Topic: Rear leaf Springs fit up front?

[toyotawild]

I know this has been covered but I didn't find a couple answers.  The rear leafs off a 79-88 pick-up will they directly bolt in the front of my 80 pickup without lengthening the hangers?  How about 89-94 rear leafs?  Im guessing no because they are wider correct?  Also the positive effects of doing the rear leafs up front is basically just moving the front axle forward correct?  The rear leafs alone really don't provide any lift correct?

[toyotanner]

as far as i know all rear leafs are the same 79-94 i could be wrong though.
rear leafs in the front add about 3 inches of lift.
it does move the front axle forward an 1.5" i think
i believe you need highsteer or crossover to run rears up front though

[79coyotefrg]

the rears of the 79-88 trucks are a softer spring with much more "spring" in them than the front leaves, this makes them MUCH better to flex AND they do move the axle forward,  BUT  if you still have the stock push pull steering then you will have problems with the drag link since it will haveto be shortened as much as the axle moved forward

[toyotawild [OP]]

And the rears up front add about 3 inches of lift?  correct?  sounds like a good mod.   So If I ran 4 inch lift procomp rear springs up front would I be looking at more like 7 inches of lift?  Arent a rear stock length leaf spring like those really stiff also?  Stiff enough for the front?

[86 4runner]

The rears are are a softer flexing spring. you need to use two sets of rears to make one set for the front. add leafs to achieve your desired stiffness. It will move your axle 2 inches forward. 89 and newer there are some leaf springs that are 3 inches wide so those wont work. they need to bee 2.5 inches wide.

I got about 1.5-2 inches of lift doing rears up front

[toyotawild [OP]]

so could I take a rear leaf  and add some of the Procomp 4 inch front springs too it.  Which would add lift and stiffness?

[93tonkatoy]

Correction: '89 - '94 rear springs are not 3" wide. They use 3" u-bolts because of the steel and rubber "spring isolator" that wraps around the spring pack. The springs themselves are 2.5". The spring isolator can be removed (should be removed when modifying the pack), and the smaller u-bolts can be used with the matching lower plate, or use a u-bolt flip.

[86 4runner]

Correction: '89 - '94 rear springs are not 3" wide. They use 3" u-bolts because of the steel and rubber "spring isolator" that wraps around the spring pack. The springs themselves are 2.5". The spring isolator can be removed (should be removed when modifying the pack), and the smaller u-bolts can be used with the matching lower plate, or use a u-bolt flip.

I havent payed to close attention to the later spings all i know is they take the wider u-bolts and use wider shackles

[whokrz]

79-85 Toyota front
Flat length = 45"
Front Half = 22.5"
Rear Half = 22.5"
Width = 2.36"
Front Eyelet = 18mm ID
Rear Eyelet = 18mm ID


79-83 Toyota Rear
Flat length = 48"
Front Half = 21.125"
Rear Half = 26.875"
Width = 2.36"
Front Eyelet = 18mm ID
Rear Eyelet = 18mm ID


84-88 Toyota Rear
Flat length = 48"
Front Half = 20.5"
Rear Half = 27.5"
Width = 2.36"
Front Eyelet = 14mm ID
Rear Eyelet = 18mm ID


89-95 Toyota Rear
Flat length = 51"
Front Half = 21.5"
Rear Half = 29.5"
Width = 2.36"
Front Eyelet = 14mm ID
Rear Eyelet = 18mm ID
from http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showpost.php?p=6154077&postcount=180

I run the 51" rears and the front hanger needs to be moved forward to have a good shackle angle.

[whokrz]

check out Official PBB Toyota FAQ http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=459180
It has lots of info

[joeshmo]

http://www.4x4spot.com/misc__spring_information.htm

[loacyota]

i just did mine last weekend. took a set of stock rears from my 83 longbed, and a set of 2nd gen springs. used the 83s as the base and build 2 springs from 4. i cut the springs an inch back from one another so they dont bend at the end. it didnt affect how great they flex. i used a drop hanger to relocate the front because if you dont then your shackle angle is going to be incorrect. u used 6 inch shackles and also did a u-bolt flip. this is how the front sits with a 3 inch body lift also.





i am going to move my steering box more forward(which requires cutting part of the body mount out), because im going to drill a hole in the axle housing perch where the center pin goes an inch forward, which will push the axle forward more. my tries will be just bout even with the spring hanger and front of the frame.