Tera's New Fiberglass YJ Springs

[akamcbird]

Tera's New Fiberglass YJ Springs I'm qurious...

http://www.4wheeloffroad.com/techarticles/suspension/131_0702_jeep_yj_fiberglass_leaf_springs/index.html

[JeeperjohnfromPA]

Fiberglass? Whats wromg with metal?

[Oizarod115]

Fiberglass? Whats wromg with metal?

 

noffin, but they claim less than half the spring weight, more flex, orbital eye ends instead of bushings and still tough :popcorn:

 

you got my attn.

[JeeperjohnfromPA]

I'd be one of those skeptical types :roll:

 

But, I keep my Jeeps pretty much stock anyhow.

 

Hopefully I'll get arround to throwing in some Roughcounty add a leafs in the rear of my YJ. I bought a whole set (front and rears), couple years back when I added the meyers plow. I put the fronts in right away to help with the added weight, but never made the time to do the rears.

 

If I ever get this MJ on the road!

[panama red]

hmmm, fiberglass? looks scary, I'll stick with steel for now.

[Tracker]

I can just imagine the first time cavemen inventors tried to tell their buds that metal was better for tools:

"Hmmm.. No tanx.. I thump head just fine with rock". :wrench:

[rockhardzj]

Maybe I should see if they want to do some testing for MJ's... not like my truck will be carrying much of a load often...

[feerocknok]

That's amazing.

 

I just showed these to my brother and he also commented on the fact that they'd flex well, but he feels that they may shatter if dropped on a rock, while steel springs would bend, as brought up by the article.

[akamcbird]

i should offer to field test them in sub zero weather.

[DirtyComanche]

Whatever type of fiberglass resin they used, it remians quite flexible, and seems to be very tough.

 

 

Honestly, I'd be most worried with abrasion resistance than anything else. Spring steel is very good for that, and composits notoriously aren't.

 

 

Somebody buy a set and flog the $#!& out of them.

[rockhardzj]

i should offer to field test them in sub zero weather.

Haha. There ya go! :cheers:

[rockhardzj]

Somebody buy a set and flog the $#!+ out of them.

I'm willing to test them if they so choose to make any for an MJ... :D I'll be sure to strap a set of regular leaf packs somewhere in the bed in the not-so-unexpcted event of one of those cracking...

[JOMJ87]

I wonder how those joints would act on the street. They look alot like RE superflex joints. I might be willing to make a steel set with a joint like that if i thought the street part would be OK.

 

Cole

[LEAD_NOT_FOLLOW]

Alcan is offering a similar type concept with the ends.

 

http://www.alcanspring.com/orbit-eye.htm

 

I'm sure you can get their famous MJ rear leaf packs with the orbit eyes. :brows:

[rockhardzj]

I wonder how those joints would act on the street. They look alot like RE superflex joints. I might be willing to make a steel set with a joint like that if i thought the street part would be OK.

 

Cole

I have a bunch of extra leafs out of various trucks laying around, I'm sure I can do a little testing with a set of RE superflex Joints. Just need some cash somehow for the joints...

[offroader461]

a buddy of mine has these on his YJ...amazingly hes dropped them directly onto rocks and never bent or shattered one....made me cringe and run for cover since i expected them to blow apart and send shrapnel everywhich direction...on road handling is quite nice...not to bumper and smooth

[Tracker]

A pretty good run of GM "X" body cars had single leaf fiberglass rear leafs. I forget the year(s) but I remember reading about them when they came out. I remember that they were reportedly more expensive than steel and made of epoxy resin, not polyester.

[87manche]

I'd not worry about them shattering, but I would be worried about long term abuse.

 

I tend to drag leaf springs over things a bit, and a few good gouges in that fiberglass could really threaten the integrity.

[pingpong]

My belief is anything under my rig is either a ramp or a skidplate... that goes for lower links and springs :brows: I agree long term abuse might be an issue.. especially in a place with lots of ledges