Dakar Leaf Pack: Bent???

When you went wheeling did you by chance flex out on the rear? Reason im asking is that i usually see the springs take this shape after flexing pretty hard without bump stops, thus de arching the spring at one point or another.

 

Though this does seem to be a normal looking set of Dakars I personally would recommend reaching out to ARB since they do handle any warranty claims directly. This way you go right to the horses mouth so-to-speak and see what they have to say about the arch of the leaf packs. Here is their phone number for you 425-264-1391. I don't like to push anyone off in anyway but they do handle these things directly so it is just a better more seamless approach.

 

The pic in my avatar is the hardest it's been flexed & the bump-stops were installed.
Thanks.

 

yea its normal, thats what springs do.

 

@MolonLabeTaco heres what mine look like after 35k.

 

I have to strongly disagree with this. I've never had a set of leaf springs do this after 25 years of driving 4wd trucks, from an S-10 to a 1 ton dually, & 100's of 1,000's of miles. Even towing a ton of different trailers from a 4' trailer that weighs 300 lbs. to a 40' enclosed trailer weighing almost 20K lbs. loaded.
I've never seen a set of leafs springs shaped like this, especially in 10K miles towing nothing.

 

Didn't you notice the flat section over the spring perch when you put them on? That's how OME springs have been made for a long time. They're not perfectly elliptical.

 

I have zero weight besides the same Bumper/spare and mine ride decent and do not have any negative arch.

 

This is the shape of them when I received them.

If OME intended for them to be S shaped, they'd of made them that way. They're clearly arched liked almost all other leaf springs.
New they did have more of a flat section ~3" on each side of the pin than most leafs I've had but it's much more pronounced now. It's like they're already wore out.

 

Yes I did but now they arch like a W instead of a U.

 

Man..how does one do that...

 

You asked us if it’s normal in the OP. Everyone is telling you it’s normal for Dakar’s yet you refuse to accept that. Well, now what?

 

The vendor who sold them says what to do - call OME. There'll be disagreement with what they inevitably say (it's normal for Dakars). At which point all that's left is to recommend removal and selling them to get Alcan/Deaver/All-Pro.

 

And Headstrong also mentioned the correct (best) course of action

 

This is normal for Dakars...I have had mine over 5 years, over 90k miles and they look the same.

You can always put your stock ones back on, if you don't like the way your springs look.

 

Other than more lift , what is the advantage to the average guy, of these springs over stock? They carry no extra weight and sag if you put anything at all in the bed? What do these cost plus U-bolts, brake lines, bushings and install?

 

They flex more than stock leaf pack when paired with a longer shock, such as Bilstein B110. This is very handy if you off road.

 

Are you speaking from experience?
I have loaded my bed with well over 1800lbs and these springs handled it perfectly. I have really good articulation, for the stiffness of these springs.
Absolutely better than stock........a bunch of broken springs at your local dealer would agree with me.

Edit: when I got mine a while back, they were $412 for both leaf packs.....I know they are more expensive now.

 

Generally that's always the question. The stock springs have a particular ride height and load capacity. The medium OME ride higher and have slightly higher capacity but more or less will have a similar ride quality to stock. The heavy OME will give lift and let you carry yet more weight. Same with any leaf packs, you're mixing and matching ride quality, ride height, weight carrying to achieve what you want. The reason people want lifted springs is that they are longer, which means they increase the amount of wheel travel (although how much is limited by the shackle geometry).

 

I'm speaking based on the experience of not being able to put more than a few hundred pounds extra (people or cargo), anywhere in the truck and not bottoming out with the stock 2 leaf + overload . I don't know if the OP is at that point yet but it seems like he probably will be. I have not had that situation now after a change to the factory four leaf spring plus the 3 leaf aal (stock overload removed) I just carried a good half yard of wet bluestone crush and run with no problem at all and that isn't the first load I've carried. The bed is empty normally. I bought the springs used and have had them installed for about two years. I have no measurable sag. Maybe I'm missing the point of the upgrade here other than lift. Perhaps as he said he has a bad set. In hindsight he probably should have had the heavy pack from the start.