BHP has recently changed suspension suppliers, fitting Terrain Tamer parabolic leaf springs to the fleet of Toyota Hilux servicing its light vehicle needs in the Western Australia iron ore mining hubs in the Pilbara.
Having tested the springs in its facilities for the past two years, BHP has confirmed preference for the Terrain Tamer parabolic leaf springs and, having started with an initial 25 new Hilux utes, intends to fit more to both its future and existing fleet.
Containing fewer leaves than standard leaf packs, Terrain Tamer’s parabolic springs were released in 2018 and get their name from their tapered ‘parabolic’ design, which is thicker in the centre and thinner toward the ends, rather than the usual linear style.
The design directly addresses issues that come with traditional leaf packs being thick, heavy, and clunky, essentially making them more difficult to fit to a hoisted vehicle and adding to the weight of vehicles that are often dangerously close to their GVM limit.
Reducing the unsprung weight of the vehicle not only frees up weight for practical use, but also acts to create a quieter and more comfortable ride whether the vehicle is empty or loaded.
Traditional leaf springs can also be uncomfortable, loud and can create a safety issue, offering little to no flex when a driver hits a bump, or finds themselves in a rough situation, with the rigidity of the pack causing the opposite wheel to lift and lose traction, effectively endangering the driver.
The flex afforded with a parabolic spring allows it to give a little, allowing the differential housing to rotate with the springs and effectively providing a smoother ride, reducing the shock transferred to the crown wheel and pinion, stopping the wheel from spinning, and maintaining safety and drive. The same force with a standard leaf pack would almost certainly cause more shock to the vehicle and driver.
Essentially, Terrain Tamer parabolic springs use new technology on an old trucking design idea to provide a quieter, more comfortable ride with a strength not afforded to traditional springs.
The springs are available for a range of popular Hilux and Landcruiser vehicles, as well as Ford, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Holden and Isuzu models, and have become so popular in recent times that the range has been expanded to include heavy duty, extra heavy duty and armoured versions, for vehicles used in military and mining applications requiring a load of up to, and in some cases upward of 700kg.
