Topic: Front Springs too soft/ dilemma

[4cruzer]

Hi there;
I did search, I am pretty new to this forum (though I've been lurkin') and I think you may have to rack up more than four posts to get that search to work well... Not a great big Pirate fan, I like it here and over at Expo.
Anyhow, I have an 85 runner. There is a lower, relocated spring hanger, and there are boomerang shackles attached to a typical rear springs up front mixed pack. Chevy springs in rear; standard set up. There is a full spare on the back and the standard camping gear; nothing too heavy. Never more than two people.
My problem is that the springs are too soft; mainly the front. I run 33's and I like it that way. I like the truck low; the springs sit fairly flat and have tons of negative travel. The truck doesn't rub (2.75" BS), sits low, and gets around pretty good on the trail.
I have Bilstein 5100 shocks...
It can get pretty hectic on the freeway; some rocking going on every so often. So bad that I've had to brake and get the truck right before getting back to speed. Some scary stuff.
I don't so much mind the occasional nose dive upon braking, it's the high speed, unsafe body roll.
Any advice?
Do you think better shocks (or two per front wheel) would help this? I have no problem adding springs, but I don't want to go any higher.
I was thinking about getting some Bilstein 7100's with some heavier valving?? Sway bar?? If I need the latter, I don't have a clue where to start looking...
Thanks for any help...
GB

[BLACKDOG]

Are your front shocks still good?

You could try swapping one or two of your front springs for a heavier spring.  When I did my SAS (granted, its on 1 tons), I mixed toy and chevy leafs in my front spring packs, and they're great.  Sounds like a similar setup, my springs sit almost flat, plenty of travel. 

[TacoRunner]

Solution...

[4cruzer [OP]]

thanks for the input. I might need to look for a rear main leaf from a pack with a small lift...
Just don't want to make the truck too high.
Wouldn't better shocks just be a band aid? I have a feeling the root of the issue is spring related.
Anyway, thanks again

[OOPS]

Sway bar with quick disconnects or the torsion type sway bar that you do not have to disconnect.

[4cruzer [OP]]

Thanks again for the input. I think I'll look around for a couple thicker main leafs and maybe put another shock (or upgrade shocks) at each front wheel. Installing a sway bar seems like a great pain in the ass.
GB

[wesley]

forget the sway bar on a solid axle... who does that. dont bother with a second shock. just get heavying valved ones. but that is a band air like you said. find some toyota or mazda rears. the shorter leaves are the ones that really help stabalize the load and the long ones are better used for flex. i dont know exactly how your pack is build but maybe try swapping a couple leaves our for some smaller ones from a doner leaf pack. along with some new shocks that should put an end to your death wobble and not lift you more than 0-1 inch. good luck

[wesley]

and when i say smaller ones i dont mean the tiny little filler leaves. i mean like small/medium length