to the Rescue

West Coast Suspensions to the rescue

By Phil Bianchi

Peering out of my tent in the early morning sunlight I saw my beloved 100 Series sitting very low on the front left corner. Bugger, a flat was my first thought. Walking over to the vehicle I found the tyre wasn’t flat at all. While peering underneath I crossed my fingers hoping the problem was minor and the repair wasn’t going to affect Australia’s national debt. I found the culprit, a broken suspension fitting. I was later to find it was a torsion bar adjuster that had broken, and that the fix wasn’t that expensive.

On my numerous drives along Guildford Road I had noticed West Coast Suspensions proudly displayed on a large building to the west of the railway line. I called in with my severely listing Cruiser, Jessie from WCS, looked underneath and said it was indeed a broken torsion bar adjuster. “You’ll probably have to go genuine”, he said. He was right, but he also found that there weren’t any replacement parts in Australia. “They’ll have to be ordered from Japan”, he added. Seriously Toyota, it’s not like the 100 Series was an unpopular vehicle. Then another WCS staff member said that he was sure there was a used torsion bar adjuster to fit my Cruiser at the back of the workshop. It was left by a previous customer who had done an upgrade. Lucky for me it was the same part and it would do the job while I was waiting for delivery from Japan. It was fitted the same day and I was back on the road otherwise my Cruiser would have been in dry dock. I ordered the components from Toyota and while I was at it I ordered a full kit of bolts etc. for each side. I was told it would take a few months; it took just under three. Given COVID had caused many supply problems across the world I thought I was lucky to get the part at all. On the designated date I dropped the Cruiser off for the knee reconstruction, as I called it. The job was satisfactorily completed and the Cruiser was back to her best. While the repairs were being undertaken, I asked if I could take photos of the work in progress, yes they said. While watching, I began asking about some of the items of equipment in the workshop and then realised just how big an operation WCS were. So who are West Coast Suspensions?

Jenkins Springs 1977. Photo: West Coast Suspensions.

West Coast Suspensions, the story.

The business was started by Cecil and Olive Jenkins in 1924 and was originally located in Adelaide Terrace, Perth. It traded as Jenkins Springs, however since 1990 they’ve traded as West Coast Suspensions (WCS) and is now owned by the McCully family. James McCully senior, was the accountant for Jenkins Springs, and he purchased the company in the 1950s, which he then moved to the current location. Business has been growing exponentially due to the popularity of quality suspension upgrades. Recently a new 2,200sqm warehouse has been added due to expansion. WCS has become a specialist suspension supplier to road transport and mining industries, and 4WD vehicles. They do lots of custom work including one offs, vintage vehicles and classic cars. A full range of truck suspensions including leaf springs, bushes, pins, U bolts, and shock absorbers is offered. They can supply anything in leaf springs small or large. WCS do fit outs for mining, police, education, fire services and hire vehicles. It isn’t unusual to have a fit-out contract for up to 25 vehicles. While some 4W drivers want to ‘lift’ a vehicle for looks, others want to improve the suspension for weight carrying and drivability. WCS has the expertise to ensure you achieve what you want and still be safe and roadworthy. They recommend vehicle

It's broken.

