Anyone have experience with the ARB/OME leafsprings?

[Vdawg1115]

As the title states. Only info I have found was that they're listed as 0.75" lift but are actually 2-2.5". Also read somewhere that they crack/break fairly easily?? Just want some opinions from experience.

 

[GreatDaneHummer]

I have them on the rear of my H3 and not had any issue for 16k miles on them both on road and off. When I first put them on they where about 1" - 1.25" high but after some heavy loads now of carrying 1k lbs skids they are pretty close to .85"-1" ... Besides being very expensive I don't see anything wrong with them. You could most likely have custom ones made for the same price.

 

[Vdawg1115]

I have them on the rear of my H3 and not had any issue for 16k miles on them both on road and off. When I first put them on they where about 1" - 1.25" high but after some heavy loads now of carrying 1k lbs skids they are pretty close to .85"-1" ... Besides being very expensive I don't see anything wrong with them. You could most likely have custom ones made for the same price.

I am debating between them or an Add-a-leaf. Only thing about the AAL is I am afraid I might lose some articulation. Can anyone confirm that?

 

[GreatDaneHummer]

I think CJ at Thorparts has that on his SOA. I think a few others have also. I have seen CJ's H3 in person flexing to hell and back so I would not worry about it. Hope you don't mind but you do know it will make a little stiffer ride right? Both the add a leaf and the ARB leafs are a little stiffer than stock. To give you an idea the difference; I sometimes pick up a skid of metal for work at 1,000 lbs that fits in the back of my H3. When I had the stock leafs it hung down about -5 to -10 degrees from a +5 to +10 degrees rake when the weight was added. Now I go from +5 to +10 degrees to 0 degrees with the truck sitting flat when the weight is added. Not a huge difference but its something.

 

[Vdawg1115]

That's actually the reason why I want to add an AAL or do the ARB/OME springs. If I am on a trip I always have my toolbox which is pretty heavy. Add camping gear (rooftop tent, Jerry cans, coolers) it adds up

 

[GreatDaneHummer]

You could always air bag the rear? Hard to see from this photo but I am fully loaded with tools, spare parts and enough food/water for a week for 2 plus 20 gallons of fuel.The rear is still sitting up higher than the front about 5 degrees.

 

[Panzer07]

Definitely airbags... Firestone makes a kit still have to research that but the big red sas h3t cj build had them intalled...I like the fact u can adjusted the air pressure as well so they can be tune to work good for off road loaded and unloaded and there are some cups that u can install so the airbags is only bolted in on end and have the other end free this way u don't limited flex .

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[Vdawg1115]

Definitely airbags... Firestone makes a kit still have to research that but the big red sas h3t cj build had them intalled...I like the fact u can adjusted the air pressure as well so they can be tune to work good for off road loaded and unloaded and there are some cups that u can install so the airbags is only bolted in on end and have the other end free this way u don't limited flex .

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ok. I always thought airbags limited flex. I like the flex of an H3, wouldn't want to compromise that. With airbags I assume you need an onboard compressor or can you just hook one up when needed?

 

[Panzer07]

Big read were installed in independently air lines so they can be custom tune seperately and have a fitting so u can use personal compressor or the one at gas stations...and on board air system would be nice and efficient but not require if u have ur own compressor or gas stations.

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[Vdawg1115]

Cool. Looking into them now

 

[Panzer07]

Found the email from my conversation with cj

 

[Panzer07]

Updated the pic since the first ones cropped some of the conversation

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[GreatDaneHummer]

Can you post up the functional links so we can have the correct part number. This would be a very nice upgrade for anyone including myself.

 

[Panzer07]

Can you post up the functional links so we can have the correct part number. This would be a very nice upgrade for anyone including myself.

I ment to do that ahahahaha but got side tracked with work.

But here they are
Aitbags.
http://www.ebay.com/p/Firestone-2384-Suspension-Kit/115034224?_trksid=p2056116.m4097
Cradles
http://m.ebay.com/itm/281746752707?_mwBanner=1

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[4speedfunk]

Keep in mind that Big Red was a spring-over rig. Nightrod has bags on his Alpha with a Rancho kit...seems to work good.

Vdawg...that might be the most loaded up H3 I've seen in awhile. I got some used Hellwig helper springs you might try. $60 shipped.


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[Vdawg1115]

Keep in mind that Big Red was a spring-over rig. Nightrod has bags on his Alpha with a Rancho kit...seems to work good.

Vdawg...that might be the most loaded up H3 I've seen in awhile. I got some used Hellwig helper springs you might try. $60 shipped.


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helper springs? As long as they don't limit offroad ability.

 

[4speedfunk]

They're a pretty cool alternative to replacement springs or airbags. They don't really "lift" the ride height but, they do prevent sag under heavy loads. They are adjustable, and you can crawl underneath with a socket and make adjustments to the stiffness. I got them from Bebe many years ago...ran them for awhile...then removed them when I installed a Rancho kit. Now I'm SAS front and SOA rear and they've been sitting on a shelf for at least four years. Installation is super simple...no need to bust open your leaf packs. They simply bolt to the springs on each side of the axle. No real intrusion on off-roading ability however, I did "flip" the attaching hardware so the bolts pointed upward instead of downward like the instructions showed. I was worried the bolts would get hung-up on rocks and such.

I went to Hellwig's website and it appears they have completely re-named all of their kits. If I had to guess...these most closely match the EZ-1000 kit for Colorado/Canyons #1252...
http://www.hellwigproducts.com/hellwig-products/new-coloradocanyon-helper-springs-released/

 

[Romeo]

So I spoke with Rancho to warranty my leafs and they no longer have have them available. I am also looking into either have new leafs made or adding a helper leaf or air bag....


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