Singin' the Flex-a-Form Blues
- Thread starter Pariah
- Start date
Shift220
New member
Re: Singin' the Flex-a-Form Blues
One leaf spring probably failed and the other twisted and broke the same way at the weak spot. They break there because that's the point of highest stress.
A combination of tightening the u-bolts evenly and to spec and maybe adding in a rubber gasket between the points where the spring contacts the metal to distribute the stress more evenly (prevent stress risers) will probably significantly prolong the lifespan.
I still wouldn't run them though :tdown:
One leaf spring probably failed and the other twisted and broke the same way at the weak spot. They break there because that's the point of highest stress.
A combination of tightening the u-bolts evenly and to spec and maybe adding in a rubber gasket between the points where the spring contacts the metal to distribute the stress more evenly (prevent stress risers) will probably significantly prolong the lifespan.
I still wouldn't run them though :tdown:
cloneman315
Active member
Re: Singin' the Flex-a-Form Blues
i always heard you need yo use them with caltracs.
i always heard you need yo use them with caltracs.
midnightbluS10
Banned
Re: Singin' the Flex-a-Form Blues
Do they actually make 'glass monoleafs or just the split leafs?
Do they actually make 'glass monoleafs or just the split leafs?
turbodig
Active member
Re: Singin' the Flex-a-Form Blues
I've been kinda tracking the failures that people report, and the majority (but not all) seem to happen at "rub points". Your point about adding a gasket or mylar shim may well improve things.... once the outside layer of the spring is compromised, it fails quickly thereafter.
Still doesn't excuse the failures. A spring should last more than 10 years, and to expect a spring not to rub against anything isn't exactly a sound engineering practice.
I've been kinda tracking the failures that people report, and the majority (but not all) seem to happen at "rub points". Your point about adding a gasket or mylar shim may well improve things.... once the outside layer of the spring is compromised, it fails quickly thereafter.
Still doesn't excuse the failures. A spring should last more than 10 years, and to expect a spring not to rub against anything isn't exactly a sound engineering practice.
alwayscode390
pppssssshhhhhtttttttttttt
Re: Singin' the Flex-a-Form Blues
If they are only warranteed for a year, I dont expect much out of them after that ---
If they are only warranteed for a year, I dont expect much out of them after that ---
Pariah
Pariah!
Re: Singin' the Flex-a-Form Blues
Here we go again... OMNIBUS RETORT II:
1. As I said, THIS is my first go-around in this alien Forum... still no meaningful improvement over cavorting in that Mailing-List all those years... so gimme a little catch-up time! YELLOW text was all I could come up with since the unchangeable background I was given was flat-BLACK! Black on black = invisibility. Count your blessings! Now, all that YELLOW seems to stand out quite starkly against that uniform blue-green/teal background that comes up every time. Who can't read that?
2. I don't know from CALTRACS. I have a few ancient colleagues at JPL/CALTECH; does that count? But more seriously, and as I already explained in my first posting, I installed the Flex-A-Form monoleafs (or is that 'leaves? Is it chiefs or chieves?) in 1999 in conjunction with a set of ROADMASTERS, which are another form of aux-spring traction device. I kept 'em on the Truck-- along with the former-owner's lowering blocks-- until I removed the whole deal back around Xmas '08. Since then, Syclone 773 has been a "daily driver" on naked springs and Bilsteins alone. That's just a tad over 10 years of useful life-- hardly any of it parked for more than a full week at a time... never been to the track or street-raced over 85mph... mostly out-running cops! No wrecks... no significant potholes... hit no curbs... nothing heavier in the bed than a basketful of groceries or a couple of 255mm tires... in short, a thoroughly coddled, BABIED vehicle! I don't deserve this kind of failure!!
3. Ah, the Bully-Boy chimes in right away! But not with his characteristic "charm" or invidious wise-assery... a decided improvement. I guess it's time for all of us to grow up a bit, damn it. New Forum, new manners! I'll do my part and behave as best I can... turn over a pair of new leaves (or is it leafs?)
