to order from? Hawk Suzuki carries OME springs. Shipping shouldn't be too bad to central Oregon. Hawk is in the Medford area.
Title: Re: samurai leaf springs
Post by: phloop on March 25, 2008, 06:27:44 PM
Schwabbys should be able to get them for you. As was mentioned, ask for the OME springs.
Title: Re: samurai leaf springs
Post by: blknight87 on March 25, 2008, 06:36:32 PM
http://lowrangeoffroad.com/samsuspparts.htm (http://lowrangeoffroad.com/samsuspparts.htm) is selling the rancho leaf springs, 1 1/2" over stock, made for sprung under, and you can easily flip the bolt pin for sprung over.....  400.00 bucks, with new bushings, can't beat that! check them out.......  thats what i am running, with 33's, and sprung over....  i'm lifted like 7 inches from it,  good ride, and better flex too!   
Title: Re: samurai leaf springs
Post by: baltz526 on March 27, 2008, 08:30:51 PM
les schwab got back to me. they will not sell arb springs no matter what name they are sold under (oem or dakar) they are not a dealer as of today. i looked at the site sponser parts first. one of them is where the $270 shipping came from. i'll check hawk
Title: Re: samurai leaf springs
Post by: Bigzook on March 27, 2008, 08:55:48 PM
I can't remember what I paid for shipping to Salem, but I guarantee I wouldn't have paid over 50.00.
Title: Re: samurai leaf springs
Post by: baltz526 on March 27, 2008, 09:58:20 PM
hawk: same springs different bushing set is listed at $429.90 you have to call for shipping price. which is why i was looking at other sites. i do most my shopping online where i can compare total prices. shipped to my shop
Title: Re: samurai leaf springs
Post by: Drone637 on March 27, 2008, 11:58:11 PM
I usually just order through Hawk as I enjoy their customer service.  :)
Title: Re: samurai leaf springs
Post by: Riceman on March 28, 2008, 02:26:17 AM
I ordered old man emu and bushing from Low Range and shipping was only about 75 to Canada.  Price was good.
Title: Re: samurai leaf springs
Post by: baltz526 on March 29, 2008, 12:49:51 PM
still can not put good price with cheap shipping. a couple places it would be cheaper to drive there and pick up, but they are top dollar price on parts. found one place with free shipping and $550 for $360 worth of parts.
Title: Re: samurai leaf springs
Post by: baltz526 on March 31, 2008, 09:21:43 AM
PROBLEM SOLVED. rancho front leaf springs rs44046, rear leafs rs44146  and front rs5167 and rear rs5119 shocks. 662.04 shipped. one of the internet parts brokers, (autoanything .com) shucks has the front and rear U-bolts rancho part numbers front rs716 rear rs717 $34.99 each. then i'll need a shackle kit and my suspension parts search will be over 
Title: Re: samurai leaf springs
Post by: blknight87 on March 31, 2008, 01:01:46 PM
glad to hear, hope you don't have to wait 3 weeks like i did for one leaf spring from rancho.... they were completely out, and had to make one more rear... but glad to hear either way... good luck on the install.. you should like them.... ;)
Title: Re: samurai leaf springs
Post by: baltz526 on April 01, 2008, 09:18:58 PM
they shipped the shocks monday and i got the leaf spring back order  email today.
Title: Re: samurai leaf springs
Post by: blknight87 on April 04, 2008, 07:14:50 PM
AHH HAAA..........   MAYBE I CURSED U ON THE WAITING PART LOL...  sorry to hear that...  yea. i had to wait like 3 weeks for a damn spring pack......    whatever, i finally got it, and yea....  hope yours don't take that long!
Title: Re: samurai leaf springs
Post by: baltz526 on April 06, 2008, 09:51:33 AM
sitting in the shop is now a set of 4 rancho 5000 series shocks. back order on the leafs is the 15th to ship. that dosn't mean they will ship the 15th just that the back order will update every 15 days till they ship. with these springs i get 1 1/2" lift over stock, right now i'll guess i'm squated about 1 1/2" below stock, one spring in rear is 3/4" lower than the oposite side. with bad pinion angle due to bent springs
Title: Re: samurai leaf springs
Post by: baltz526 on April 11, 2008, 08:03:59 PM
now i have 2 rear leaf springs and 4 shocks sitting in the shop, with no word on the back ordered front leaf's
Title: Re: samurai leaf springs
Post by: flexmonger on April 12, 2008, 12:18:12 AM
 Cancel the order on the front springs and get another pair of  rancho rear springs. Put them on the front with missing links or a ruf kit from RRO.
Title: Re: samurai leaf springs
Post by: baltz526 on April 12, 2008, 10:22:55 AM
WHY would i want front springs that hard. i can just see the joy in taking a 70 mile drive on washboard gravel roads with a bad spring set up.
Title: Re: samurai leaf springs
Post by: TrakJD on April 12, 2008, 10:59:17 AM
Cancel the order on the front springs and get another pair of  rancho rear springs. Put them on the front with missing links or a ruf kit from RRO.

