Leaf Suspension Tech - Planning for my 04' Tundra

[JCMatthews]

What's the stroke length of your new shocks? Extended and compressed?

I'll let you know. My truck sure rides better. I did not realize how badly I needed new shocks, and so far these are great. They are at least three inches longer than the stock shocks, so they are allowing much more suspension droop, but where they really shine is on washboard roads. I am running stock spring with an AAL and now the bumps are just soaked up.

 

[jsnow]

I think an important factor that may be overlooked when cycling the rear suspension is if the shackle is binding. When I had my truck up on the rack I noticed the shackle was nowhere near full droop, so I loosened up both bolts a bit. They lay almost flat now.

 

[toyotech]

I think an important factor that may be overlooked when cycling the rear suspension is if the shackle is binding. When I had my truck up on the rack I noticed the shackle was nowhere near full droop, so I loosened up both bolts a bit. They lay almost flat now.

With what leaf springs? You are also using the entire rear axle to pull down more.

Last night I flexed my truck out and had one rear tire on the air with no shocks installed. I loosen the shackles bolts and it didn't drop any more. I was able to force it down more with a jack on the tire and frame lol.

So if the bind is in the shackles. It's the rubber that's in it. I wanna replace the rubber with poly bushing and see if I can get more.



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[jsnow]

With what leaf springs? You are also using the entire rear axle to pull down more.

Last night I flexed my truck out and had one rear tire on the air with no shocks installed. I loosen the shackles bolts and it didn't drop any more. I was able to force it down more with a jack on the tire and frame lol.

So if the bind is in the shackles. It's the rubber that's in it. I wanna replace the rubber with poly bushing and see if I can get more.



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I'm using a mix of stock and OME leaves. That was with the truck on the rack, I'll flex it out with the fork lift next week, and see what the shackle does.

 

[toyotech]

Got my shackles like this after I loosen the bolts and used a jack to push the tire down more. It didn't drop this flat on its own. It did stay like this after I took the jack out. The bind is more in the rubber bushing than shackle design.

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[rickashay]

Got my shackles like this after I loosen the bolts and used a jack to push the tire down more. It didn't drop this flat on its own. It did stay like this after I took the jack out. The bind is more in the rubber bushing than shackle design.

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You can also see the limitations of the mounting bracket in this photo. Your almost to the point where your shackle will make contact with the shackle mount if it flattens out much more. Totally depends what your after though... it will be interesting to see how much droop we can accomplish with the flip kits, it will be a good comparison. I tried loosening my shackle bolts as well but it didn't help me much.

 

[toyotech]

You can also see the limitations of the mounting bracket in this photo. Your almost to the point where your shackle will make contact with the shackle mount if it flattens out much more. Totally depends what your after though... it will be interesting to see how much droop we can accomplish with the flip kits, it will be a good comparison. I tried loosening my shackle bolts as well but it didn't help me much.

That's just the thing. I loosen the bolts and It didn't drop any more. I made it drop more by pushing the tire down.

The only reason the shackle moves is either from droop weight of axle/tire and/or when one side compress and other side droops. Both in which cause the axle to bow more making it shorter from mounting point to mounting point thus making the shackle move. The leaf spring will only bow or arch so much on its own due to spring rate. This is why prerunners droop so much. Soft springs no matter what shackle they run.

In our cases where we want good load capacity and flex. You need something to force the leaf down.

Here is what I did with my 4Runner and it has stock leaf springs with a 3rd gen rear coil spring.


I'm sure want to see what the flip can will do but it has to be compared at same ride height as before. I see it say 0-.5 inch lift. Assuming the multiple shackle mounting holes will affect height





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[dyogim]

Got my shackles like this after I loosen the bolts and used a jack to push the tire down more. It didn't drop this flat on its own. It did stay like this after I took the jack out. The bind is more in the rubber bushing than shackle design.

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The reason it's not drooping any further is because of the leaf spring itself are too stiff. The front part of the leaf spring has no where to go in order for the shackle to move down in an arc. Imagine the rear of the leaf pushing forward as it's being pushed down in the arc. Softer springs will bend more allowing it to travel along the arc with less force. Plus, if you let the shackles go past a certain point/angle, they won't cycle back up. That's why the mount has a lip to stop the shackles from cycling down any further.

 

[jsnow]

That's just the thing. I loosen the bolts and It didn't drop any more. I made it drop more by pushing the tire down.

The only reason the shackle moves is either from droop weight of axle/tire and/or when one side compress and other side droops. Both in which cause the axle to bow more making it shorter from mounting point to mounting point thus making the shackle move. The leaf spring will only bow or arch so much on its own due to spring rate. This is why prerunners droop so much. Soft springs no matter what shackle they run.

In our cases where we want good load capacity and flex. You need something to force the leaf down.

Here is what I did with my 4Runner and it has stock leaf springs with a 3rd gen rear coil spring.


I'm sure want to see what the flip can will do but it has to be compared at same ride height as before. I see it say 0-.5 inch lift. Assuming the multiple shackle mounting holes will affect height


View attachment 332830View attachment 332831


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It looks to me like you might be limited by your shock.

 

[toyotech]

The reason it's not drooping any further is because of the leaf spring itself are too stiff. The front part of the leaf spring has no where to go in order for the shackle to move down in an arc. Imagine the rear of the leaf pushing forward as it's being pushed down in the arc. Softer springs will bend more allowing it to travel along the arc with less force. Plus, if you let the shackles go past a certain point/angle, they won't cycle back up. That's why the mount has a lip to stop the shackles from cycling down any further.

Haha thanks. That is what I been trying to say. I'm not seeing how a flip kit would allow the spring to arch or bend more.
Guess I'll have to stick around to see.


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[toyotech]

It looks to me like you might be limited by your shock.

Yes and no. Shackle is maxed out. I could get more travel if I get longer shackles and shocks.


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[dyogim]

Haha thanks. That is what I been trying to say. I'm not seeing how a flip kit would allow the spring to arch or bend more.
Guess I'll have to stick around to see.


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Yeah, I'm not sure either. I can definitely see that the shackle flip will allow for more lift, but in order to utilize it's full potential, the mount itself will need to be adjustable horizontally to allow the different lengths of the shackle.

 

[dyogim]

What would be unique is to replace the bushings and incorporate uniballs into the leaf spring ends.

http://www.alcanspring.com/orbit-eye.htm

 

[JCMatthews]

What's the stroke length of your new shocks? Extended and compressed?

When you asked this question, I had already installed the shocks. So I emailed Toytec to see if they would give me the information. They are very protective of their specs, and are afraid we are trying to rip them off so they don't want to share. I too don't want to remove a shock from my truck to get the measurements. Sorry, I can't help. Just eyeballing they extended 6-7 inches below the mounting point and I am lifted 2".

 

[toyotech]

What would be unique is to replace the bushings and incorporate uniballs into the leaf spring ends.

http://www.alcanspring.com/orbit-eye.htm

Not a fan of this. I heard it's not great for road performance. I know about Johnny joint mounts.
Similar to what you said

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