New Metric Ton Leaf springs - 1500lbs?

[Salvagedcircuit]

My stock leaf springs are shot. If I stand on the bumper my back end nearly bottoms out. No cracked leafs, just very well warn out.

I have an '88 LWB. I was going to grab a set of metric con leaf springs from rock auto but they are dorman and dayton, and I don't know how great the quality will be.

I called up general spring and they are telling me they just import leaf springs now and there are no stock of any comanche leaf springs.

I called up st. louis spring and they will literally make anything you want, which is awesome.

I asked them for the largest available oem spring for the comanche, and they told me it was a 1500lb 3+2 config spring.

I thought they were rated for 1700lbs a piece?

 

Based on the dorman numbers and this thread, they should be 1700lbs:

 

I placed my order for the largest spring + a military wrap (double wrap on the by the bushings)

 

Debating whether or not to call back and correct the guy to make sure I get a 1700lb spring, but I have no drawings or specs for the spring.

 

[schardein]

I had not heard that General Spring is now importing their product. I find that interesting. 
 

I have been to both General Spring in KC, and St Louis Spring. Neither of them are manufacturing facilities. I doubt very much they are making you a spring. They are importing it from somewhere. I know this isn’t what you asked, but several years ago I bought the military wrap metric ton springs from General Spring, and picked them up in person. Back then, they claimed their springs were made in USA, but the pallet they were on was marked Mexico. 

 

I would shop around for the least expensive price, because I would bet they were all the same thing, made in the same place.

[Salvagedcircuit]

I already placed my order from St.Louis Spring. Ironically, the original non military wrapped 3+2 spring was quoted at $250, which is nearly the same price as the Dorman 97-571 on rockauto. I paid extra to get the 3+2 military wrapped version. I'll just have to see how it goes. I don't think I got ripped off at all. I just hope at least my money is going to the right folks and that I don't get taken on shipping.

[gogmorgo]

Looking at their website they claim they can ship orders within 24-48 hours. Seems more likely they’d be building them. But you never know.

Rear axle rating on a metric ton truck is 3400lbs. The springs don’t carry the weight of the axle or wheels/tires although 400lbs seems like a touch generous estimate for stock components… but not outlandish, I’d guesstimate at closer to 350.
Would be interesting to know where they’re pulling specs. They do mention doing their own forensics, and building springs based on old broken stuff, and I can see an older worn spring testing 12% shy. Or AMC excluding unsprung weight in their original design and the cheap aftermarket suppliers simply pulling from axle ratings to design their product.

I’m sure they’ll be fine, unless you regularly put 2000lbs in the bed. If it’s not originally a metric ton truck you still can’t legally exceed your original axle weights anyhow no matter what mods you do, so it may be moot if that’s the case. 

[Salvagedcircuit]

It looks like St. Louis Spring updated their website. They do indeed make the springs in house in the USA.

 

Website:

https://saintlouisspring.com/

 

Video:

 

I'm glad I gave them my money and not some shady importer. I paid for the springs out of my own pocket. If I were to do this all again, I'd definitely give them the leaf spring Spring Research Engineering spec sheet and they would probably make it to spec.

[Awesome]

For anyone else following this, your local (semi) truck shop can also make you springs. I went to one when I was getting square u-bolts made for my YJ. He offered to make me a whole new set of springs for my YJ.

[JYau]

On 5/20/2023 at 12:08 AM, Salvagedcircuit said:

I already placed my order from St.Louis Spring. Ironically, the original non military wrapped 3+2 spring was quoted at $250, which is nearly the same price as the Dorman 97-571 on rockauto. I paid extra to get the 3+2 military wrapped version. I'll just have to see how it goes. I don't think I got ripped off at all. I just hope at least my money is going to the right folks and that I don't get taken on shipping.

How much extra were the Military Wrapped version? What was the shipping cost?

[Salvagedcircuit]

1 hour ago, JYau said:

How much extra were the Military Wrapped version? What was the shipping cost?

I go into further details here: