OME 895: left and right spring?

[wolfgangk Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wolfgangk]

A few weeks ago I installed OME 895 springs. The springs were 3 months old, ~5.000km.

After installation I measured the height (ground to body through wheel center):

Right rear: 99 cm
Left rear: 98 cm

It seems that over time the left side sagged a bit further, as now it's only 96cm, while the right side remained at 99cm (Same level of load and fuel, same and even tire pressure, measured on even ground)

-> is there a right and left version of the spring or are they identical? How do you identify L/R? On the tag it only says OME985.

Did somebody experience the same issue? Swapping rear springs is not a big deal, but before I start getting dirty maybe somebody has some hints?

Cheers Wolfgang

[Chippy Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chippy]

I must admit I've never noticed a left and right side ..... and I did look.

It may be worthwhile swapping them over to see if it makes any difference.

Cheers
Chippy

[damonat Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close damonat]

a guess,
but i think you could have a failed spring.
with the sway bars connected (F&R) the car should sit pretty level.
for you to notice this drop so quickly,

it's a toss of the coin if you swap them;
eg1 leave the right higher- the driver being in the car more than passengers will settle/sag the RH quicker,
or
eg2 swap the higher to LHS- the pot holes and edges of the road will work and sag this side.

is the front of the prado level? as in the same measurements.
it shouldn't as the car is unlevel at rear, but is the fronts difference more than the rear?
maybe the front is unsettling the rear?

[wolfgangk Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wolfgangk]

The front is uneven by less than a cm, so I don't think this causes an unsettling of the rear.

It seems the quickest way to find out the cause it to remove the springs, check them and swap left and rear.

@ damonat: '... leave the right higher- the driver being in the car more than passengers will settle/sag the RH quicker...' This does not work in my part of the world (Germany), as my car is LHD

[damonat Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close damonat]

can you put your location in your profile

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

No not marked left or right.




What looks like even ground often isn't, try reversing into the spot you took your measurements and try again, could save you getting dirty!

If you still have a sag, then as suggested, try swapping the springs and park in the same spot when measuring, if the sag has also swapped sides it's time for a warranty claim.

Mick

Mick

[wolfgangk Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wolfgangk]

Hi Mick, I tried it on different grounds to avoid errors.

I will swap, then we'll see.....

[yetiboy01 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close yetiboy01]

Re: OME 895: left and right spring?

Lovells & King spring mark thier springs left & right, the right springs are slightley shorter to take in account the camber of the road, dont know about the OME springs but you would think they would be the same :?:

A few weeks ago I installed OME 895 springs. The springs were 3 months old, ~5.000km.

After installation I measured the height (ground to body through wheel center):

Right rear: 99 cm
Left rear: 98 cm

It seems that over time the left side sagged a bit further, as now it's only 96cm, while the right side remained at 99cm (Same level of load and fuel, same and even tire pressure, measured on even ground)

-> is there a right and left version of the spring or are they identical? How do you identify L/R? On the tag it only says OME985.

Did somebody experience the same issue? Swapping rear springs is not a big deal, but before I start getting dirty maybe somebody has some hints?

Cheers Wolfgang

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Kings

I've never seen any markings. I've done 4 sets of Kings into three different vehicles now.

Prado 90, Surf, Patrol and a Rocky.
All cars level.

I have OME and as said they are not marked. My Prado sits dead level.

I took my factory 120 springs out at low Klms and they had the same bar code stickers on both fronts (nothing on rears).

Can someone confirm whats the go with Lovells?

Mick

[yetiboy01 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close yetiboy01]

Seems strange, I have fitted 2 sets of King springs to my Pajeros & both sets had LS or RS just before the part number, same on the Lovells that I have fitted to my Prado. This was on the trouble shooting section on the King Springs site: Many Part numbers listed in the catalogue have a driver's side and passenger side and are marked accordingly.

Kings

I've never seen any markings. I've done 4 sets of Kings into three different vehicles now.

Prado 90, Surf, Patrol and a Rocky.
All cars level.

I have OME and as said they are not marked. My Prado sits dead level.

I took my factory 120 springs out at low Klms and they had the same bar code stickers on both fronts (nothing on rears).

Can someone confirm whats the go with Lovells?

Mick

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Tried to do a little follow up on this today.

I just couldn't see cars being set up for the camber of the road, after all we park the car on level gound to do our before and after hight measurements and we don't expect a 20mm droop on the drivers side to allow for roads.

Only had time to ring a friend who has his own mechanical workshop (He does 80% Pedders and the rest OME when doing suspension stuff)

He told me some cars springs are LH/RH but most cases the springs are the same.

In most cases it's leaf springs that are dedicated left or right side (because they are slighty physically different) example he gave was 2000 Hilux rears in OME are marked left and right yet the current model is not.

He also said some cars have such a bad weight distribution from the factory that they have different rate springs LH and RH side.

4wds that lean due to accessories(Tanks, tool boxs etc) are corrected with packers.

One persons opinion I know.

Anyone else got any info??

I'd like to clear this up as I've done a few installations now and I'm doubting my work now!! (Must have jagged the lot though as never had any problems with after measurements, raising or lowering)

Mick

[yetiboy01 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close yetiboy01]

MickL dont bother ringing around w/shops for second hand information, call the spring manufactur, they will set you straight, no guessing just the facts.