Topic: Leaf Springs vs. Coil Springs in rear

[toymachine]

I have read all of the "spring" threads, and had come up with moving the rear springs to the front, to move the front axle forward for clearance, and putting rear wagoneer springs in the rear.

Now I am wondering.....will i get more travel out of wagoneer leaf springs (9 inches longer than toy springs), or more out of coil springs?

What do you guys think?  It would be nice to have more rear clearance and cut right up to the coil spring. 

I plan on using a 4 link type design for the coil springs, or maybe a pseudo one link type system (side to side stability may lay an issue there). 

ANy comments or suggestions.  Mainly for "leafs or coils"...

[Brian83]

I would go with the leafs, MUCH cheaper and easier to set up, and a lot easier to dial in to your liking(Adding removing leaves, shackles, and thats about it) and it seems like with the right setup you can get MAD flex out of leaf springs

[Mike D]

the best part about leafs is that they will flex down like crazy but they have a harder time flexing up. I think coil springs are better than leafs but coils are just so darn expensive.

[84runner]

How much time qand money do you want ot spend ? That will decide for ya 

[toymachine [OP]]

I am not talking about coilovers, i am talking about  coiled springs like what you use with a speperate shock. Like what most wehicles come with if they dont come with leaf springs.

I pretty much just want to know perofrmance wise, which allows more travel.  And can coils be setup with stability.

Te problem is i want alot of flex, but i dont want to be on the side of a hil or something, and have it so soft that i just collapse and roll down hill

[WHITE_TRASH]

If you want side hill stability stay with leafs

[84runner]

If you want side hill stability stay with leafs

  stabiltiy is over rated

[81Toy4x]

You can get leaf springs to flex crazy.  I think the ratio between flex and cost, you get a better bang for your buck for leaf springs.  I don't think anyone out there can disagree with me there.

[Skinny_Pedal]

i agree that leafs are the way to go. but if you look at prisms 2nd generation runner he kept the coils in the rear and now he is planning on swapping to coils.

[81Toy4x]

i agree that leafs are the way to go. but if you look at prisms 2nd generation runner he kept the coils in the rear and now he is planning on swapping to coils.

correction, he is swapping from coils to leafs.

[Skinny_Pedal]

woops . thanks nick

[lowgeared]

Leaves are fixable in the middle of nowhere.  Coil suspensions seem to have too many links and stuff that could go wrong.  Toyota springs have a military wrap, so you effectively have two main leaves for support.  If one breaks, you still have another.