Well, I was going back to school labor day when I heard a weird sound, followed by a burning rubber smell. After some investigation, I found that my passenger side AAL had broken in half and part of it slid out and rubbed the rubber off of my sidewall down to the cords.

Dad brought the spare, and I limped home with half a leaf on one side.

So now, I'm going to get a new tire, 2 actually since my spare doesn't match. But I also am going to have to do something about the suspension.

My options:
1) New AALs
2) New Stock spring packs
3) Shackles
4) 63" Chevys
5) _______ Fill in the blank

I'm also probably going to get some OME torsion bars while I'm spending the money to help support the heavy bumper, it's made the front sag a bit.

What do you think is the best option for the rear? Those who have done the 63 chevys what was the cost. I need the springs, and hangers, and to have the olds cut off, and the new welded, as well as shackles custom length, if it doesn't sit level.

 

i did the 63" chevs in my runner, the springs cost $100 from a wrecking yard, you want them from a 88-98 half ton 2wd, i made the hangers and welded them on myself, just installing the springs will get you about a 2-3" lift depending on the shackle length

 

I just priced leaf springs at pull-a-part, they want like $20 per side, or maybe it's for both, I doubt it though.

the 2-3", is that from the saggy normal, or from like new?

 

the 2-3" is about an average, i didn't pay much attention to how much i got, it just worked out fine for me,

this is how it sat when i had my 38's, I'm using about a 6-8' shackle and i have a 2" body lift

 

This is how it sat, up until the leaf broke. Tires are 31's. I want it to sit like that when I'm done, maybe the front up a bit, but still nose down.

 

 

Get some OME Springs. I'm running them and they are GREAT.

 

Are you trying to get it to stock height?

If so, I'd be interested to see what you choose. One of my rear springs seems to be sagging a bit and I'd prefer not to have to buy anything that provides more than an inch of lift.

 

The above pic is with the AAL. With the sag, I think it brought it back to stock.

I don't know what to do.

 

Are you down to weld and fab or are you looking for a bolt in option?

AALs will fail again because they are supporting the bulk of the truck's weight. It's one thing to put them in a healthy spring pack and another to put them in one that has gone flat over flexing them. They then fatigue and break like yours did. I have had bad luck with AAL's.

Frank

 

63" Chebbies will definitely make you sit nose down.... I would call Alcan and have them build you a new stock hieght or 1" lift spring pack for the rear.

 

honestly i think your waiting your time (not so much your money cuz its cheap) getting any old junk yard springs. Id get a set of OME springs and be done with it

 

Does OME make springs that would bring me up to stock? or maybe 1" over?

 

doing chevys was one of the best mods i've done so far...they were cheap, affective and flex great, not to mention they ride smooth on the road...ohh did i forget to mention they were cheap

anyways if u want get the kit here:
http://www.sky-manufacturing.com/
go to the toy section then go to suspenion

so u figure $120 for the kit, $100 for the springs then what ever it is for u-blots, and shocks
so we can say $320 for the chevy swap

but it flexs so nicely

that's not even full drop..and they stuff even better

EDIT* i forgot to say if you wanna lvl it afterwards crank the t-bars up slightly...but also using a smaller shackle would hlep lower the rear

 

I have no intention of cranking my torsion bars.

I'm also kinda doubting that even with a shorter shackle, it would be low enough.

 

Well, I was looking at the Old man emu set ups and I found this

http://www.rocky-road.com/4runner.html

They have a kit that comes with:

F&R shocks, Torsion Bars, Rear Springs, Bushings and Steering Dampener (i assume that's another word for the steering stabilizer)

Thing is, they want over $900 for it.

Is that a lot?

Where should I look to buy OME parts from?

And, do you think that set up would work well for me? I think it's 1.5-2" lift in the rear, and when I add the T-bars it should bring the front back up an inch or so, as it is pretty compressed right now, so I think it would sit pretty level, if not, slightly nose down, which is ok by me.

 

 

Nobody knows where to buy OME parts for the best price?