ARB Parabolic leaf springs and Air Bag kit will transform a leaf-spring 4WD

When it comes to leaf-spring suspension in a 4WD ute, there has always been a challenge to get it right.

If you add more leaf springs to your 4WD because you carry a lot of weight with work or camping gear, it rides like crap when empty. The same applies if you install a lightweight setup and the bum of your 4WD drags on the ground when loaded up.

ARB has solved this conundrum with its Parabolic leaf springs and Air Bag kit.

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The Old Man Emu (OME) team were tasked with redesigning a leaf-spring set-up to maximise comfort and safely allow the owner to vary the weights carried without compromise. What they came up with was this Parabolic leaf springs and Air Bag kit that allows these two scenarios to co-exist.

“Maintaining control, comfort and load-carrying capability from an upgraded suspension system are the fundamental principles of the Old Man Emu (OME) suspension brand,” said Tom Verrocchi, ARB Product Manager. “ Now with the ARB Parabolic and Air Bag system, customers can have their cake and eat it too.”

Partnering the new market-leading Air Bag kit with the OME Parabolic leaf springs gives 4WD ute owners the flexibility to adjust the loads they carry by up to 600kg.

Whether it’s tools during the week or a rooftop tent and a full fridge on the weekend, the set-up will provide a new standard in comfort and weight-carrying adjustability.

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An improvement over traditional leaf spring suspension includes the additional comfort achieved by installing Parabolic leaf springs, as they flex at a smoother rate and completely change the way the ute rides. By using an increase in steel grade and a reduction in overall leaf springs, the OME Parabolic leaf spring system is significantly lighter than the equivalent multi-leaf system.

Adding the ARB Air Bag allows ute owners to opt for a reduced load-rated leaf spring set-up, as the airbags have the ability to carry an additional 600kg (300kg per air bag) in variable weight by adjusting the pressure from 0psi to a maximum of 45psi when carrying those extra loads or towing. This is an experience coil-spring 4WDs have enjoyed for years.

“Extensive chassis simulations and testing were carried out to determine the most appropriate solution for the LandCruiser 70 Series and allows the driver to choose a comfortable and suitable Parabolic leaf spring for their everyday weight, whilst using the air bag to accommodate up to 600kg of additional weight,” said Verrocchi.

“All while being fully integrated and distributing the additional load to designated areas of the chassis in a safe and calculated way,” he added. “It is extremely important to stay within the vehicle’s axle capacities and the overall permissible Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of that vehicle.”

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