Leaf springs provided too much lift. Which leafs can I take out?

Just installed Dakar Leaf Springs since my olds we in terrible shape and also did OME881 in the front. 95.5, extra cab, no added weight. It's leaf pack CS019R, No added leaf. Setting me up at about 2.5" taller in the back than the front. I read this might happen. Which leafs are ok to take out? The set has 3 leafs and 3 overloads, each overload at about .5" each. If I take out two, I assume that drops me 1"? If so, which two? I've heard people taking "the third from the top" but in this case that one has the alignment brackets on it.

Tbh I drive 95% of the time unloaded, but I have sandbags if that will help settle. Any input appreciated. Also side-note, the passenger side is a little taller, maybe due to full tank of gas?

 

How recently did you install the leaf springs? They will settle over time, Dakars especially are known to settle some. I would give it a few weeks and see if you like it more after they settle a bit, you can help it along if you put some weight in the back.

A good 1 - 2" higher in the rear is ideal in my opinion, the rear should be higher to accommodate any loads you might carry that would otherwise make it sag below the front

 

Also the driver's side being lower is a well known issue with these trucks called 'taco lean', usually due to the weight of the driver, gas tank and battery being on that side.

A lot of lift kits come with a little quarter inch spacer to put on the driver's side to counter the lean. When I had 881s I had a 10mm spacer on that side as well which helped even it out

 

Take out third from top
Stock only use 2 and now you got all that metal down below.

hopefully you don’t get driveline vibrations. If you do you’ll need a shim which increases lift even more. May also need to explore a carrier bearing drop.

e/ imo rear should only be at most 1” higher unless it’s a farm truck

 

Honestly just installed them yesterday, just had a bit of shock when they were that tall. I will throw some sandbags in there to help settle them down, but still would like to come down an 1" or so I think? I haul maybe 3-4 times a year. Also on those fronts, I got the spacer installed and have no lean up there, pretty happy with the front! I meant the back being a little lower on the driver side.

Third from the top is the one with brackets keeping the leafs straight I thought that one had to stay? I agree I would like to be about 1" higher in the back. I have a carrier bearing drop haven't driven much yet

 

I heard you should put on sand bags but I did no such thing.

The stinkbug effect is normal and they'll settle within the next thousand miles.

Just drive it.

 

Load the thing up and drive it that way for a few weeks. If you have any nasty forest service or fire roads near you, go for a couple of drives down them to cycle the suspension a bit.

 

Thanks. I'll load it up and drive it around the service roads up here and see how things go. I just read not to remove any overloads so I'll probably just see how things shake out. Also waiting on JBA UCAs and tires so I'll see how it fills out after that too.

 

Send back the 881s and get 882s. Bring the front up higher to match

 

remember that you are getting 2.5" over "STOCK" height, not over "worn out spring" height. many people forget this.

but yes after about 3 months mine were pretty flat settled and ride fine.

 

+1

 

@Krogers128 I gotta say man you have one awesome looking 1st gen, that's probably my favorite color and graphic from the mid 90s trucks. Looks brand new still

 

yeah I gotcha. Makes sense considering if I was an inch flatter than it gave me about 2.5-3” over stock. Which pack do you have??

thanks! I do my best to keep it clean but sometimes people in parking lots and when we’re out camping things tend to happen. Really only gets about 4K miles a year

 

mine is the 98-04 version, I think it's the CS046R or something like that. but standard 2.5" Dakar leaf pack

 

first pic: stock worn out (trailer didn't lower it much, it's a light trailer)
second pic: new suspension (like > 2 weeks)
third pic: after 1 year
fourth pic: after 3 years

 

If that first picture is after install, I don’t see any excessive lift. I wouldn’t be worried at all.

Here’s what excessive lift from dakars really looks like:


I gained more than 5” over the worn out stock leaf springs.

A week ago I pulled the third leaf from the top and it sits much closer to even with the front 880s.

 

I took the 3rd spring out (From the top) and it evened the whole thing, doesn't look like a 70's hot rod. I have transported a motorcycle in the back that is about 585 Lbs with no noticeable sag.

After spring removal:

 

Right on man this looks nice!

yeah definitely more than mine! was this the 018R? I guess the first pic doesn't show quite how much rake so I'll post another. After a handful of mixed answers, even from ARB, I just ended up pulling a leaf myself. Did it with the leafs on the truck, wasn't so bad, a couple hours. I'm happier with how it looks, I don't haul often. Worst case I just throw it back on later? Sitting just over 1" higher now.

 

that's a beautiful blue

 

I agree, blue looks outstanding on that truck. Truck sits really nice, good job.