Fiber Flex SOA kit

[Pac8541]

Anyone have any experience with this system? I'm researching the whole SOA thing for my YJ. Been out to talk to the guys at both Desert Fab and 4 Wheelers. Ran it past a couple guys here via PM. I've been looking hard at the RE kit and springs and the system from Rocky Road Outfitters looks pretty good too.

This one from Teraflex appears to be unconventional and that makes me a little nervous. Both this one and the Rocky Road kit seem to be the most complete in terms of including things like the steering mods necessary (beyond just a drop pitman arm). This is a long term project that will require the acquisition of multiple parts, including new axles, and one that I want to do myself.

Any experience with this somewhat different Teraflex Fiber Flex system is appreciated. I'd like to know about durability of the springs, ride quality, value for the money, problems that don't make it into the manufacturers sales pitch, etc... Thanks.

-Pac.

[dirtgrip]

I have no experience with the Fiber Flex system you asked about.I do have a lot of experience with Terra products in the last 4yrs.I am still waiting (45days) for them to send me a part to fix a brake problem on a CRD D60 front axle assembly.I paid a lot of $$$ for this front axle & it seems they don't have time to take care of their bad designs.The Fiber Flex is a new product & probably has the same 1/2 *****ed engineering-I would look to someones elses products.

[Tom Jacobson]

There was a big discussion about those springs on another board. Of course the owner thought they were the next coming of Christ, and they did seem to work basically OK (though he didn't have them on for long or for many runs, so longevity still unknown). The general consensus was to grant him that the springs seemed to basically function OK, nobody was willing to touch them for rock crawling duty. Fiberglass and the scratches/gouges/etc that result from running rocky trails can't mix well. Stick with steel. RE 1.5" SOA springs.

[lancetkenyon]

There was a big discussion about those springs on another board. Of course the owner thought they were the next coming of Christ, and they did seem to work basically OK (though he didn't have them on for long or for many runs, so longevity still unknown). The general consensus was to grant him that the springs seemed to basically function OK, nobody was willing to touch them for rock crawling duty. Fiberglass and the scratches/gouges/etc that result from running rocky trails can't mix well. Stick with steel. RE 1.5" SOA springs.

I gotta agree here. I would think that fiberglass and sharp rocks are a very volitile combo. I think some of the tougher trails would shred these springs, literally tear into them and render them useless and broken on the trail. Might be ok for a mall crawler, for a while.

[lilbluej]

stick with the steel springs they flex ok and are reliable. lockers help those of us that can't flex to the moon, just point it strait and keep it movin because tires don't turn the jeep when their off the ground

i saw a post on another site where a guy had those fancy springs and they shatterd at the axle, sure who knows how burried he was in the skinny pedal but they still broke.

[Pac8541]

I appreciate the responses. The info on what people have seen and experienced is exactly the stuff I was after. The RE kit has, and still does, seem like the best option but I was under the impression that Teraflex was very well respected for turning out high quality products that truly work. Therefore, I figured they wouldn't throw a product out there that wasn't up to the task, no matter how unconventional it may seem.

I guess I'll just go with conventional wisdom and stick with the RE kit then have Desert Fab or Absolute or someone hook me up with the high steer stuff. I really want to do as much of the rest of it myself though because I don't know D**k about welding or cutting or building axles and this seems like a good project to learn all of that.

If anyone has more to add, fire away...