Spring Assistance Please help!

[Quest Ferguson]

First let me say that I was predominantly a coiler Rover guy located in Northern California in the US. I am posting this for a non computer savy friend as I have not YET joined the ranks of Bezel owners.

My friend is running into the issue of spring replacement choices. There are plenty of good traditional brands and even a couple reputable custom manufacturers of traditional multi-leafs available. But the conflict relates to his interest in parabolic springs. Hence directing this question overseas.

Vehicle: 1974 bj40, 2h, 5spd (h55f if i recall correctly), fj60 axles, 9.00-16 STA Superlug. It has a MAF front bumper with warn 8274-50, MAF rear twin swing bumper(spare, 2x diesel can, 1x water can).
It currently has an old lift of unknown manufacture.

I do not happen to have the front and rear axle weights, (loaded or unloaded for trips).
This is both a daily driver and trail vehicle.

He is interested in possibly extending the wheelbase to 96-100 inches using fj60/custom springs OR using parabolic springs. 

For anyone running, or who has run parabolic springs have you approached this kind of load and what were your experiences?

Thank you in advance. Quest 

[Jonathan Tee]

Welcome Quest, a few of us are using Haystee parabolic springs from Paul Haystee in the Netherlands, initially these were fitted without a rear load spring, but were found to be too soft in the rear with an overlanding load, (packing system, 40l fridge, gear, food, drink and water 40l, and a 2nd 90l rear tank, from Longranger in Aus - so 170-180l of fuel + the weight of the tank) so load springs were ordered.

http://www.gotbezel.com/index.php?topic=85.msg1284#msg1284



The bad news is however that Haystee no longer make parabolic springs for the J4's  although he still has them on his site http://www.parabolicsuspension.com/toyota/lc40.htm  you could always email him and ask.

[Quest Ferguson]

Thank you Jonathan for you response. I am aware of Haystee's situation and was under the impression, which may or may not be true any more, that if a group order of 30+ sets came through they would then be available.

I forgot to mention that there is also future interest in extended range tanks. Under both front seats, something similar to the Longranger, or possibly both. The thought is still up in the air. 

As you can imagine we are quite concerned with load carrying capacity AND (I forgot to mention) stability when towing a small camping trailer. Thus I am reaching out in the hopes that I can find someone who has had prior experience and is willing to share their knowledge.

Did you find the addition of the load spring to be sufficient?
Do any members use the parabolic springs under a hopefully similar load AND tow?

Thank you. Quest

[Jonathan Tee]

No towers here 

We found the Haystee design load spring to be sufficient, and one member even removed the previously tried airbags (firestone airhelpers) from the rear, as they limited articulation.

[Adolf Hüster]

As per JT's quote above, see my vehicle on the right with Heystee Load Leafs, loaded for our first bezel trip, one pax only. Could not do that without the load leaf! Also the green on the left has the same setup, but not good visible on the picture.

[Philipp Becker]

Hi all !

Spoke to Haystee some 6-8 month ago and asked him to put me on a list for sprongs (30 orders).

No reply so far 

[Quest Ferguson]

Adolf could you please clarify what you mean by "one pax only."

For those of you who run Hystee springs do you think they provide enough lift to clear 9.00-16 bias ply tires when flexing?

At this point I am not optimistic about the availability of Hystee springs but there is still Westrailia and possibly All Terrain Warriors. Are there any other companies around?

I must say that I am disappointed that the old leaf LC don't have the aftermarket support for parabolic springs that the old Series Rovers do.

[Jonathan Tee]

One pax = one person.

[Adolf Hüster]

For those of you who run Hystee springs do you think they provide enough lift to clear 9.00-16 bias ply tires when flexing?

Yes, should be no problem. Could not get 9.00 -16 on tyre calculator, but used 9.5 - 16 instead to compare!

I run 33 x 12.5 x 15, with 4inch Heystee Lift. No problems either!

[Theo Marx]

Quest, as opposed to going via an Aussie company, has your friend considered the locals like Hell Creek suspensions ? They might not be parabolic but they are top notch ito flex, ride quality, load carrying and service - check out the USA forums and you will see 

[Quest Ferguson]

Adolf - The tires are STA SuperLug bias ply.  For reference when new those 9.00-16 tires are ~36.5" tall and section width is ~10.5"

Theo - At the moment we are still comparing multi-leaf to parabolic with some hope.  Though for practical reasons we may have to use a local company whether the springs are off-the-shelf or custom.

FORGOTTEN QUESTION
Will any of the parabolic springs even provide enough lift to clear 9.00-16? For reference when new those 9.00-16 tires are ~36.5" tall and section width is ~10.5"

[Theo Marx]

FORGOTTEN QUESTION
Will any of the parabolic springs even provide enough lift to clear 9.00-16? For reference when new those 9.00-16 tires are ~36.5" tall and section width is ~10.5"

I seriously doubt that any standard 4" liftspring, whether Parabolic or not, will clear 36.5" tyres.Either go 5/6"custom or SOA, me thinks.Most guys on MUD just go SOA in order to fit those.There are guys running 35" x 12.5 tyres on 4" Hell Creek setups but I think 36.5" might just be too much when loaded