suspensions should be inspected at regular service intervals or at least at 50,000km. Factors such as weight, weight distribution, speed, wind direction and road conditions affect a vehicle’s performance. Despite these variables, the vehicle’s suspension system must continue to provide good ride control with good handling characteristics and at the same time, maximize passenger comfort. All suspension systems, including the shocks, struts and springs, must be in good condition. Worn components may reduce vehicle stability, passenger comfort and accelerate wear on other components and tyres. Worn shocks increase body roll during cornering, this causes rapid wear which in turn affects the vehicle’s oversteer and understeer. If you’re not sure you’ve got worn suspension components, some of the characteristics to look for include oil leaks around the shock absorbers, uneven tyre wear, poor cornering and the vehicle’s nose dipping under brakes. WCS can provide expert advice and suspension testing facilities to analyse and correct any suspension related issues with your vehicle. WCS offer a large range of shock absorbers, all of which are designed in-house, and valved, bushed, and dyno tested by them for specific applications. Depending on the type of shock or strut, the body could be made in China but the shaft may be made in Germany or Vietnam, with the whole unit assembled in Asia. To remain competitive WCS has 70% of its products manufactured under licence overseas. WCS has a premium range of mono or twin tube shocks and both are hydraulic dampened and gas charged. They have their own range of remote reservoir shocks, Monotube 2.0. The remote reservoir holds extra oil to cool the shock and prevent fade, is adjustable from 100psi to 200psi and it’s easy to install. These are very popular among 4W drivers chasing peak performance. They also manufacture specialised gasless shock absorbers for underground mining vehicles, where gasless are specified due to explosion risk. They also offer a large range of corrective hardware for lifted 4W drivers, including panhard rods, caster bushes, upper control arms and heavy-duty torsion bars. Strut assembly is another service offered and they have their own pneumatic strut assembly machine. U bolts are manufactured on site, with sizes up to 300mm diameter being made from 1,400mm long blanks. U bolt steel is imported from Canada. Manufacturing and resetting leaf springs is another WCS speciality. They use precision controlled electric furnaces, a high temperature 1300°C furnace and a 475°C tempering furnace, for making leaf springs. Once the spring steel is heated to

Temporary replacement part.

Shiny new bracket. Arthroscopy completed. Resetting a spring. Photo: West Coast Suspensions.

1300°C, the metal is shaped then quenched at 900°C and allowed to cool in a 1500-litre quench bath. It's then put into the tempering furnace and reheated to 475°C to provide the final spring steel characteristics. To ensure a quality end product, only high-quality SAE spring steel materials are used. The spring steel comes in 6 metre lengths, with the size varying from 45mm x 6mm up to 150mm x 25mm. Spring steel was originally from BHP but when Port Kembla and Whyalla stopped rolling specialty steels, it had to come from overseas. The main spring steel suppliers are now China, Japan and India, who roll steel with Australian iron ore, which is then manufactured into springs and sent back into resource industry operations. WCS can raise your suspension to 50mm above standard ride height and depending on the weight the vehicle carries there are ‘firmer’ kits that will maintain the ride height. Don’t bother asking WCS to supply a lift that requires a ladder for people to climb into the vehicle. They are illegal and WCS don’t supply or fit them; anyway who wants a vehicle that looks like a praying mantis. Having said that, vehicles with sagged suspensions will often get a 75mm lift because the suspension is below the standard ride height. Nowadays many 4W drivers seek GVM upgrades for towing or carrying extra weight. WCS are licenced to supply and fit GVM suspension upgrades. Many upgrades are available off the shelf, for example, 150 Series Prado from 2990kg to 3500kg, D-Max from 3050kg to 3300kg and 200 Series LandCruiser from 3350kg to 3800kg. Each GVM kit has been certified under the Deptartment of Infrastructure and Regional Development’s Road Vehicle Certification system. Once a GVM suspension upgrade is completed, a modification compliance plate is fitted next to the OEM compliance plate, stating vehicle particulars and approval number. This ensures the boys in blue will recognise your new GVM. As well as being a leading supplier in WA, WCS has sales Australia-wide and exports to Indonesia, Europe and South Africa where WCS suspensions are very popular. What is their success? They offer high quality products, have staff who care and have pride in the company and their work. Some have been working at WCS for 30 years, and others for 10 and 15 years. Such excellent staff retention shows staff are happy and well looked after, this results in good customer service. You can contact them at 188 Railway Parade, Bassendean, WA. or by phone on (08) 9378 2133. With almost a 100-year pedigree, quality products and expert staff and service WCS is without doubt a WA success story with a bright future.