Anyone with Dobinsons springs experiencing rust?

[813 Fabrication & Design]

Has anyone seen the Dobinsons springs rust this bad after very little driving and time. Attached are photos of the front springs after less than a year on the truck and less than 15k miles. The rear springs are rusting as well. I have only driven in the Winter weather 4-5 times and sprayed the truck afterwards. They look rough. I will probably need to change them as this doesn't look very good for upcoming shows. I guess it's time to swap to the AEV springs.

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[Not2Late]

Dang, that sucks! I've had AEV springs on two different jeeps and never had rust issues with them, so I don't think you would go wrong to switch to them.

 

[813 Fabrication & Design]

Dang, that sucks! I've had AEV springs on two different jeeps and never had rust issues with them, so I don't think you would go wrong to switch to them.

I have several friends running the AEV now so I may go that route. I just need to see which ones I need.

 

[chorky]

I have several friends running the AEV now so I may go that route. I just need to see which ones I need.

Get the HD's. Especially with you having the alu-cab. I just spoke with AEV a few weeks ago - since they are only 60 miles from me, and with another very well known shop that is in the same town that is an authorized dealer. The specs of AEV on their site and on dealers is misleading for reasons I won't say publically. I'm sure if you called tomorrow you might hear the same thing.

The STANDARD springs are designed for up to max gvw including steel front bumper, winch, and recovery gear. The HD springs are designed for up to 700 pounds OVER GVW.

After talking with the shop about my particular build (canopy at 175 pounds, future RTT at 175 pounds, fridge, water, gear, front and rear winch and bumper (yes 2 winches), and all the normal camping stuff - they strongly suggested to just go straight for the HD springs - so I have no doubt that with the Alu-Cab you will want the HD's. It's not much more expensive, and you can do the HD springs with the standard shocks. The remote reservoir shocks are a bit pricy. I had standard single piston bilstein 5100's on my OBS F350 at 9,000 pounds constant weight, and they handled it fine and showed no signs of fading or damage after 4 years, and some decently hard miles. So, just my opinion, I wouldn't fork for the reservoir versions unless you're doing high speed stuff.

Hope that's helpful.

 

[813 Fabrication & Design]

Get the HD's. Especially with you having the alu-cab. I just spoke with AEV a few weeks ago - since they are only 60 miles from me, and with another very well known shop that is in the same town that is an authorized dealer. The specs of AEV on their site and on dealers is misleading for reasons I won't say publically. I'm sure if you called tomorrow you might hear the same thing.

The STANDARD springs are designed for up to max gvw including steel front bumper, winch, and recovery gear. The HD springs are designed for up to 700 pounds OVER GVW.

After talking with the shop about my particular build (canopy at 175 pounds, future RTT at 175 pounds, fridge, water, gear, front and rear winch and bumper (yes 2 winches), and all the normal camping stuff - they strongly suggested to just go straight for the HD springs - so I have no doubt that with the Alu-Cab you will want the HD's. It's not much more expensive, and you can do the HD springs with the standard shocks. The remote reservoir shocks are a bit pricy. I had standard single piston bilstein 5100's on my OBS F350 at 9,000 pounds constant weight, and they handled it fine and showed no signs of fading or damage after 4 years, and some decently hard miles. So, just my opinion, I wouldn't fork for the reservoir versions unless you're doing high speed stuff.

Hope that's helpful.

Thanks for the info. I started with the 2" Mopar lift, so I still have a few of those components. I currently have the Fox 2.5 shocks with the Dobinsons springs. I will have to look at the AEV for 2-3" lift I believe

 

[chorky]

Thanks for the info. I started with the 2" Mopar lift, so I still have a few of those components. I currently have the Fox 2.5 shocks with the Dobinsons springs. I will have to look at the AEV for 2-3" lift I believe

Oh gotcha.... You would probably be ok with just their springs then. Their 'standard' springs are advertised as 2.5". and their "HD" springs are advertised as 3". There is no difference between the geometry brackets or the shocks. So maybe just pick the springs that you need.

Also that shop I mentioned, they said that - like every other lift company - the standard springs usually net about 3" of lift, and the HD springs net about 3.5-4 inches of lift. But I think that is for a standard Gladiator without any of the weight. Those 2.5 and 3" numbers that are advertised are with the advertised weight in the truck. If that makes any sense.

The only tricky part might be making sure your bump stops work - so basically checking the spec of compressed and uncompressed lengths of the fox shocks compared to the bilsteins in the AEV kit - I bet they are pretty close.

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