Newbie Tech Section Often asked technical questions can be asked here

leaf springs vs coil springs?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 04-08-2010, 09:05 PM
  #1  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
oregon_yota's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: southern oregon
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
leaf springs vs coil springs?

i have an 88 xtra cab that i want to SAS in my chassis fab class coming up and i wanted to know what is better. i like coil overs cuz they have more flex and i think its a better ride but i see a lot of yotas with leaves in the front, and all the 1st gens. so which should i use?
Old 04-09-2010, 03:05 AM
  #2  
Registered User
 
91 4Runner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Ameliasburgh, On. Ca.
Posts: 868
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Simplicity - Leafs - They work good and are fairly simple to do and cheaper
Everything else - Coil-overs & links - more difficult but more adjustable and way more expensive

Your call!
Old 04-09-2010, 07:08 AM
  #3  
Registered User
 
tried4x2signN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Nashville TN. I can help you if you're close BUT NOBODY CAN HELP YOU IF YOU DON'T FILL YOUR LOCATION IN!
Posts: 1,818
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
This is leaf, and whole lot easier to dial in...

Coils do ride better, and I believe flex, but it is a whole lot harder to dial in...

And not as cheap...



Old 04-09-2010, 07:05 PM
  #4  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
oregon_yota's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: southern oregon
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
yea i was talkin to a friend at school today and thats stuff he was sayin. i am probably going to go with that. what can i get a front axle off of?
Old 04-09-2010, 07:15 PM
  #5  
Registered User
 
tpaine14's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Maine
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
preferably an 85 they have the best stock gussets but i belive any solid axle yota will do the job.
Old 04-10-2010, 03:26 PM
  #6  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
oregon_yota's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: southern oregon
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
can i use the front drive shaft off the '85...bolt right on? i heard i can use my existing one but with a lil modification
Old 04-13-2010, 07:20 AM
  #7  
tc
Contributing Member
 
tc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Longmont, CO
Posts: 8,875
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
There is no "dialing in" leaf springs. You get what you get, and that's typically 100+ yr old technology.

You can make links perform however you like, and you will NEVER have wheel hop or axle wrap.

IMHO, having done both, links are no more difficult than leaves from a fabrication point of view. Yes, there is a bit more work, and definitely more time in front of the computer refining the design.

As for expense, they are more comparable than you would think depending on what you do for springs/shocks on the link setup. Go with some super-bling coilovers, and it will get spendy quick. Stick to separate springs/shocks from the Jeep TJ parts bin and you'll not be much more than a good set of leaves.
Old 04-14-2010, 04:19 PM
  #8  
Registered User
 
axelkoup's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Houston, PA
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
^^^ yessir...I'm going links with coils front and rear... keeping it low, on 37-40s.... i did a sas on my last truck, used leaves, worked awesome, but links are wayyy better, along with coils, tons and tons of coil options also and no axle wrap...wheelhop can become a problem, mainly in the front with a radius arm setup tho...
Old 04-14-2010, 05:20 PM
  #9  
Registered User
 
91_TOYOTA_4x4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: B.C. Canada
Posts: 1,459
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
i would go with leafs. leafs work great for DD and a weekend wheeler, they are cheap reliable and they work pretty damn good. coils are without question better but i would want it as my DD. my moms jeep on 35"s 4" lift with sway bars in is really wiggle around corners lol hard to explain but its like if you were sitting on jello haha its weird and i hate it. might just be those so called jeeps but idk. if you are going to wheel it alot and be hitting the really hard rocks then go coils, like what they said ^^^. i would do coils too if its wasnt my DD and i had the money and time to build a working soild setup. leafs might be an old design but its a damn good design and i have seen tons of leaf trucks preform very well offroad thats my .02 good luck bud
Old 10-22-2011, 12:48 PM
  #10  
Registered User
 
85Xtra-Cab's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Healdsburg, CA
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I plan on leaf springs. How much would a 3" leaf 2" body lift setup probably cost me?
Old 10-22-2011, 02:08 PM
  #11  
Registered User
 
Mr_Random's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Yuma, AZ
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Wiggle as described won't happen with properly designed trackbar/link setup. Also, seems the short wheel base of the tj makes it worse. If i had the option I'd go coils any day. Read read read, and don't even consider "short" arms if you go with coils!
Old 11-02-2011, 04:35 PM
  #12  
Registered User
 
gagnier6996's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Compare a 40 or 60 series land cruiser to a 80 series. Coil springs are always going to be better. More complicated than carriage suspension ;-)
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
punks_is_4x4
Offroad Tech
12
05-31-2016 06:03 AM
choppe777
Axles - Suspensions - Tires - Wheels
5
05-16-2016 08:00 AM
JHalcyonM
86-95 Trucks & 4Runners
6
09-14-2015 01:10 AM
Kreedy1
86-95 Trucks & 4Runners
3
09-08-2015 06:33 PM
Aaron Logan
Newbie Tech Section
0
09-03-2015 08:08 AM



Quick Reply: leaf springs vs coil springs?



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 11:25 AM.