4x4 leaf springs on a 2wd?

I've got a 97 2.4L 2wd with a busted leaf on one side. I'm interested in keeping it near stock height at the moment and am having a hard time finding springs that work for me. I found these on general spring kc, but the 2wd springs are about $70 more (with the bushings) each than the 4x4 ones of the same width?

4WD:

• Width = 2-3/8
• # of Leaves = 4(3/1)
• Measures (A/B) = 22-1/2 x 28-5/8
• Pack Thickness = 1-7/16

2WD:

• Width = 2-3/8
• # of Leaves = 3(2/1)
• Measures (A/B) = 22-1/2 x 28-5/8
• Pack Thickness = 1-7/16

http://www.generalspringkc.com/Leaf_Springs_Toyota_Tacoma_1995_1996_1997_s/1930.htm

Could I use the 4wd leafs as is? Would this just cause a slight lift / stiffness in the rear? Or could I potentially take out a leaf without much of drop or loss in stability?

 

Are the mains ok ? (not bent or broken) If you can get a couple good pics of your springs I can evaluate & guide you thru a fix that'll keep most your $$$ in your wallet...

 

Sweet, thank you! I'm on a pretty tight budget and appreciate any advice. The first pic is my passengers side, second is drivers side, and the third and fourth are the broken leafs on the drivers side. (Excuse my ghetto tie wire rig, didn't want the broken leaf to hit my tire or gas tank)

 

Thanks for the pics, good angles..... OK looks like you have a 5 lug SUA & those are nasty breaks, don't even think about a new set of aftermarket springs....yet anyway haha. Now since most the 'yotas rollin' around are 6 lug SOA & you are SUA the fix for you is a little different, if you're mech. inclined go to local wrecking yard & look for some Chevy S-10's , once you've found some notice that they're SUA as well,you need the rear springs off this to build yourself a solid leafpack that'll hold up. I'll post up a pic or 2 of some springs I've done...

 

4wd, I read some of your thread on refurbishing already. (Props to you!) I thought about fabricating up a new leaf and cleaning up the springs a bit, but just don't have the tools and space where I'm living now.. so i'm most likely stuck with someone doing it for me or drive the 4 hrs and do it at my in laws place. i'm headed there this weekend, so i'll sniff around the pick n pull and see what i can find.

But in case I don't find anything, would those 4x4 leafs work for me as is or are they made to go over the axle?

 

Yeah, your going to have to go with leafs that maintain the same ARC radius (more or less)...

 

Well, nothing in the junkyard suspension wise that I could've used. Did snag a transmission pan since mine is stripped.

I guess I'm going to go ahead and order those 4x4 leafs on my next payday. Should my shackles and bolts be reusable?

 

I don't think you're following me here, You have a spring-under-axle, this means you have more spring ARC than the 4x springs (spring over axle)you want to get, this isn't going to work out for you very well..

 

Sorry, totally misunderstood you.

Could I potentially take a leaf out of the 4x springs and still give me the arc i need? Or am I better off sticking with OEM springs?

 

Doug, would he have any use out of a pair of take off leafs from my 2013? He is in my area and I don't need them, seems like he could use a hand.

If there is a way they can be used let me know.

 

I dunno if they can be used at a spring shop and modified to work, which is why I asked.

 

Thanks for your input James.. I'm on the peninsula just south of SF. Been driving with this broken leaf for way too long and just trying to figure out the best (and cheapest) way for me to fix it.

 

For sure. You're welcome to my take offs if they will do anything for you.

 

Disregard my crappy drawing but hopefully it'll make my point..



Ok despite crappy drawing you can see that the SUA (you)spring has more radius than the SOA below it, now the problem will be is when you go to clamp the SOA 4x springs to the more ARC'd SUA main spring you are going to end up lowering your truck because the main spring is going to yield to the shorter/stouter/less ARC'd donor springs....

 

This is why I told you to look for early S-10 chevy springs , in fact I don't care if you find SUA or SOA or anywhere inbetween, you need donor springs that match your main spring SUA set up..

 

& I know this shit can get confusing haha...

 

1 ton chevy S-10 SUA springs.....(you don't have to find a 1 ton OEM s-10's will do)

 

& thats a generous offer thank you...

 

hot damn! did ya slap enough leafs in that bad boy? haha

it seems like a rather simple mechanism, but leaf springs are way more sophisticated than I thought.. I suppose that's why they've been using them for 100+ years.

In my search, I've found this link http://www.customtacos.com/forum/54...co-3-drop-leaf-springs-what-brands-there.html saying that 4x springs will give me a 3" drop in the rear. Could I risk that much drop without touching the front, or would I end up messing up my truck and looking like i'm driving something out of a Ed Roth cartoon?

 

Haha, tell me about it..! If it dropped it that far you might as well notch frame & bag it...