Hey all -

Been a long time reader of the site and benefited from numerous tech articles along the way. The latest project for me is a rebuild of my SFA including gearing change, draglink rebuild, brake rebuild & upgrades and fix/resolve my leaf suspension issue.

Background - Truck is an 89Ln106 leaf sprung 4dr hilux pickup 2.8D (RHD). Best toyota owned so far.

I'll number my queries so its easier as I've (my truck) has issues right now:

1. Spindle damage - I've read a bit on spindle damage - does the attached image warrant replacement or am I good to go?

2. Had a shop install an OME lift for me about 1.5 years ago. Noticed not that long ago that the front leaf hanger (at rear of leaf - outside edge of frame) was rubbing into the frame. Shop that installed the components said it was put together right and not to worry about it.
I'm particular and don't believe that a working hanger setup should contact the frame... any ideas here? I've contacted the original supplier and he claims it was installed wrong - however internet research suggest all the hangers are put together correctly...
Can anyone comment on the images here and offers some advice? Am I missing something easy here? I will attach more images in next post.

Additional: Kit is a 2" HD OME Dakar kit.

(Image with black 4x4.co.nz. front drive is stock internet image showing same truck and leaf system from OME)... Other pictures are current of my rigs hangar setup.

Thanks!

 

Some more shots of the leaf hangar... digging into the frame...

 

I don't see anything massively wrong with the spindle. I would use it as long as it didn't interfere with an inner race of a bearing. No binding or rubbing.

And that shackle is installed right. But it seems as though the springs excessively settled or the bushings are jacked up. The only quick fix I can think of is the Trail Gear extended shackles. They are straight and two bushings are provided for the spring end to make the shackle straight instead of with the kick in at the spring.

 

Hey thanks for your advice Rokblok! I will go ahead and use the spindle as is. Bearings and races checked out ok when I pulled it apart.

I may have to go and get a different shackle to solve it once and for all. What makes you say the springs excessively settled - and what does bushing being jacked up mean?

 

I was wondering if maybe the bushings crushed/split causing the shackle bolt to push upward in the frame hanger. Bushings get the most pressure/wear wherever there is the most continuous load, of course. And since the shackles are so close to the frame, and the spring eye itself is close to the frame, it seems like the spring is sitting low. I've only seen stock springs ride close to the frame. But short shackles can contribute to that also.

 

Good ideas. I will look into the OME shackle length for the 2" kit. Perhaps the length is wrong - however I think 2" lift is the least amount OME - at least for this application...

 

could always run a set of shackles like this

 

Yes I'm thinking thats the direction I may have to go. I'm a little curious if I ended up with a bunk leaf pack for the front - as rokblok suggested they appear to possibly have settled immensely... Who makes those shackles in the image you attached? Are they the trail gear ones?

Thanks!

 

I'm not certain of the exact brand of those particular shackles, but that is how the TG shackles are built as well.

 

Hoping to get some sort of warranty claim via the equipment supplier. The ass end of the truck sits high as well. OME's solution is to remove a leaf... or so I'm told. Kinda negates the purpose of the HD kit though. I thought it would settle out after a year. I use my truck's payload to the full extent and want the HD suspension - the ride is actually pretty decent unloaded.

 

Well I pulled the whole sfa assembly yesterday... got a few more shots of the leafs
On a side note I bought a parts washer to speed things up... nothing like a quality parts 'wahser'... solid QC on this product... just hope the motor doesn't blow up, ignite the solvent and burn my house down!

 

Well its been a while since my last post. Still waiting on a rebuild kit for the SFA, vented rotors and draglink rebuild parts. In the meantime I've been OCD cleaning all the parts I've disassembled. To date everything is all apart and nearing clean. Still need to wire wheel the axle housing and hub bodies.

When should one replace the spindle brass bushing? Was dragging my heels on this one as its more dollars..

Birfields are apart and cleaned - the pvc pipe took a beating! What would constitute damage on the inside of these? I see very small cracking on one side and some decent marking, otherwise they look ok, assuming the discoloration on the ends is factory related.

So as I usually do with projects, this one has expanded significantly. I've decided to go 'toyospearo' and strip, prime and paint each and every component taken apart. Slowly coming together but I have added more...

I figured its time to re-gear (mostly because rear diff needs some work) and have had a hell of a time finding a set of used 4:56 rear pumpkins (91-95) or any 4:88s (second choice).
I don't have the tools or expertise to do a ring and pinion, although its tempting to try.

Any ideas on sourcing third members (used) with 4:56 near Calgary? (Working in Alberta right now)... Seem pretty hard to find with the calls I've made.
What about a reputable shop in Calgary to install ring and pinion?

 

Well I'm also still waiting for some resolve on my OME leaf sag saga...
Yes its been almost 7 weeks since I made the initial call to attempt to obtain warranty. ARB USA distributes OME to Canadian suppliers... needless to say, things have not been resolved. I had hoped OME leafs would have done better especially for the cash involved, otherwise I would have gone cheaper. Anyone got a number for the head honcho warranty guy at ARB USA?

 

I would be curious to see how they mounted the front spring hanger to the frame (at front of the truck)
Almost looks to me like they mounted it to far back.

Edit- guess it is not the truck in your avatar..so this is a factory SA DC?

 

Ya its a JDM 4dr hilux with the last year of the solid front axle... so factory installed front spring hanger!

 

So I've been searching pretty hard for some answers regarding the leaf deformity... seems like I'm getting somewhere. I never figured the perch could be deformed at 214k, but I suppose its possible - what do you all think?

http://www.hilux4x4.co.za/views/view...hp?f=3&t=34401

 

Side track... Im drooling over all the factory solid axle 3rd and 4th gen trucks over there.

 

[edit] originally thought both perchs were deformed... have checked and re-checked.. not so sure now.

 

So the assembly is coming along - although very slowly:

Best news is it looks like a warranty for my front leafs are on the way as the perch's turned out to not be significantly deformed...

I'll post a few pics soon - but in short I've completed the following to date:
- 4:56 re-gear (used 3rds)
- strip paint and assembled SFA less birfields etc.
- obtained new vented rotors with caliper upgrade (86' runnner)
- breather tubes in the works
- drag link rebuild completed

 

cyple pics to track progress... ˟˟˟˟ im slow