A Spring Story - Opinions Wanted

[Dick]

So as you know, I drive an '87 Rugger. The time came to do some work with the suspension, as she was a bit low. So I went out and priced a few sets of leaf springs, well the ones I could find that would fit anyway, and came to the decision to get 4 new leaf springs manufactured by a local spring maker. I won’t name them because it’s not fair.

Anyway, so I got 4 new leaf springs made. I took in my old springs as a pattern, and asked for a 3.5inch lift to be put into the new ones. A week later I pick the springs up, put them on, and the front ones aren’t strong enough. We go back to the shop, and the beef up the front springs, and I put them back on. To make a long story short, this went on for 3 to 4 times and all of the springs, front and rear, could not be made right. So the company who made them have decided to refund my money, and I’m back to square one.

So now I am in a predicament, or more an opportunity, as what to do next..........

I have a few options that I can think of:

- Put the old springs back on, and have no height
- Put the old springs back on, and do a SOA with the current diffs
- Buy some factory made springs, (e.g. from Maxitrac) with a 2in lift, and keep SUA and Factory diffs.
- Put the old springs back on and do a SOA with HILUX diffs.

What have I missed?

I would personally like to do a diff swap to the Hilux ones, as then I can get lockers. However, I don’t know if doing a SOA with my old springs and hilux diffs would give enough height.

What are your comments??

[KiwiBacon]

Wouldn't SUA give a lot less axle wrap and axle tramp?
Sure you'll lose ground clearance under you shackles, but is that normally an issue?

[turoa]

Wouldn't SUA give a lot less axle wrap and axle tramp?
Sure you'll lose ground clearance under you shackles, but is that normally an issue?

wrap and tramp are the same thing.

SOA will give you too much height. Just fit hilux diffs and chop the guards

[Dick]

SOA will give you too much height. Just fit hilux diffs and chop the guards

Even if i was to use my old springs, which are almost totally flat?

[turoa]

SOA will give you too much height. Just fit hilux diffs and chop the guards

Even if i was to use my old springs, which are almost totally flat?

if it were me id be chopping the guards, but if you arent concerned about height, it will lift around 5" with hilux diffs

[KiwiBacon]

wrap and tramp are the same thing.

I know that, you know that. But some lurkers might not.

[2roky]

get a set of hilux Ln106 springs and remove a couple of leaves.
longer hangers.
drop the front mount for the front spring set or make metal wedges to correct drive shaft angle on the front.
longer rear drive shaft
chop guards to suit tyre size (im running 33's now)
longer shocks
cert to keep road leagal

failing that get a set of hilux springs and get the center point changed to suit the hatsu configuration
thats what id do if i had the dollars lol till then i just have to have a non road leagal machine.

also just because one spring maker can not do well don't disregard trying others take measurements of where the center needs to be and say that you want them made to hilux spec but with the center in a particular location and make sure that you can return them if you are not happy with how they have turned out.

[Dick]

get a set of hilux Ln106 springs and remove a couple of leaves.
longer hangers.
drop the front mount for the front spring set or make metal wedges to correct drive shaft angle on the front.
longer rear drive shaft
chop guards to suit tyre size (im running 33's now)
longer shocks
cert to keep road leagal

failing that get a set of hilux springs and get the center point changed to suit the hatsu configuration
thats what id do if i had the dollars lol till then i just have to have a non road leagal machine.

also just because one spring maker can not do well don't disregard trying others take measurements of where the center needs to be and say that you want them made to hilux spec but with the center in a particular location and make sure that you can return them if you are not happy with how they have turned out.

Ok, so with the hilux springs, how did you get on with the bushes being different sizes, between the toyota and daihatsu ones.

I have got hold of a set of toyota springs, and have re-drilled the bolt in the front ones, to make it fit with the daihatsu configuration. But im still in the middle of fitting them on now.

[2roky]

for the bushes i just went into the local bush sales place which was autolign i think its called and got a set that fitted the different shaft/holes