TOY: AOR springs

["Tony Bartlett" <offroadr@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

OK, now I have to give my opinion.
First, AOR springs are basically the same as Rocky Mountain Off Road spring,
since Kevin Grove was involved with both companies.
I first bougth 4" front spring from RMOR 4 or 5 years ago.  I ran the fronts
while I had friends install front and rear springs.
You can not go wrong with the front springs.  Without the bumpstops I get
22" of articulation at the center of the tire.  I run bumpstops and have not
had any real sag problem with them.  My friends do not run bumpstops and
they do sag over time-depending on how hard you wheel.  I consider hard
wheeling trails like the hammers, upper helldorodo in Moab,  Montose, CO.
Trails that really make the suspension articulate.
Running bumpstops that stop the spring from going to far in a negative arch
really adds life to the spring.

Now back to the rear springs.  I never liked how the rear springs from Alcan
(AOR, RMOR) worked on my friends trucks.  I bought them anyways (the 5"
longer springs).  They are OK with an empty bed, but with my bed loaded
(normally loaded while wheeling) they are good.
Now they have the Orbit-eye springs.  It looks like the Orbit-eyes will add
about 14" of articulation to the rear springs putting the total articulation
better than the fronts without Orbit-eyes.  I also think they work well with
the bed empty (but have not seen in person).
My next springs (if I talk myself into it) will be National Springs with
Orbit-eyes.  I would run the Alcan with Orbit-eyes but I really want the
better street ride of the Nationals.

Now, what I hear about the All-Pro springs is this.  Rumor has it they
bought a set of Alcans then sent them to a spring company in Canada to have
springs made.  It sounds like the steel is not the same quality and they are
sagging faster then Alcans.
NOTE-I do not know this for a fact.  This is just what I have heard through
the grapevine.

So, Highly recommend AOR (Alcan) front springs.  Rear springs are OK (I am
sure better than any off the shelf spring company-skyjacker, superlift,
etc).  Rear springs work better with weight in the bed (guessing 300-500
pounds).

Again-these are my opinions

Toyota Tony
PS.  The front Alcans seem to be handling the 4.3 ltr swap good.  But, I
installed a set of 4 1/2" springs from a friend and through one leaf from my
pack (mainly to help even out my truck-I run 5" rear springs).