Composite Fibre Leaf Springs: Can they be used for off-roading?

ashutoshb · 26th June 2013, 08:25

Thanks for your inputs, Samurai, headers!

You are right, the angle is in the opposite direction. Will speak to Carnation guys today.

Samurai, If you look at the first picture, the size looks the same to me.

Also, is there a default angle one should keep, like 90 degrees? Or is it different for different requirements?

Samurai · 26th June 2013, 08:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashutoshb

Samurai, If you look at the first picture, the size looks the same to me.

Also, is there a default angle one should keep, like 90 degrees? Or is it different for different requirements?

I guess size was the wrong word to use. Even though the size looks same, they have very different cambering. Once installed, the angle at the shackle should look same as in my pic. That is the perfect angle.

ashutoshb · 26th June 2013, 08:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samurai

I guess size was the wrong word to use. Even though the size looks same, they have very different cambering. Once installed, the angle at the shackle should look same as in my pic. That is the perfect angle.

Will speak to Dr. Pawar about the cambering.

Quote:

Originally Posted by slalom

The vehicle is on a lift and the axle is suspended , in that case the spring is stretched and the shackle is angled inwards right ?

This is the current position:

Samurai · 26th June 2013, 09:49

They obviously gave the wrong CFL for your vehicle. You need a longer leaf with the right cambering.

Also, make sure the shackles are not tight around the leaf. There should be free movement. Since CFL is little wider at the end than the steel leaf, the OE shackle tends to restrict the movement. I switched from silent block to nipple type shackle to take care of it.

ashutoshb · 26th June 2013, 10:41

@samurai, I am sad and confused.

Samurai · 26th June 2013, 11:00

It took me 2 months to get the CFL working correctly on my Jeep. Have a little patience.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/4x4-ve...ml#post1517469

vnambiar · 26th June 2013, 11:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashutoshb

This is the current position:

Length of leaf does not look right, you need longer one for the vehicle. My shackles were free moving outwards.

Blue Thunder · 26th June 2013, 11:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashutoshb

I have ordered a set of CFLs from Dr. Pawar. Does anyone know a competent garage in Delhi / NCR? Don't want to take risk, let someone experiment on my car.

From your signature and the pics you have posted of your car, it seems to be a Sumo Grande. I am curious to know why you decided to go for CFL springs for the Sumo Grande.

(One of the best features of the Sumo family of vehicles, in the face of all its shortcomings, is the parabolic leaf-springs at the rear. They are not the conventional semi-elliptic leaf springs. They offer ride-comfort on par with coil spring suspensions. So, sorry to say this but, even the best-matched CFL springs will NOT give a better ride than the existing parabolic springs, at best , it will match the existing ride comfort).

Ride comfort of coil springs better than parabolic springs better than semi-elliptic leaf springs.

ashutoshb · 26th June 2013, 14:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Thunder

I am curious to know why you decided to go for CFL springs for the Sumo Grande.

I was really unhappy with the ride. With only me in the car most of the times, the ride was a little bumpy.

I did read about CFLs, but somehow missed on the fact that parabolic leaf-springs, the ones which I already had, are equally capable.

Now that I have bought the CFLs and have them fitted, will try what best can be done.

ashutoshb · 27th June 2013, 10:55

After seeing the photographs, Dr. Pawar says the suspension / springs of my 2011 Grande is different than the earlier versions.

Mine is 2011 Mk II. If this question would have been asked earlier, it would have saved me some time and trouble.

He has offered to replace the current CFls and fabricate new ones for me, free of charge.

I will continue to use the current ones and get the shackle position corrected in the meanwhile.

Rajith · 20th February 2014, 09:56

Friends,
Please share your experiences with CFL on yours vehicles under different conditions..to have a proper idea for new person planning to instal.

Bump-Stop · 27th November 2016, 06:45

Apologies on "bumping up" an old thread, but can someone please update on the present status of CFLs. Apparently they are now available in three formats: soft, rally and off road.

1. Is there any change or improvement in the reliability of CFLs for the front end?
2. Does the off road spec cater for additional stresses of winches and bumper?
3. Do these provide additional lift over stock springs? If so then how much?

Sawyer · 27th November 2016, 07:41

Good questions: the reason I decided to not change my stock set up is for reliability. One leaf breaks, you can still get by. Not so on the CFL.

