Scope of delivery 1 spring
Conventional 4WD leaf springs are often thick, heavy, uncomfortable, and noisy, offering little to no flex. In response, Terrain Tamer developed its 4WD Parabolic Leaf Springs , which apply carefully researched design and modern technology to a well-established idea from the truck industry.
The parabolic springs , which use new technology for an old design, ensure a comfortable ride whether the vehicle is fully loaded or empty.
- Lighter - Less unsprung mass
- Fewer shocks - Less shock load on the differential gear
- Quieter - The wings do not touch
- More comfortable - Better flexibility
- Strong - Exceptional load-bearing capacity
Parabolic springs typically contain fewer leaves than conventional leaf springs and owe their name to their tapered "parabolic" design, meaning they are thicker in the middle and thinner at the ends. Terrain Tamer has applied its own carefully researched design and modern technology, using a special grade of steel to develop its parabolic springs specifically for 4WD vehicles, which are already well-established in the truck industry.
Conventional heavy linear leaf springs can also be uncomfortable and noisy, and pose a safety concern because they have little to no flexion effect. This means that when a driver hits a bump or finds themselves in a rough off-road situation, the stiffness of the leaf spring causes the opposite wheel to lift, spin, and lose traction, interrupting travel and effectively endangering the driver. With a parabolic spring, the tapered design of each leaf allows for a more even distribution of load across the entire spring, and each leaf can work independently with improved flexibility without compromising load-bearing capacity, keeping all four wheels on the ground.
This parabolic spring design eliminates the weight of the often heavy, thick, traditional leaf packs and drastically reduces the vehicle's unsprung weight, essentially freeing up the weight needed for practical use. This lower unsprung weight helps solve the maximum permissible mass issue and achieves a more comfortable ride when the vehicle is unladen. This accommodates the diverse and ever-changing applications for which modern four-wheel drive is used, freeing up weight for towing heavy loads, hauling tools, or touring with the family. The parabolic shape also provides better axle articulation and almost no friction between the leaves, allowing the springs to compress and rebound easily without touching each other until a reasonable load is applied to the vehicle. This feature not only means the springs are quieter but also helps minimize problems with rust formation, which can be a major cause of failure with conventional leaf springs.
The parabolic design allows the spring to flex while maintaining the strength needed to support the weight of heavy loads. This is especially useful in four-wheel drive applications that carry excessive load on the driveline, or in difficult terrain. The parabolic spring's flex allows it to give slightly when the driver hits a bump, allowing the differential case to rotate with the springs and effectively providing a smoother ride, reducing the shocks transmitted to the crown gear and pinion, preventing the wheel from spinning, and maintaining safety and driveline. The same force with a standard leaf pack would almost certainly cause more shock to the vehicle and driver.