x2.  Like he said.  You will be alot happier at the end.  believe me.  :)
Title: Re: samurai leaf springs
Post by: flexmonger on April 12, 2008, 12:15:30 PM
  Rear springs are softer than front springs, remember that the front end is heavier. Rear springs are also longer which allows for more wheel travel. Why would you not want a softer ride with more travel?
Title: Re: samurai leaf springs
Post by: Drone637 on April 12, 2008, 12:37:19 PM
If you have a spare set of springs just pull the longest leaf and add it to your new spring pack for the RUF conversion.  That way you keep a pretty soft ride and it will support the extra weight.  :)
Title: Re: samurai leaf springs
Post by: baltz526 on April 12, 2008, 06:28:23 PM
when you say rear springs are softer than front, not according to the rancho specs. basicly the rancho matched set i bought are light duty front, medium duty rear, for a balanced ride with 1 1/2" of lift over new stock springs ride height, then i bought the matched rancho shocks for these springs. drivability is what i'm after. not articulation, not large tire clearance, not mud bogging ability, just good gravel road stability and high desert 2track ability. and tire chains clearance.
Title: Re: samurai leaf springs
Post by: Drone637 on April 12, 2008, 07:00:20 PM
One issue with the RUF conversion is the longer wheel base.  You are basically sliding your front axle 1.5" further forward.  This means you have to replace your shock towers and may have issues with your steering unless you run a high steer kit.

But even though the springs may be designed to hold a bit more weight, the 3" increase in length means the ride becomes quite a bit softer.  That is why YJ Springs are considered such a nice upgrade when it comes to on road comfort.  I know switching to the RUF made a huge difference in my SJ.
Title: Re: samurai leaf springs
Post by: flexmonger on April 12, 2008, 07:47:33 PM
when you say rear springs are softer than front, not according to the rancho specs.


  I do not know where you are getting your specs, but they are wrong. I have the rancho catalog right in front of me and I have used said combo on my rig. So I know first hand of the benefits and ride characteristics.
 front rancho springs RS44046: 256 lbs. per inch rating
 rear rancho springs  RS44146: 156 lbs. per inch rating

Which vendor is giving you this info? ???
Title: Re: samurai leaf springs
Post by: baltz526 on April 13, 2008, 08:54:46 PM
the specs came from rancho, but it was a total spring load per spring not a per inch rate. rear springs are higher total load than front. rancho calls the rear medium duty the front light duty, i could have ordered the extra leaf for the front, bringing them up to medium duty. giving them the same basic total weight rating. since the frame of the samurai is not in my opinion a heavy duty structure, i'm not putting heavy duty springs on it. i'll trust rancho's engineers to understand what will work on my 87 samurai. i have them on other rigs. back order is set to ship 4/24- 4/25 on front springs. your rancho book sounds like a great thing to have. it took hours on the internet finding a good deal, once i had all the part numbers i just googled them, picked the best price with shipping included. the parts where shipped from a warehouse in the same location as rancho is located. i have lived near this type of warehouse before, it was nice to be able to walk in and buy direct at the same price the auto parts stores paid
Title: Re: samurai leaf springs
Post by: Drone637 on April 14, 2008, 12:23:44 PM
I was playing around with a scale under my SJ last night.  Under the right rear wheel it weights 430 pounds.  But under the rear bumper it only weights 210.  So my axles and tires in the rear corner weighs as much as my SJ.  :D

Tuesday I plan on actually measuring all four corners and seeing what the rig weighs.
Title: Re: samurai leaf springs
Post by: baltz526 on April 14, 2008, 10:32:10 PM
are you using wheel scales like they use on race cars, that would be interesting.
Title: Re: samurai leaf springs
Post by: Drone637 on April 15, 2008, 01:45:26 PM
No, I was using an old bathroom scale we use over in the horse barn.  :D
Title: Re: samurai leaf springs
Post by: TrakJD on April 16, 2008, 09:35:11 AM
i'll trust rancho's engineers to understand what will work on my 87 samurai.

