|
The truck came with a Downey 3" lift.
Downeys are good for lift, but too stiff for articulation.
On the trail, rockcrawling, it's all about flex.
The
front axle is built. The crossover steering is in. The old Doetsch
Techs and Downeys are still in. No flex.
Downeys
were pretty flat.
I
picked up a pair of stock 2wd Toyota rear springs from Mike at Mni
Truck Recycling in San Diego. 2wd springs don't have much lift, but
they are soft. I chose them for axle movement. Stuff and Droop.
The
front spring hanger bolt won't fit thru the stock rear spring
bushing. I pushed 'em out and used some Performance Suspension
bushings.
Stock
2wd rears on the top, built combo pack bottom with bushing pushed
out.
The
new combo pack consists of 2wd Toyota rear springs and 3 cut leafs
from a set of '86 4wd springs I had.
Old
Downey fronts.
Short, flat and stiff.
I
took my combos apart, and sprayed 'em with a rattle can.
A
fresh coat of Krylon dresses up the pieces to my new front spring
pack. I ordered Marlin's U-bolt flip kit to enhance ground clearance
and give a cleaner look to the front axle assembly.
Time
to try something different. The new pack is ready to go in. I just
need to pull the old ones out first.
Pulled
one side at a time.
New
combos bolted in with u-bolt flip kit.
They
are kinda flat, but man do they droop!
The
longer rears up front, push the
All Pro shackles to the back of the
body mount bracket.
I swapped out All Pro's shackles for a set from
Sky's.
This allowed the longer springs to move back and flex.
The
stock Toyota rear springs used up front, move the axle foward about
1 1/2 ".
Now for the rear.
Getting
ready to pull the old Downeys out.
Jackstands
under the axle and supporting the frame.
The
Chevy's are about 6" longer than the stock Yota's. To retain
wheelbase dimensions, a new spring hanger needs to be located 6"
foward of the stock location. I didn't have a welder or know how to
use one so I enlisted the help of my neighbor, Marine Jim, to
tackle the job. These baby's aren't going anywhere!
$100
for a pair of used S-10/ Sonoma rear springs. I pushed the old
bushings out, pulled off the overload and bolted 'em up.
The
Chevy S-10/GMC Sonoma's in the rear, moved the axle back 2".
This
is all the flex the old Downeys had. Anybody recognize the trail?
The John Bull gatekeeper is behind me.
Checking
out the new suspension at Los Coyotes. Amazing
Back to Build-ups
|