I saw new fiberglass leafsprings made by teraflex, in petersens 4wheel and offroad. Anyway I checked there website and cant find them. Maybe theyre not out yet, but they sound great anyone have them.

Sorta like them new tire/wheels with the wheel bending and flexing with no air in the tries.. Sounds good and may be ok on the hiway. BUT I'm afraid off road the glass springs would take a beating and leave you wondering WHY you put them on there in the first place...
Just think of bumping and banging on boulders for a few miles and you will see my point.
Big JIm <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

I read an article on the airless tires. They seem like a pretty good idea, but I don't know. They look like tires for a Bobcat, or a small front end loader. They looked tome like they would be kinda squishy for making any turns, especially at higher speeds.

I could not see the 'glass leaves lasting very long. They might work great, but I really don't think they could handle even half the abuse a steel leaf can.

There is a reason I never buy hammers with fiberglass handles. The 'glass can shatter on non-direct impacts. Just think of an axle drooping onto a rock; that vibration from the impact could shatter the 'glass leaves without the leaves actually hitting anything. Just my 2ó.

The "Tweel" is still being tested I think. I saw some video of a set on a POS Malibu, like a 1999 or something. Old bodystyle, anyway.

As for the fiberglass leaf spring, I'm pretty sure that's what they use for the front and rear springs on Corvettes. I'm not sure, I've never cut one apart, but they look and feel like fiberglass. Maybe they just encase the spring steel or something...

Corvettes are IFS/IRS ....IIRC.....correct me if I'm wrong. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I'v got a glass hunting bow that I have used since 70 or 72 I cannot remember the year I purchased it. Still does it's thing.
Might be Ok for the street but offroad I'd shy away from glass under the vehicls.
Big JIm <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

The article states that the guy used them fairly well, used them as ramps onto rocks, bashed on them for several wheeling trips and that they held strong. They said the only thing that went bad on them was the textured paint peeled off when in contact with rocks.

I would imagine that if Teraflex put that much R&D into a product, it would be quality, and already put through its paces enough to be proven reliable.

JMHO.
-J <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />