Hello, I dont know if this question has been asked or not. I appologize if it has, but I just inherited a 1983 Toyota Pickup. The suspension is really stiff. I know I need new bushing and shocks, but my question is does this truck normally have a stiff suspension or does anyone know how to soften it up a little?

 

Is it 4wd? If so check out your front suspension. Mine rode like a lumber wagon because the front springs were shot, tons of negative arch and all the leaves were pushed towards the shackle.

 

Well...my 83 rides like a tank, but I just figure that's the way they are. I could use new leaf spring bushings, but I'm not sure how much difference that will make. I have new shocks. With the shortbeds anyways, the short wheelbase makes them ride a bit like a jeep, so I don't know if you can smooth it out all that much. My fronts have a little bit of negative arch, but not bad enough that I'm going to do anything about it yet. From photos, it looks like they come from the factory basically flat, so a small amount of negative arch is probably ok.

These trucks do have a stiff suspension. If you're looking to lift it, it sounds like moving your rear leaf springs up to the front, then putting Chevy leaf springs in the back will soften the ride a ton.

The nice thing about the suspension on these trucks: they don't have the rear end sag that pretty much all other model Toyota pickups & 4runners have.

 

That's what I figured. Thanks for the reply.