Spring Advice

[Toyotech]

Gathering up parts & materials to get Sitting Bull on the road/trail and I'm thinking SOA & shackle flip with inboard springs. I'm wondering if there are any decent threads on moving the rear spring inboard. :fsj:

[billyrb]

Sitting Bull.....that name was already given to a blue WT here in GA.....also a '79 (Brad Reardon's old rig / Funhog's lastest acquisition) :)

And yes, there are quite a few good threads with pics. Do a search for inboard and it'll pull them up.

[Toyotech]

Thanks, I'll do that. I came up with "Sitting Bull" out of frustration as it was "sitting" in my garage, mocking me every time I walked passed it!
Now that it runs, I'm thinking "Fenway" might work out for it.

[jeeping1974]

BRUTUS and I both inboarded our rear springs (he used Superlift springs I think and I used 64" Chevy springs). I think Tad has also done it among others.

[duncanstives]

My rear springs are inboarded to under the frame. Gives you more lift and a little bit more flex but I don't think it would be worth the hassle of moving your spring perches... In my case the perches were already off the axle so it was not a big deal.

[billyrb]

I did it on mine, but since my springs are so soft, I have to either rebuild the packs or relocate the rear hanger rearward, as right now it flattens the rear shackle ;)

[jeeping1974]

Doing it with a 14B or a D60 axle I would think it would be worth it. I know that on a J-truck it is. The rear suspension in the stock location is so far outboard that it just sucks. By moving it in, you give the axle more leverage and weight away from the leaf springs to allow them to flex more. Also, a longer spring would allow it to flex as well.

I say inboard them. Take a look at Slick Willie's GW. Yeah he has 64s inboard with a 14B and 42s but that thing flexes like a mother #&$@*!%

[duncanstives]

Doing it with a 14B or a D60 axle I would think it would be worth it. I know that on a J-truck it is. The rear suspension in the stock location is so far outboard that it just sucks. By moving it in, you give the axle more leverage and weight away from the leaf springs to allow them to flex more. Also, a longer spring would allow it to flex as well.

I say inboard them. Take a look at Slick Willie's GW. Yeah he has 64s inboard with a 14B and 42s but that thing flexes like a mother #&$@*!%

I havn't got to drive mine yet but when I went to put my front shackles on I about ran out of stuff to put under the jack so I could get it up high enough on one side... I am guessing it will flex really really well. The combination of added weight (14b) and inboarding did seem to help a lot. Still seems like taking the perches off would be really annoying especially if you had to move them a couple inches and put them right back on. Of course you probably have to move them anyway if you are swaping axles in which case by all means: inboard.

[jtr]

Mine are inboarded 63s.

MRS's J20 are inboarded stockers.

[Toyotech]

I guess the real question now is do I inboard them when I lift it or wait until I swap the axle? Ultimately the axle swap & the lift would be all one project, but $$$$$ keeps me from that right now. Unless someone out there wants to just give me a 14B for being a helluva guy!!:thumbsup:

[Blake]

Can't answer your questions, but here is a pic of my '78 J10 with 63" chevy springs in-boarded on a 14 bolt. I'm afraid my 42's are gonna hit my frame - those H2's aren't helping...


http://blakeoffroad.com/vps/Attachments/inboarded_rear_springs.jpg

[jeeping1974]

A 14B would bolt right in (spring perch width wise) with the springs mounted under the frame (mine did on my J10). You should be able to pick up a 14B pretty cheap. Around here (int he northeast) people are giving them away. The only ones worth anything are the ones in the CUCV trucks (locked and geared with 4.56s is always nice).

[Toyotech]

I've got my feelers out for them, there are a few on CL for pretty cheap, $150-300, but that also requires finding a D60 for the front as well as wheels, tires, driveshafts............