Tacoma Spring refurbishing

Are those Ford springs ?? If a true 2.5" wide it must be a newer chevy

Alot of Fords are 2.5", in any event you can use them but you may have to channel grind the sides where the U bolts flip over..

 

There were on a 77 chevy 1/2 ton ill keep looking

 

I got plenty of room for stickers

 

Sorry, I think the other guy got that into my head. Thanks DOUG!!! LOL

 

Well I remembered I had my old leaf springs off my 83 Toyota. Think these would work?

 

Well I'll tell you that my '83 solid axle 4x springs were never an issue so I'd say that they'd work well

 

ok so i have been digging around som more and came up with some chevy leafs that i think will work. here are my concerns. im worried about generally screwing up my factory leafs even though tey are wore out they function properly. how do i deal with the offset center pin of the first gen? should i replace spring bushings while i have everything apart? do i need an extended brake line? i need new rear shock anyway what would u guys recommend? can i get some close up pics of how you are making spring clamps? am i keeping all three factory leafs and adding two chevys to my pack or just the top two and two chevys? obviously ditching the overload. impretty sure i can tackle this job an lookin forward to saving 400+ that i would have spent on rear leafs. still have not pulled the trigger on front lift yet either kinda waiting on toytecs new boss setup. anyway thanks in advance doug!! if this works you will have another OMD spring mod on the east coast

 

Chevy springs I found

 

I'm just getting back online aftwer almost a week I'll have some answers to your questions shortly

 

Ok first off you aren't going to ruin your stock leafs if anything this is going to allow them function as they shoud've from the beginning,

measure each end of the bottom leaf (not the overload) You'll notice that 1 end of leaf is shorter from the centerpin than the other, thats normal for 1st gens, cut aprox. 3.5" off each donor leaf with this in mind & you should have no problems with the offset config...

I would change the bushings only if they look like they really need it, if they're still round & not torn I'd leave them alone..

I would get an extended brakeline as well, some say they haven't had to but I'd do it for safetys sake..

& yes you keep the 3 stock leafs & add 2 donors per side

 

& heres a link to some spring clamps the only change I made is using 3/8" all thread instead of 7/16" (over kill)


http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/suspension/220579-1-hour-spring-clamps.html

 

Fantastic!! Thanks Doug now I just gotta find time to do this 40hrs wk full load in college and an old lady puts a strain on things. Too bad you don't live closer I got a spare transmission out a 4runner in the barn.

 

What was this about stickers?

 

No problem I forgot to add that its cut off 3.5" off EACH END of donors & for shocks I usually send guys to DSMS for some custom length billy 5125's, tell sonny you need some with 9" of travel.....

PM me your address

 

X2

 

PM'd

 

Going to give this a try. Have 2nd gen with non tsb leafs. Going to add 2 ford f100 springs to each side and a 2'' AAL which should give 3-4''?

Im going to also install BAMF shock relocate with 12'' icons.

I do usually have a fair bit of weight in the bed, tow frequently and planning on making a bed rack and getting a tent. I do want maximum flexibility and travel tho.

In your opinion is it better to run the set up listed above with or without overloads and will it work?

 

Ok your a 2 leaf

(main & secondary, i dont consider the overload a spring...springs flex, overloads dont ) Depending on stiffness of the fords you may not need an additional aftermarket AAL, most of mine get most guys to 2.75"-3" (with 2 chevy springs per side) & unless towing HEAVY & often I leave overloads out, I've had 1340lbs + in my 1st gen & tho it felt like front wheels weren't on ground I still maintained pos. ARC

Also with your consideration of an AAL why not just get a couple more ford springs ? You'll know that its american forged steel , just because a spring has an americsn brand name on it odds are about 95% are made with the same soft Asian steel, besides when you custom cut your leafs you'll end up with a setup that is truly yours, good on the BAMF !!.
. Jerry does nice work..

 

I used leafs out of a '93 F150 - 2 per side.

Donor springs had great arch, and I was working with a low mileage Toyota pack... I'm running a swing out high clearance bumper, loaded down with about 300 lbs of camping gear + 160 lbs of bumper, I was just starting to sag. Neve hit bump stops, and I wheeled pretty rough. I do have a 3rd spring out of that Ford pack cut and ready to put in, I'm going to throw them in when I get time, should maintain lift when I'm fully loaded.

Overall, super impressed with my results! OMDFTW!

 

I agree with Doug.. I'd stay with using your donor Ford leafs. You're already adding non-OEM components to your Toyota leaf pack. Seems that AALs are susceptible to different arch, steel strength, etc.

You Ford pack was designed as a unit, I think it'd be best to keep them together as much as possible.

Just my .02