peckinpah

My 91 pickup has "saggy butt syndrome".

I'm guessing it's from 20 years of towing and heavy loads, as well as going over railroad crossings without slowing down, etc., combined with Newton's merciless Law of Gravity.

Rear end was maybe an inch lower than the front end, so I lowered the front end to where they're roughly even, using the torsion bar adjustment. What a PITA that was, I have never applied that much torque in my entire life as I did to those 22mm adjustment bolts. My arm is still sore.

While this solution is ideal in that it does not cost anything, it also occurs to me that it doesn't really address the root cause, namely, my leaf springs being shot.

So my question is, are inexpensive replacement leaf springs available, and if so how hard are they to replace? I don't see any adjustment bolts, so do you just jack the rear end up and pound them out with a hammer and giant screwdriver or what?

InvaderTrax

The forward bolts that hold the springs in usually get rust locked into the bushings and need to be torched out, which can be fun . Best solution for a budget, as well as not having to pull it all apart, is the Zuk mod. Since you're 2WD, you should use a smaller spring unless you want a big lift. Only other complication would be 2WD is spring under axle

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...photos-207564/

peckinpah

I don't know if this method would work on my truck. I think the axle sits on top of the leaf spring (rather than underneath it) with a U-shaped clamp holding the axle in place. Unless I'm mistaken.

xxxtreme22r

your right peckinpah 2wd trucks are spring under. ZUK mod would most likely not work. But anything is possible I guess. Not sure if they make a u-bolt flip kit for the 2wd trucks, if they do maybe they will allow a mounting point for the ZUK coils? I don't know, but might be something to search for.

swampfox

My 89 has the same problem do to the addition of 2 extra side boxes. All the overload /add a spring are for the 4wd models and are wider than the 2wd springs. Something that I have noticed is that my 82 has a extra leaf spring that has a arch to it. I am thinking about putting them on the 89. If someone out there knows of a aftermarket sources I would be interested in hearing about them,it would save a lot of work. If you have any trucks setting in your area it might be worth checking the truck For the extra spring. Just check the width to make sure they will fit.
I have been looking at other brands of trucks for the extra spring but so far nothing has turned up with the right width.

peckinpah

I was thinking that maybe I could fabricate something to fit over the axle for a coil spring to sit on and hold it in place. That seems to be the main obstacle, in my mind.

I like the idea of using a coil spring to supplement the leaf spring.

Or maybe I'll just lower the front end some more using the torsion bar adjustment, but surely there must be a downside to that (i.e. front end components wearing out more quickly and less travel for the shocks).

xxxtreme22r

At one point I remember talking about using adjustable helper springs to raise the back end as well. Might have to search for it though.

swampfox

If I remember right there was a site that offers a kit, that will allow the use of the coil springs that clamp to rear axle, to be used with the springs underneath type . It might have been jc whitney ,but the adapter kit was as much as the springs.

survivorman97

iTrader: (1)

Just by some helwig helper springs from amazon. You can get the 550 lbers for like $70

here is a thread i made that talks about them https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/w...s-help-209792/

peckinpah

Hey thanks Survivorman. I checked on Amazon and they don't seem to stock Hellwigs that they say will fit a '91 Hilux. All I could find were these:

http://www.amazon.com/Trailmaster-R1...1991&carId=001

In case the link gets disabled, it's for the Trailmaster Suspension R1536 Add-A-Leaf.

I don't really haul that much, but was wondering what the possible downsides would be of just dropping the front end and inch or two with the torsion bars? At least that's free.

Robert m

iTrader: (2)

why not pick up a set of stock 2wd leafs from the junk yard, or off of craigslist or something? for what your going to spend of the add a leaf or that ridiculous zuk mod, you could be back at stock hight.