Flex a Form Failure.. The pictures

[Daron]

I was one of the first to do Flex a Forms on a Typhoon and loved them up until they started to fail
Over the last year or so the drivers side began to develop signs of failure. I thought it was just that spring and since I didnt have the time nor did I drive the truck much, I left it alone with the idea that I would take care of it eventually. Well, it used to just sort of list to the drivers side but recently it dropped to the bump stops. After sitting like that for a long time the passengers side gave up. this is how I found it after returning from an extended visit to Hawaii:

Passengers side split:

Drivers side spring broken in half:

The drivers side spring off the truck:

The truck is babied, hardly ever gets out. Its been to the track once. It was driven daily until late 2000 and has been an occational driver since. I wonder if tightening the ubolts too much causes this...

Those metal springs in the shot are some bel tech springs I got from the JSM crew. They are halfway in, just got to finish up later today.

 

[NJ93TY]

Re: Flex a Form Failure.. The pictures

Damn, good thing you weren't driving it when they let loose.

 

[Norm]

Re: Flex a Form Failure.. The pictures

That's how mine was when I bought my ty. I got a new set with it, but have steeel ones in there now.
This is how mine sat.

 

[It's just a six]

Re: Flex a Form Failure.. The pictures

Probably w/traction bars,,,,they would not break,,or @ least they would last longer.:2cents:

My friend Dave P, had a new set of flexiforms when he dynoed his Sy,,,one side broke on the dyno,,,but did have a devise to prevent spring wind up either.:2cents:

BTW,,You guys that break them,,are you getting any warranty? my friend did,but his were less than a year old.

 

[Daveman2]

Re: Flex a Form Failure.. The pictures

Yeah that is an interesting failure, perhaps not using them regularly is bad for them? It might make sense if fiberglass sits for too long it becomes brittle . . .

I am using them and they have taken alot of abuse, but I want to get some caltrac bars or something on there to keep everything together when it goes, I don't just want to bank on my swaybar.

 

[jstblz]

Re: Flex a Form Failure.. The pictures

Wow that sucks, what is supposed to be the perk over leaf springs?

 

[fronzoos]

Re: Flex a Form Failure.. The pictures

Im glad the ones on my vette have never done anything like this. Though the front is new from VBP... So is the rear, its just older.

 

[Daveman2]

Re: Flex a Form Failure.. The pictures

Im glad the ones on my vette have never done anything like this. Though the front is new from VBP... So is the rear, its just older.

Well I don't think the vette design exposes the leafs to the elements nearly as much as our trucks do, plus vettes have an IRS setup that applies loads/forces much better onto the spring

 

[gkrcr882]

Re: Flex a Form Failure.. The pictures

That looks like a very clean break on the drivers spring. I like DavePs thought that it might be related to the mount being so close. Maybe this was a "pivot point" of the spring during its movements? Reminds me of what happens when a piece of metal gets bent over and over and over again in one spot.

 

[Daron]

Re: Flex a Form Failure.. The pictures

That looks like a very clean break on the drivers spring. I like DavePs thought that it might be related to the mount being so close. Maybe this was a "pivot point" of the spring during its movements? Reminds me of what happens when a piece of metal gets bent over and over and over again in one spot.

i cant help to think that i tightened it down too tight and started the failure when I installed them years ago. between "crushing" them right there and the pivoting as you point out, its just a matter of time imho.

 

[Silly]

Re: Flex a Form Failure.. The pictures

ok that is nothing like how mine broke. Wasn't expecting to see that.

Ill get a pic of mine up as soon as posssible. Mine is just a small stress fracture on the aluminum plate near the rear mount. It has not gone all the way through yet.

 

[Silly]

Re: Flex a Form Failure.. The pictures

Based on the evidence in this thread, if I had these on my Typhoon and I was still cruising it all over the Country, I would be removing them at the first opportunity to do so. They are old and fatigued enough now to be a source of a probable failure. :2cents:

hit it right on the head i think.

So with that being said what are good viable LIGHT options? I know weight and strength don't always go hand in hand.

 

[Daron]

Re: Flex a Form Failure.. The pictures

and here is the happy typhoon with its new/old BelTech springs installed:

 

[jay11]

Re: Flex a Form Failure.. The pictures

and here is the happy typhoon with its new/old BelTech springs installed:

nice:tup:

 

[Daveman2]

Re: Flex a Form Failure.. The pictures

hit it right on the head i think.

So with that being said what are good viable LIGHT options? I know weight and strength don't always go hand in hand.

Yeah I have wondered the same, I bet there are better composite spring manufacturers out there . . .

I mean we all know the real answer is in a link setup/coilovers, but getting springs for $500 and spending $2500 is a whole other ballgame