Super Springs... Read This

[rmjdrift]

dj, ya they do help greatly reduce it, but i also haul and tow our race car, so it would also help me in that situation.

[RunItHard]

Originally Posted by rmjdrift

dj, ya they do help greatly reduce it.

Dito... They helped control the oscillation of the bed bounce so it didn't become a problem like it was before I installed the springs.

[rtql8]

As RunitHard mentioned, the applications charts may be wrong on some websites, I mentioned that to Got-Chrome.com as their website still says SSA14.

[djp4]

Well I don't really tow much, that's why I was wondering about the SSA7's? I'd hope they help the same with bed bounce as the SSA11's do?

Thanks

[FaithsDad]

Hey guys,

I finally spoke to Super Springs... and the basic gist I got was "this product is not designed to do that, but we've heard that they may reduce "bed-hop" and would be a good side-effect when they are installed."

That led me to to another resource which suggested "Sulastic Rubber Springs" which he'd seen at SEMA.

I researched it, printed out what I could and brought it to my meeting this morning.

I had my meeting with the Toyota Rep, we test drove, he took some video, and he took the information I'd printed out on the Sulastic product. In a nut shell, he said that he definitely felt that I met the "bed hop" criteria and that we needed to find a solution.

He also said that "not many" people have actually taken it as far as a formal compliant, so they don't see it at as being a major problem either.

He acknowledged that Toyota most likely needed to sacrifice some "no load" ride comfort in order to get the 10.5K payload rating.

It probably would have gone off without a hitch except for the concrete highway joint distance / 65 MPH speed / Tundra wheel base = oscillation problem that has come up.

After reading the Sulastic info, he seemed to think it was a promising product to use as a solution for our problem... he told me that he was going to research it, and pass it up the ladder. My impression is that "if" these work on a test vehicle, they may qualify for a reimbursement from Toyota... BUT (and there always is one, isn't there) since they are not a certified TOYOTA part... they wouldn't be able to furnish them as a solution for the near future.

I'm probably going to install them since the have a "30 day money back guarantee" (after I find out exactly what that actually means in $$ terms!!) and see if they work for me.

Hopefully they do... Toyota thinks so too... I get reimbursed... and everyone else gets to benefit from finding the solution.

Here is a link to the Sulastic site so that you can read it for yourselves.

https://www.sulastic.com/default.aspx

I will post my impressions after I get them on my ride... have a great weekend.

[rmjdrift]

Nice work bro, keep us informed

[RunItHard]

Originally Posted by FaithsDad

He also said that "not many" people have actually taken it as far as a formal compliant, so they don't see it at as being a major problem either.

You should refer him to this and other Tundra forums... There are plenty of posts from many owners who know it's a problem.

The SuperSprings help because they pre-load the stock springs slightly, and also start to work in concert with the stock leafs as the bed starts it's amplitudinal ocsillation. When this happens the frame rails encounter increased resistance over the stock spring configuration and doesn't allow the bed and frame to travel as far down or away from the axle.

Let us know how they work out. I had a buddy who put them on his Tundra work truck; he's a Plumber, and he took them off a short time later. They do look like they'd soften a bumpy ride.

[FaithsDad]

Run,

I definitely referred him to this site and he also knew of "tundrasolutions" (??), as a matter of fact I gave him and the Service Manager at the local dealership hard copies out of this entire thread. I admit that I was motivated by the need to say "look... other people are out there complaining about the same thing... AND I AM NOT SOME WHACK-JOB complaining that my truck doesn't ride like an Caddy!!"

That's basically what the tech at Super springs said... he called it a beneficial side-effect and said that they couldn't give a "hard-number" percentage of vibration reduction to expect .

I don't know if either product (or a combo) will stop the oscillation, but I'm hoping something does.

I just reread the email I got from the Sulastic Rep and he called these things "rubber isolator type rear leaf spring shackle replacements." So I assume they are working the opposite side of the fence by dampening the vibration "preload" instead of preloading the springs?

You being the "car guy" would know better (and that's why I am here picking our brain!)

