Which lifted springs are softest?

[Michelangelo]

I've got a 4 inch lift and its stiff as heck. What brand will make the best roadride? I'd like to go down to 3 inches both front and rear if that makes a diff. Not sure which springs are on my truck right now but I know it has Rancho 5000s.

[high4runner]

well for starters taking out the add a leaf in the rear will smooth your ride....and make it flex alittle better. try that first b4 spendin the cash on new springs...that can get a bit spendy

[KToy]

if there ranchos then they are stiff ..................

i would do what runner said but go a step further and count ur leafs and take all out bur 3 or 4 in the rear and same with the front that would help flex ride and what not.

also shocks might help.

if u want to move down a inch or so this will also drop ur lift an inch or so

[jacks]

Man,

I feel your pain. THe 4 runner I got recently has 5" All pro springs and Rancho 5000s as well. It is way too stiff, not enough trail flex and rock hard on the road.
I am thinking about taking out the shocks completely to see if that helps. I only have 3 leafs as it is and none are really short so I think I would lose allot of height if I went down to 2 leafs.

Let us know what you do. I am in the same boat.

[Rockcrawlintoy]

i have the opposite problem. my springs are a little too soft. so ia m goin to run coilovers. cheap and easy to change the spring rates on those.

Drew

[Rockcrawlintoy]

Originally posted by high4runner
well for starters taking out the add a leaf in the rear will smooth your ride....and make it flex alittle better. try that first b4 spendin the cash on new springs...that can get a bit spendy

taking out a leaf will weakin the spring pack and lead to it wearing out fast or even breaking.

Drew

[leorn]

love my 56" alcans they are 7" and waaaaayyyy softer than my sckyjacker 5" springs were.

[redbogger]

I feel your pain. THe 4 runner I got recently has 5" All pro springs and Rancho 5000s as well. It is way too stiff, not enough trail flex and rock hard on the road.

I just put those 5" all pro springs on my truck and they are stiffer than i though they would be but i did an sas too. how many leafs did u take out of urs? also i have no shocks and it rides pretty soft. very "wavey" motion down the hwy and side to side. wouldnt recoment it on the road so i stopped drivving it for now.

[KToy]

i was told the allpro springs take over a yr to break in of heavy use. i hear ppl take out 2 leafs out of the bottom packs front and rear and then in 6 months add one leaf and then 6 months later add the last leaf back in


also some ppl add like an extra 1000 pounds to the front end to make them break in quicker.

[NavyDood]

Check out Marlins new springs. They are built by the company that made the original AP springs before AP changed manufacturers and the AP springs went to crap.

[KToy]

marlin uses alcans which are better in my opinion. ap used to use alcans but designed there own and they take forever to break in.

marlins are nice cuz they are pretty much broke in when u get them

[NavyDood]

Actually....

Springs are made by Betts Spring Company

4" lift
47" long
Spring rate 230
6 leaves each (7mm think)
Standard Toy width
Spring pin 1" fwd of stock
Front full military wrap
Rear 1/4 military wrap
HD spring clamps that will not bend/open up
Bushings included
Driver side shim

Rear springs are in development.

[jacks]

Driver side shim? Why only one side?

I am taking the shims out of mine today, the caster seems to be too negative.

[NavyDood]

Driver side shim is to make up for the driver side spring perch being 3/8" lower than the passenger side. Not pinion angle shims.

[bbagwell]

Anyone use Old Man Emu on your Toyota's? I have a friend that put some on his Samurai, not much lift, but they ride good (for a samurai) and flex good too. They are quite expensive however.

[KToy]

nvr heard a bad thing about old man emu springs

in know land cruiser guys love them

[redbogger]

yeah the guy at all pro said it takes 6 months. i dont know. i dont know anyone who has them. thanks for the info

[Tbone]

Alcan...OR AOR orbit eyes....:Rockonman
Or coil and 4 link it...that's some good flex.

[FSRBIKER]

Make sure the spring bushing bolts are WELL greased and the bolts are torqued properly. Whoever installed the SkyJacker lift on my 85 before I bought it cranked those bolts as tight as possible...it was like riding in a covered wagon when you hit a big bump.

I loosened the bolts up and my ride dramatically changed, now i have to take everything apart and regrease it but this already helped a lot.

[jacks]

What do you torque the hanger bolts to? My truck rides like a covered wagon as well. I like that analogy, even though mt runner is uncovered.

[GJC]

Chevys in the rear and toy rears up front, cheap and ride great :Rockonman

[KToy]

use lock washers and lock nuts and then just torque them down so that ur shackles and ur springs move freely but will nut loosen the nuts of the spring hanger bolts guys

if ur worried about ir then get some greasable bolts and use those that way u dont have to worry about it

[aedavis]

I've been running 2.5" OME springs on my 85 4Runner for 7 years. They are good all around springs. With a 2" body lift, front axle moved forward, and a little trimming I clear 35" BFGs.

Flex is adequate for the trails I run but I have lockers f&r so if I lift a tire, so what?

It looks like my front passenger spring is starting to sack out, though. I may have to replace it before long.

Allan Davis