Rear springs sagging or front lifted?

89pickup · 07-27-2007, 09:57 AM

G'day, first time poster here. I just got my pickup so I'm still coming up to speed, although I'm a pretty competent mechanic. My off-road experience is based on 1960's Land Rovers.

The truck is an extended cab with a topper on it, and it's currently sitting on some crappy Big-O 32 x 11.5 tires. It's got a saggy butt on it though. I know the front can be jacked up with the torsion spring, so I'm trying to determine if the previous owner (a bit of a loser, mechanically speaking) lifted the front or if I have sagged rear springs.

What should the distance between the center of my wheel to the fender be? Or is there another measurement often used?

If I do want to lift the rear, would building/buying some longer shackles be a legitimate solution? Any ideas of the relationship between the length of the shackle and the amount of lift - ie, 1" longer = 1/2" lift or something like that? Of course, I could put in new rear springs but I kinda need to know what's in there now - I'd hate to install a 2" lift and discover the rear of the truck drops by an inch!

I am planning on going to a 31 x 10.5 BFG. The truck is going to see some off-road use, but nothing major. Just getting into Moab campsites and the like.

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nix4x4 · 07-27-2007, 10:19 AM

Its hard to say, but I had a similar problem on my '92. Since 31's are your goal, I would suggest either shackles or add-a-leafs for the rear and adjust the t-bars accordingly. Since there is little way to tell, and an extra inch or so in lift couldn't really hurt, that's what I would do.

Victor · 07-27-2007, 10:22 AM

Most Toyotas develop rear end sag. 2nd gen 4Runners came equipped that way from the factory!

89pickup · 07-27-2007, 10:27 AM

The truck already sits on 32's and seems to clear, but I've never tried to flex it much. I'm just trying to figure if it's already been lifted in the back or not.

MIKEMOKAS · 07-27-2007, 11:25 AM

take some pics of your leaf springs and some pics of the over truck so we can get an idea of how warn your leafs are.... i just started a thread about this not to long ago... asking if my leafs were worn, after i posted up some pics a couple guys thought that i have a little life left on mine..

heres my thread:
http://www.yotatech.com/f116/my-leafs-worn-out-120020/

hope this helps!

89pickup · 07-27-2007, 01:01 PM

Sure, here you go. There's no question the front is higher than the back, but I don't know if someone's been messing with the torsion bars or if I have worn-out springs. Or, quite possibly, both. I'd love to raise the rear to match the front but I don't know how much of a lift - relative to normal, unsagged springs - I'd need. I suppose I could always just drop the front.

Don't mind the mess on the diff, I had an oil bottle spring a leak in the bed and it made a real mess underneath. Note the proximity of the bumpstop though.

89pickup · 07-29-2007, 09:10 PM

Here are some shots of the truck. I know it sits lower at the back than the front, that's easy enough to figure out

A shot from underneath. Don't mind the mess on the diff, a bottle of oil spilled in the bed and lubricated everything underneath. Note the close proximity of the bumpstop to the spring, and I'm obviously hitting that just driving around town.

Overall truck shot - sorry, I couldn't get a better side angle due to other cars in the way. But rest assured, it's nose up.

So, the questions:
- are my rear springs sagged or just overwhelmed?
- if I'm going to get some replacements, how many inches of lift should I look for to level the truck out? This is where knowing what the non-lifted ride height should be would be really handy.

07-27-2007, 10:19 AM	#2 (permalink)
nix4x4 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: I'm an Ohio boy! Posts: 1,212	Its hard to say, but I had a similar problem on my '92. Since 31's are your goal, I would suggest either shackles or add-a-leafs for the rear and adjust the t-bars accordingly. Since there is little way to tell, and an extra inch or so in lift couldn't really hurt, that's what I would do. __________________ 1992 Xtra Cab 3.0/5-speed Work in progress..

07-27-2007, 10:22 AM	#3 (permalink)
Victor Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: El Paso, TX Posts: 1,711	Most Toyotas develop rear end sag. 2nd gen 4Runners came equipped that way from the factory! __________________ "Turtle" - Green 94 4Runner Looks like one and about as fast JDM altimeter/clinometer, 2002 Sport wheels, 265/75r16 MT/R, , OME stabilizer, BJ Spacers, Cruiser Coils, removed sway bars, rattle can paint for all that peeling clearcoat! Lockright front and rear.

07-27-2007, 11:25 AM	#5 (permalink)
MIKEMOKAS Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NSB, FL. Posts: 260	take some pics of your leaf springs and some pics of the over truck so we can get an idea of how warn your leafs are.... i just started a thread about this not to long ago... asking if my leafs were worn, after i posted up some pics a couple guys thought that i have a little life left on mine.. heres my thread: http://www.yotatech.com/f116/my-leafs-worn-out-120020/ hope this helps! __________________ My MYSPACE - You know you want to request me. '03 chevy S10 ZR2 SAS, D44 F/R 4:30's 35" MTZ's on MT Classic II's... '91 Pickup SR5 3.0L, 5-Speed, 4in ProComp, SOLD. <-- You Will Be Missed! 06.14.09 6:45pm. '91 4Runner SR5 3.0L, Auto, SOLD. <-- You Will Be Missed! 05.07.08 6:00pm.

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07-27-2007, 10:27 AM	#4 (permalink)
89pickup Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 14	The truck already sits on 32's and seems to clear, but I've never tried to flex it much. I'm just trying to figure if it's already been lifted in the back or not.

07-27-2007, 01:01 PM	#6 (permalink)
89pickup Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 14	Sure, here you go. There's no question the front is higher than the back, but I don't know if someone's been messing with the torsion bars or if I have worn-out springs. Or, quite possibly, both. I'd love to raise the rear to match the front but I don't know how much of a lift - relative to normal, unsagged springs - I'd need. I suppose I could always just drop the front. Don't mind the mess on the diff, I had an oil bottle spring a leak in the bed and it made a real mess underneath. Note the proximity of the bumpstop though.

07-29-2007, 09:10 PM	#7 (permalink)
89pickup Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 14	Here are some shots of the truck. I know it sits lower at the back than the front, that's easy enough to figure out A shot from underneath. Don't mind the mess on the diff, a bottle of oil spilled in the bed and lubricated everything underneath. Note the close proximity of the bumpstop to the spring, and I'm obviously hitting that just driving around town. Overall truck shot - sorry, I couldn't get a better side angle due to other cars in the way. But rest assured, it's nose up. So, the questions: - are my rear springs sagged or just overwhelmed? - if I'm going to get some replacements, how many inches of lift should I look for to level the truck out? This is where knowing what the non-lifted ride height should be would be really handy.