Hey guys I'm new here and working on building my first rig. Been around them my whole life but never made a wheeler for myself. Now I got a 86 runner that I straight axled about 2 months ago. And I put trailgear 5" springs in the front and rear. Now I trying to Lear the trick of the trade to get the best flex I can out of leafs. So I used the forklift at work to lift my tires to get measurements and as for right now I can get 26 1/2" in the front and almost 29" in the rear. In the past I've known people that have been able to get several more inches out of there leafs (most all those rigs were 1st and 2nd gen pickups) so I know I can get my rig to do better I just don't know how and so I would truly appreciate some responses and opinions on the matter
Thanks

 

Nobody is willing to give me any pointers or give me something to look for??? I'm just trying to learn and somebody here has to have some sort of info on this. If you need some extra info on from my truck I can get it. Please help

 

Lets see some pictures.

Are your shackles making a full swing? What is limiting your current flex? Shocks? Bumpstops? What are you looking for, more up or down travel, or both?

Chances are your springs are still breaking in. You might think about pulling a leaf out of the pack?

 

First , what is limiting further travel on the front and rear? Are you hanging on your shocks? Are you fully compressed on your shocks on the other side ? Are you running bumpstops yet ?

A few pics of your setup would be helpful ...

 

damm rattlewagon you bear me too it

 

also, if you just SAS this rig 2 months ago, have you even taken the rig out enough to break in those brand new leaf springs?

 

Thank you guys for giving me something. No I don't have bumpstops on my rig. I'll put some pics up in the next couple days. I'm looking to get both up and down travel I just want good flex out of my rig. And I'm pretty sure my shackles are at a good angle. There close to a 45. But yea I was looking at my shocks today and Yea I'm bottoming out on my compressed side. They are bilstein 12" my rears have pretty of room. What would be my best bet for shocks?

 

You need to crawl under and measure just how much travel you have with shocks attached and without. I personally would not want my leaf springs to go to a negative curve. You are standing with your hand in the door of Pandora's box so to say. Bump stops are a good thing and making sure you don't flex too much that you ruin your springs is important as well.

If you are making a dedicated wheeling rig. Can be trailered to and from trails if needed then that's one thing. And while suspension has a roll. It more about the Driver, lockers, armor, tires, and pucker factor. I took a 4" lifted 85 Toyota sagged out (yes broken in springs) with a Detroit in the rear open up front and stock armor more places where people told me I was crazy. It about knowing you rig being easy on the loud pedal and good with the truck.

It doesn't sound like your rig has had any miles to speak of since the SAS. Best advise is if its a DD with med to light wheeling on the weekends. Then drive it and see where your weaknesses are. That the only why to find out. Driving styles alone can make or break a rig on the trail no matter the $$$ in to the rig.

I am not trying to be a D but, rather trying to save you money. I forget do you have a locker or gears yet or a winch? All more important to me than and extra inch or 3 of flex. Even truggys with unbelievable flex still get caught from time to time with tires in the air. Then it's lockers or winches to the rescue. Just my 2 cents