Well I called to place my order for some OME leaf springs today. I had gotten a quote of $186 plus shipping. Total about $240. When I'm talking to the salesman, he says he really recommends me getting new bushings and new hanger pins because the old ones may be toast and difficult if not impossible to remove in 1 pc. Understandable, but now the new total = $390 w/S&H, $481 if I do the shackles as well.

Has anyone gotten new leafs without having to buy all the other stuff? Now, I'm really considering just doing 6" greasable shackles only. We have a spring shop here. I'm waiting to get a quote from them. All I want to do is raise the rear to stock or 1" of lift. That's it.

 

One thing that I (a certified mechanic for over 20 years) have found from some of the vendors here, is that most have steered me the right way, and their suggestions ultimately benefit you time-wise or money-wise. My time is worth money, and jacking around with old bushings ain't worth my time.

I'll admit, I do alot of price shopping, but I've come to recognize when it's ok to pay a couple more dollars for the right stuff. I don't know how old you are, but one thing you'll learn over time (completely independant of how much something costs, BTW) is that quality is always worth paying for.

Just my .02 bro... either way you go, good luck.

 

If you want to buy new bushings - get them from trailgear. Thats where I got my polly bushings and greasable bolts from.

 

Well I started looking at the leafs from trail gear and downey. They both include new bushings with their leafs.
"New polly bushings are included with springs." - Trail Gear

"These springs include polyurethane bushings, and rear brake proportioning valve spacer." - Downey

I've read so so things about Downey springs, how do people like Trail Gear?

 

Frig even bothering with any of those. Go to a yard and ask for some chevy leafs and weld them right on. more work but way better flex!

 

why don't you have the spring shop re-arch your springs.

 

Well last time I checked rear stock spring pins were $32 each from the stealership (StevinsonToy) and greasable's were a little more. Maybe that could be an option. You will more than likely want to get new ones, out of 5 toys I've swapped leafs on in the past 6 years, not one of them had spring/shackle bolts in good shape (corroded bad, rusty threads etc.)

 

Something else to consider. My Downey's came with the bushes, but only the ones in the spring eyes front and rear. That still leaves you needing 4 for the shackle/frame attachment. In my case here in AZ the old stuff came out just fine and was re-useable so I just picked out the best 4 of the old ones to re-use. Hardware was also good to go. You might not be so lucky up in CO. What exactly are they offering you for an additional $204? Because it just dawned on me while writing this, that the stock shackles don't use a pin. Do you have stockers in there now? The way they are made, 2 nuts come off one side then that side plate for the shackle comes off. The other side is like a big "C" with the pins and side plate all one solid piece, so new pins will only work with an aftermarket shackle.

 

Ya, I have the stock shackles in there and I wana keep the stock shackles. I'm sure the hardware is probably bad. My truck had rust on the fenders and shocks til I cleaned it up. I do understand about getting what you pay for, but think it's a bit rediculous to have to spend so much to just get my truck back to stock. I may have to ck for re-arching only, or looking for some Chevys. 63" right? What have people spent on that mod?

 

Chevy mod will run you about 250 iirc, if you can get the springs cheap enough. Dont forget with longer springs and lift springs you need longer shocks.

 

was the ome quote of $186 for a pair of shocks?

 

Chevy's will lift you higher than you are looking for.

 

i just put the OME's on my taco, and they say that the bushings fit, NFW, not even close. my install turned into a nightmare, because of the bushings, and you'll probably have to cut the front perch bolt, so just buy a grade 8 for $2 to replace it. but they seem to flex pretty good.

 

You're right. Scratch that idea.

Where did you order them from? Do you remember the size of the bolt? I had a mini-nightmare fabbing my own hardware for my body lift. I got through it though.