I do remember the Toyota Rep saying he liked the "idea" of them because once the shackle bottoms out, the stock Toyota leaf springs would take over as if the shackle wasn't there... and in effect, it didn't change anything but the preload ride.

I'd like to know why your buddy took them off, because at this point I don't have any feedback from an user... only the website and the Sales Rep (and we all know how UNBIASED their opinions are)

And again, thanks for starting this thread... I'd be chasing my tail for a few more weeks without it!!!

[rmjdrift]

You know the best solution is better highways, lol

The Sulastic set-up looks like it might make things a bit to soft for carrying a large load. Just based on their design, and my experience setting up suspensions, it's giving the leaf spring another pivot point, for normal driving this will probably work great but I think under heavy load (bed weight,hauling, towing) it might be to soft, this is where I believe the SUper Spring design is better for those of us that are hauling and towing

[FaithsDad]

Drift,

I totally agree! Better roads... and add a few lanes for the people who can't seem to drive the speed limit!!

I appreciate your comments... I've never set up a suspension.

Although, my impression from the Toyota Rep was that under a heavy enough load the shackle would bottom out and the ride would revert back to factory feel?

Did I get that wrong? Why would it seem soft IYO?

I understand the better handling when your hauling/towing... thats the idea behind SuperSprings.

If you haven't already... could you put some thought into installing both?

Thanks in advance

[rmjdrift]

Faith, I would love to install a set here, but ain't got the funds right now to add them on my truck, but the Super Springs are deffinately my choice for what i use the truck for. Now Run-it is a great source for the SuperSprings as he also has experience setting up suspension for road course cars and uses his truck daily.

The Sulastic's, by what i have seen on thier site, add a joint to the leaf springs set-up allowing for more flex and absortion, now this would most likely work great under normal driving and not carrying much, but since the design of the leaf spring is to hold weight, if you add a flex point when weight is added it will tend to sag. THis is my opinion and just using some logic, obviously the suspensions on performance cars are completely different, but watching their video, that shackle moves really easy I wonder how it would look like under a full load or towing a trailer.

[RunItHard]

Originally Posted by FaithsDad

I'd like to know why your buddy took them off, because at this point I don't have any feedback from an user... only the website and the Sales Rep (and we all know how UNBIASED their opinions are)

My buddy took them off because he said they made his (07 Tundra) utility truck's ride feel "too mushy". And he didn't like the way the truck handled during spirited lane changes, emergency stops and banking on high speed freeway transitions. (He lives in SoCal by the way.)

He said they were good for reducing the harshness of the ride, but the trade off in handling safety wasn't worth it to him since he's always hauling heavy equipment and materials. He also went with SuperSprings after I recommended them, and he said they solved his problems. A little stiffer ride, but much better handling.

Please bear in mind that he doesn't have a typical stock factory bed. He's got a utility bed with a heavy overhead rack and tool boxes hanging on the outside of where our normal beds stop, and he's hauling a lot of extra weight, so this is not your typical daily commuter truck.

[FaithsDad]

Hey guys,

Thanks for the input... now I have even more to think about! (LOL)

I guess my situation is not as extreme as yours. As a contractor, I need a lumber rack and a camper shell... but the camper shell is more for security (you know, that warm and fuzzy feeling you have you know your stuff is safe in the HD parking lot as you shop!! LOL).

My tools are portable (table saw, compound miter, and a multitude of hand tools) and probably will not amount to a whole lot of weight. The extra towing capacity isn't the reason I bought the truck.

I needed the truck because of it's 8' bed... and that's it.

I have one or two more resources that I need to pick the brains of before I pull the trigger on installing one of these two products.

At least now I have some details on what to feel for in the "before vs after" driving behavior.

When I do, I'll definitely write in my impressions.

[rmjdrift]

Good luck man, and yes please let us know which way you go with this.

[TampaTundra]

awsome review and thinking of getting a pair. But did you say that when the truck has nothing in the bed or on the hitch, no load, the height dropped 1.5" after you put these on?