Tacoma Spring refurbishing

Dougie I want them!!!!!!!!

 

Gosh darn this thread keeps getting bumped and putting it in my face LOL. I have to put off lifting the truck, but ain't it going to be a b*tch when 881s go up front, OMD's in the back with some good rear shocks and the truck rides way better than stock. So many miles on such bad ride quality... what a tease seeing this thread over and over.

 

Well it ain't going away brother...

 

For me?!?!?

 

What's that from, a 2 and a half ton dump truck??

Interesting how that monster set has three leafs dogeared, intermittent throughout the stack. Whadaya s'pose that does for the load carrying? I can't imagine that stack is a very comfortable ride without a 6-ton load on it.

 

These are just a mock up Chris, but soon

Haha, right ? That one side leaf pack is right about 150lbs & theres 8 leafs to a pack, with 10-15% more ARC even the LT guys would take notice, although it needs to be a little longer, good eye judy on the intermittentcy of "ears"....

This is def. a load bearing leafpack

 

De-scaling leafs...




Scaled leafs ready for wire wheel, then measure/cut/dogear/paint...

 

Damn it Doug! you're given me a woody...

 

Hey you need to come by Erik so's we can pretty up your springs....

hope you're feeling better dude...

 

ya I am, man that stuff kicked my ass, 7 days with a 103 degree fever, I really wanted to go back and hang with you guys on your b-day but man I was in the dumper.

I was under the truck yesterday to replace the keeper shackle that fell off and eyeball the rears, they actually look pretty good considering how hard I have been beating on them. Bolts/nuts are all tight, pads are a tad gone but may have a new design /material to make that better, would like to bring you a sample and drawing for your approval.

finally getting off my ass and learning movie maker at the very least. very basic vid, really only show how active the rear OMD system is. ya goofy music, but im learning...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gK8Mss_DRA

 

Haha, no worries on the vid erik its fine movie maker is actually a pretty good editor once you get the hang of it, but just like your vids show decent flex .. Thats what I love about these springs, in this vid my camera (sony DSC-Cybershot, low end cam at that ) is mounted to a bracket welded on frame with NO ISOLATION PADS & as you can see the axle is articulating, the springs are cycling & the bed/truck is riding level/still not feeling much of the rocks underneath the tires..


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCeK7Sb0poQ&feature=player_embedded#t=133s

 

indeed, not just flex, but Fluid active movement, plushness on the road and active movement off-road. Cant wait to throw my 12" Kings back there with new shackles and see what happens. plus capability, remember I usually carry 200-250LBS in the bed on minor outings and close to 400-500LBS on expeditions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2yqB7Ix6VM

 

Doug I will swing by in the next day or 2. If you arent home I will drop the set off in the garage so we can build mine

 

Make it Thurs or Fri. Chris ,Tomorrow is going to be full & the springs I have now are spoken for & I'm going after more this weekend..

 

Res4cue's OMD springs holding up very well according to John....nice...

 

someone grew about 3" today...





Actually it was about half an inch higher than in this pic after re measuring...
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

 

I apologize for not.filtering through this entire thread but I'm on my phone and interested.....which springs from Chevy will actually work? I read a 3/4 or 1 ton flatbed but never read if that was a definite. Is there any alternatives? What year am I looking for? I'm looking to go mid travel and was looking into a cheaper alternative.and this seemed like a good option for the DIYer..
Appreictae any input!

 

First page: just got back from wrecking yard with a monster set of rear springs off a commercial grade Chevy S-10 flatbed, 3/4- possibly 1 ton rating, heres what they look like now.

I dont think the year matters. The s-10's are the ones you want but Doug has improvised using another, Im sure he will chime in soon.

 

Ya I saw that but I was wondering if he found exactly what is the best to use..I've been looking on eBay to scores a pair instead of going to a junkyard..

 

Thanks Erik.....

Cliff, the only search that continues is for a true, straight forward "Bolt on" leafspring that is exactly the same config as the Toyotas, for both 1st & 2nd gens & I predict it will be springs off of a Chevy truck/suburban/blazer, what years are yet to be determined & trust me I'm always looking. I've gotten real close, like within an inch from a straight across swap, the best results have been from Chevy trucks from the '70's thru the mid-late 80's.