Help with rear springs, please?

[SEREvince]

It is long past time for new rear springs I have been putting them off due to shipping cost, but I need to get it done.

I decided to go with Alcan since they have a great rep and they have shipped via USPS to APOs before. My back up plan is shipitapo.com, which we recently started using. Individually shipped the spring packs should fall within USPS guidlines and using Parcel Post should keep it within the realm of reason.

A little about the truck;

01 Dcab
SAW 2.5 up front
Extremely beefy bumper up front with 8k winch and synth line (winch is still sitting in my garage!)
ARB compressor under the hood
custom rear bumper ala Stumptaco! (waiting in Germany Arrgh! I need to get up there!)
Budbuilt skid plate
Double square tube sliders
285/75/16 tires on steelies with matching spare under the bed
Topper by ARE
I'd like to add dual batteries, but my attempts at getting Odyssey batteries shipped here have been unsuccesfull.
standard complment of recovery gear, hi-lift and tools
stays empty except for extended trips 2-3 times a year
200lb driver
baby seat

I think that covers everything that Alcan asks.

My questions:

Chains? Big issue here. Will the additional lift give me enough clearance or does moving the center pin .5" forward make the difference?

My springs are so saggy and my entire suspension has mutated over time, so..

I have my SAW's set to where I get a slight rub in the fender well (pinch weld applied with vengance and BFH) at full lock. My CV boots seem to be in no immediate danger.

I have no idea to what this equates to in inches over stock since I have to "control" to compare it to (currently stalking another Dcab for potential measurements).

I plan on cranking the SAWs once my winch is installed, to hopefully eliminate the last bit of rubbing.

As I recall the stock leaves originally sat a little high in the rear already, right?

So my thoughts are cranked SAW's and return to stock stance will equate to 2.5"-3" of lift in the rear?

I am leaning towards 3" to give me a little extra room to grow?

Any thoughts, tips, advice or cautions would be greatly apreciated!

Thanks!

Vince

 

[StumpXJ]

Vince, I cant really add too much to your questions, but im glad you decided to go with Alcans. We put a 10 pack set of deavers on Logans truck a few weeks ago, and I was a little suprised at how much they sagged on his truck, and he doesnt have hardly any of the extra weight that we do on our trucks. Granted, they do flex extremely well, and he loves them, but I was expecting a pack that big to do a little more lifting/weight supporting.

If it were me, I would go with the 3inch lifted springs.

PS, are we still on for Morocco? I found your thread you started about it on here yesterday...sorry I missed it!

~James

 

[njtaco]

I have no idea to what this equates to in inches over stock since I have to "control" to compare it to (currently stalking another Dcab for potential measurements).

iirc, The factory service manual has explicit illustrations regarding factory ride height, broken down by drivetrain, body, etc. Tire size is allowed for, as well as 2wd mini vs prerunner vs 4x4.

This is in the portion of the manual that addresses wheel alignment.

I don't have it here, but I should at work tomorrow. I'll see if I can somehow e-mail a pdf or something...

 

[tacollie]

Talk to alcan if you can. They got back to my emails pretty quick. I had them move the center pin forward 5/8, but .5 would be better. They are very helpful. I also wanted to run chains so I did 2.5" lift with the springs an inch longer than stock on the leafs with a 1.5" longer shackle so I ended up with about 3" of lift. They have not really sagged down either even with all the weight I carry. They ride great and articulate beautifully. I highly recommend this set up.

 

[SEREvince]

PS, are we still on for Morocco? I found your thread you started about it on here yesterday...sorry I missed it!

~James

Oh Yeah!


Thanks for all the info everyone.

I am thinking 3" of lift with stock shackles. Does anyone forsee problems with this?

My hope is to get another .5"-1" out of shackles as I start to add weight to give me a little more use out of these springs.

 

[njtaco]

Vehicle height

RZN140L–TRMDKAB

Front: A*1 – B*2 26 mm (1.02 in.)
Rear: C*3 – D*4 37 mm (1.46 in.)

RZN140L–TRPDKAB

Front: A*1 – B*2 28 mm (1.10 in.)
Rear: C*3 – D*4 38 mm (1.50 in.)

RZN150L–CRMDKAB

Front: A*1 – B*2 25 mm (0.98 in.)
Rear: C*3 – D*4 46 mm (1.18 in.)

RZN150L–CRPDKAB

Front: A*1 – B*2 27 mm (1.06 in.)
Rear: C*3 – D*4 46 mm (1.18 in.)

VZN150L–CRMDKAB

Front: A*1 – B*2 35 mm (1.38 in.)
Rear: C*3 – D*4 57 mm (2.24 in.)

Measuring point
A*1: Ground clearance of spindle center
B*2: Ground clearance of lower suspension arm bolt center
C*3: Ground clearance of rear axle shaft center
D*4: Ground clearance of leaf spring front hanger pin bolt center

 

[njtaco]

SEREvince,

I e-mailed you the PDF the above is copied from...and I just noticed the inches/mm conversions appear to be off a bit.

On edit... the E-mail bounced back...send me a good address if you want the original PDF.

 

[tacollie]

Sounds like you have a good plan. I would build have them built with extra weight capacity since you are going to add weight. You will be happier in the long run. Thats what I did and they don't ride any rougher than my OME or stock leafs did empty. They are built for 2.5" of lift with an extra 500lbs in the back.

 

[SEREvince]

Thanks njtaco, tacollie.

Good info,

Tacolloie, how much additional weight capacity did you have built in?

What does the extra length plus longer shackle actually do? Impoved travel?

Thanks

Vince

 

[tacollie]

They are built for an additional 500#'s. By lengthing the leaf you have to use a longer shackle. But it rides better on road and supposedly helps with articulation. You wont regret it. It is an awesome set up.

 

[tacollie]

Here are the pics I said I would post up. Sorry I am late. The last one is almost full droop. I am probably going to go back the the allpro shackle.

 

[ntsqd]

They are built for an additional 500#'s. By lengthing the leaf you have to use a longer shackle. But it rides better on road and supposedly helps with articulation. You wont regret it. It is an awesome set up.

Minor input on this. A longer spring with the same ride height would not need a longer shackle. A re-positioned one, but not a longer one.

If the ride height increased due a greater arch in the (longer) main leaf then a longer shackle is called for. I have some notes on this from one of the Deaver guys. If there's some confusion I could look them up.

 

[tacollie]

I have almost 3 inches of lift plus the leafs are longer.

 

[ntsqd]

Roughly what I recall for a compression oriented shackle (toyota, not ford design) is that the shackle should be at least the same length as the difference in the unloaded eye to eye straight-line measurement and the eye to eye distance as measured along the main leaf.
So if you had the 65" GM springs and they measure 59" straight across when unloaded then the shackle's minimum length should be 6"

 

[tacollie]

That sounds right. You probably know better than me. I am just going off what Alcan and some other shops told me. My leafs are 1" longer and they told me to get a 1" longer shackle which goes with what you are saying. The shackle I have right now is closer to 2" longer. The only reason I am using it is I like the truck to sit stink bug style to help keep the rear end from dragging. If I ever get my bumper made I will go back to a more level position. If any of what I am saying is wrong please feel free to correct me, I am only going by what others have said.