scrowley

i just got some year 2000 chevy 1500 springs and they measure 62" they have 2 leafs and a bottom out. I think they are rated the same as the older springs. Will these work for the swap or is it a must for them to be from year 88-98? differences from the old are 2 leafs instead of 3 and 62" instead of 63". The bone yard has some 4x4 from a 95 1500. they just had these one off already. the two springs look beefier than the older ones. but in the end i dont know. thanks

algranger

If you weld the mounts in the right spot any spring will work.

For flex, a higher number of smaller springs is "generally" better but either one should get the job done for ya

scrowley

so do you think that these wont flex as good or be too soft? I have already takin the rear all apart to take out add a leafs that where in another spring pack. still was to stiff. the droop was good but it was limited in the compress. re positioned the shocks so i know that is not the prob. just dont want to have to take these out to swap for the 88-98 springs for a third go. any more info.

myyota

Like was said above, any spring will work, you just need to move the spring mounts for the longer springs to work. I have 63'' chevy springs in the rear of my 86 4Runner and they work great.

scrowley

but the springs being 1500 1/2 tons springs why are there 2 leafs instead of 3 or 4 leafs in the 88-98 models? do you think they have the same springs rate?

myyota

1500 springs are a light truck springs (1/2 ton) so they have less leaves to them, the heavier duty springs will have more leaves in the spring pack to handle the extra weight of a heavier truck.

scrowley

I understand about the leafs but the thing is people say the 88-98 1500 springs are the ones to use.....which are 3 leafs and a bottom out. the ones i installed today are same 63" but are from a 2000 1500 and are 2 leafs with a bottom out. what i dont get is why they arent saying these leafs are just as good? they are both 1/2 ton springs. they seem fine to me. I did a double shackle with a 2" block and some shims and it sit great and the shocks are holding up the droop now. looks like i need some 14". the only concern i have is if they are going to stuff more. i jack it up and it goes up further but still have about 4 inches on the shock and the springs isnt totally straight or neg. maybe it will be different with true load on a ramp.

myyota

All i can say is try out the springs you have now and see how they work for you. The only thing thats not good is the 2'' block, it would be better if you could leave it out because blocks can cause problems.

scrowley

how did you get that much lift out of your chevy springs. clearing 37's????
I arlready installed them. with out the block there wasnt enought to match the front. I tried a aal but that was way to stiff. tried long 8.5" shackles and still wasnt enough. ended up with the blocks and it sits pretty level. also needed a shim also to keep good pinion angle.

myyota

My chevy springs are from trail gear, there 5'' lift springs, plus relocated spring mounts and 37'' tires, that gives me 16'' of lift over a stock 4Runner, with no lift blocks. Thats my 4Runner in my avatar.

scrowley

How much are those from trail gear? be nice to ditch the block. are you running double shackle or relocate the rear hanger. I went and did a flex test and great droop but still wont over flex this chevy springs which is leaving room for improvement. do you think swapping the bottom out spring with a softer one would help? could the body lift be screwing it up from the weight transfer? I will be taking out 2"of the 3" of body lift because its too much IMO. any suggestions would be great.

myyota

I can`t remember what i paid for the springs, its been a couple of years since i bought them. Both of my spring mounts front and rear have been moved back, they were moved back to give more tire clearance and better departure angle. Im not sure if swapping out the bottom leaf would help, you might need to try it out and see what happens, but don`t make it to soft if you drive it on the road as that could be dangerous. Take out the body lift, or most of it, because to much body lift will make a vehicle top heavy and cause it to roll over.