First post here but I've been lurking on this site for years. What a wealth of information! These message boards are seriously one of the best tools the internet provides. That being said, I do believe my question is a new one and can't be found through searching the countless other ZUK mod posts.

I've got a 93 4wd pickup with a 22re. Just put a new head gasket and timing chain cover in (with countless references to the posts here). This was definitely the most advanced mechanic work I've tackled and it's been running great since. But to the point -

The rear end is sagging heavily. The leaf springs are resting on the overloads. After measuring a solid 13" between the frame and the leaf spring with the rear jacked off the ground, I've ordered some 14" 100lb springs from the ebay seller that Zuk links to. I plan to cut the metal stop off and put a few retainer bolts in. My problem is with the lower end of the spring.

The lower bump stop is long gone. And, driving the salty roads of NY, this truck is RUSTY. Messing with the u bolts will mean cutting them and replacing them, and I'd rather not do this for the hassle.

So my current idea for a fix is to fab up a lower stop with a 2" pipe on top of a plate, as is commonly seen on the forums. But then my plan is to lay that bracket directly on top of the u springs where they cross the leafs. I'll cut the bracket wider than the leaf springs and put four holes in the corner, allowing a new set of u springs to come up through the plate of my bracket. Then just crank down on those u bolts, clamping the whole bracket on top of my leaf springs.

Do you guys think this will hold securely? Most posts seem to say the springs don't really want to travel sideways anyway. I figure the retainer bolts up top give me a safety in case somehow this bottom bracket could slide off.

Thanks in advance, and thanks for all the info I've gleaned off this site in past years too.

 

i assume you have a welder since you mention fabbing parts....I'd consider just buying a ubolt flip kit - this will get you new ubolts and upper plates for the leaf springs, but you'll need the welder to install new shock mount (which I assume you'll want based on your rust situation). to mount the coil on the bottom, simply make a coil spring retainer that mounts on the plate. depending on diameter of coils, the top will either slip around the bump stop, or cut it and put coil inside like I assume you were referencing toward.

hopefully that all made sense. for clarification, google image search "zuk mod ubolt flip" and you'll see several examples.

 

I'm no welder myself, and I've got a friend who will make me some small parts, but getting him to work on the truck itself is more of an ordeal... So I'm trying to do it without welding.

 

I think it will work fine Cody. Post pics of before and after if you can.
Thanks
ZUK