Polyurethane what?
You may not be familiar with the term ‘polyurethane’, but undoubtedly you are aware of the foam products used in flexible foam seating, carpet underlay, and the top support layer of memory foam in many of today’s mattresses.
Today we’re going to talk about polyurethane helper springs – a fairly recent development for truck and RV suspensions – and compare them to Timbren SES upgrades.
SumoSprings: Just another knockoff of Timbren SES?
When a great idea turns up, everyone wants a piece of the action! That’s why there have been several companies that have tried to imitate Timbren SES helper springs. They have all tried to improve on the original but with little success.
SumoSprings is one such product that entered the market back in 2010 under the more-established brand of SuperSpring. As a new product based on the Timbren SES model, it was a weaker copy of the original. Instead of using a natural rubber compound like Timbren SES, SumoSprings are made from gas-infused, microcellular polyurethane which is a fancy word for ‘foam’!
Due to the properties of polyurethane (foam), SumoSprings are great for vibration isolation but not durability. As we’ll will soon notice, springs made from polyurethane have limited use.
Are SumoSprings reliable?
We could judge the value of a SumoSpring by comparing it to Timbren SES suspension upgrades, SumoSprings professional counterpart. Let’s look for similarities and differences:
Similarities:
There’s really only one similarity: Just like Timbren SES, SumoSprings replace the original bump stops located somewhere between the frame and the axle.
Differences:
- SumoSprings are made from polyurethane (foam). Timbren SES upgrades are made from natural rubber.
- SumoSprings are not recommended for use in the super-cold winters of the Northern States and Canada. Timbren’s rubber springs, on the other hand, can handle extreme temperatures - hot or cold - anywhere in the world.
- SumoSprings aren’t meant to handle heavy-duty and severe-service applications. Timbren SES kits are particularly useful for severe-service applications.
- Price comparison:
SumoSpring SSR-146-47 @ $574.84 - rear kit for Ford F-150
Timbren SES # FR1504E @ 297.00 rear kit for Ford F-150
Timbren SES: The biggest bang for your hard-earned buck?
As we noticed earlier, SumoSpring products look similar to Timbren SES products but have a very different practical use. That’s because of the material they are made from:
- Timbren SES suspensions for trucks are made from natural rubber
- SumoSprings are made from gas-infused polyurethane (foam)
- Timbren SES products can be used in the coldest weather without breaking down and falling apart. It’s not recommended that SumoSprings be used in below-zero weather.
- Timbren SES products provide maximum stability for severe service applications like car hauling, tow trucks, 5th wheel trailers and truck campers. SumoSprings provide excellent ride quality for RVs but aren’t able to improve stability on a severe-service application.
Without question, Timbren’s Aeon rubber spring technology is more reliable than springs made from foam. That’s why SuperSprings - an expensive copy of the Timbren original - are no match for Timbren Aeon® rubber spring technology.
In order to understand why Timbren SES upgrades are superior to SumoSpring, you need to understand 2 innate characteristics of an Aeon® hollow rubber spring - used in every Timbren SES product:
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Progressive spring rate
Unlike metal springs that have a linear spring rate, Aeon® rubber springs have a progressive spring rate, a rate that increases as more weight is added to the truck.
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Hysteresis (self-damping)
Unlike metal springs that need shocks to absorb the energy created when they compress, Aeon® rubber springs are self-damping, able to absorb the kinetic energy by themselves.
These two characteristics offer some unique advantages:
- Their progressive spring rate means they automatically adjust to the load, preventing sag and squat
- Increased stability (reduced roll and sway) when towing or hauling super-heavy applications
- Self-damping means they act like a shock absorber providing the smoothest ride even with the heaviest loads
- A soft, quiet ride empty or loaded
- Prevents damage to your suspension
- Installs quickly and easily
- Reasonably priced
- Comes with a Lifetime Warranty & a 100-Day Money Back Guarantee
As you can see, Timbren SES rubber springs give you the biggest bang for your buck!
For more information about Timbren SES visit Timbren.com
