Relocating the Leaf Spring Shackles to shorten overall length.

quick question, is it possible to shorten the overall length of a 2nd gen extracab tacoma by relocating the leaf spring shackles to right behind the rear shocks? I may get a used tacoma in the long run and will convert it to a flatbed when doing this project.

 

You mean shorten the wheelbase? Absolutely. Move the rear axle forward. May not be as simple as just moving the leaf spring mounts though. Depending on the shape of the frame.

 

Not shortening the wheelbase, just getting rid of the rear overhang past the rear shocks.

 

Oh? Hells that's even easier.

Cut off wheel and a sawzall!

 

This is a second generation picture, my plan is to relocate the rear leaf springs just behind the stock rear shocks:

 

What do you mean relocate the rear leaf springs? Move the rear shackle mount forward? To just behind the shock mount?

 

I meant to say move the rear spring leaf shackles to just behind the stock rear shocks.

 

So you want to have the rear leaf shackle just behind the shock mount. Is this with keeping the original front leaf hanger? If so im sure you could but you would need a whole new leaf pack. A much shorter leaf pack..... If not, and everything is moving towards the front, then yeah, but that would be shortening your wheel base, which you said you wernt trying to do. Then you would have to worry about fender clearance (or having a wheel well)

Little confused about what your trying to accomplish.

 

Are you thinking of doing the shackle flip, and just moving the rear mount up a little bit? Keeping your current leaf pack?

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1s...f-spring-shackles-shorten-overall-length.html

based on this thread seems like he just wants a smaller leaf pack...

 

You aren't going to be able to relocate the rear spring hanger without relocating the front hanger. When you do that the axle is going to have to move forward as well, and you will be shortening the wheelbase. If you want to get rid of that much frame, you could link it and put it on coils. Then you wont have anything after the axle, and you can hack away.

 

Wouldn't that still move the axle forward? The axle will need to be in the center of the spring, and if you move the rear mount forward, that would move the axle too, no?

What's the overall goal of moving the spring mount forward?

 

I already answered this in another thread started by the OP. If I'm understanding him correctly, there is some serious ignorance going on about how suspensions and leaf springs work. It sounds to me like he's saying he'd like the shackles to be about 12" behind the axle without changing the centerpin or wheelbase etc. That would mean you'd have a very long front half of the leaf pack and a VERY short rear half of the pack. Having a small amount of offset of the center pin is normal but in this case it would be a MAJOR difference in length on either side of the axle. Clearly it just isn't an option.

Sounds to me like the goal is to eliminate everything behind the tire for better departure angle.

That being the case, the only way to accomplish that is to go with a coil/link setup in the rear suspension. No way it's happening with leafs. OP needs to go back to the drawing board or back to school.

 

That's what I was understanding too...


Somethin fucky going on here.

 

like these?

 

Or what about getting shorter rear leaf springs and then moving the rear leaf spring shackles forward to just behind the rear shocks? Will that work as well?

 

Those pics are a type of link setup with coil springs. That idea will work but requires LOTS of custom work and a very good understanding of how link suspension works in order to set up the links at proper angle.

The idea of shorter leaf springs is stupid and will not work. Sorry to sound harsh but you need to put that idea out of your mind.

 

What the hell is going on here?(rhetorical) I'm going to leave before I say something rude.

 

wow. i cant ever say ive seen pics of a link set up like that. what is that on?


i think op is trying to accomplish something like an eliptical leaf set up, but i dont think he wants links


some how he wants the wheel in the same spot, but the shackle to be right by the shock. which is not really plausible

or as adam said, he wants to move the leaf pack forward 8" and bolt the axle the back end of the leaf pack to keep the wheel base the same.



either way, its ok to hiy your leafs/shackle when off roading. not that big of a deal

 

1/4 eliptic setup like that one still requires a link setup. (i know all of you know this, I'm stating that for the OP). If you're doing a link setup, you might as well do coilovers.