I too would love to have the ride of the car tamed for on road use, particularly at the rear. So, for a slightly different reason, I echo the above questions based on today's state of affairs for these.

navpreet318 · 13th September 2023, 10:03

So as of today Dr.Nano, ARC, BlueGarage offer this composite leaf spring.

What has been the review of people who've been using it for long?
Especially those who got them installed in pick up trucks like isuzu and hilux.

How is the on road performance? Supple and controlled compared to the stock leafspring?

26th June 2013, 08:25	#346
ashutoshb Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: NOIDA Posts: 1,760 Thanked: 4,291 Times View My Garage	Re: Composite Fibre Leaf Springs: Can they be used for off-roading? Thanks for your inputs, Samurai, headers! You are right, the angle is in the opposite direction. Will speak to Carnation guys today. Samurai, If you look at the first picture, the size looks the same to me. Also, is there a default angle one should keep, like 90 degrees? Or is it different for different requirements?
	(1) Thanks

26th June 2013, 09:49	#349
Samurai Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bangalore/Udupi Posts: 25,831 Thanked: 45,591 Times View My Garage	Re: Composite Fibre Leaf Springs: Can they be used for off-roading? They obviously gave the wrong CFL for your vehicle. You need a longer leaf with the right cambering. Also, make sure the shackles are not tight around the leaf. There should be free movement. Since CFL is little wider at the end than the steel leaf, the OE shackle tends to restrict the movement. I switched from silent block to nipple type shackle to take care of it.
	() Thanks

26th June 2013, 10:41	#350
ashutoshb Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: NOIDA Posts: 1,760 Thanked: 4,291 Times View My Garage	Re: Composite Fibre Leaf Springs: Can they be used for off-roading? @samurai, I am sad and confused.
	(1) Thanks

26th June 2013, 11:00	#351
Samurai Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bangalore/Udupi Posts: 25,831 Thanked: 45,591 Times View My Garage	Re: Composite Fibre Leaf Springs: Can they be used for off-roading? It took me 2 months to get the CFL working correctly on my Jeep. Have a little patience. http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/4x4-ve...ml#post1517469
	(1) Thanks

27th June 2013, 10:55	#355
ashutoshb Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: NOIDA Posts: 1,760 Thanked: 4,291 Times View My Garage	Re: Composite Fibre Leaf Springs: Can they be used for off-roading? After seeing the photographs, Dr. Pawar says the suspension / springs of my 2011 Grande is different than the earlier versions. Mine is 2011 Mk II. If this question would have been asked earlier, it would have saved me some time and trouble. He has offered to replace the current CFls and fabricate new ones for me, free of charge. I will continue to use the current ones and get the shackle position corrected in the meanwhile.
	() Thanks

20th February 2014, 09:56	#356
Rajith BANNED Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: bangalore Posts: 655 Thanked: 724 Times	Re: Composite Fibre Leaf Springs: Can they be used for off-roading? Friends, Please share your experiences with CFL on yours vehicles under different conditions..to have a proper idea for new person planning to instal.
	() Thanks

27th November 2016, 06:45	#357
Bump-Stop BHPian Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Guwahati Posts: 92 Thanked: 62 Times View My Garage	Re: Composite Fibre Leaf Springs: Can they be used for off-roading? Apologies on "bumping up" an old thread, but can someone please update on the present status of CFLs. Apparently they are now available in three formats: soft, rally and off road. 1. Is there any change or improvement in the reliability of CFLs for the front end? 2. Does the off road spec cater for additional stresses of winches and bumper? 3. Do these provide additional lift over stock springs? If so then how much?
	(1) Thanks

27th November 2016, 07:41	#358
Sawyer Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pune Posts: 2,677 Thanked: 1,786 Times	Re: Composite Fibre Leaf Springs: Can they be used for off-roading? Good questions: the reason I decided to not change my stock set up is for reliability. One leaf breaks, you can still get by. Not so on the CFL. I too would love to have the ride of the car tamed for on road use, particularly at the rear. So, for a slightly different reason, I echo the above questions based on today's state of affairs for these.
	(1) Thanks

13th September 2023, 10:03	#359
navpreet318 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Dehradun Posts: 2,264 Thanked: 2,983 Times	Re: Composite Fibre Leaf Springs: Can they be used for off-roading? So as of today Dr.Nano, ARC, BlueGarage offer this composite leaf spring. What has been the review of people who've been using it for long? Especially those who got them installed in pick up trucks like isuzu and hilux. How is the on road performance? Supple and controlled compared to the stock leafspring?
	(1) Thanks