OKay so I have a 83 sr5 LB and I want to make the front axle droop more the back is fine because I can see the shackle fully extend when flexing but for some reason the fronts just don't want to. And my shocks are long enough thats not limiting them. Is there anyway to make them just flex a little better they just barely flex at all right now. All input appreciated

 

Search rears up front
Spring swap is about the only way to improve it IMO

 

Spring metal develops a kind of memory over time, IMO. After so many years of being compressed, they just don't droop as easily. I'm with Dropzone on this one-if your shocks or sway bar aren't limiting the travel, then it's the springs. I've had good results with spring packs with only 2 leaves...did that to an '89 Samurai for the same reason-light vehicle, no suspension flex-also try a longer shackle. I fabbed my own out of 1/4" steel.

 

Okay thanks guys right now I have a 2 inch lift when I put rears up front how much lift will I be looking at

 

So I want about 2" of lift so can I just get a set of rears from a 80 toyota take out the over loads, make some longer shackels and call it good or will I have to add a leaf or so to each side? Also will the axle be in the same place as before or will it move to the front or rear more? Its my daily driver but I also want it to do well on the trails every weekend.

 

ok, I'm confused...are you putting the rear springs up front? There's no way to tell how much lift you'll get. The front is heavier than the rear for obvious reasons, and the springs you have on it are probably pretty tired, so they're not a good baseline to start from. I would guess that the lift generated by swapping rear springs up front will be negligible...an inch or so at most.`As for lateral movement, you're getting into suspension geometry...measure from the center pin to the frame-mounted end of the leaf pack on the originals and the donor springs, that will give you an idea of where the axle will sit in relation to front and back. then measure the overall length of the entire packs...I had decent success putting taller shackles on a '93 Wrangler, which did lift the vehicle up...the downside to that method is that your springs and shackles are still very close to the groung. for all the work you're describing, I think I'd rather just spend the couple extra bucks and get positive arch springs.

 

Alright let me make this more simple if your confused.
I will remove the factory front leafs
Install factory rear leafs from a 80 4x4 toyota at local junk yard
I will extend the brake lines
Remove the over load springs
Make shackles to fit the conversion
Add leaves to make my desired ride height
Does this sound like a good idea. Because to me this doesn't sound like expensive at all.
I get the leaf packs for about $13 a piece
The reason for doing this is to be able to flex better then what it does right now.

 

Or should I keep the main leaf from the factory leaf pack so it stays the same length and just add the leafs from a factory rear leaf pack to the front. And make custom shackles if needed.

Also will longer shackles give more flex or no?

 

Okay so I was throwing around the idea of putting the rears up front in my 83 toyota but just getting a set of leafs from the junkyard. After reading a lot I found it would move my axle forward which I don't want and would require a lot more.

I had an idea to get more flex from my front axle by removing all the leafs from the pack and leaving just the main one that bolts to the shackles.
Then I planned on taking all the leafs from a factory rear pack and put them in them in the front.
I would add as many as I needed to make the ride height correct.
If needed I would build new shackles

Does this sound like a good idea or is it just a stupid though and I should just live with the almost no flex I have.
Right now the truck has add a leafs front and rear to give it a 2in lift

Please any and all input is needed keep this thread going

 

i wouldnt take apart the leaf.. but yes upgrade the shackles.. win.

 

Why wouldn't you take apart the leaf pack? Shouldn't it help since it'll have a lot of thinner leafs instead of a few thicker ones. The front leafs right now just don't want to flex and it's annoying me.

 

www.budbuilt.com get some boomerang shackles problem solved

 

Couldn't I just build these for much less? And curious how will these help me?

 

boomerang shackles help with clearing the body mounts...

I ran a stock 3 leaf RUF pack on my 81 a while back and it was to soft and bottomed out my shocks on hard stops... after adding a 4th leaf it was still a little soft but better and when I added a 5th leaf it was just about perfect but to tall for my opinion ...

 

Did you run all the stock steering and how much did it move the axle? Please give more details.

 

Well I just wanted those 2 questions answered. I want to know if my idea would actually work before I put any money in it.

 

Let me get this across. I do not want to do a RUF because I would have to change
My push pull steering to a hi steer and that's not in my budget at all. Also I don't want my axle to move forward at all. I wanted to know if I just put thinner rear leafs in the front instead of the thicker ones if that would help flex but keeping the factory main leaf to keep everything where it is now.

 

What you described is completely doable. You may have to cut the rears down a bit (the ones you add) I like to stagger them 2.5-3" as you do down in the pack. You'll want to look closely at your factory main and check for cracks or kinks but if its in good shape id say go for it. If you mess it up you can buy new stock replacements for under $100. I'm guessing you'll have to add at least 4 leaves though to support the front of the truck and not be all saggy. Throw some fresh bushings in them and a good coat of paint and you'll be in business for cheap. Do you have a drop drag link and a torque arm relocator? both of those will help your push pull steering as you go up and flex more.

 

One thank you for actually replying to my questions and not asking more.
That said no I don't have a re locator of any kind for the steering
So this setup should give me more flex this is correct? Also adding a set of banana shackles should help too?

 

the banana shackles are not needed if your keeping the factory main leaf.