removing leafs questions.

[Alan11116]

So. I am seriously considering removing some leafs from my front spring pack. I know that the leafs will settle a little after getting out on the trails but I'm not sure if they will settle enough for my taste. I want to be lower by about 1.75-2". Right now I my driver frame rail is at 25.75" right under the body mount bolt on 35s. I have 6 leaf packs and from what I've seen I need to leave the bottom (shortest) leaf in and then work up from there as far as removing goes. If I were to take out the next leaf it only measure .25" thick. Removing that leaf and the one above it would total just over .50" I'm not sure if this would give a true answer to how much lower the truck would sit or not. Would I be safe to remove these 2 leafs or should I just remove 1? If I remove 2 it would leave me with the bottom (short) leaf that holds the pack together and then the 3 longest leafs. I can always add 1 back in after the fact depending on how it eventually does settle or how I like it. I hope this makes sense and thanks in advance for the feedback!

[04 Rocko Taco]

I would remove just the 1, and then if it doesnt settle enough, remove another.

If you remove to many to early, it can soften and weaken the spring pack so that as they settle, they will drop lower than you want, and even when you add a leaf back in, you may not get your height back.

Also, as you remove a leaf, even though it is .25" it will lower the truck more than that, due to the arch and strength of the pack. Not just the thickness of the metal.

Either way, good luck Alan!

[GOT COPE?]

Just remove one and beat on the pack, if it doesnt settle enough over a couple weeks then remove another.

You really need to get you truck on the ramp or offroad and get it twisted up.

[4inT100]

I've got some big rock in my front yard ya can test on!

[Alan11116]

thanks for the feedback guys. I was thinking that a .25" thick leaf would bring it down more than the actual thickness but wasn't positive. I also know what twisting them up on the trails and ramps will help a ton. I just don't think it will bring the truck down enough buy just that. good answers though. thanks for the help! John, you've got rocks in your yard? You been holding out on us?!?!?

[4inT100]

well, they are in the middle and I don't want to mess up my yards :)

[Alan11116]

well, they are in the middle and I don't want to mess up my yards :)

I can appreciate that!

[gregers05]

just eat and drink more and just sit around all day. then you will get fat and then just sit on the hood for a while...

for some reason though i cant see you fat, only a skinny turd. lol

[TRoss]

If it were me I'd probably start by removing just one leaf.

Still not low enough and your thinkin' one more full leaf might be too much? Cut that sucker! Take a few inches off each end of the next spring. Yeah, you gotta pull it all apart again (or maybe not) but look at the bright side, it'll be like the second or third time so it'll be easier. :p

It's all the rage with early gen trucks especially when rears are used up front. Lots of mixed springs and spring lengths and types to get desired height and articulation. It's also dependent on what the owner wants, what the rig has loaded in it or on it yadda.. yadda..

So I guess what I'm sayin' is; it'll take some experimenting!

Good luck with it and keep us posted on progress!

[misterzee]

If it were me I'd probably start by removing just one leaf.

The hard part is to decide which side to remove, left or right, and then, do you have to wait 6 months until the-next-spring ? ROFL I'm so funny i just kill myself :rofl2: :rofl2:

[TRoss]

Somebody forgot to take their medication today.... :xcrazy:

:rofl:

[HillBilly_Young01]

you old people make me laugh sometimes:rofl:

[misterzee]

i was just in one of those 'common' moods....:o

[crawlrunner]

I couldn't really see in the pics but, what about shorter shackles?

[Alan11116]

I couldn't really see in the pics but, what about shorter shackles?

that could be an option but the ones that I have are really about the size of stock Tacoma shackles. maybe a tad longer but not much at all.

[crawlrunner]

Dang ... that would have been too easy ...

[Alan11116]

Dang ... that would have been too easy ...

you know "easy" does not apply to this hobby!

[crawlrunner]

you know "easy" does not apply to this hobby!

Not so fast ... Ok ok ok ... how about getting several x-tra friends around and piling on/in the bumper/cab to temporarily overload it ... your a$$ is too skinny! May have a sim effect as flexing it out? Remember the best handling/flexing leaf spring is as flat as possible. And I'm lazy so I try to figure out alt/easy ways of doing stuff ...:p

[chopperdonk]

if you have a winch on the front of your truck. hook it up to the axle and suck it down and leave it for a couple hours then let off. repeat to desired height

[mad_african]

I'll gladly sit on your hood for an hour - that should do the trick!!!!!!!

Remove 1 leaf in about the middle - if 5 leafs - remove #3 etc.

[Alan11116]

I pulled the 2nd to bottom leaf and it sat down about 1/2".

[Phil88]

I pulled the 2nd to bottom leaf and it sat down about 1/2".

not as much as u were hoping huh? maybe itll help it settle or just take another one out :(

[GOT COPE?]

I pulled the 2nd to bottom leaf and it sat down about 1/2".

top 2 springs TG
bottom 3 or 4 stock waggy.
do it.

[Alan11116]

not as much as u were hoping huh? maybe itll help it settle or just take another one out :(

I figured that was about what I'd get .5-.75 with just removing that leaf. The rest will come from getting it out on the trail hopefully.

[Alan11116]

top 2 springs TG
bottom 3 or 4 stock waggy.
do it.

I know I always have that option.

[ATLRoach]

Have you winched down the front yet? Do it and let it sit like that for a day.

[Alan11116]

Have you winched down the front yet? Do it and let it sit like that for a day.

I kinda attempted doing that but it just kinda looked like it was gonna stretch the rope before it really started to pull it down any. I guess the best thing to do is put a tree saver around the axle and winch it down that way? Would it do more than just compress the shocks?

[HillBilly_Young01]

I kinda attempted doing that but it just kinda looked like it was gonna stretch the rope before it really started to pull it down any. I guess the best thing to do is put a tree saver around the axle and winch it down that way? Would it do more than just compress the shocks?

why wouldnt you just take the shocks off when you go to winch the front end down :confused: i would think it would make it easier to get the leafs to compress

[Alan11116]

cause they are a total pain to reconnect.

[04 Rocko Taco]

Well Alan, you're all out of options buddy, looks like you have to go wheeling, darn all the luck. ;)

[Alan11116]

I winched down on the axle and didn't realize the D-shackles were getting into the radiator a touch and it got a little crack in it. always something!

[04 Rocko Taco]

nothing but problems for you....

1) replace radiator
2) can the shocks really be more of a PITA to bolt back in than removing a leaf from your pack??

[chopperdonk]

sounded like a good idea