Tacoma Spring refurbishing

Alright Doug. I finally got a free weekend to give these Dodge Dakota springs I picked up a try. Got a couple of questions though. Pictures will help me explain.

Here is my stock 1st Gen spring after taking out the center bolt.



1. Will these guys work or do they have too much arc? They pretty close to the factory ones.

2. Where am I to put the new leaf or leaves in the pack? Between the last spring and the overload spring? Like this:



3. Just be be clear, I need to cut down my donor leaves to be 3.75 inches shorter on each end than the leaf they rest under, right? So, in this picture I would cut the purple donor spring down to be 3.75 inches shorter on each end than the yellow spring that rest on top of it and the one below it another 3.75 inches if I add two leaves?



4. What are folks using to replace the spring clamps? Circled here:



Lastly, does it matter which one of the donor leaves I use, the shortest, middle, or longest? They all appear to have the same arc.

I hope I have this right. Ready to get cutting. Thanks for the help. Hopefully you can answer these few questions and others can compare them with the pics and get it.

 

Doug,
I have read up to page 88 of this thread but tragedy struck today and I have to skip to the end to ask a question. My second leaf on the passenger side split and I'm hoping the main is still salvageable so I can make OMD springs. Can you tell me if shes a goner. If I can rebuild it I'll go down to the junkyard as soon as possible and try to find something worth rebuilding with. Just to be clear I would rebuild both sides, it just so happens that that spring finally broke apart and if that side is good the other should be too.
Thanks!

 

I always paint my springs after I scale them with a cutoff wheel first to take off the big stuff, the usual rusting that takes place turns into solid deposits at some point when moisture is present, that shit has to go !! After de scaling the top/bottom of leafs, I always make a couple passes down the sides (the thin part of the leafs) from end to end, then I wire wheel them do a last inspection & paint... Look at any new leafpack, you'll see their painted through & through, I'm no different so whereever you got that info about paint cause gaps between leafs is B.S., your going to have gaps on any spring that has anti squeak pads on the ends, & no paint is going to cause cracks haha someones fucking with you I think Devin... just hang on a bit we'll get you straightened out....

Thanks dude, & to all I apologize for my partial meltdown, I was being fed alot of bullshit about my moms probate/estate timeline ...assholes...anyway.....we roll....

Perfect, you'll do fine...

Dude, I'm trying to figure out what the hell is up with bushing wrap (military wrap) at the front hanger in first pic



& , its getting uglier for you sadly...



I'll be honest, these springs have been heavily abused by weight, not only because they're broken but what really concerns me is the hanger ends, trhe secondary springs are so obviously deformed & sacked I wouldn't even consider using any of your leafpacks, scrap time man, I'm sorry... You're only the second or third person out of 1000's I've had to tell that ..

You need to find another set of stock springs that are buildable, if I saw them in person , maybe I'd change my mind, but since I dont have them in front of me I can't in good conscience tell you anything different.....You start looking & I will too... pretty sure some will pop up here onsite for cheap, maybe even free...

 

Well, it's good to know that they aren't worth my time, I guess my ride home with all of my stuff from college is going to be a bit hairy but oh well. I'll have to keep my eyes out for some usable stockers then (I really don't want aftermarket leafs after seeing this thread). If anything viable pops up gimme a holler. Do you think it is okay to drive on, just on road.
Thanks Doug

 

Ok, as far as spring clamps go.....

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

 

Ya know , it always pains me to tell guys that but it'd be a dis service to you to candy coat it... Are those broken springs still in the pack ? If so at least take out the back half that looks like its going to fall out..

Driving...hmmm... Make sure that the remaining broken leaf is the forward (hanger end) piece, get a hammer if you need to & knock it into parallel with the main spring & check for tightness, as a matter of fact, hit the Ubolt with some decent lube (not PB blaster) It;s great product but we're not trying to loosen them, we just want some lube on the threads because your going to tighten them down a little, not too much , dont need to strip threads on top of the issues you already have, & BE AWARE OF YOUR SITUATION, NO HAULING ANYTHING OF SIGNIFICANT WEIGHT, NO OFFROADING, MOBBING, CURB JUMPING OR NUN RAMING,

ok that last one was a joke... & I'll start looking for a set for you , I usually have a set or 2 of each gen. but not now i dont so we seek....

 

The truth may not be very cheery, but it is much appreciated. I'll take out the broken chunk and check the tightness of the U-Bolts. Again, I appreciate the quick response and the willingness to help, hopefully some stock springs come up.
Thanks,
Zane

 

Sure thing Zane, & I'm sure some will pop up, hell you should go to the 1st gen market place & not only look but put up a post " WTB" or Looking for set of 1st gen springs

Which brings up another thing, you're a 95.5, so we need to find some for your year up to '97. From 98' up the springs are a couple inches longer

So any SOA up to 1997 will work fine..

 

Yeah , my attorney was not pleased with this harrassment after I talked to her

As far as the ramming goes its ok, but the rimming is awesome ... nothing chirps & moves like a penguin....haha...

 

Duct tape/bailing wire/hose clamps, sure it's practical & common sense enough, only issue would be human nature meaning that if this were done, i think too many would get too comfortable with it & just put it off or not think about it at all, but i think you've got a great idea there, we can't be held with the responsibility of making sure people follow thru on repairs/replacing. So I'd say thats a nice addition to the other random crap we drag along for the "just in case" situation.....

You get a gold star today Ding.....

 

Where do you guys recommend getting new center pins and u-bolts?

 

I just used some 3/8" bolts from Lowes... Rounded off the end of the bolt on the bottom side of the spring. Buy a full threaded bolt longer than you think you will need and cut off the excess.

 

Couldn't have said it better Daniel, thanks for spreading the RIGHT info, & thats great I don't always have time to answer questions or even get online sometimes & they back up, so when the information is given as long as its right I dont care who tells it, so feel free to clue people in on this MOD in my absense, theres a couple other members that provide this service for me as well....

 

4WD, did you ever get my PM? And with the leafs you saw in my thread should I get new pins?

 

I figured you had answered this question a few times in the last 100 pages or so, so I thought I would throw it out there .

I finished my install of the Dakota springs this past week, but I haven't gotten a chance to post any pics.

Haha - the results are surprising. I got a lot more than I bargained for. I'll post details with some pics when I am back home next week.

 

Hi Devin, I just went thru my inbox & the only messages I see are the ones we've already covered, is there something specific ??

As a rule I change the centerpins but it's subjective, I'd say as long as they're not rusted & threads are still clean & tight, re use would be ok...

 

Doug,

New Taco owner and new to TW. I've read every post...took me a couple of days...fantastic thread, nice work with this mod! Easy question because I don't recall seeing this addressed at all...is this a suitable mod for a brand new Taco? Obviously my springs aren't sagging yet, but I'm researching for lifts and this appears to be THE BEST way to achieve a functional long-lasting lift without spending hundreds for an inferior product.

Else, I've seen every possible question answered at least 10x over! Props to you and the others who have been helping out the community here...world-class effort!

Thanks,
-Russ

 

Welcome
I don't see any reason not to do this on a brand new truck. It's a great lift, great DIY project and lasts a long time. Unless you have the money and was to buy brand new expo style leafs.

 

Doug lmk when you are operational again I don't think I will have access to what I need any more for this project.

 

ok Doug I put the springs in I bought from you. not only did I not get any lift, it sits a 1/2" lower than the stock springs I took off (non tsb). I didn't bother putting the front lift on don't want a bro lean.