4. What? I should be satisfied with a 10-year useful life? NOT on an alleged high-tech, high-rel IMPROVEMENT! What responsible hot-rodder upgrades to an inferior part for street performance!?!? Turn in your torque-wrench, traitor! The stock leaf-springs on my '72 Gremlin-- admittedly, with MAS bi-directional traction-bars-- are in tip-top shape! I can assure one and all, IF I had been assured of a mere 10-year lifecycle during "normal use and service" when I initially inquired about these springs I could not have passed 'em by quickly enough! The temporary savings in unsprung weight ain't worth it! The new Flex-A-Form owner/operator is now quoting me 15 YEARS...! Yes, I finally did get through to that weasel last Friday afternoon. More on that encounter later... you'll all wanna hear about that one!
5. SO many questions! I hope I handled all open issues in this posting. If not, next time....
6. Meanwhile, HOW COME NOBODY OUT THERE HAS AN OLD PAIR OF LEAF-SPRINGS? Buying "new" springs for an S-15 from the usual vendors is still gonna run me a net $350 and I likely won't be getting enough "rate" to handle a nice sprint from a stoplight. And "Mark" at Flex-A-Form is offering me a replacement set o' fiberglassers for $375-- the devil I know vs. the devil I don't know and for a comparable price! My best and safest deal would be to get an old, discarded pair from ONE OF YOUSE in SyTy-land! Or did everybody who "upgraded" do what I did and trash the old stuff?!?
D.O.
Here we go again... OMNIBUS RETORT II:
1. As I said, THIS is my first go-around in this alien Forum... still no meaningful improvement over cavorting in that Mailing-List all those years... so gimme a little catch-up time! YELLOW text was all I could come up with since the unchangeable background I was given was flat-BLACK! Black on black = invisibility. Count your blessings! Now, all that YELLOW seems to stand out quite starkly against that uniform blue-green/teal background that comes up every time. Who can't read that?
2. I don't know from CALTRACS. I have a few ancient colleagues at JPL/CALTECH; does that count? But more seriously, and as I already explained in my first posting, I installed the Flex-A-Form monoleafs (or is that 'leaves? Is it chiefs or chieves?) in 1999 in conjunction with a set of ROADMASTERS, which are another form of aux-spring traction device. I kept 'em on the Truck-- along with the former-owner's lowering blocks-- until I removed the whole deal back around Xmas '08. Since then, Syclone 773 has been a "daily driver" on naked springs and Bilsteins alone. That's just a tad over 10 years of useful life-- hardly any of it parked for more than a full week at a time... never been to the track or street-raced over 85mph... mostly out-running cops! No wrecks... no significant potholes... hit no curbs... nothing heavier in the bed than a basketful of groceries or a couple of 255mm tires... in short, a thoroughly coddled, BABIED vehicle! I don't deserve this kind of failure!!
3. Ah, the Bully-Boy chimes in right away! But not with his characteristic "charm" or invidious wise-assery... a decided improvement. I guess it's time for all of us to grow up a bit, damn it. New Forum, new manners! I'll do my part and behave as best I can... turn over a pair of new leaves (or is it leafs?)
4. What? I should be satisfied with a 10-year useful life? NOT on an alleged high-tech, high-rel IMPROVEMENT! What responsible hot-rodder upgrades to an inferior part for street performance!?!? Turn in your torque-wrench, traitor! The stock leaf-springs on my '72 Gremlin-- admittedly, with MAS bi-directional traction-bars-- are in tip-top shape! I can assure one and all, IF I had been assured of a mere 10-year lifecycle during "normal use and service" when I initially inquired about these springs I could not have passed 'em by quickly enough! The temporary savings in unsprung weight ain't worth it! The new Flex-A-Form owner/operator is now quoting me 15 YEARS...! Yes, I finally did get through to that weasel last Friday afternoon. More on that encounter later... you'll all wanna hear about that one!
