I have a 1985 all stock yota. It's in really good shape and I think it would be fun to build it up. It's a regular cab longbed 4x4. Using it as my daily vehicle I have to be realistic about safety and I'm ready to give up on it.

1: rear brakes keep locking up for the few first stops whenever it's cold and wet. Living in the Northwest, this is a frequent problem. I have tried cleaning, lubricating, changing fluid, adjusting, nothing has helped. I thought I had the problem fixed, but it turns out it was just summer. dangit. I've been getting around it by deliberately applying my brakes while in first gear and just grinding the drums after I pull out of my driveway.

2: rides like I have no suspension. Seriously. A speed bump could put my head through the roof. A few tire/suspension techs I have talked to seem to think that replacing front leaf springs might actually make the ride even rougher.

any help would be appreciated.

 

3" procomp front springs,bilstein 5125s,zuk mod 13" 100lb coils in the rear...rides awesome.

 

if your springs are flat or arched backwards springs will def help . I put the procomp springs and and lift blocks with new shocks and it rides soooo much better its not gonna ride like a car with leaf spring suspension but it can be improved drastically .

 

sorry forgot to mention I'd put all new shoes hardware and drums on the rear of it .Brakes are cheap and def not the place to skimp. look at the spots on the backing plate where the shoes ride and make sure there not grooved real bad if they are try to grind them smooth or at least take the lip off the grooves . BTW mine do that too when there cold and wet . Good luck

 

As far as the brakes i have no idea, but you could check the valve they have on stock trucks that sits on the passenger side frame rail and proportions brake fluids.

For the ride, you would be amazed at what new shocks would do for it, only 8 bolts hold all of them on too.

If you want to build it up, buy one already built, its waaaay cheaper in the long run.

 

if you still have the stock 27 yr old leaf springs, they are probably inverted and you are riding on the bump stops (mine were)...you'll need some new ones for sure..

 

Just to make sure....you did put the long shoe on the back and the short shoe on the front, correct? I've seen people get them reversed and cause probelms with them hanging up and such. One time a guy brought his truck by with brake problems and he had put both short shoes on one side and the long ones on the other side. Never really figured out how he managed that in the first place.

 

Load Sensing Proportional Valve..LSPV...it has the long rod that should connect to a bracket on the rear axle and running to the valve on the right inside of the frame..it is something a lot of people forget needs to be bled when doing brakes...

 

Servicing the brakes and new shocks and springs are still cheaper than a car payment.

:wabbit2:

 

correct dropzone thats what i was thinking of, i plumbed that thing out after i lifted my truck, i made it adjustable to act as a proportioning valve but it didnt really act on the brakes enough to make my disc brake conversion work so i chucked it

 

yeah the springs are inverted but not quite on the bump stops. There is almost an inch and a half between the top leaf and the bump stop.

 

That is basically on the bump stops...one good hit and its put on the kidney belt time. OME makes a lighter spring that lifts a little (2-3") and rides pretty good. Also Ironman has been used and liked by a few