ThatGuy1295

Found lots of F-150 spring swaps thread, but none of them talk about the Tacomas.

I hate my stock springs on my 01. Ive been thinking about spring swaps for a long time, and I found this out.

Heres your 01 Taco spring.


Heres your F-150 Spring


Now you tell me, am I getting excited over nothing here, or can I actually just bolt these on without relocation hangers. I have a 3'' lift now. Ive heard the F-150 springs give about 3 inches of lift on older yota's. And as long as its close enough, I don't mind building a custom rear shackle for adjustments.

It appears the 150 springs will move the rear axle back about 7/8''. Looking at the tacoma front spring mount theres enough room to redrill a hole a little further forward. Unless 7/8'' extra wheelbase isn't a bad thing.

ThatGuy1295

phildelfino

no experience but it looks like a scary good match.

does your wheel sit in the middle of the wheelwell?

85gijunk4x4

the holes would be off by .25/in. (1/4) divide that by two (for two holes) and you get 0.125 (1/8)

so the holes would be off by 1/8.

if its not close enough to squeeze the bolt in, it should be easy enough to put a jack under the axle to arc the springs out.

ThatGuy1295

Ya wheel sits center now. So a little bit back would be ok.

ThatGuy1295

Thinkin I could weld a piece of 1/8'' plate steel over the old holes on the front hanger. Then redrill about 5/8'' further forward. Think I'm gonna go for it. The thought of not having to relocate hangers is nice. Plus anything better then this:

ThatGuy1295

Ordered springs, and u-bolts today. Should get them next week some time. Gonna take lots of pics and post em here. Also gonna go with firestone air bags, flipping my u-bolts, making my own shock mounts, and building custom bottom air bag perch. Should be fun.

If anybody has any tips please real free to post them, kind of thinking this might be one of the first 01 tacoma's on the web with F-150 springs.

akaphilly

good stuff. i am going to put f150's in my 4runner soon. along with an SAS. at my buddy we have the springs and actually a set of stock tacoma springs. im gona compare them just for the hell of it.

ThatGuy1295

Niice


Ya I'm sure about the sizes, mostly wanted to make sure it wasn't gonna give me to much lift.
But it sounds like it shouldn't be more than 2 1/2'' or so.

ThatGuy1295

Half way there. Got one side done today.

Tore this junk out









Built my own U-bolt brackets because I wanted to do a U-bolt flip, and provide a nice place to mount air bags.












Was able to use the factory rear shackle, but had to modify the front mount because the ford springs are an 1/8'' wider. And 7/8'' longer on the front, the rear portion of the springs is the exact same size as the factory springs. The factory mount has a bend in the back side, as seen above if you cut it out and weld in a flat piece theres room for the ford springs. So far the ride height is about 1'' lower then what it was with my 3'' lift block. Which is about what I wanted because the truck was a little to positive in the rear.
Gonna weld up some shock mounts tomoro and finish the other side.

mokai

Nice man. Those are some tight looking welds too. Should be a sweet setup.

ThatGuy1295

All done. Sits about 1/2'' higher in the rear than the front, measuring from top of tire to bottom of fender. So this spring swap on a tacoma gives you a 2 1/2'' lift in the rear using no blocks, no AAL's, with factory rear shackle. Its perfect with a 3'' lift up front. Remember I used the 3+1 pack, not the 4+1. Nice and level

ThatGuy1295

I did notice one very insignificant side affect. With the factory exhaust the F-150 springs rub on the tail pipe a little next to the rear shackle at full extension. That way nobody can't say I didn't tell them
That and their really stiff

mokai

Nice man. I'll have to head up to Washington one day and have you help me do mine

ThatGuy1295

For sure. It actually wasn't to bad. Would be funner the second time, now that I've done it once. Took me about 9 hours, phone only rang 34 times, but would have been about 4 hours if I didn't have to make my own shock mounts and U-bolt brackets. Not to mention I go a little slower with my own stuff. Modifying the front hanger is probably the most tedious part, wanted to make sure it had good welds and was lined up perfectly.

mokai

Your welds look sweet. I'm definitely considering this, think it would be great with the camper on.

2012MongolRally

Nice build, I may be using this as a guide in the near future to upgrade the rust bucket I have for the rally, maybe the springs will outlast the truck. +1 on a better ride, I definitely like that idea

87 Deathtrap

Nice find and execution! I can't believe I've never seen F150 springs on a Taco, with how close of a match they are. What kind of shackle angle did you end up with? Can't quite tell from the pics. Just curious, if could you have used the original hole in the hanger and just have had a more relaxed shackle angle? Or would that likely push the tire into the rear of the fender on compression?

83_hilux

iTrader: (1)

Thats some pretty cool info. I think I would have tried it in the stock hole. As long as the drive line allows it.

ThatGuy1295

I did test it in the stock hole. When the springs compressed and flaten'd out the rear shackle was completely maxed out and the springs started to buckle. And you really don't want to move the axle back an inch. Ya not a good idea.

By drilling a new hole 7/8'' forward you end up with the same shackle angle as the stock springs had, as well as the axle being centered in the wheel well.