what is the eye to eye length of the leaf pack on my truck? its a 1985 toy p/u 4x2

 

supposedly the toyota springs are 2.5" even though they end up really being about 2.3" wide... well anyways, i have a leaf pack from a ford explorer that i want to swap in, and those springs are 2.5" as well, they really end up being just a tad over 2.65" wide, so in theory there is only about a half inch in difference if that.... they measure 55.5" long unloaded from eye to eye... i wnat to swap these in if they are longer to achieve more rear arch nad better load handling capacity and better articulation, as they flexed like crazy when they were on my explorer, but my toyta springs barely move

 

http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/ForSale/Shackles.shtml#FAQ5

as per roger browns site it says typical toyota leaf springs are 48" is this correct for my truck's rear?

if that is accurate, it doesnt appear i will be swapping leaf packs, might add a few leaves from the explorer instead

i think that 8" longer springs might be way too much, or could i just swap to the stock shackles again?

 

will the 56" explorer leaves fit my truck? pending hte front spring hanger will accept their extra width? i know the rear shackles i have will accomodate them

 

if they are longer, you will have to relocate the front spring hanger and possibly the shackle, because they will move your axle back, unless they have an offset center bolt of the correct offset

 

I measured my buddy's '86 today at 47", eye to eye and 2-3/8" wide. We were looking at swapping my 93's springs over, but they are 51"

 

i believe 2wd and pre-89 4wd rear springs are the same length, except that the 2wd springs have more arch to them

 

more arch meaning more flex or what? the only reason i am thinking about doing this is lift and articulation.... i might jsut try and harvest some of the leaves of my explroer and add them in and remove tohe toyoa overload leaf, as it really isnt doing anything... another plan is soa with the stock springs, overload removed and some explroer leaves like #2 or 3 leaf for extra arch.....

 

bump to the top

 

more arch doesn't necessarily mean more flex(in fact, less arch will usually give you more flex without wearing your springs out). they're setup to run SUA so they need the arch to lift it up a bit so you don't ride on the top of the axle 4wd rears are flatter, but mine are pretty stiff.

 

so if i do an soa on my current rear axle with my current springs and steal long leaf from my explorer that will probably be best?