frombozeman

I have an 87 Runner with the sag in the rear that I'd like to correct. Can I use front Leaf springs from a solid axle runner '85 model to correct this? I have a good set available to me cheap.

4Crawler

iTrader: (3)

As in adding leaves to the rear spring pack? I suppose it could be done. The stock front leaves are very flat to begin with, and they are somewhat thick and stiff. They are also shorter than the rear leaves with a centered hole, so you would only be able to use the bottom two leaves unless you cut off the curved ends of the top two leaves.

frombozeman

Thanks for that feedback. I had it in my brain to do a complete swap...not just a couple of springs. I'll take your advice as a firm NO then. Do helper springs do a good job to even things out back there, then? I'm trying to take care of it without going to the $300 for new springs. I'd like to find a $100 solution.

thook

http://gearinstalls.com/dc.htm

I just recently had this done for a total of $45. Springs, welding, and all. It's comparitively cheap, effective, and very easy. I'm willing to bet you'd love the results.

I should add I found some rear TJ coil springs for $25. There are other sources, though. One fellow used some from a Ford Aerostar. Also, all I had done was have 2" long piece of round 1 1/2" gas pipe welded to the plate where the rubber bump stop on the axle USED to be. Both came off long ago. Then, I had the pigtail cut off of one end of each spring to fit over the bump stop deflector on the frame above the axle. The spring had to be heated up with torch a bit the get it to expand and seat over the deflector, but it went on and seated completely once the weight of the vehicle was applied. It raised the rear end up atleast 4" (probably a little more...I didn't really measure. I was too excited..lol) from where it was sitting. The leafs were completely flat and beginning to arch negatively. Now, I'd say it sits ever so slightly above stock height in the rear...just enough to give a "raked" or sporty/aggressive look. I had around 600lbs of animal feed in the back yesterday and the rear barely sunk. It was almost imperceptible. The ride, however, is not stiff. It is bouyant and smooth over my country roads and takes hard bumps a lot softer.

I'd suggest this to anyone with saggy rear leafs over anything else...for the money. If someone wants to mess with rearching or buying new leafs or doing the AAL route, more power to them. BUT! For the price and end result I'm stoked.