Topic: marlin 5" leafs for front of SAS tacoma

[#1Bear]

Greetings, making my first post here. Although I am not new to the cyber world nor Toyota's! Been over on the TTORA site since forever.

Anyway here is my quandary. I have a '97 Tacoma Xcab with a Dana 44 under her. Currently the axle is tied to the truck via All Pro 5" springs. when I did the conversion, I was not aware the A.P's were so soft or for better words weak.

I am not knocking All Pro in the slightest. I enjoy many of their products. But these springs have been sagging on me since three weeks after installing them due to the weight of the taco and the springs being designed from the pre taco pick ups.

At this point the drivers side leaf spring is flat. I need to replace them A.S.A.P. Especially since I just installed a 12000 mile marker winch to the front of my truck.

Will Marlin's 5" springs support the extra weight of the taco? Not only do I have extra weight in regards to the winch, but I also have a first gen Bent up front bumper (modified to around 120lbs+92lbs for winch) sliders made out of 188 walled square 2.5" tubing, and interior roll cage. In the bed I have a CBI tire carrier with my spare 37" tire.

So as you can see I have a lot of extra weight to be concerned with. What makes things tougher is my spring hangers were mounted for the all pro springs. So I can't just replace them with rancho springs or any other "standard" springs without having to cut off the shackle hangers and reposition them.

What do you guys think? Marlins or custom Alcans? I would rather deal with Marlin if at all possible.

Offtopic: Whats up Glen? I haven't seen you over on TTORA in a while.

[blackdiamond]

Personally, I think that the All Pro, Marlin and Trail Mart springs are all very similar in design and if you're not happy with one the chances are slim that you will be happy with any of them.  The design and quality varies, but overall they are similar products.  They are all designed to provide maximum articulation and as a result have reduced load handling capacity.  Trail Mart does have a heavy duty application in the 5 inch springs that MIGHT have a high enough spring rate to support your truck, but I'm certainly not recommending them.  I opted to spend the extra money and am running Alcans because I was not impressed with the Marlin Springs that I have been around.  I believe that Marlin Crawler always works to provide the customer with the best quality products possibe so I assume that if I didn't like the Marlin Springs there would be no change of being happy with either All Pro or Trail Mart.

If you have the money, go Alcan!  They have treated me well.  All four springs had some issues, the rear showed up stock length rather than the 6 inch extended, and the fronts didn't have enough lift.  They replaced the rear springs for the difference in original price (miscommunication in the order) and corrected the front springs (required new main leafs) and charged me nothing for the work or shipping.  I figured that I would share some responsiblity in a custom spring, but they took care of everything.

 

[#1Bear [OP]]

I appreciate the response. I am debating between the Marlins, the Alcans. and a local shop to make custom springs for me. Figured Marlin to be a good product while also being my cheapest option.

Everyone I know that has ordered from Alcan has had to have them correct one issue or another, which kinda makes me want to stay clear of them.

I guess I am basically still in the "same mud hole"…and I hate mud! Thanks for getting back to me though. I do appreciate the honesty in your post.

Any others with ideas or comments?

[blackdiamond]

I still recommend Alcan springs.  They will stand behind the product and they are great quality allowing them to last a long time.  I'm not sure I would trust a "local" type of shop, but only you can be a judge of that.  Alcan has a reputation for being the best.

[Gittinit]

Hi Bear, We met at the roundup in hotsprings. Do you have comparable pics of how much your springs have saged? Have your springs become curvy or S shaped? Have you let the springs travel past flat?

I am wondering if there is more to your problem than just the wheight difference.

[Twisted_Fenders]

I hear so many people talk of the problems with their All pro springs. I must have gotten a good set because I am running the 5" all pro springs on my 01 tacoma double cab with bent up front bumper with warn 8000 and rock sliders and 37" spare in the bed with other recovery and parts equipment plus I have the bentup rear bumper. and after 8+ months they settled about .5"

[79coyotefrg]

[LA_Fred]

Love my Alcans! Super Flexy!

The Marlin US made springs are also really nice!

[Big-A]

The Marlins flex very well also!

I love my Marlin springs! 

my rig

[lbz134]

Have you looked into TG 5" HD springs.. I got a buddy with a 96 4 runner.. Arb front bumper with 9000lbs Warn winch and hes got no problems at all with sagging..

[854RUN]

I have Alcans on my 85 runner and on my T100, front and rear on both and i love them, well worth the money and when you order them you tell them how much weight in the front and in the rear and how much crap you take with you and they build the spring to that