Topic: Leaf Springs-I wanna see your rear flex and what you did to obtain it

[dragr1]

Currently not that pleased with my rear setup and looking at doing something different.  Swapping springs would be easy and nice, but I have also been thinking about a 4 link.  Currently I have-hold your breath might be bad words on this forum:

1985 4runner

Front-5" All pro springs-the old stock replacements that aren't offered anymore, 11" rancho's on stock shock towers, stock hangers, axle moved forward bt drilling u-bolt plate-flexes great, rides great, really happry with it

Rear-5" Trail gear complete kit with springs, moved hangers, 12" Bilsteins, it just doesn't seem to travel a lot, the front far out flexes the rear

Ideas?  What's your setup?  Suggestions?

This is getting close to max on the rear:

[dragr1 [OP]]

Should also mention that this is a trail only rig, never driven on street.

[Blingn]

might want to look in here tons of leaf sprung crazy flex rigs   http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?topic=8066.msg873816#new

[dragr1 [OP]]

might want to look in here tons of leaf sprung crazy flex rigs   http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?topic=8066.msg873816#new

Yeah, I've posted in there twice and have read it several times.

[rockin86runner]

i like the cheveys with the dual shackle set but my shock limit how much they can do.... up just my  

[<MIKE>]

Here's my best rear shot photo. and there is still plenty more to go. i went with the usual 63 inch rear chevs with 3 leafs and a 6" shackle. i currently have my overloads on to prevent axle wrap but i'm cutting them down here pretty soon. i have $23 pro comp 14" shocks in the rear triangulated.

[dragr1 [OP]]

I'm not sure if the shocks are my limiting factor or not, but would triangulating them allow for more travel?  Maybe the springs are too stiff, remove a spring?

[<MIKE>]

ya if you triangulate you get more travel out of each shock.  how long are your rear springs? maybe they are just too short. kinda hard to tell in the photo.

[GloNDark]

Chevy 63"s all the way. Ride great, easy swap to do and flex like crazy. Here is mine right after re-working the spring packs, i think the flex better now after a few trips out, i'll get an update pic this weekend if I can. Front springs are some b*std RUF packs that i built to match.

[<MIKE>]

^^^^^ awesome rig man. ya the 63s are nice and smooth for sure. i also have the RUF built to match the rear and i love them. you don't get much more flex and drop for your money!!

[dragr1 [OP]]

Rears are 56 5/8" long.

[hotrod]

Id try pulling the shocks and seeing if thats whats limiting your flex, then go from there.

David

[dragr1 [OP]]

Id try pulling the shocks and seeing if thats whats limiting your flex, then go from there.

David

Dang, why didn't I think of that?

[hotrod]

Sometimes another braincell is all thats needed. Two braincells are better than one!

[79toy20r]

2wd f150 springs in the rear and RUF

[IronClad]

Currently not that pleased with my rear setup and looking at doing something different.  Swapping springs would be easy and nice, but I have also been thinking about a 4 link.  Currently I have-hold your breath might be bad words on this forum:

1985 4runner

Front-5" All pro springs-the old stock replacements that aren't offered anymore, 11" rancho's on stock shock towers, stock hangers, axle moved forward bt drilling u-bolt plate-flexes great, rides great, really happry with it

Rear-5" Trail gear complete kit with springs, moved hangers, 12" Bilsteins, it just doesn't seem to travel a lot, the front far out flexes the rear

Ideas?  What's your setup?  Suggestions?

This is getting close to max on the rear:

yep can tell you right now.. if you want better/more flex remount them shocks.. start there then we'll see what you may need to do with your springs

[46&2]

It definitely looks like your shocks are holding you back. I personally would change them to the triangular / \ mounting style. If you already have brand name leaf springs, might as well try and make them work before swapping them for something else.

I love my 63s, they are popular for a reason. Aside from length (not an issue on 4runners unless you bob it) I can't see any downside to them. Ride fantastic on and offroad, more than enough flex, and cheap. I put mine on about 5 years ago and I would do it to my next Toyota too. I actually had to do a lot of tweaking to get my front suspension to work how I wanted it, but aside from an add a leaf and really needing to put some bump stops in, I havn't touched my rear since I did it. I decided to use my $100 shocks as bumpstops for the last 5 years instead 

Heres how I would mount those shocks (Without the boots of course).







I've since cut the fenders so the rear tire stuffs even further up into the fender well now.

[dragr1 [OP]]

It definitely looks like your shocks are holding you back. I personally would change them to the triangular / \ mounting style. If you already have brand name leaf springs, might as well try and make them work before swapping them for something else.

