HELP! OME Dakar Leaf Springs Not Lining Up!

So I finally sawed and hammered and swore my stock leaf springs off my 2002 TRD so I can install my new OME Dakar’s. Should be easy enough, right?! Just take off the old ones and put in the new ones! Nope. Not lining up. At least an inch off and I have the springs nearly flat with c-clamps. Correct direction, correct leaf spring for the drivers side. What gives?!!! Help!

 

I had to use a ratchet strap to persuade everything to line up. I'd recommend giving that a try if you have one laying around.

Edit: I am curious why you put the C clamps on the leaf spring. What's going on with those?

 

Yes most of the time with diffs and leafs You need to force things up.
Losing other side helps too.

 

↓↓↓↓

 

Man that frame, put some fluid film on it to stop the rust or those brand new Dakars are going to punch through it haha

 

Shackles in the rear ?

 

Use some muscle for the pin and leaf pack

If you have an issue with the bolt on either the front eyelet or rear shackle, just use a ratchet strap.

 

I had the same issue. You have to guide the axle to align it with the pin. We had to loosen the other side.

 

You just manipulate the leaf pack to align on the pin, it's that easy.

 

You have the other side all loosened up?

 

YES!!! Make sure you do this too.

 

Cut that sum'bitch off

I did on mine

 

Lol

 

@jayvp77

Looking back at your pictures, you didn't lift your truck from the frame high enough to let your rear axle droop.

You don't want the springs flat, you want them curved otherwise you've built up tension in your leaf pack.

 

Yup just cut that exhaust and I highly recommend the greasable OME shackles

 

My major problem was cutting the bolt out of the spring hangers.

On all the springs on Toyota 4x4`s I did I hung the spring first then installed the spring seat .

By having a floor jack under the axle housing moving from side to side as I tightened things up

Snugging things to it was all on the ground till the final tightening .

 

I know! When I got into this I noticed how much a tole Michigan winters have taken on my poor frame. This is my first build, I will be getting another First Gen when this one rusts to the ground and becomes my parts truck.

 

Yes. Greaseable.

 

I have an aftermarket Flowmaster. It hangs from an alternative hanger that they provide. Will that still be in the way?