OME Blade springs lifetime?

[subok]

I have Old Man Emu blades in the rear and the bakkie has 180 000 kms on the clock. The OME shocks and front shock/coils were replaced at 160 000 by L A Sport. (Apparently TJM Gold, but they are black?)
Question is, how long do the blades last/retain their functionality?
We have a Botswana trip coming up and we will be loaded more than we normally are with an extra pax and additional fuel and water for 6 days in CKGR.
Any advice, sharing of experience will be appreciated.

Front Coils Small.jpg (81.21 KiB) Viewed 2226 times

Front Coils

Rear Shocks Small.jpg (66.15 KiB) Viewed 2226 times

Rear Shocks

OME Blades Nr1 Small.jpg (79.92 KiB) Viewed 2226 times

Code on OME Blades

OME Blades Nr2 Small.jpg (72.61 KiB) Viewed 2226 times

Another code

[4x4Maniac]

Speak to Louis from 4x4megaworldpta here on the forum. I know by default these blades come with a 3year 60k warranty. Personally I think it should be fine driving to Bots.

[LouisZ]

Hi Kobus.

1st of all those "TJM" shocks look a bit suspect, they supposed to be gold like you say. Look for any marking that say Tjm, it must be clearly encraved on them. Look for the part no. aswell.

For the blades and coils they should last loooong except if there was any change in the setup of the Hilux since the suspension was 1st fitted. Let me give an example. If you specified before the fitment clean Hilux with canopy and maybe a aux tank in the rear and in the front just the nudge bar they will fit the light coils in the front and at the rear the medium leaf springs.(The 044R you got is medium carry spec).

Now lets say you added more to it the last years for example in front a replacement bumper & winch then you have get the heavy duty coils in the front otherwise the light duty coil will sag because of the extra weight. Then for the back, you added a drawer, rear replacement bumper and a water tank. In the back you just have to add another blade and longer centre bolt to the spring pack, this will increase your load capacity to heavy duty. If you got a lot of weight and it is there permanently on consider 2 extra blades.

If your setup did not change it should be fine. Some Vigo's we have done come around 160 000kms + to replace the shocks but none sofar came for blades that are shot, we find how ever some come for the upgrades in the leafsprings as the weight had changed from the initial fitment, we have the warranty papers of them so we can check.

If you got more questions let me know.

Louis

[subok]

Dankie Louis! Hmm, dinge het bietjie verander. Ek dink ek moet jou maar kom sien. Ek sal jou kontakbesonderhede op die web soek.

[Mud Dog]

Blades will last a lifetime! But .... you have added some permanent extras and you're gonna be loaded for your trips, so an extra blade will help, not only for keeping it level but also for better control with a load (sway).

[Dewald Posthumus]

My brother has OME in his Vigo Hilux as well, I think he is on 220 000km on his set, no problems so far!

[subok]

Thanks guys, I must be suffering from pre-trip paranoia

I will try to let Louis have a look at the whole setup next week.

[subok]

Hi Kobus.

1st of all those "TJM" shocks look a bit suspect, they supposed to be gold like you say. Look for any marking that say Tjm, it must be clearly encraved on them. Look for the part no. aswell.

For the blades and coils they should last loooong except if there was any change in the setup of the Hilux since the suspension was 1st fitted. Let me give an example. If you specified before the fitment clean Hilux with canopy and maybe a aux tank in the rear and in the front just the nudge bar they will fit the light coils in the front and at the rear the medium leaf springs.(The 044R you got is medium carry spec).

Now lets say you added more to it the last years for example in front a replacement bumper & winch then you have get the heavy duty coils in the front otherwise the light duty coil will sag because of the extra weight. Then for the back, you added a drawer, rear replacement bumper and a water tank. In the back you just have to add another blade and longer centre bolt to the spring pack, this will increase your load capacity to heavy duty. If you got a lot of weight and it is there permanently on consider 2 extra blades.

If your setup did not change it should be fine. Some Vigo's we have done come around 160 000kms + to replace the shocks but none sofar came for blades that are shot, we find how ever some come for the upgrades in the leafsprings as the weight had changed from the initial fitment, we have the warranty papers of them so we can check.

If you got more questions let me know.

Louis

My bakkie is daar by julle vandag, hoop om jou later te ontmoet.

[subok]

What great service from MW Menlyn today! Thanks to Shaun and Louis.