5. SO many questions! I hope I handled all open issues in this posting. If not, next time....
6. Meanwhile, HOW COME NOBODY OUT THERE HAS AN OLD PAIR OF LEAF-SPRINGS? Buying "new" springs for an S-15 from the usual vendors is still gonna run me a net $350 and I likely won't be getting enough "rate" to handle a nice sprint from a stoplight. And "Mark" at Flex-A-Form is offering me a replacement set o' fiberglassers for $375-- the devil I know vs. the devil I don't know and for a comparable price! My best and safest deal would be to get an old, discarded pair from ONE OF YOUSE in SyTy-land! Or did everybody who "upgraded" do what I did and trash the old stuff?!?
D.O.
Pariah
Pariah!
Re: Singin' the Flex-a-Form Blues
MY springs did not delaminate on either upper or lower face nor on any "rubbing point." Once I learn how to post pictures I'll send some of the de-lam "bubbles" one has to search for on profile....
Pariah
Pariah!
Re: Singin' the Flex-a-Form Blues
The Flex-A-Form founder George Smolen died and the Young Turk "Mark" took over. And in typical banana-republic fashion, he's not honoring any warranties from the former regime! Worse, he's got all his e-mail channels BLOCKED and you gotta get real lucky to catch him on the phone-- not toll-free, as is typical for such weasels! Even embedding a complaint in an online order-form won't get you a reply of any sort. Is it any wonder I wanna BOYCOTT this outfit!!!
Pariah
Pariah!
Re: Singin' the Flex-a-Form Blues
Insurance-- and more expense and unsprung weight-- for a new set o' springs at best.
Won't fix a collapsed spring!
Insurance-- and more expense and unsprung weight-- for a new set o' springs at best.
eviltwin
"junkyard syclone"
Re: Singin' the Flex-a-Form Blues
Did you register on here just to bitch? Go to the junk yard and get some leaf springs for $20 and be done with it. This subject is not new news. Enlarging the font, making certain words all caps, and changing the color of the font is kinda lame too. You got a good 3 sentences worth of stuff in the whole page.
Did you register on here just to bitch? Go to the junk yard and get some leaf springs for $20 and be done with it. This subject is not new news. Enlarging the font, making certain words all caps, and changing the color of the font is kinda lame too. You got a good 3 sentences worth of stuff in the whole page.
Pariah
Pariah!
Re: Singin' the Flex-a-Form Blues
Could I have an autograph!?!?
Wow, I didn't know Shari Lewis was a SyTy-owner!
Could I have an autograph!?!?
Pariah
Pariah!
Re: Singin' the Flex-a-Form Blues
Don't like it? Change the channel.
And YOUR bitchin' accomplishes exactly WHAT!?!?
Don't like it? Change the channel.
Pariah
Pariah!
Re: Singin' the Flex-a-Form Blues
$20 for a genuine pair of SyTy springs at a local junkyard?!?! Your vast 22 years of automotive "experience" is showing....
eviltwin
"junkyard syclone"
Re: Singin' the Flex-a-Form Blues
You make me laugh. There is like what 1" difference in the springs? Use a bigger lowering block then. I have some Sy springs I will sell you, $300 shipped. I'll save you $50
You make me laugh. There is like what 1" difference in the springs? Use a bigger lowering block then. I have some Sy springs I will sell you, $300 shipped. I'll save you $50
Pariah
Pariah!
Re: Singin' the Flex-a-Form Blues
How many miles/years on those springs? Are you pricing-in DEPRECIATION or are these as "new" as what I could get from Dayton or Belltech...?
Well, that's one offer! Why not just respond straight out in lieu of all the nastiness?You make me laugh. There is like what 1" difference in the springs? Use a bigger lowering block then. I have some Sy springs I will sell you, $300 shipped. I'll save you $50
How many miles/years on those springs? Are you pricing-in DEPRECIATION or are these as "new" as what I could get from Dayton or Belltech...?