Topic: Early Tacoma Rear Springs for RUF?

[KDXSR5]

I got a free pair of leaf springs from a 95 Tacoma. They only have two springs and an overload. They are very, VERY soft. I also have my old stock 85 rear springs with a broken main leaf on one pack. I am thinking about using the Tacoma rears in the front with the 85 leaves mixed in to increase load capacity. Has anyone used Tacoma rears for their RUF? Other ideas/opinions? These were free so I figure if I can use them, why not?

[lilbuddy]

I think theyre somewhere around 53-56" long. Not sayiung thats too long for a front leaf, but thats a long ass spring to have in the front. Youd have to make some sort of god aweful hanger that sticks out way too far in order for your axle to be pushed forward enough to not hit your fender.

I was thinking of using them also becausse I also got offered a free set. If you got them to work im sure there would be LOTS of flex, just the lenght of them is kind of too much to work with.

[KDXSR5 [OP]]

I think theyre somewhere around 53-56" long. Not sayiung thats too long for a front leaf, but thats a long ass spring to have in the front. Youd have to make some sort of god aweful hanger that sticks out way too far in order for your axle to be pushed forward enough to not hit your fender.

I was thinking of using them also becausse I also got offered a free set. If you got them to work im sure there would be LOTS of flex, just the lenght of them is kind of too much to work with.

When I measured them they were measuring <50 eye to eye I was told that the 95~97 years have an odd ball rear suspension They also have an offset center. I will measure and compare to stock 85 packs w/ pics probably tomorrow if I have time.

[IronClad]

IIRC, They were notoriously bad about breaking.. but it also may have been the later years, i cant quite remember.

[79coyotefrg]

if they measure close to the stock 85 (i'm thinking they would be WAY too long) you can use the taco main and the rest of the 85
but i thought all tacoma rears where a good bit longer than any mini/runner rears

[yjay]

I had a 95 Tacoma and broke the middle rear spring. As mentioned before they are notorious for this. Mine was not a wheeling rig either. At the local wrecking yard they are non existent because everyone wants to replace their broken ones. 

[SFD4x4]

I had a 96 with a broken rear spring.

[KDXSR5 [OP]]

Ok guys I am not asking about broken rear springs, I am asking if anyone has used them in a front application. I have lots of other leaves to mix in so I can make them a little stouter. After doing a little internet research it appears that for 95-97 Toyota used the 48(?) inch length for springs like they were doing on the pickups. I have not found anything about center pin location yet. Hopefully I can measure them and compare with my bad 85 rear packs sometime in the next few days.

[brockbuilt85]

my dad has a 95 taco 4wd single cab and has broken 2 springs in that truck and all he does is street drive, maybe a lil snow or dirt driveway. we swapped them out with springs from an earlier truck so far so good. id toss those taco springs....
sorry, i missed the last post....

[IronClad]

Ok guys I am not asking about broken rear springs, I am asking if anyone has used them in a front application. I have lots of other leaves to mix in so I can make them a little stouter. After doing a little internet research it appears that for 95-97 Toyota used the 48(?) inch length for springs like they were doing on the pickups. I have not found anything about center pin location yet. Hopefully I can measure them and compare with my bad 85 rear packs sometime in the next few days.

While i know you didnt ask about broken springs, I was merely letting you know they are notorious for breaking so you maybe had a second thought on using them especially in a front application.

[dirtchicken]

Searching does wonders. They say you can find anything on the internet.
http://www.generalspringkc.com/index.php?p=catalog&parent=75&pg=1

[KDXSR5 [OP]]

Searching does wonders. They say you can find anything on the internet.
http://www.generalspringkc.com/index.php?p=catalog&parent=75&pg=1

I must have missed this reply initially, but I am just now looking into this again. Interestingly enough, I ended up at the same site.



Application                     Width      A x B                       D               Overall Length
84-88 Pickup Rear       2-3/8     20-1/2 x 26-3/4     1-1/4       47-1/4
95-97 Tacoma Rear     2-3/8     22-1/2 x 28-5/8     1-7/16     51-1/8

Basically the Tacoma springs have a couple inches added front and rear. So, it appears that I would not be able to use them in the rear without messing with the hanger, but I am pretty sure I can get them to work in a front application with an aftermarket front hanger. I will have to give it a go in the future and see how it works out.