ThatGuy1295

Arlight,, then I went ahead and bagged it also.






Didn't buy a kit, instead just got air bags and sourced the hardware elsewhere, then fab'd up my own brackets. This way was a little cheaper, but more work.

And its niiiiice.

mokai

Looks good man.

ThatGuy1295

I'm at a kind of at a loss on what shocks to get. Ride is really stiff.
Searched and searched some more on this but can't really get a good answer.

The shocks that I have now are some rough country shocks that came with the original lift. And it seems that every small imperfection in the road is felt. Not by the front, but by the rear. The bumps actually seem to be exaggerated a bit. Now my question is do I want a firmer shock or softer. Softer seems logical to me, but some info on the web says that harder shocks will control the springs better. With the air bags empty and no weight in the back of the truck I want it to handles as soft as it can. Especially on bumpy gravel roads. Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

ThatGuy1295

Come on!! Don't make me start a new thread. Cause ill do it.

ThatGuy1295

Well hate to admit it, but I've given this a good test run, and I'm not happy with this springs. The ride is ok, but is definitely rougher. Small bumps at low speeds are exaggerated by these springs. I think its just simply the wrong spring rate for the light (donkey) rear of my taco. I removed the over load leaf, no change.
The original statements of them riding better was mostly referring to the axle wrap being fixed.

With the overload leaf the load carrying capacity is awesome, but thats not what I was looking for since i have air bags. Thinking about going deaver springs and soft billy shocks.

akaphilly

What site did u order the springs from? do you still hate them? how much pressure are you running in the air bags?

ThatGuy1295

Ordered them from here: http://www.generalspringkc.com/Leaf_...996_s/1865.htm

No I dont really hate them, I need to try some different shocks before I say its the springs for sure. I dont wanna mislead anyone before im certain. But the shocks im running now were smooth with the old springs, so it seems weird. I could just be shocks causing the rough ride. So more just disappointed with the setup as it is now.

I usually dont have any air in the bags when empty. Pulling my camping trailer I run about 30psi. Never needed them any higher then 40psi yet.

ThatGuy1295

Well I went with deaver rears. Already installed them and some matching bilstien shocks from wheelers off road, as well as a u-bolt flip kit. Just got everything installed today and its waaaay better ride. Still going to keep the air bags though, cause the deavers are a very soft spring. Going to take some pics in the next few days and post them but most importantly its alot better hands down.

ThatGuy1295

And it was the springs. I even tried runnning with no shocks just as a extra test, and the springs just act like their not moving.

mokai

Good to know. I might have to pick up a set of Deavers now.

fordguy55

who sells deaver for the tacoma, my rear springs are shot.

akaphilly

i had got the 1655 weight springs off that site. couldnt pass up 80bucks each. so far they ride good with bilstein shocks mounted straight. the only thing i dont like is the tank and me and battery make 1 side 1.5 inchs taller. fuel cell soon..

ThatGuy1295

Thats actually a really good question. You wouldn't think it, but deaver actually sells deaver.

ThatGuy1295

Just ordered airbag kit from wheelers off road, and some 4 1/2'' bump stops. Will post more pics when their installed.

ThatGuy1295

And done:

MudWaspSR5

Hey, I just found this post... a decade later.. so who knows if you still have your Taco. I'm doing the same F150 spring mod on my 94 Yota Ex-Cab 4x4 so it's similar enough. When you originally bought the F150 2WD springs there are five 2WD options (for 2.5" leafs) and six 4WD options for (for 3" leafs) on the General Spring website. I think you said you got the 3/1 pack, correct? I would assume that means the ones at the very top of the list, meaning the ones rated at 1350lb spring capacity for $109.99. I hastily bought the 1850's which are literal bricks. How much were the Deavers and do you know the spring rate? I tried endlessly looking for the stock spring rates for my truck (89-95 series 3.0L 4x4) and then also the same for the 1st Gen Tacoma as I assume they'd be near identical, but have never been able to determine their ratings. I don't think Toyota publishes the data. So it's literally a stab in the dark.

I suppose if you think the 2WD 1350's (if that's what you got) were also way too stiff, then I'm at a total loss for what to do next, except empty my wallet for aftermarket springs, ...something I totally didn't want to do to begin with of course, hence getting the cheap General Springs, which with shipping still cost $300. So now I essentially have useless paperweights. I've read at least 15 different forum threads on the F150 mods and literally not a single one has ever fully explained what exact spring they got. It's all "well guys I got some F150 springs out of an old F150" and that's about it. No one ever mentions that there are a crapload of spring rates out there from the 80s and 90s so who f'ing knows what people actually have. Uggh,. I'm about to say ˟˟˟˟ it and weld my pancake flat OEMs back on. Any help anyone can give would be HUGELY appreciated.