Dr.Trevorkian

I have searched but unable to find the answer. Can I put 5 inch lift springs on a n 84 4runner without having my driveshafts pull apart while flexing?

jmach1

I am going to say "no". I have a 87 truck with a 5 inch lift and right now the rear drive shaft has about 1 inch holding the splines together. Hopefully getting the drive shaft made next week after I put the dual tcase in. About 300 bucks to have one made here in Denver.
Joe

MudHippy

I was thinking it had to be pretty close, length wise. I would be more worried about the extreme driveshaft angles, and possible vibration issues.

4Crawler

iTrader: (3)

Rear should be fine, front will need to either be lengthened and/or have a longer slip yoke installed depending on how much travel you get out of the front end.

Dr.Trevorkian

What about with 3 or 4 inch springs? Driveshafts ok then? I had assumed this would a set in stone number like 'anymore than 3 inch lift springs and you will have to get longer driveshafts made."

4Crawler

iTrader: (3)

With 3.5" springs I was fairly good with the stock shafts, but once I reworked them for more flex up front, I had to get the front shaft lengthened and ultimtely had the slip yoke changed for more travel. All depends on how much droop you get out of the front springs. The stock slip yoke is just too short to handle much more than stock. No big deal to have a shaft modified, any good driveshaft shop can do that for you. I think it ran me about $90 for lengthening and was about $300 for the shaft modified with a longer slip yoke and retubed in heavier wall tubing (was made longer when I did this):
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/4R_suspension.shtml#PhaseI

Probably a 2" lift, like the OME springs, you'll be fine with the stock shafts and with a stiff 3-4" lift, you may be OK or just need the front lenthened a little. But assuming you are lifting to get better flex, then it is a good thing that the front shaft needs to be modified, as that means you are getting decent flex out of the front end. Afterall, on an IFS truck, you can do a 4" bracket lift w/o touching the driveshafts, but then the front diff only drops the 4" of the lift and does not move from there.

Dr.Trevorkian

Ok I submit to the realization I will need a new front driveshaft to lift it, man I thought it would be cheap to lift a leaf sprung solid axle truck, guess I was wrong

4Crawler

iTrader: (3)

No need for a new shaft, just take it in to a drive line shop and have it lengthened. They cut out the tube section that is there now, put in a longer section and re-weld and balance it for you. But put the lift on first and measure/check the lengths. That way you will know if you need to lengthen and if so, by how much.

Dr.Trevorkian

Actually i have a set of 31" Baja Claws in my garage now, I think I'm going to just throw them on for now. The truck is sooooo slow already, I don't even want to think about how slow it would be with 33s or 35s, plus i bought it for the gas mileage. I'm thinking with the 31s and lockers I'd actually be better off than with a lift and 33s and no lockers. Only so much money to go around. I'd also like to make a soft top and tube bumpers and sliders and stuff first.