Mid Travel BS 2.0

It's the same 12" of travel

Tracy
tracy@allprooffroad.com

 

thanks!

 

So, for you guys with Dakars, what kind of travel are you getting with them. I have enjoyed my Dakars for the weight capacity they handle, but now that I am looking to improve the performance I am starting to wonder how well they are actually going to flex. I am in the middle of working on the BAMF shock relocation kit and am almost positive that the overload leafs in the Dakar pack are going to limit my up travel. I currently have the full pack with the

$77 D29XL Leaf Spring

D29XL add a leaf.

 

SOA will be the one limiting your bump mang

 

Do yourselves a favor and swap for da Chevy's

 

Yeah that is given, but I don't want to go with SUA. To get the full benefits of SUA I would need much longer shocks. I just want to get the maximum out of a SOA setup. I have never hit my bumps with the Dakars even with a ton of weight in the bed so I know my uptravel is being restricted by about 2" by something (most likely the overload leafs).

 

Yeah that seems to be a popular route but I don't really want to mess with it. I like the Dakars, just want to see what other peoples experience is with them and getting them to flex more.

 

Why not break your leaf pack down and measure? That would get you the best shock placement as well.

 

Been there, I understand.

 

could go with shackle flip, longer shackles and a custom pack like what Brett just said

 

This x1000

If everyone did this prior to buying shocks they would be much happier.

 

I am not familiar with how this/how is done. Explanation?

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tacoma-spring-refurbishing.194386/

 

My understanding is that a shackle flip will help droop but may actually hinder up travel because it isn't changing the flexing dynamic of the leaf pack, just the rear pivot point. Since most shackle flips add lift, I just be taller in the rear but still compressing the same.

 

Well when it comes to cycling for the relocation its done on the top leaf with a block under it to simulate the rest of the pack. So you basically assemble the leaf pack with just the top leaf and cycle it. This will give you the #s you need for bump/droop

For a quick measument of droop numbers if you had a free moving shackle. Put the rear on stands and you will want to support the carrier with a jack. Remove the top bolt of the shocks and loosen the shackle bolt. When you push on the rear the whole axle will drop and the shackles will also. This is the only way to get the OEM shackles to really drop out.

 

Been there, done that with shackles. While not the same exact scenario as a 2nd gen shackle flip, none of that changes the lateral length of the main spring. That is what dictates travel numbers, not how you mount it to the frame.

As just mentioned, the main spring is what determines spring travel. Simple version: Get your truck up on tall jackstands in front of the springs, break you leaf pack down to just the main spring, bolt it up, and measure from full droop to full bump. This will tell you exactly what length shock you need and where to place it. I'm sure other, more knowledgeable people on here can better explain the process.

This is why I asked if anyone has broken down an Expo pack. I'm somewhat amazed at how many people spend a shit ton of money on fancy shocks and shock relocation kits, and are not taking the time to properly set them up.

Unfortunately, I'm not exactly sure the best way to do this if your overloads are limiting uptravel and you plan on keeping the overloads.

 

Gotcha, that makes complete sense. Unfortunately like you mentioned the overload springs are my issue. I am positive I could get more uptravel without them, but I need them on occasion for the weight capacity.

 

Unless thier builds have changed recently I think @ckeene9 has the Dakar with

$77 d29XL leaf spring

d29XL and @AaronArf has just the dakars, so I am curious as to thier experience in getting the Dakars to flex with those overload springs.

 

That makes sense but I wouldn't know since I have longer leafs, I searched a little and found some threads where they claim that the shackle flip kit increases both up and down travel.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/shackle-flip-questions.407411/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/deaver-spring-under-with-shackle-flip.233065/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/shackle-flip-kit-the-official-armor-tech-offroad-thread.266995/

 

Cool, I will check those out. Thanks. It may be that I could remove the second of the overload springs, and do a shackle flip to make up for the little bit of lift lost. The first overload leaf would stay there for really heavy loads.