1982 Toyota Pickup, 4wd 22r. I've been looking at the front leaf springs for awhile and they're looking sad. Really, almost a little frowny, but at the very least deadpan. I had the rear's replaced in 2017 and added a leaf because I built a custom camper (quite heavy, but haven't actually weighed it) I carry around in the bed of the truck. At the time, the shop looked at the fronts and said they were fine, but I do remember that at that point the front leaf springs weren't frowny and looking much better. It currently has 4 leaves in it. The camper is currently not on the truck, but I'm making a list of things like this in preparation for a good duration of carrying it around through this upcoming summer and fall.

The suspension is the one thing I've never really dived into, but it seems like leaf springs are easy enough to replace. I guess my wonder is what kind to get? Looking around, I see packs with a lift/drop height ranging from 3-7''.

Besides replace the leaf springs, the only other things to go in there and replace are the u-bolts and bushings? Anything else I should replace while I'm at it?

Thanks! In case it matters, I'm running 235 75R15 tires.

Thanks!

 

U bolts, shackles, bushings, springs. Shocks probably once you figure out your new ride height.

Only doing the front?
Beware cheap springs, all steel is not equal. do you want to be buying springs again next year?
With 235s you dont need much lift but you get more options when you look at lift springs. OME springs are a popular reliable spring and you can order them for a heavy load if you do have the camper on a lot.
ask for spring advice and youll get lots of opinions.

 

Yeah, I think just doing the front. In 2017 just the rears were replaced and not the fronts. I bought the vehicle in 2015 - don't know the last time the fronts were touched, and I looked at them again yesterday and they look both frowny and wavy.

So when the "lift" measurements of a spring really just pertains to how large of a tire you want to drive, not the strength of it? The strength of a spring is in the quality of steel and number of leaves?

Thanks for the help - feel a bit over my head on this one. I'd love to take it back to the shop I had the rear leaves done at, but I live 12 hours away from it now.

 

Sounds to me you want load carrying capacity and not lift, so that spring shop you went to for the rears or a similar place is your best bet. Most aftermarket 'performance' springs are built for lift and compliance off road. Running 235's doesn't need any lift. From what you're saying you still have the original fronts and a spring shop is likely to add another full length leaf to the pack, don't let them remove the second 'double wrapped' leaf from the pack. I have broken the 'eyed' leaf' on both back springs at the eye (the most likely place for them to break) and was able to still drive the truck...carefully albeit!

I believe a couple Toyota specialty suppliers have an add a leaf for the front which will give about an inch or so of lift which may work well for you.

The most difficult part of replacing these yourself is dealing with rust seized 35 year old fasteners.

 

Agreed.
if youre just doing the front, you dont want it lifted higher than the rear (unless your from South Carolina). However, if youre going through the effort of pulling the springs, you might as well put in some new steel.
but like pincher said, the add a leaf would be the quickest and cheapest way to go. A shop that does big truck suspension can also re arch the springs for you.

 

Awesome, thanks for the info!

 

Get some lithium grease pb, hit everything with it a couple days ahead. And a breaker bar and a big hammer