LARGER SPRING RETAINER UPGRADE SUGGESTED FOR 19' AND UP.

[Bushtracker]

Hello Friends, da Ranger reporting again. We have trialed a new suspension upgrade and here are the results: This is for vans before 2005, and after 12 months observation of the experimental run I suggest all of you upgrade your larger suspensions with spring retention brackets to avoid damage to the poly block and pivot block seat.

Here is what happens: About one in twenty vans are traveling a bit too hard or too fast, and when the hit an unseen rut or pothole, that side of the suspension goes "Airbourne" with both wheels Ha! Now what has happened to some is that the spring has actually shifted forward or back and jumped out of the pocket. This results in SEVERE wear to the poly block itself, and if left unchecked it will actually erode the pivot block seat of steel above if you let it go too long.. .

In the past, we have just fixed it and told people to slow down a bit, that sort of thing. But in an effort to push the envelope, out on the edge, a special plate spring retainer has been made to stop this sort of accidental damage. It fits over the top of the spring hanger, and has a bar on it that catches one of the main leaf spring ends and keeps it from shifting forward on the leading suspension arm; and on the trailing arm another one keeps the spring from shifting back.

It is just a way to prevent people from unknowingly doing the damage. Now I would suggest that everyone look at the poly block for inspection or replacement, every 20,000 kms or so. I would also suggest that you get a set of these spring retainers from us, and install them on your van. Cost will be $60 for the set of 4 plus shipping, so something under $70 or so. That is cheap insurance against accidental damage on the rutted out dirt tracks.

We have been trialing this new system for two now, and there have been no ill affects discovered. It gets my seal of approval. If you have a larger suspension and your van is less than two years old, you already have it, so no worries. This new system is now available as a retrofit to older vans, and is suggested...

Now, do you have it already? This will be the next question I get from Bushtracker Owners whose vans are around the end of 2004 to beginning 2005. Look up the top end of your spring from each end. The hanger, is a "U" shaped bracket, bolted up to the end of the suspension arm by the axle stub with two larger bolts, and holds the spring itself. Above it will be the spring retainer, a flat plate with a round bar fitted flat in the middle of it perpendicular to the spring end, to catch the flat edge of one of the larger leaf springs in case it wants to jump out on an "airborne"� run... If you are still unsure I will attempt to load a picture of it on this site, and it will be available if you email me at www.bushtracker.com.

One more thing, per TIP Spring Pack Maintenance.. Be careful how you put the spring hangers back on... If you are not doing it, make sure they understand: Mark them first as they are matched in location and directional in each location.

The spring actually wears into them and they have a slight camber to encourage that process. As it wears in the surface area greatly increases until it nearly covers the hanger surface and the wear goes down to a minimum with a larger surface area of contact... MATCH THEM IN PLACE AND DIRECTION!!!! They creak a bit from new, and it lessens in time as they wear in and the wearing surface increases greatly to contact the spring in a larger area of the hanger itself....

Kind Regards to all from the Lone Ranger,
Trying to make your journey more fun and comfortable,



Semper Fidelis

[Bushtracker]

Hello Friends,

Ugly old Cowboy here, half a Horseman, all of a Bushtracker Man...

Unfortunately, we have just had a Bushtracker in W.A. drop the front spring hanger, which dropped the spring pack down and dug it in and bent the main leaf back and did some other damage... It could have been worse, as in the right condtions it might have been able to turn over the van if it was a bit out of balance as it was the leading spring pack hanger and it dropped down and dug in...

Given the age of the van, it is about 99% sure than the center pivot blocks will have been changed out and or spring packs serviced. The cause of this mishap is about 99.99% chance that someone has changed out the Pivot blocks, and reused the same lock nuts and/or not torqued them to specifications.

CRITICAL ENGINEERING: Locknuts/ Nylocks should really only be used once. In a pinch, maybe twice and torqued up hard and replaced later, but from an Engineering specification the critical Nylocks on a Suspension should only be used once. We never know the Service history and so we automatically change them out to new on EVERY van we drop spring packs on..

This van may have had spring packs serviced and/or pivot blocks changed out in the Bush somewhere a couple of times. If you are unsure, I would change the lock nuts and torque them on all four hangers, and that is what I advise in trying to look after you...

Kind regards, Admin