84-85 Trucks & 4Runners 2nd gen pickups and 1st gen 4Runners with solid front axles

making procomp leafs better

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Old Mar 12, 2010 | 02:56 PM
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making procomp leafs better

Hi all. This place rules!!!!!!!!!

Ok so I have an 85 4runner with 3" procomp front and 3.5 procomp rears. Basically I went with the 3" front kit with the 4" rear kit and they say it is a 3.5" spring but it sits 2" higher in the rear. I want to raise the front and soften the rear. My plan is to take out the thick bottom rear leaf and put a longer shackle on to compensate for the lift of the bottom leaf. Then I want to put a 3" longer shackle in the front to level it out. My theory is leveling the ride hight and softening the rear will make it ride allot nicer on the road and flex allot more off road with only the cost of making shackles. I have never heard of anyone trying this and would like some imput. Thanks
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Old Mar 12, 2010 | 03:38 PM
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Just need to make sure that thick bottom leaf does not also serve an anti-wrap function. I went on a run with one guy who did something similar with his pickup, had a really soft and flexy rear suspension. By 3 miles into the trail, those rear springs were bent into an "S" shape and the axle was sitting up against the bump stops.
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Old Mar 14, 2010 | 09:57 PM
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What if I was to replace it with an add a leaf to prevent this from happening. Do you think that would do the trick?
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Old Mar 14, 2010 | 11:03 PM
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I ran the 4" procomp leafs front and rear not bad ride but the rear was way to stiff so I mixed the stock rear with the procomp rear and it road great and still gave me lift, as for the front I did the same as you said and added a shackle to level it out


Last edited by 4x4YOTA; Mar 14, 2010 at 11:10 PM.
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Old Mar 16, 2010 | 01:40 PM
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PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
  • Progressive Multi-leaf spring packs increases GVW and load carrying capacity without sacrificing ride quality.
  • Steel encased, no maintenance rubber bushings eliminates squeak from low cost urethane bushings.
  • Bottom overload spring provides added load capacity.
  • Tapered leaves for increased suspension travel.
  • Oversized Telfon mileage wear pads.
  • Permanent angle-correcting degree shims.
  • Shot-peened for strength and durability.
  • Reduced axle wrap by eliminating rear lift block.
  • Allows cost-effective way to replace rear springs and achieve desired ride height.
I will say, with weight they are smoother but otherwise..........
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Old Mar 23, 2010 | 03:35 AM
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Ok not that I think any one really gives a rip lol but for the people that do run the prostiffs in the rear I think I might be on to something.

After doing some searching I found out that procomp makes a track bar for the block lifts to control axle wrap. They also sell the same part number for the 1.5" AAL lift, so I think if I have to much axle wrap without the bottom load leaf I will install the 72082B track bar.

So that will be 3" front springs (31221L/31222R) with 5" shackles. 3.5" (33311 more like 5") rear springs with overload leaf removed (1" drop) with 5" shackles and 72082B track bars.

Right now my shackles are at 60* to the frame front and rear so I think with 1.5" longer shackles I should get about an inch of lift out of them.

This is the specs on the rear springs 33311

Flat Length: 48.22"
Free Length: 42.44"
Caster: 9.56
Front Eyelet: 1.25"
Rear Eyelet: 1.25"
Leaf Width: 60mm
Leaves: 4
Weight: 30.84lbs.
Spring rate(lbs/in): 209/310


And the front 31221L/31222R

Flat Length: 45.50"
Free Length: 43.25"L/43.50"R
Caster: 5.62L/5R
Front Eyelet: 1.17"
Rear Eyelet: 1.17"
Leaf Width: 2.36"
Leaves: 3
Weight: 28.14lbs.L/25.76lbs.R
Spring rate(lbs/in) 301


The rear springs have a 4* shim and they are a 5" spring. Dropping the rear 1" by removing the overload and raising it back up with the shackle I should only need a 3* shim, but I might get away with keeping the 4*. I dont think the front is going to be an issue but correct me if im wrong please.

I think I covered everything and I'm not doing this for a while but I like brainstorming and I want to see if i got this right.
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Old Mar 23, 2010 | 06:31 AM
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Originally Posted by muddy4runner
The rear springs have a 4* shim and they are a 5" spring. Dropping the rear 1" by removing the overload and raising it back up with the shackle I should only need a 3* shim, but I might get away with keeping the 4*. I dont think the front is going to be an issue but correct me if im wrong please.
Should not need any shim, with the stock drive shaft and a spring-only lift in the rear:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...FixingProblems

Those shackles will add about 1.5 degrees tilt angle that you may or may not need. But best to measure and shaft angles and see:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...n-Measurements
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Old Mar 23, 2010 | 11:59 AM
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Awesome Thanks. I will be checking angles for sure just to be safe. You da man, man

But now you got me thinking, Why did procomp put a 4* shim in the spring pack and they don't even sell longer shackles thats how they came??????????? Also the pinion is pointed straight at the t-case right now with stock shackles. Hmmm
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Old Mar 23, 2010 | 12:12 PM
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Originally Posted by muddy4runner
Awesome Thanks. I will be checking angles for sure just to be safe. You da man, man

But now you got me thinking, Why did procomp put a 4* shim in the spring pack and they don't even sell longer shackles thats how they came??????????? Also the pinion is pointed straight at the t-case right now with stock shackles. Hmmm
Well, if you were to install those leaves on a vehicle with a CV rear shaft, like an xtra cab pickup with 2-piece shaft, you would need the shims and with a 4" lift, 4 deg. shims would be about right. So they basically have no idea what type of driveshaft setup you'll have so they probably include the shims "just in case".

BTW: Pinion flange should be parallel to the t-case flange with your u-joint shaft, not pointing at the t-case:

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Old Mar 23, 2010 | 12:45 PM
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Man all this time. Those buggers lol. Well one day I will be doing the CV mod so Ill keep the shims so I guess thats a bonus.
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Old Jun 2, 2011 | 10:32 AM
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muddy: Did you ever get around to trying this? I have the same pro comps and would love to hear how it worked out for you. the ride is soooo bouncy and the shackle has a tendency to flip against the frame if I unload - say, over a speed bump too fast.
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Old Sep 16, 2013 | 07:52 PM
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did anyone solve this problem, would longer shackles help?
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