Dakar Leaf Pack: Bent???

Those Dakar leaf springs look normal to me. You will end up with a flat spot or negative arch at some point depending on what you have for weight at the rear of the truck.

The Dakar leaf packs have a warranty by the manufacturer not the distributor. If you have an issue you need to contact the manufacturer for a solution or a warranty claim. As many have said it appears normal. With you blasting the distributor 7 months after purchase, you may want to rethink your thought process and take everything into consideration.

 

Because a product has a common problem, does that make it acceptable?
Is there any other leaf springs that do this from normal use?
If I go to Home Depot/Lowe's/Wal-mart/Target/O'reilly/Ace/Blaine's/Tractor Supply/4WPW/whatever, & buy a light bulb, lawn mower, air filter, spray paint, bolt, window, floor cleaner, whatever, do I have them warranty it or do I contact the manufacturer?
Take your time, I'll wait.

 

You contact the manufacturer. My ryobi power washer took a shit 9 months after buying it, so I contacted them and got it sorted out. Home Depot wouldn't have helped me in any way.

 

Wrong. You could've walked out with a new one in less time it took you to call the Ryobi 1-800 number.

 

Sure thing. Anyways, my question from a few days ago stands. You asked if this was normal, we said it's normal, yet you won't accept that. The vendor you purchased from gave you a path of resolution, yet you continue to complain. So what's your next step?

 

But it doesn't have a problem. You got EL095R springs, which are riding at the lifted height (about +2.75" on 05-15 Tacoma) they claimed with the stated extra weight (0 to 330 lbs).

Some distributors do handle warranties for you. Not all, though. Depends on how things are set up. If you bought that Ryobi from a specialty tool vendor they may not have the same system as Home Depot. If you bought your OME stuff from 4 Wheel Parts they might have a different relationship with ARB/OME.

 

I have the 96R (supposed to carry 660 lb constant weight). I carry about 600 lb constant weight with shell, bumper, swingout, tools etc. My leafs had an ever so slight mustache from the first time the tires touched the ground. Mine rides nice and smooth with no issues.

I’d say what you’re seeing is normal. But I’m no leaf spring expert. Just going off of what I see on my truck.

 

I accept y'all say it's normal "for Dakar springs". Yes, I'll continue to bitch about a product that doesn't live up to it's hype.
Why y'all find it acceptable for "Dakar springs" to do this is beyond me.
Why's it okay for "Dakar" but doesn't happen with Pro Comp, Rough Country, Tuff Counrty, Skyjacker, Rancho, All Pro, Alcan & the list goes on. I worked in an off road shop & NEVER saw this issue, unless the springs were 20+ years old or just palin wore the fuck out.
I looked @ every truck in my work parking lot the other day & not a single set of leafs looked like this, including a 2009 Tacoma that's hauled all kinds of shit & had 145K miles on the stock springs.
Saying "it's normal for x product but not for any other same product" is like saying "I went to a party where everybody was smoking crack so smoking crack is normal".
No, it doesn't make sense.
I've owned, or @ least sold/installed/wheeled, almost every lift springs on the market. None have ever done this.

 

Find where OME is saying the springs are supposed to look perfectly elliptical and, if that's the case then sure, you have a point. You really should just sell them and buy what will make you happy. Life's too short to be upset about inanimate objects and things.

 

Why start this thread then if the amazing and all knowing @MolonLabeTaco already knew it’s not normal? Could’ve saved everyone a lot of effort.

 

Perhaps they were designed/engineered this way. Many manufacturers design products differently from their competitors for what they believe to be an advantage. Not being argumentative,
but that would be a logical reason why they are different from all others you’ve seen over the years.

 

When steel is formed into a particular shape, in this case a U with a mild flat spot in the center, then that shape is changed into a different form due to use/abuse/force, it's now weakened & it's life span is shortened.
Metallurgy is a good study. Read up lady & gents!
My "next step" is to continue to bitch about it. If that doesn't appease you then your "next step" should be to avoid this thread or put me on your ignore list. I think you'll have more fun watching this train wreck, though.
I answered @EatSleepTacos "next step" question so answer my question:
why is it okay for Dakars to do this but no other spring manufacturers springs do this?
Because it's OME & we should take it as gospel?
I've owned OME on 3 rigs (others were coil springs) so I'm not naive to their products or their history. I'm also aware that their coils sag a fuck ton after ~200 miles & to me that's a flaw as well. I'm not a 15 yo kid w/a learners permit that just got into this game. I am, however, new to OME leafs, hence the purpose to this thread.
@DaveInDenver
This doesn't consume me or take up any meaningful amount of time in my life. I don't feel well today so I'll be laid up in bed all day. I have plenty of spare time today to burst all the brain buster questions in this thread!

 

So you start a thread asking a question. Dont take anyones answers seriously because you have 25 years experience. Bitch about a distributor and dont want to call OME and continue to bitch.... seems productive.

 

Feel better man. I’m outta here because I don’t see this going anywhere productive. Good luck with arb if you decide to contact them.

 

Tried to be helpful and keep it civil. Get a foul mouthed, self absorbed, know it all rant by a stranger. I’m out. Good luck.

 

Just for fun

https://youtu.be/k7MayvvgYLA

https://youtu.be/RnUYX2aK96Q

https://youtu.be/14Swvw834jU

https://youtu.be/TRTONbgYcAU

 

So are you going to call ARB on Monday? Curious to know what they tell you.

 

My all pros standards look like that, and a few of my local friends with all pro leafs look like that also.

 

I kind-of see what you're saying about the shape of the spring, but my concern, just by looking at it, is that it seems to be the kind of thing where you may be looking at things relative to each other and filling in the gaps.

My question to you is this; have you actually held up something that is perfectly straight against it to see if it is, in fact, bowing upward near the middle? If you haven't confirmed it through an actual measurement, it may just be an illusion.

 

Just some friendly advice: Dont worry so much about what they look like. Most others have said its normal and have tons of miles on them. If the springs are performing the way you expect and give you the lift you expect, what does it matter if they are flat? They are under your truck anyway so the only people that will see them is you or your mechanic.