I love my 63s, they are popular for a reason. Aside from length (not an issue on 4runners unless you bob it) I can't see any downside to them. Ride fantastic on and offroad, more than enough flex, and cheap. I put mine on about 5 years ago and I would do it to my next Toyota too. I actually had to do a lot of tweaking to get my front suspension to work how I wanted it, but aside from an add a leaf and really needing to put some bump stops in, I havn't touched my rear since I did it. I decided to use my $100 shocks as bumpstops for the last 5 years instead 

Heres how I would mount those shocks (Without the boots of course).







I've since cut the fenders so the rear tire stuffs even further up into the fender well now.

Now that's more like it!

[PBrown]

I am having the same issues with shocks mounted in stock spots. Front works way better than the rear

[dragr1 [OP]]

I may try the budbuilt bolt on rear inboard shock kit and see if it works.  No welding and should fit around my exisiting shock mounts.  If that works, then I'll beef it up with some welding.

[46&2]

Now that's more like it!

Whats crazy to me is my tire is still on the ground. It can droop even more than that.

[dragr1 [OP]]

Whats crazy to me is my tire is still on the ground. It can droop even more than that.

Mine would never do that, my rear will come off the ground with me ramping a 10psi 37" tire on another rig with my front tire.


I can't tell-are you running the double shackle setup?

[46&2]

Mine would never do that, my rear will come off the ground with me ramping a 10psi 37" tire on another rig with my front tire.


I can't tell-are you running the double shackle setup?

Yup. Stock 4wd chevy shackle connected to a 6 inch "toyota" shackle. Run IFS bumpstops so it doesn't bang off the frame.

[<MIKE>]

if you spend 20 at the steel yard you can get a nice piece of steel to weld in and make a shock tower. or you can spend the money and get a prefabbed one but its all up to you. mine looks just like 46 and 2s  (without the   boots of course) lol j/k

[Steve_925]

everyone thats posting pictures of there rear tire on a rock is not showing the rear flex, that would be the front doing the work. park your front tire on a rock and show us.

anyway when i had the shocks on my 4runner i had them about an inch apart on top and to the top of the axle, so they were angled alot. this time i got them as far apart from each other on the top and as low behind the axle as possible. ill take some pic tomorrow and post em

[OOPS]

All-Pro 4" springs taken in the Old Sluice on the Con, wife is driving. All four wheels on something solid. Note shackle angles.



Moab on some trail in BFE. Again all four wheels on something. Note DS rear shankle angle. Marlin 4" springs



4-Dice trail, Nor-Cal, Winch Hill 1 One of the best trails in California and about 70 miles from my house. 4" TG springs, note DS shackle angle.



How the truck sits on flat ground.



Nothing special about the way the springs are mounted and all have bump stops. Rancho 9000 15" shocks in first pic., BBCS (Poly Performance) 13" shocks in the last two pics.

[46&2]

All-Pro 4" springs taken in the Old Sluice on the Con, wife is driving. All four wheels on something solid. Note shackle angles.



Moab on some trail in BFE. Again all four wheels on something. Note DS rear shankle angle. Marlin 4" springs



4-Dice trail, Nor-Cal, Winch Hill 1 One of the best trails in California and about 70 miles from my house. 4" TG springs, note DS shackle angle.



How the truck sits on flat ground.



Nothing special about the way the springs are mounted and all have bump stops. Rancho 9000 15" shocks in first pic., BBCS (Poly Performance) 13" shocks in the last two pics.

Nice rig. But I've got you beat. For 23 years of my life I lived 30 miles from Fordyce

Now you are closer than me though haha. Don't live in Nevada City anymore.

[OOPS]

Nice rig. But I've got you beat. For 23 years of my life I lived 30 miles from Fordyce

Now you are closer than me though haha. Don't live in Nevada City anymore.

I would love to live in NC or GV! But my wife says no, she is still working while I am retired. That is what I get for robbing the cradle for my seconded marriage!!!!!LOL

Thanks.

[46&2]

I would love to live in NC or GV! But my wife says no, she is still working while I am retired. That is what I get for robbing the cradle for my seconded marriage!!!!!LOL

Thanks.

 

Yeah Nevada City is great. 30 minutes to the trail. My friends go literally every weekend.

[Peterbuilt84]

All-Pro 4" springs taken in the Old Sluice on the Con, wife is driving. All four wheels on something solid. Note shackle angles.



Moab on some trail in BFE. Again all four wheels on something. Note DS rear shankle angle. Marlin 4" springs



4-Dice trail, Nor-Cal, Winch Hill 1 One of the best trails in California and about 70 miles from my house. 4" TG springs, note DS shackle angle.



How the truck sits on flat ground.



Nothing special about the way the springs are mounted and all have bump stops. Rancho 9000 15" shocks in first pic., BBCS (Poly Performance) 13" shocks in the last two pics.

Always loved your truck OOPS. I like how simple yet effective it is. Do you have a build or any other specs on it?