TERRAIN TAMER HEAVY DUTY PARABOLIC SPRINGS

The springs are proving very popular

Traditional 4WD leaf springs are often thick, heavy and clunky, adding to the weight of vehicles that are often dangerously close to meeting their GVM limit.
Terrain Tamer has developed a range of Parabolic Leaf Springs, applying its own carefully researched design and modern technology to an already well-established idea from the trucking industry.
The popularity of these springs was such that in 2020, Terrain Tamer expanded the range to include both Heavy Duty and Extra Heavy Duty Parabolic Spring Designs.
These springs utilise all of the same features as the original range of Parabolics springs, but are designed for more robust capacity vehicles, such as those used in military and mining applications, where a load of up to 700kg might be required.
Terrain Tamer’s Parabolic Springs contain fewer leaves than regular leaf springs and get their name from their tapered ‘parabolic’ design, meaning the spring is thicker in the centre and thinner toward the ends, rather than the usual linear style.
This design directly addresses the GVM issue, eliminating the weight of often heavy, thick, traditional leaf packs and dramatically reducing the unsprung weight of the vehicle, essentially freeing up the weight needed for practical use.
This makes them both safer on the road, and in the workshop where a two-man-lift to fit a heavier leaf spring might prove to be impractical, or impossible. This lower unsprung weight also acts to create a more comfortable right when the vehicle is unloaded, addressing the varying and ever-changing applications that the modern day 4WD is used for and ensuring it is comfortable whether empty or loaded.
Effectively coupling a more comfortable ride with a strength not afforded to traditional springs, the Parabolic design also helps the spring to flex while still providing the strength needed to bear the weight of heavy loads. This is particularly useful in 4WD applications that carry excessive load on the driveline, or when challenged with difficult terrain, as the flex afforded with a Parabolic Spring allows the spring to give a little when the driver hits a bump in the road.
This allows the differential housing to rotate with the springs and effectively providing a smoother ride, reducing the shock transferred to the crown wheel and pinion, stopping the wheel from spinning and maintaining safety and drive.
Further, Terrain Tamer says its extensive research and development has shown that the new shape provides better axle articulation, as well as almost no interleaf friction, allowing the spring to compress or extend with ease without touching each other until there is a reasonable load on the vehicle. This feature means the springs are not only quieter, but also acts to help minimise issues with rust build up.

For more information, visit www.terraintamer.com.au