The Frankenstein Build! LT/Expo/Trail rig..and BS

Damn my ninja edit want fast enough.

That's very true but it sucks big time to try and work on anything in the summer here.

 

also true. It hot hot there. Least its not humid like St louis..god damn..

ive done steering rack stuff on the floor and up on racks. sucks on the floor for sure.

 

Ive got family just outside of Kansas City on the MO side. Summers are pretty bad there too. You really just have to pick your poison

 

i don't stay here for summer. I would hate it. Coming back in the fall is horrible enough anyways.

Ill take dry heat any day. the wy desert is fine for me haha

 

that was really poetic. well done!

 

True, but nobody said anything about putting it back together. I'll be on hand for the disassembly.

 

Accidentally posted this in tt supras thread oops!

Anyways, I would be happier if my rear springs wore more of a smile than a frown. I know you have messed around with your springs a bit so figured I'd ask for input here.

I have the Dakar pack with OME AAL and 1" lift shackles. Currently I am bro-leaning slightly when weighted down for wheeling/camping (frownie springs) and just a hair over level unloaded (slightly frownie).

I was thinking of adding one or two leaves from my old stock Springs to the pack after summer. Am I on the right track by doing this, or should I be looking into a different strategy?

I could go longer shackles, but that's not really gonna help my frownie spring conundrum.

Thanks dood.

 

I know this wasn't directly at me, but recently rearched and traded in some Chevy leafs to my Wheeler's 6 packs. FWIW, every Dakar pack I've seen is flat, they seemed to be designed for a minimal lift and increased load, and that's about it. You're on the right track, but I would not add your old Toyota steel to the pack, infamously bad steel isn't going to help. I picked up a set of springs off of a '91 S-10 at a pick and pull for $40, and they worked out perfect. Just look for the right width (2 3/8" but 2.5" works) and whatever arch you need. I current have a rather thin pack of 6 leafs, but have about 4" of lift with all my weight thanks to the arch.

Not to start this argument again, but I would also shoot for adding enough lift to ditch the shackles. Don't go longer shackles....

 

Gonna agree with Brett. The stock packs won't help you at all.

Dakars are designed to be flat. I fact they have almost a w kind of shape to them. That is totally normal for them. What are you running up front? And do you have skids and a winch yet?

Pulling a leaf and replacing it with a beefier leaf would be what id do. I like to replace long leafs. Usually try and add on or replace the one either right after the main leaf or after the second one. This usually merits a better ride instead of a shorter super stiff leaf.

They are tons of options at junk yards you can get for cheap. S10 ones work well because they have lots of arch as S10s are SUA. Cutting 1/4 ton or 1/2 chevy leafs down to size is another good option.

Honestly, you'll just have to mess with it. Took me three tries to get what I wanted and it rides great with weight and flexes awesome. So don't expect to get it right the first time.

 

Yea yours is a bit different situation. Haha

 

Thanks, all good info. I'm inclined to leave shackles as is, it's not that much additional length at 1" lift. The angle isn't too bad. So Chevy's huh? Like a rock

I have no idea what to look for in a leaf. Any tips? I got the width, probably need to look at length, but anything else I should be aware of? Thinking I'll work on this in the winter but always good to get a head start on these things.

Oh and as far as weight, I have the tg low profile bumper with winch (steel line), front 3/16" skid, sliders, rear bumper/swing out with 33, the rack, and tent. Those are on it at all times, and it sits slightly above level. By the time I add tools, flhids, parts, camping supplies and wood, the bri lean sets in. And I know the Dakar sit flat or with a little 'w' but this is more than that imo.

Edit: tcase and mid skid on the way, but that probably won't help my sitch.

 

Id look for a thicker leaf. The skyjacker leaf I swapped in was about 1/8" thicker or about. Maybe 3/32s. Never meassured. But something thicker with more arch. Not a shit load more arch but more then the current leafs. If it has too much arch it'll sit in the pack weird. Again, you'll probably have to tear them apart a few times to get it right. I got to the point I could tear the leafs out, take them apart and put the truck back together in less then 1.5 hours from doing it to my truck. Be doing it again this summer a bit too ha

What coils up front??

 

So it's just a feel thing. Man I hate tearing out the leaves haha. It is my dd afterall. Coils are 882.

 

Yea you'll get good at it! Haha

Also remember to always get new center pins. And always check your u bolts after a few miles and again after a few hundred.

Ah. That makes sense then.

 

Why woukd the 882 be causing grief in the rear? I wonder if old springs off my buddy's xj would work, I'll have to measure.

 

cause they give a lot of lift, so its what's giving you the bro lean.

although, a few more wheeling trips and they will settle more. How often do you wheel?

 

Weather permitting I try and get out and flex the ol girl once a month. I actually think they have settled pretty good, lots of flex at least.

 

yea they are a softer coil so the flex should be nice. Just long so they are precompressed.

i was just curious.

 

I should look up the stock height and see where I'm sitting now. Not too bad to measure on my truck from fender to hub, since my wheels aren't 6" past the flare some day I will have that problem..