Coil over Leaf Suspension

Submitted: Thursday, Jun 07, 2007 at 14:48

ThreadID: 46390 Views:11252 Replies:3 FollowUps:14

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garyh

Hi, to all,
Could anyone please give me some advise or suggestions on fitting coil springs over leaf springs. Are they any good, how well do they work (if they work) I have only been able to find one firm that advertises the comfort suspension ADD-A-COIL.
I have not found any reviews or customer feedback. The Vehicle I wish to modify is a HJ61 Sahara. The aim is to improve the ride quality. I have recently fitted new shockies EFS. and that didn't help. I have no idea of what brand springs are under the girl, but they do look of good quality, tapered leaves etc. . The ride is quite harsh at this time.
Thanks in advance
Cheers Gary

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Reply By: Brew69(SA) - Thursday, Jun 07, 2007 at 16:51

Reply By: That Troopy Bloke (SA) - Thursday, Jun 07, 2007 at 17:18

Thursday, Jun 07, 2007 at 17:18

I have coils in the rear of my bus. Happy with the ride.
Got mine from Northern Springworks in Gawler SA.
Phone(08)85226122
email nthspringworks@ozemail.com.au
He also has an eBay store...Northern Spring Suspension Supplies.

Easy bolt-in fit. He can make them up to whatever you want.
Were only a couple of hundred bucks or so from memory.

Cheers
Glenn

AnswerID: 245418

Follow Up By: garyh - Thursday, Jun 07, 2007 at 18:28

Thursday, Jun 07, 2007 at 18:28

Hi Glen, Great thanks a lot email allready sent, found his ebay store but no mention of coil over leaf. Were the actual springs made by him or stock springs and made brackets.
Cheers Gary

FollowupID: 506463

Follow Up By: That Troopy Bloke (SA) - Thursday, Jun 07, 2007 at 18:59

Thursday, Jun 07, 2007 at 18:59

Gary I believe he makes them himself. That's what his business does, they are springmakers. He also makes the brackets from flat steel plate and polyurethane.
The top bracket replaces the bumpstop. The bottom bracket clamps on to the axle housing with u-bolts. I've got a pic here somewhere, can't seem to find it at the moment.

Cheers
Glenn

FollowupID: 506468

Follow Up By: garyh - Thursday, Jun 07, 2007 at 21:18

Thursday, Jun 07, 2007 at 21:18

Hi Glen,

Ok on that would have liked to see the photos, I will let you know how I go hope to be hearing from him soon.

Cheers Gary

FollowupID: 506508

Follow Up By: Member - Pesty (SA) - Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 18:40

Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 18:40

Hi Gary,
I have had Coil helper springs from Northern springworks for about 5 years, in fact recently replaced them after 250,000k when I broke one.
He has only seen 2 broken ones, mine and a roo shooting wagon.
I give them a fairly hard time so am not disappointed in them.
They are Aurora (spelling) springs from memory, I used the 14mm ones.
I think from memory I paid about $350 or there abouts for the kit including all the bushes and brackets.
The tapered leaf springs you have are probably the originals, which are made of very good quality steel.
I still have the originals, and have done 650,000k
You will however need the biggest and best shocks you can jam in there, on the back, to keep the rebound under control.
Very happy with mine.

Cheers Pesty

FollowupID: 507631

Follow Up By: garyh - Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 20:08

Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 20:08

Hi Pesty,

Thanks for the comments, I reckon that's who I will get them from, sounds like a great bloke, I want to find out if he can make or supply springs for the front as well, I will make my own brackets. What shockies are you using.

Cheers Gary

FollowupID: 507657

Follow Up By: Member - Pesty (SA) - Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 20:15

Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 20:15

Yes I have been going to fit a set to the front, but they would need to be mounted on the leaf as not to foul steering.
Havent had time to play with it though.
I use the shockers that he supplies, not sure of brand, good price and happy with performance.

Cheers Pesty

FollowupID: 507658

Follow Up By: garyh - Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 20:58

Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 20:58

Hi Pesty,
Thanks for the quick reply, Take a look at this site for ideas for front springs
www.freds4wd.com.au/comfort.html . Looks like a raised bracket on chassis and mounted on axle, I have been told it would require the flexible brake line to be relocated and lengthened.
Cheers Gary

FollowupID: 507687

Reply By: AndrewW - Thursday, Jun 07, 2007 at 23:39

Thursday, Jun 07, 2007 at 23:39

Hi,

I had an add a coil fitted to my 02 Hilux, by Outback Suspensions in Croydon, Victoria.

A bit of fiddling around, went back twice, once to press the leaf spring clamps together as the leaves were making a lot of noise, and once to remove some of the load carrying leaves to reduce height, Hiluxes are spring over so removing leaves reduces height. This cost a lot in labour as the springs had to all be removed a couple of times, but after all that, its the best suspension I have had on the Hilux. I also had heavy duty springs, but ditched them in favour or the OEM springs, and the coils. The vehicle initially raised up 3.5" on standard, removing the 2 load leaves reduce this back to a nice and legal 2" lift, exactly what I was after.

Very happy customer, but it did cost quite a bit. All up just over $1000 with the 2 return visits. The back of the vehicle actually works properly now, it carrys a load better, rides better both laden and unladen, and articulates much better offroad. Best of every world in my book. If I ever upgrade to a newer leaf sprung vehicle, I will definitely look at putting the coils on it too.

Andrew

AnswerID: 245539

Follow Up By: garyh - Friday, Jun 08, 2007 at 10:11

Friday, Jun 08, 2007 at 10:11

Hi Andrew,
Thanks for the comments, I have tried their website but its not working at this time I will try to find their phone number, may as well get several quotes. By the comments so far it seems I am on the right track.
Cheers Gary

FollowupID: 506623

Follow Up By: garyh - Tuesday, Jun 12, 2007 at 19:39

Tuesday, Jun 12, 2007 at 19:39

Hi again Andrew,
I spoke to Eddy today and he made some recommendations one of which was to a fit Koni long travel adjustable shocks, I was wondering what type of shockers you are running with your set-up. I also spoke to nth spring works He also seemed a nice chap, both places seem to know what they are about, makes decision making hard especially seeing their is a fair price difference.

Cheers Gary

FollowupID: 507247

Follow Up By: AndrewW - Tuesday, Jun 12, 2007 at 22:49

Tuesday, Jun 12, 2007 at 22:49

Hi Gary,

I already had Koni shocks on the vehicle when I went to see Eddy.

Eddy does good work, but he charges top $$$ I reckon. Considering my conversion consists of a few pieces of box section for the lower spring mount, and a top spring mount welded to the chassis, I paid a lot for it I reckon. Having said that, it does work really well.

If you have another guy from a spring works that has done this type of work before, and he is much cheaper, then I would say go with him. I reckon most of this conversion is in getting the right spring, and someone from a spring works can try many different springs to get the right one, whereas Eddy probably knows what type to spring to use for each particular vehicle.

Good luck.

Andrew

FollowupID: 507304

Follow Up By: garyh - Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 18:00

Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 at 18:00

Thanks again Andrew, Appreciate your comments, as all the comments I have received. I am still chewing it over, The shockers are probably the hardest thing to decide on. I had a bad experience with Koni's many years ago and it has left a bad taste etc.. I am also looking at adjustable tough dogs, and foam cell, To many choices not enough info. I will let you know how I go.

Cheers Gary

FollowupID: 507622