kuroi
Chief mud inspector
Back from the dead.
Had a sagging passenger rear leaf spring. I contemplated having them reworked by a suspension shop/blacksmith but rebuild was going to cost $140.Went to Pick N Pull and got the leaves out of a mid 90's Montero sport at $49 each it was a great deal.
So, they are almost a direct bolt in... almost
1st gen on top, sport on the bottom
![DSC_0055.jpg DSC_0055.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/169/169755-add2790b18ca5d9a6fcf4b3d475e7749.jpg)
The main difference is the bushing at the front of the leaf, 1st gen is an all rubber deal, sport uses a semi-solid metal/rubber bushing
![leafbushing.jpg leafbushing.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/169/169756-ca878b515d3ea628036d126bd7c15978.jpg)
and the front pin bolt is different
![pincompare.jpg pincompare.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/169/169757-491c985cb302f8d5fed187fb585882d9.jpg)
1st gen
![1stgenpin.jpg 1stgenpin.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/169/169758-9463a427bf689d483350ea57d5b61644.jpg)
Monty sport
![2ndgenpin.jpg 2ndgenpin.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/169/169759-e396c9fb847c1397dd4277d82b7ab2e8.jpg)
The shackle end of things is pleasantly very similar
![shackleend.jpg shackleend.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/169/169760-6f873ee7a5ec74b0f6c83595a039936e.jpg)
and the shackles are identical
![sameshackles.jpg sameshackles.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/169/169761-6fbfeb9c74234dfd4837455288dc073a.jpg)
Back to the pins, So I decided the best way to deal with this was to turn down the 1st gen pin so it would fit into the Monty sport semi-solid bushing
![turningpin.jpg turningpin.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/169/169762-969d644ae24723d4210ca416d3692460.jpg)
![turningpin2.jpg turningpin2.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/169/169763-caaeea2c25aa25c0dfd2380f3bf1da85.jpg)
End result, a bolt in Monty sport rear leaf spring as the front pin now fits the bushing.
![moddedpin.jpg moddedpin.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/169/169764-1f21bb179b821eee5ede942fb0ac1ae1.jpg)
In general aside from being a lot newer the Sport springs are a better design. They have longer middle leaf length and some other nifty design features as well as a better inter leaf slider design. road test was good, ride was ever so slightly firmer and the back felt more " in control " with less sway. I think I'll keep them.....
Had a sagging passenger rear leaf spring. I contemplated having them reworked by a suspension shop/blacksmith but rebuild was going to cost $140.Went to Pick N Pull and got the leaves out of a mid 90's Montero sport at $49 each it was a great deal.
So, they are almost a direct bolt in... almost
1st gen on top, sport on the bottom
![DSC_0055.jpg DSC_0055.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/169/169755-add2790b18ca5d9a6fcf4b3d475e7749.jpg)
The main difference is the bushing at the front of the leaf, 1st gen is an all rubber deal, sport uses a semi-solid metal/rubber bushing
![leafbushing.jpg leafbushing.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/169/169756-ca878b515d3ea628036d126bd7c15978.jpg)
and the front pin bolt is different
![pincompare.jpg pincompare.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/169/169757-491c985cb302f8d5fed187fb585882d9.jpg)
1st gen
![1stgenpin.jpg 1stgenpin.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/169/169758-9463a427bf689d483350ea57d5b61644.jpg)
Monty sport
![2ndgenpin.jpg 2ndgenpin.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/169/169759-e396c9fb847c1397dd4277d82b7ab2e8.jpg)
The shackle end of things is pleasantly very similar
![shackleend.jpg shackleend.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/169/169760-6f873ee7a5ec74b0f6c83595a039936e.jpg)
and the shackles are identical
![sameshackles.jpg sameshackles.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/169/169761-6fbfeb9c74234dfd4837455288dc073a.jpg)
Back to the pins, So I decided the best way to deal with this was to turn down the 1st gen pin so it would fit into the Monty sport semi-solid bushing
![turningpin.jpg turningpin.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/169/169762-969d644ae24723d4210ca416d3692460.jpg)
![turningpin2.jpg turningpin2.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/169/169763-caaeea2c25aa25c0dfd2380f3bf1da85.jpg)
End result, a bolt in Monty sport rear leaf spring as the front pin now fits the bushing.
![moddedpin.jpg moddedpin.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/169/169764-1f21bb179b821eee5ede942fb0ac1ae1.jpg)
In general aside from being a lot newer the Sport springs are a better design. They have longer middle leaf length and some other nifty design features as well as a better inter leaf slider design. road test was good, ride was ever so slightly firmer and the back felt more " in control " with less sway. I think I'll keep them.....