Tacoma Spring refurbishing

OMD?
and you think using Tacoma leafs to do so is worth it?

 

Old Man Doug!

 

Have you read this thread whatsoever? Jeewiz.

You add heavier, better made leafs to the OEM tacoma leafs.

look for '70's -80's 1/2-3/4 ton chevy trucks.... look for nice/evenly ARC'd springs Even Ford springs just make sure the width is the same or close

 

ain't no body got time for that!

I was trying to avoid the junk yard and use what I have.
nice even arc, and same width okay, is there a way to pre determine how much lift it will offer. im trying to stay below 2"

 

Haha, oh so you already have an extra pair of tacoma leafs, hmm. Idk if I'd use those since they seem to be pretty crappy. Adding like 2 per side might get you about 2". Complete guess.

Depends in how long you make them also, which you should make them longer rather than short

 

I was wondering about using 2 or 3 additional Toyota springs, and building a all Toyota spring pack.
Would drop the overload spring,and use arc'd springs only.
Wonder how much additional lift you achieve with each leaf you add?

 

I think you guys are missing the point of this mod....

The toyota steel is junk. The only reason you use the top leaf is because it fits in the hangers

 

That's what I was trying to say, but not as directly haha, thanks

 

Thanks for the info, and I will take your advice, best to do it correctly the first time. Now what to do with 4 OEM Leaf packs?

 

Take the 2 in best shape and give them the donor leafs for your truck, take the leftover ones and do the same thing and sell them!

 

Durn, I hate to be the guy to ask a question that's probably already been answered but 71 pages is just a bit much for me, so here goes.

I searched this thread a couple times and it looks like Dakota springs are a good option if I want stockish (maybe 1.5" at most) height back? My 1st gen TRD has 240,xxx and it's springs are flat/tiny bit of positive arc, shocks are shot, etc. I think I'll be adding some 5100's (thus the need for 1.5" or so in leafs) all around soon with some sort of stockish coils up front (880's methinks? ought to be 1.5").

Will any old Dakota work (looks like about all have 2.5" leaves)? Any other reasonable candidates (like Chevy's, we got bunches in our junk yard). Do I just save the Toyota leaf attached to the hangers and replace the rest with the Dakota donors?

Again, I'm really sorry for not reading through this entire treasure trove. I accept any flames I've earned for my actions.

 

I didn't read it yet either, but from what 4WD has told me, you can use some chevy leaves, just add like one or 2 per side depending on how much ark they have and the thickness. You do just save the main leaf on hangers and add to it.

 

My contribution to this thread:



Combined some leaves from a '91 S-10 with my Wheelers 6 packs. Came out awesome, and the leaves cost me all of $44.

 

Very nice!

 

Gotcha, thank you sir!

 

So, just to clarify, my leaf pack should be between 2 and 3 leaves + the overload spring when I'm done? What are the pros of removing the overload? I don't want to loose hauling capacity.

 

Well, idk much about the 1st gen packs, but 2nd gen packs are riveted/clamped together. So I'll be using the main leaf and one toyota leaf then add the chevy leaf(s). You can use just the toyota main, it'd probably be better to do this.

Keeping the overload is debatable. It will give about a 1/2" of height in the rear. I'd say get rid of it unless you seriously max out your leafs to almost negative arc

 

I kept mine. Take a measuring tape to it. The overload is roughly 3/4 inch thick. I don't see a reason to take it out. That's lift you are loosing.

 

All the overload does is act as a long block that will not let your leaves arc past a certain point. If you drop the overload and add say 1 more chevy leaf to get the lift the overload would give then now you have more payload capacity and articulation.

 

Hmm, interesting point. Any terrible problems if I happen to pass the point where the overload would have been? Say I pull a trailer that's a wee bit too heavy or haul too many blocks one day. Wouldn't the bump stops catch the load and it would just be a rough ride, but no catastrophe?

Also, how did you fellers go about estimating your lift from your donors before you pulled them from the junkyard? This is my dd so I don't want a weekend project to turn into a month of a parked truck. I am trying to read through this whole thread, ever so slowly.