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I've seen a couple threads on these, but I'm curious how many people here have replaced their leaf springs with general springs? Sure, OMEs would be great, but I don't want a lift. Looking around at what's available without a lift, it's basically Dorman, General Spring or SD TruckSprings (which I think are the same spring, different company), or custom.
General also has an HD spring. I've seen mixed reviews for General, but as far as no lift, there aren't many options...unless I want to spend $664 a side from Toyota. General and SD sell replacements for $100-150 a side.
Anybody had these for a few years? Any comments on regular vs HD?
I've been avoiding this since buying the truck, but crap, you know, I think the truck is going to be around for a while! So it's worth it. They were worn when I bought the truck, and since then I've pretty regularly pulled a trailer with ~300lbs tongue weight plus crap in my truck and a topper and often canoe. If it weren't for the firestone airbags I've got back there, I'd be driving around resting on the bump stops. It's time, but I can't pay much...
Well, aside from a few "general spring is the harbor freight of leaf springs" comments I've seen, I mostly see good reviews, so I guess I'll be the guinea pig here. I ordered these. When I get around to installing them I'll let you know what I think.
I replaced the springs on my sons 89 Toyota 4x4. There was no noticeable difference in ride height and put a load on and they were as lame as they are off the showroom. He had a broken main leaf and just decided to go for new leaf packs. My own truck shown I added a single Superior Helper spring. It made a huge difference when putting a load on. I would not carry more weight than this load of topsoil
Cool, thanks. The general HD springs will apparently give me around 1 to 1 1/2" of lift, and settle in to just a slight lift. Especially with all the weight I carry.
I plan to replace my springs the weekend after 4th of July. I have springs which came with bushings, and u-bolts. That's it. I know different people have different recommendations of what to replace while you're at it with this job. I live in an area without much rust. I've been spraying everything with PB Blaster.
Am I making a mistake only having the springs and u-bolts on hand?
I'm also replacing the rear shocks and will need to do some work on my air bags back there, but as far as the leaf spring replacement...looking for advice.
I plan to replace my springs the weekend after 4th of July. I have springs which came with bushings, and u-bolts. That's it. I know different people have different recommendations of what to replace while you're at it with this job. I live in an area without much rust. I've been spraying everything with PB Blaster.
Am I making a mistake only having the springs and u-bolts on hand?
I'm also replacing the rear shocks and will need to do some work on my air bags back there, but as far as the leaf spring replacement...looking for advice.
I've never used a torch for a stuck bolt. With the shackle bolts, is it just a matter of heating one end (does it matter which end?), then hitting the bolt with a hammer? I'm going to go after it and I don't expect many people are online this holiday weekend, but if you have advice for the shackle bolts, let me know. I got the nuts off no problem, but the bolts are bonded with the bushings (no surprise).
Not sure if I was doing it "right" or not, but heating didn't do anything to move the bolts. I used an angle grinder + cut-off wheel. Springs are out, now I just need to drill holes in the shackles where I cut them. The rear shackle doesn't have bolts (Toyota calls the front mount bolt a "pin", I guess), instead they are welded to one side. I need to drill that out so I get a bolt through there. Hardened steel! Fun. Will ride to the hardware store today to get some better drill bits, then hopefully I'm in business.
Having a hitch mounted back there and rear airbags complicates the job, but I'm getting it done. Also, with the rear axle dangling around back there, the rear driveshaft came apart...I'm guessing those splines need to be lined up exactly how they were before, so I'll do what I can to get it right, but it may have to be balanced.
I'll get some photos up when it's all back together.
Well that was fun. That's a kind of mechanic-ing I haven't done for a long time.
New leaf springs and rear shocks are on the truck. I drove around town a little, and wow! When I bought the truck about 4 years ago the leaf springs were shot, but I put new shocks on plus air bags. I knew it rode a bit rough, but I was also expecting the HD leaf springs to be pretty rough. No comparison. All the little bumps I felt on the road aren't even there anymore. I'm really, really happy with the results so far.
The driveway I'm parked in doesn't have much space so I couldn't get great photos, but here's how it sits. I'm guessing and hoping it'll mellow out a little over time (and probably a bit right away once I hook up my trailer), but whatever. I like it.
Hard to get good photos of leaf springs once the tires are back on...
So far so good! I noticed after really working them this spring on off-angles and crawl-y roads through the desert, the rubber inside one of the metal clip-things that helps keep them stacked straight on each other get a little screwy, but I haven't noticed any squirreliness in the ride. Mine are still well-arched, still giving my truck a little lift. Keep in mind I have airbags back there so I wonder if the springs ever get compressed completely...but still. I've had no issues with them and they aren't sagging at all.
05-18-2019, 05:19 AM
