Can new leaf springs improve the ride? Why is Timbren SES better?
Questions:
- How can a Hellwig leaf spring improve the ride?
- What are the disadvantages of a leaf spring?
- Which one's better: Leaf springs or Timbren SES?
- Leaf Springs or Timbren SES: Which one should you choose?
There are many helper springs on the market. Hellwig Leaf Springs are one such product. Today we’ll examine the pros and cons of leaf Springs. We’ll also compare Hellwig Leaf Springs to Timbren SES so you can clearly see the fundamental drawbacks and which product is the better choice.
How can Hellwig leaf springs improve the ride?
The Hellwig leaf spring trailer suspension is an add-a-leaf product that bolts to a trucks leaf spring suspension: Part # 1301 Hellwig EZ-990 fits the leaf spring suspension of a light duty pickup. Most Hellwig add-a-leaf products mount easily to the top of the leaf springs.
*CONVENTIONAL: A design (or belief) that follows certain acceptable norms.
This add-a-leaf product is another conventional design meant to reduce spring sag and increase stability. The company proudly declares that their product is “designed to stop trailer sway at the source instead of the hitch.”
What do you get when you buy a Hellwig leaf spring helper?
- 4 Metal Helper Springs
- 8 U-bolts
Even though there are some benefits to adding more leaf springs, this conventional design has some big disadvantages built right into the product.
One major disadvantage is the material: Leaf Springs are made of metal. The problem with a leaf spring suspension - whether direct from the factory or added later - is the spring rate. Metal springs have a linear* spring rate which limits their ability to effectively carry heavy loads.
*There are 2 kinds of spring rates: Linear and progressive. A progressive spring rate gradually increases as the load increases. A linear spring rate can’t do that. Linear means that the spring rate stays the same as the spring continues to deflect all the way down until it bottoms out.
Conventional wisdom thinks that by adding more metal springs to an already sagging metal suspension will solve the problem. Progressive thinking solves the problem by using springs that have a progressive spring rate.
Due to their linear spring rate, the obvious weakness of add-a-leaf products points to their limited ability to prevent sag and add stability.
Which one's better: Leaf springs or Timbren SES?
In order to understand which product is better and why we think Timbren SES is superior to Hellwig leaf springs, you need to understand two innate characteristics of an Aeon® hollow rubber spring used in every Timbren SES product:
-
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.
-
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:
- adjust automatically to the load, preventing sag and squat
- increase stability (reduced roll and sway) when towing or hauling the heaviest loads
- act like a shock absorber providing a soft, quiet ride while loaded
- prevent bottoming out and damage to your suspension
Leaf Springs or Timbren SES: Which one should you choose?
Above, we compared Hellwig add-a-leaf products to Timbren SES suspension upgrades.
Have you decided which one is best for you? If not, let me spell it out for you...
Timbren SES suspension upgrades offer you the biggest bang for your buck. And if you were to take a closer look, you’d notice that Timbren SES wins big points for:
- Maximum spring capacity*
- Maximum ride quality
- Maximum stability
- Easiest to install
- Easiest to maintain
- Reasonably priced
- Lifetime Warranty and 100-Day Money Back Guarantee
*Note: Increasing your truck’s spring capacity does not increase the GVWR set by the manufacturer. In other words, you must stay within the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating – the maximum weight a vehicle is designed to carry – which includes the net weight of the vehicle with accessories, plus the weight of passengers, fuel, and cargo.
Think about it: Timbren SES products have been around for over 50 years and are still the best alternative and smartest choice hands down! Our customers seem to think so...
“Whether we’re towing with our Nissan Titan or our Toyota Tundra, our Timbren SES kit has been a game changer. Reduced all sag in the rear plus helps the tow rigs gain maximum control. Over a year with SES and we would never go back.” @ClicOutdoor
For more information about Timbren SES products, please visit Timbren.com
To get your hands on a set of Timbren SES upgrades, contact Customer Service: Sales@timbren.com
