rears up front

[toy4x4]

i got a set of '81 2wd rears that i wanted to use for rears up front. will they work? they are 48" just like the 4wd ones but they are just 2 leaves with an overload. how many leaves will i have to ad? thanks

[Chevota]

i have used 4wd rears up front ,i dont know how 2wd ones would work . they moved my axle forward about 3 inches but got nice lift out of them with good flex. i would think they would be too soft . . . but what do i know??????? :redspotda

[fourwd1]

2WD rears will work just fine. In fact, since the 2WD truck is SUA they have more arch than the 4WD rears.
I used leaves from 3 pr I had laying around to build the 6 leave packs I run up front.

[toy4x4]

that's what i wanted to know. i'm going to need alot of extra leaves it looks like. also, i have a set of poly bushings from all pro for their rear leaf springs. i was planning on using them on my toy rears but the rear spring eye is smaller than the front. it looks like the front spring eye takes one of the bigger bushings and the shackle end takes a front spring bushing. is it suposed to be like that? thanks for your help
mark

[fourwd1]

Yes, that's the way it is. Energy Suspension has a complete kit of bushings if I remember correctly. It's been like 4 yrs since I built them.

You'll need 5-7 leaves per pack. I started w/5 but it was too soft (might have been OK w/o the xtra weight of the winch + bumper) so I added another. Still a little soft but streetable, and it flexes great. I'd consider going to 7 but I'd have to get new u-bolts and make new plates, too much to bother with :grin: