Topic: A simple spring question, maybe

[kneedownnate]

I'm gettin tired of the ass end of my 91 2wd squattin if I so much as spit in the bed so I'm gonna add another leaf to help it cope.  It has the teflon pads in the ends of each spring so I'd like to find some that come that way too.  What I need is a single leaf about 48" end to end when it's curved, and it obviously needs to match the width.  Anybody know what trucks may have come with a leaf like I need, maybe a ranger, exploder, s-10, f150 or??  I'll probably be hittin a junk yard this weekend with a measuring tape and see, but if anybody has played with their spring packs and has an answer for me I'd appreciate it.  Also curious what kinda hardware people use to bolt the packs back together when they put together thicker spring packs than what they had, like a normal grade 5/8 bolt or??

[WHITE_TRASH]

Think Nissan for the add-a leaf and for the center pin I drill the perches out to 5/8" and use a standard 3/8" bolt to hold it all together.  That way the chances of not having a replacement center pin go down to zero if one breaks on the trail.   

[79coyotefrg]

the s10 leafs i have work good,  almost identical in width and thickness to the toy springs but have more arch, i just used some toyota 12mm bolts in mine,  like tcase bolts

[whiteman]

What about a shackle?   

[kneedownnate [OP]]

Thought about a shackle, but I need to beef up the springs a little cause the po put a heavy snug top shell on it in 96 and they're a little sacked.  What's the length on the s-10 leaf?  What Nissan, hardbody, 720 or??  This truck won't see the trail, it's my main DD and parts getter, check my thread in the rigs section for the pics of my trucks.....and another guys

[WHITE_TRASH]

Springs from a 720 are almost exactly the same dimensions as the first and second gen rears.  Your rears are
22x29 1/2" center pin to ends and the nissan are 22 1/2x 25".  My old nissan flexed pretty decent and hauled a lot of weight with ease.  Worth checking into, I dont recall if they have the nylon pads or not but they are the same width as toyota.

[kneedownnate [OP]]

You musta been lucky, my 720 didn't flex real well, but maybe I was focusing on the 3 inches of ground clearance that was further hindered by the absolutely horrible front suspension.  I still kinda wanna pick up another one just to put some toyota goodies under it. 

[kneedownnate [OP]]

So after searching the yards today I came up empty handed on a 47" long spring, and the closest I could find was on an xj but they're pretty flat.  I think I'm gonna just take the 91 rears I bought a while back, cut off the ends(with a little curve like the factory ones) and get some stock toyota teflon pads to put in em.  Atleast that way I'll have a soft full length support leaf, but just enough to keep it closer to level under a load, yet still have a decent ride.  Might as well do it right instead of in a hurry.  Rangers, s10s, f150s, all were too far off for what I wanted to do. 

[WHITE_TRASH]

Standard first and second gen rears are 47" eye to eye.

[kneedownnate [OP]]

So I scored some stuff for this at the yard today.  Walked out with 14 ford teflon pads for $2!  I might just cut them in half since they have 2 pins in each pad.  Either way I should be fairly well set for doing the 91 2wd rears and all four on the 80 4by, depending on how many leafs I end up with on it.  Now I just need to try and find a drill bit that'll go through the leafs.

[jimbo74]

if youve got a topper... run a procomp addaleaf... i have one and love it.... i have some pics of it if you want.. it was like $35 from summit

[79coyotefrg]

So I scored some stuff for this at the yard today. Walked out with 14 ford teflon pads for $2! I might just cut them in half since they have 2 pins in each pad. Either way I should be fairly well set for doing the 91 2wd rears and all four on the 80 4by, depending on how many leafs I end up with on it. Now I just need to try and find a drill bit that'll go through the leafs.

titanium bullet bits


and the S10's   you just use the 2nd and 3rd leaf,  not the top leaf

  the second leaf is the same length as the toy rears,  my S10 spring teflon sits right under my front hanger pin 

[kneedownnate [OP]]

Yea, I've been eyein the s10 and exploder leaves when I'm at the yard, but for now I'm tryin to stick with yota stuff.  If I'm not happy with my flex/lift when I'm done with these I'll probably pick up some of those springs and have at it.  Just tryin to work with what I've got right now.  My spares include 91 2wd rears, 87 2wd rears and 86 4wd rears with a downey add a leaf.  The 4 by springs should be pretty easy but the 91 is givin me trouble cause I'm havin trouble finding the right size spring to slap in there, short of cuttin my spare 91 main right at the ends.  Pnp says there are no more 1/2 price days this year, but if there are then I'm definately gonna run back in and get another 91 rear and cut the ends off so I have a full length support.