Tacoma Spring refurbishing

Local Member SUAZOYOTA (Spencer) is a happy camper after getting his springs on this afternoon, nice to have another one in the win column...

You're welcome buddy...

 

What can happen with too much arch, a rough ride? Ive got some leafs off a 2wd S10 (sua) on my tacoma and it ride pretty stiff. If i have 300-1000 pounds in the bed it rides super smooth like a caddy though. I also have some kinda cheap shocks on it though.

You can put me in the win column to, Ive had my omd add a leaf packs on a while now.

 

Yessir I am 100% completely satisfied! I asked for a bit of a confusing set of leafs, soft but not too soft and don't lose too much of stiffness to the ride while adding an inch or two. I don't know how he does it but it was spot on and exactly what I requested! Firm not STIFF, soft cushy comfortable feel to the ride but not spongy or too soft of a feel and got rid of the sagging of the rearend and giving just the perfect lift for what I do. Best of all, I was having a newbie moment and struggling with install and Doug went out of his way to help me out with the whole install. I can't thank you enough Doug and it was such a pleasure to meet you finally! Left pic is before right is just after

Oh chit, I'll get better pics of the after install, so blurry and doesnt show any awesomeness

 

With too much ARC your springs aren't going to cycle very well, too much positive/parallel angle (or lack of angle really) Your ride when you hit a bump is going to absolutely destroy any kind of ride quality, it'd be like hitting a wall & THEN your springs would awkwardly kinda cycle , not much, it'd be worse than driving a pogo stick....

Good on you Jeff, I didn't know you did the MOD, I should revise my list of users, I kinda lost track around 50 or so,I'm sure it's closer to 100 now...

Junkyards FTMFW !!...

It was great meeting you too Spencer & no worries dude, like I said its more important & satisfying to see guys get the ride & results they want than to make $$$, don't get me wrong , its important that I get your $$$ but its MORE important that you get your suspension needs met....

 

I've heard some talk about using f 150 leafs..Do you know if leafs off a '94 f 150 would work? I might be able to get some a heck of a lot cheaper than the chevys.

 

Yeah I've done a couple builds using Ford springs, get same great results , down side is Fords usually a bit wider than I like, just throw a tape across any spring you are thinking of using, get it as close to Toyota OEM width as possible

 

Ok thanks a lot for the help!

 

No worries....glad to help...

 

On another note, a few of you may remember that I had found a set of Chevy truck springs that were a straight up bolt on, well after running them for several weeks I've concluded that tho' they ride excellent the length would require a modified shackle (not longer but re configured) the other option would be a shackle mount relocation (which I'm trying to avoid) So the hunt continues....

 

I need better pics but these are the best set I've made for my truck to date ! Even better than the first set I built 3 years ago...

 

Heres a better pic kinda, really stoked how they came out

 

So far i have looked at about ten donor trucks and have not seen any leafs that are 2 3/8 inches. Set i looked at today were just a hair under 2 1/2, might have been really close to 2 7/16. Would that width work?

 

What setup are these?

 

Looks like I'm going to add to this thread. Saw it in Doug's sig in his reply to my thread (http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/314096-leaf-spring-rear-bushings.html#post8141247)so checked it out today. Currently have a lift shackle and 2 shortest leafs out of my 67 Mustang's original leaf pack. Ride is awesome but there is no load carrying ability and any flexing pretty much immediately goes to negative arch. So game plan is to go to factory shackles, remove toyota overload, possibly add an overload leaf out of a ranger, and add some leafs elseware to keep the lift where it currently is. Since this is a budget mod and my budget is minimum right now what I currently have are overload leafs out of an early 90s 1 ton ford (bottom main leaf pack went to buddies derby car)(these are just like normal leafs just mounted on top of main pack), the 3rd longest leaf out of the mustang pack, and probably an overload leaf out of a Ranger (I occasionaly hall a load of firewood or a 4 wheeler in the bed so don't want to soft) Plan is to take from whatever from these packs, cut to fit and make something work. I'm open to any ideas anyone has.

FWIW:
Mustang leafs are .25" thick and progressive (tapper in thickness at ends)
Ford 1 tons: .29" thick
Ranger: No clue other than done here: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1s...ow-build-little-taco-could-2.html#post5755858

Current set up (old pic but yea):

 

4WD - Getting any PM's?

 

So did the swap over the weekend. No pics yet but ended up only adding 2 leafs out of the 90ish ford truck overload leaf pack. (I did cut them down a little to get the lengths right)

The main leaf and 2nd longest out of the Mustang leaf pack were to wide like I saw earlier in this thread. I'm going to check the replacement leafs that are currently on my Mustang and see if the bottom two leafs are narrower than the top two.

Didn't get time to pull the overload leaf out of the ranger and this thread made me feel comfortable trying this set up first.

Overall happy with it. Went back to the stock shackles drilled out to accept the bolts used in the lift shackles. Ride seems pretty good so far. Current leaf pack is factory Toyota for the top 3 leafs, Ford truck leaf cut to fit, 2nd shortest 67 Mustang leaf, another ford truck leaf, and finally the smallest came out of the Mustang also. I'll try and get some pictures up soon.

 

I too am a witness to the power of chevy leaf springs. After adding my RTT and bed rack i had a serious lean..



Since then i've added 2 chevy leaf springs to both side and boom. Rake. It rides like butter and i've got zero complaints or regrets and it was WAY cheaper than a new leaf pack.

 

Nice^

 

So looking at this. I think I might could do this myself. Just referenced the local pull apart in town full springs for 28.00 for both sides out of 1/2 ,3/4, and 1 ton van or pickup. 5.00 entry fee. So for 33.00 + tax and bolts I could be back to level this week while i'm on vacation. So for my pre runner what would you recommend I pull the leafs from. Planning on going thursday if its not snowing. I have a grinder available and from what I have read about 75 pages I need to find 2 3/8 leaves right? And if I can find a flatbad s10 the better if not find a truck with the bed off like an f150 or 2500 or 1500 chevy and take both packs or just one.

 

So after all the snow I couldn't get to pull a part but am planning on going tomorrow. Just gotta figure out my tool situation on going out there. May just take the whole top of the tool box. So to recap I am looking for an 88 or older chevy. 3/4 ton or 1/2 ton. 2 3/8 wide leaf. And a partridge in a pear tree?