RUF Question--And yes, I have SEARCHED

[85_4RNR]

I've been reading a lot about the RUF mod, and I find almost everyone is adding 2 or 3 leaves to their packs. I removed my rear leafs of my 80 Pickup and they have a ton of arch compared to the stock front springs! Looks to me like it will add plenty of lift. I only want enough lift to run my hi-steer kit, so why should I add any leaves to the pack? (I plan on installing my winch in the front bumper, which weighs about 75 lbs) Thanks for your suggestions

[twistedtoy92]

yeah, they look like they have a ton of arch but once you get the weight of the engine on them they will totally flatten out, I ran 7 leaf packs from my 3rd gen rears. i'll post up a pic

[twistedtoy92]

[Sparkplug]

depends wat u want, how much lift. I ran bone stock rufs, with the overloads, they sit flat at ride height, got like 0 lift out of it, u can check my build thread for pics of how it sits. If u add springs, it will help the spring hold its arch under wieght, thus giving you more lift. Keep in mind, there is a point where you can put too many in, but like twisted toy said, up to 7 or 8 shoucl be fine.

[locked 4x4]

My buddy tried it with out adding springs.  Flattened before he even got a chance to drive it.  I think he just ordered a set of new springs because of that. 

[toyodaaddict]

from what iv seen stock packs tend to bend/break and will give no lift. i suggest starting with at least a  5 leaf pack and adjust from there

[Sparkplug]

thats wat ppl tell me, but i been smashin on em for like a month now, they fine. Only complaint is they smack each other being so flat, annoying as hell goin down the road, but I just crank up the stereo. Bud Has same setup, but added a nissan, and a chevy 63 cut down to his pack, gave him plenty of arch, and the ride good. I wanted mine super low,t hats why I did the pack I did, they ride good, and flex great, just like rufs should. We will see if they hold up in long run, I think they will, i havent been nice tot hem tot his point. If they break, ive got plenty of spaers,a nd will chock it up to experience

[86rustbucket]

The first pack I put together was a 4 leaf pack and they flattened out pretty quick. They did decent in the snow but that's probably because I had soft bump stops. The springs were just way too soft. The first time I really beat on them I bent the crap out of them and they were trash. So I put together a pack with 6 leaves, pretty much just two sets of rears and I love the way they work. They flex like  hell and they give about 2 to 3 inches of lift, enough to sit level with the 63's in the back. Oh and its on a singlecab with 22r so its pretty light       

[yotatough]

The first pack I put together was a 4 leaf pack and they flattened out pretty quick. They did decent in the snow but that's probably because I had soft bump stops. The springs were just way too soft. The first time I really beat on them I bent the crap out of them and they were trash. So I put together a pack with 6 leaves, pretty much just two sets of rears and I love the way they work. They flex like  hell and they give about 2 to 3 inches of lift, enough to sit level with the 63's in the back. Oh and its on a singlecab with 22r so its pretty light       

they looked like a   W  on the way home that day!!

[85_4RNR]

Thanks for all the help guys. I have the stock 80 pickup front leafs and a rear pair out of 2wd Mazda pickup. All these leaves are the same width. Do you think I could build a decent pack with my Rears and what else I've got?  (And where in the world do you get those clamps to keep the pack together? Obviously, the stock clamps won't be big enough when I add another 2 or 3 leaves.) Thanks again

[twistedtoy92]

i use the ones still on the leafs, if you look at my pic the one without the bolt through the clamp is actually the front clamp that holds the little "D" bumpstop on the stock rear springs. I just did some "massaging" with a hammer and a vise.. thats my third set that I've built, all have flexed and rode like a caddy

[SloCrawler]

I got a 4 pack ruf with bottom leaf cut down and 6" shackles and there too flat for my liking. I got a pair of 2wd springs, there spring under and a lot more arch I was going to remove overload and 2 smaller leafs from current pack totaling 6 pack, its all trial and error depending on weight and shackle angle

[Nimyad]

I ran the factory rear pack for a while, gave me around 3 in on lift buy i just added two 6in lift springs from a cherokee pack and took out a longer factory spring. Rides better on the freeway, flexes just the same and is a couple inches taller so you dont just nail your bumpstops. Reason why its betyer on the freeway is that its more stiff becausr with the factory pack the front end likes to sway back and forth... Really freaky at 70 mph

[twistedtoy92]

i had mine up to 90....... it felt good

[Nimyad]

Try taking a turn at 90... It gets floaty.

[twistedtoy92]

lol! no thanks..... gets the gangsta lean at 3 mph.....

[NorCalToy]

Im running a stock rear pack up front on mine with the overload removed and they sit flat and I have very little uptravel. I smack the bumpstops hard on any bump but they flex like mad and I havent had time to add any leafs so they stay how they are for now. Im gonna end up adding some S10 Leafs to my pack i think.

But yea, like everybody else said, if you have extra leafs lyin around add them now and save yourself the trouble of teraing it apart later

[H8PVMNT]

I am running the stock rears striped down to the main three leaves and so far they are holding up.  I wasn't going for lift, just a better ride.  I've been wheeling them alot with no problems yet.  It has a soft ride with about 1.5" of lift over stock with a 5.5" shackle. I have full stuff and am using about 3 inches more downtravel than stock with the shocks as the limiting factor.  The springs probably have about 6 inches more downtravel after that but the stock steering wouldn't handle it anyhow.  I think they are holding up because I am not flexing them out to even close to their potential though.  

If you are going for almost no lift and not extreme travel...

Here is the thread:

http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?topic=74809.0

I have 3rd gen springs for RUF on a 4Runner that is more extreme and I am running 7 leaves total on that one to put it where I want.

[birfection]

subscribed

[solidmaui78]

yeah, they look like they have a ton of arch but once you get the weight of the engine on them they will totally flatten out, I ran 7 leaf packs from my 3rd gen rears. i'll post up a pic

So yours are the 51" rears since its from a 3rd gen right?  the earlier yrs are 48"   Id like to see ho you mounted up your 51s...did you move you front spring hanger fwrd?

[twistedtoy92]

yup! check out my twistedtoy92 build... I also used the same setup on my 85 runner, both of which mounted the shackle under the frame with 5.5'' shackles. I am redoing my runner through the frame and moving the axle farther forward!

[ssicoffroadshop]

I have to agree that the third gens are the way to go. I just finished an 88 sitting on 33's with chevy 63's in the rear and it sits perfect and flexes like    .  Also rides very good. You can tell the fronts are soft by the front brake dive