This made me laugh.  The leaf they designed... Its nice but way too stiff for me.  That's why I disassembled it added some stock springs to it.  A huge difference.  Better ride quality and hell it gave me 1" more lift.  There's trailtough, they sell bonz springs.  From what Ive seen and rode on my friend's samurai, I was impressed with thier design.  I personally think this is the best route to go instead of Rancho.  And alot cheaper too.  The rancho shocks are supposed to be that good, yet it has failed on me couple times.  That's why most of us use DoesTech shocks.

My point being, you're at a website where it combines all of the experts from all over the world.  Most of people on this board knows what their doing unlike the engineers at Rancho.  I would question the engineers at rancho.  :)

Title: Re: samurai leaf springs
Post by: baltz526 on April 16, 2008, 07:52:02 PM
i know i only have 30 years experience with auto parts and repair. so you might be right. what i know is, stock samurai leaf springs are crap. anything is an improvement. the second set of rancho leafs for the front shipped the 15th. i'm not making a lifted mud hog or rock crawler, just a fuel efficient off highway hunting rig.
Title: Re: samurai leaf springs
Post by: Drone637 on April 18, 2008, 01:20:56 AM
Post once you get them installed so we know how well they work.  A friend had the Calmini 5" Spring lift on his Sammy.  It was a little rough on the road, but stable as all get out.  It will be interesting to know how the Rancho kit works out.
Title: Re: samurai leaf springs
Post by: baltz526 on May 05, 2008, 08:47:43 PM
every 10 days i get a back order email from my supplier, on the front leaf springs. they have contacted rancho and rancho has none to ship. still waiting for the slow boat from colombia it looks like.
Title: Re: samurai leaf springs
Post by: Bigzook on May 06, 2008, 02:46:40 PM
Personally I like the Emu's WAY better than the stiff rancho's. They don't flex like crazy but then, flex is overrated in my book.
Title: Re: samurai leaf springs
Post by: baltz526 on May 29, 2008, 10:06:04 PM
finally got notification that rancho has shipped the front springs. 6/2 they should be in the shop. only on back order 2 full months.
Title: Re: samurai leaf springs
Post by: baltz526 on June 02, 2008, 09:45:34 PM
front leafs are in the shop. hope to start on the project soon
Title: Re: samurai leaf springs
Post by: lostsamurai on June 03, 2008, 06:00:41 AM
i'll trust rancho's engineers to understand what will work on my 87 samurai.

This made me laugh.  The leaf they designed... Its nice but way too stiff for me.  That's why I disassembled it added some stock springs to it.  A huge difference.  Better ride quality and hell it gave me 1" more lift.  There's trailtough, they sell bonz springs.  From what Ive seen and rode on my friend's samurai, I was impressed with thier design.  I personally think this is the best route to go instead of Rancho.  And alot cheaper too.  The rancho shocks are supposed to be that good, yet it has failed on me couple times.  That's why most of us use DoesTech shocks.

My point being, you're at a website where it combines all of the experts from all over the world.  Most of people on this board knows what their doing unlike the engineers at Rancho.  I would question the engineers at rancho.  :)

Agreed! couldnt have said it better myself :P


Title: Re: samurai leaf springs
Post by: baltz526 on June 05, 2008, 02:45:27 PM
new leaf springs and shocks are on, rides much better. now that i'm not in the bump stops on every bump , do to the worthless weak stock springs. gained enough tire clearance for the 235/75/15. i don't see what you mean by a too stiff ride. seems near perfect so far.  i installed rancho oil filled shocks, not high pressure gas ones, that might be your problem. the real ride test will be hitting a bad washboard road. i'll report then
Title: Re: samurai leaf springs
Post by: baltz526 on June 08, 2008, 07:00:49 PM
did a long gravel road run today, the difference in ride is very noticable. a lot of improvement. much more stable on the pavement also. if your looking to improve your suspension and maintain a close to stock ride hight. this seems to be a good set up.