Who built thier own leafpacks?

[04 Rocko Taco]

I am looking at building my own leafpacks for my '84. I can get the leaf springs really cheap. What i need to know is ...how?
How cna i go about setting it up, and can I only use front and rear springs (repsectively0 from a SFA runner?
I can get some IFS rear leafs really cheap, but am not sure where to pick up the fronts if i need those specirically. Help me out guys...

[blknblu]

Some good info over on Roger's site if you haven't already seen it. The "phase III" stuff seems most applicable. Good luck.
Mike

http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/4R_suspension.shtml

http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/4R_suspension-III.shtml

[04 Rocko Taco]

Dang, reading up on Rogers site, I really would like to lift without moving the axle, or spring perches... I know Downey springs dont require any relocation but everything I hear says they suck...

Any other takers?

[blknblu]

Hmm, I'm not seeing where Roger moved his axle or perches. I see he added some height to his driver side perch. That perch addition seems to be pretty common in the SA conv kits. I guess I didn't realize that you used to have to use different springs on PS vs DS. FWIW I have Downey's on the rear of mine and they're ...Okay...not great...but Okay. Don't know about their fronts though. I know there is alot of talk about "Toyota rears up front" for lift. That might require moving the axle, not sure. Noodle around on Pirate about that. Or maybe someone here can chime in.

[04 Rocko Taco]

Thanks man

[Robinhood4x4]

How much are you trying to build up your 84? If you're not willing to move spring perches and things then it sounds like you're going for a mild build up with no cutting and welding. Is that correct?

[04 Rocko Taco]

That is true for now.
Which is why I want to do it 'cheap' I plan on a RIGHTEOUS build at some point in the future, butI have a fiancee, and rings, and a wedding to get out of the way first, so I want something very mild for now, 3" lift, and 33's, and then take care of family stuff, and then back to the truck.

[Intrepidyota]

I really think you should sit down now and think about what you want the final product to be, then aim for that and don't detour (unless you can do it cheap/free) So look at what mods you might want to do, then look at which of them can be done now and still used later.
My opinion is that you should throw some sliders on it, maybe some front and rear bumpers, a rear locker, and some aggressive 31's/32's and wheel it. I wheeled for a long time on that approximate setup, did a lot of decently hard trails, and kept up with rigs on 33's on a regular basis. I had a lot of fun and learned a lot about what I did and did not want to do to my truck. You don't need lift and huge tires to have fun. Trust me, when you have outgrown the 31's and rear locker you will know it.

Some pics of fun trails on 31's:
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e288/intrepidyota/Ma%20Bell%204-30-06/P1010023.jpg

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e288/intrepidyota/Ma%20Bell%204-30-06/P1010015.jpg

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e288/intrepidyota/Ma%20Bell%204-30-06/P1010034.jpg

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e288/intrepidyota/OFR%207-2-06/2750983930086149088tKGocH_phMedium.jpg

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e288/intrepidyota/OFR%207-2-06/P1010047Medium.jpg

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e288/intrepidyota/OFR%207-2-06/2630447960086149088sKmceg_phMedium.jpg

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e288/intrepidyota/OFR%207-2-06/2400554580086149088IyzGZO_phMedium.jpg

[Marc P]

I built my own leaf packs for my sas. It took 2 tries, but I am very happy now. It did move the front axle fwd about 2 inches.

I used 2 top leaves with military wrap from an old All-Poo pack, next is a leaf from a stock 93 p/u, then another random All-Poo leaf, another stock 93 leaf, and finished off with a YJ leaf.

Both sides done for $30.00 plus time and energy (freebee)

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pd119cbd6bfb854371fe7a055d1a70e26/ea477f4b.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b251/MarcP1971/Picture471.jpg

[Intrepidyota]

I did 6 leaf rears up front, I left the stock 3 leaves in the stock position, then took another rear pack and cut them each down 4" shorter on each side than the previous leaf. They work great and I have no complaints at all.

[blknblu]

Yeah, what I like about these is that you can keep re-arranging your pack as your needs change. Unfortunately, when I got my Downey rears I was too new to know any better and threw away my old packs like a dumbass. Live and learn.

[traxman25]

I built the front leafs for my 4 Runner from two sets of 87 rears. It worked out great, and flexes awesome. It took some time to figure out how to cut things. I know I wrote down what I did somewhere, but I can't find it, and it's been so long I have no idea what I cut, and where.

I have some 4" '85 StuperLift springs, that the PO of my 85 pickup installed, you could have in a few weeks. They get you through a transition period, but you won't like them. They are as hard as a rock. If I jump in the bed, the sidewall of the tire at 25 psi flexes more than the springs...

[04 Rocko Taco]

Okay - I guess I'm going to take the advice offered here. Sounds good to me.
No sense doing things twice, so what do you guys say to some 2" Lift shackles, and sliders? I was talking to AxelIke, and I know that i can fit 33X9.5's without lift, just some pich weld pounding, so I figure, I can get 33's (or maybe just 32's) on with the shackles, and call it good, till its time and funds to build her right... Thanks guys. Oh, and Adam - no thanks on some rock hard springs. :) Thanks very much for the offer though. :)

[Intrepidyota]

Okay - I guess I'm going to take the advice offered here. Sounds good to me.
No sense doing things twice, so what do you guys say to some 2" Lift shackles, and sliders? I was talking to AxelIke, and I know that i can fit 33X9.5's without lift, just some pich weld pounding, so I figure, I can get 33's (or maybe just 32's) on with the shackles, and call it good, till its time and funds to build her right... Thanks guys. Oh, and Adam - no thanks on some rock hard springs. :) Thanks very much for the offer though. :)


Just checked back here for the first time in a while, sorry. I wouldn't run 33's if you want to keep any semblence of a crawl ratio. I ran some worn 34x9.5 swampers on my 4.10's/22re and I hated life. I ended up taking money I was saving for a welder and buying 4.7:1 t-case gears because I couldn't deal with the lack of crawl on the 34's. :( I say no more than 32's for now. Just my personal opinion, if you only plan to do easy dirt trails, etc, then it probably doesn't matter, but if you are getting into more rocks, the ability to go slow without serious wasting the clutch will be nice. (note, you will still waste it, just not as bad, haha)

[MiniSimp]

I built mine out of 2 1985 rear leaf packs for the front, used 5 leafs and it turned out ok

http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=8233.0;attach=6484 2;image

http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=8233.0;attach=6484 4;image