fred heath Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 Phase 2 of my rear axle change. Now that I'm running a GM 14 bolt , one ton, full float rear axle, I decided to update my 38 year old leaf springs. I was looking for a good blend of progressive and heavy load carry capacity. Started with a standard spring pack and added two additional leafs to each pack. I will attempt to upload in chronological order the project from start to finish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fred heath Posted October 1, 2016 Author Share Posted October 1, 2016 Sorry, bottom photo should have been at top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linda s Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 You cut tempered steel with a cut off wheel? I had someone try to cut some steel like that for me once and it broke their blade twice. Not home equipment either. A professional place. They gave up Linda S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WME Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 Got before and after photos of how it sits?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zero Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 Looks really good Fred. That's the way I did mine (with seven leafs). Or is it "leaves?" Toyota trucks use an odd-ball leaf width and there is not much around to use to beef them up. Getting new spring-stacks and then adding pre-arched Toyota leafs is the way to go. Mine is dirtier but looks pretty much the same as your's. Look at the stack that was on the 1987 box truck I scrapped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fred heath Posted October 1, 2016 Author Share Posted October 1, 2016 @Linda, The leafs? Were cut on a metal shear. The grinder is just to radius the cut ends. @WME, pictures to follow. (JD) they had a 7 stack premade but only measured 26" to the front. I need 26.5 or else the driveshaft wouldn't fit correctly. Basic 5 spring packs with 4 additional leafs cost me $900.00 ? But your right, Toyota uses some weird springs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zulandio Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 9 hours ago, fred heath said: @Linda, The leafs? Were cut on a metal shear. The grinder is just to radius the cut ends. @WME, pictures to follow. (JD) they had a 7 stack premade but only measured 26" to the front. I need 26.5 or else the driveshaft wouldn't fit correctly. Basic 5 spring packs with 4 additional leafs cost me $900.00 ? But your right, Toyota uses some weird springs. Was $900 just the parts or the parts and labor? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fred heath Posted October 2, 2016 Author Share Posted October 2, 2016 Just the parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zero Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 I priced all new parts when I did mine and it came to around $350 total. I did not try to use those new parts though so cannot comment on how well they fit. I made my own spring stack. Toyota is a pain since the leafs are odd-ball at 2 3/8" wide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fred heath Posted October 2, 2016 Author Share Posted October 2, 2016 (edited) JD, I was shocked by the price too. I used Donavan springs in NH. They've been around for almost 100 years. I was going to order the standard spring packs (much cheaper) but ended up bringing the actual springs in for a matchup. The spring packs alone were about $500.00 (very dusty too). Extra leaves were $100.00 each. It was easier to do it this way then order online, and find out they wouldn't work. All said and done I'm very happy with the way they turned out. And the steel is all made in the USA. Edited October 2, 2016 by fred heath Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zero Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 I assume it is something you will only have to do once, so I guess the price is not a big deal in the long-run. I envy how clean your rig looks. Never seen any road-salt I assume? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fred heath Posted October 2, 2016 Author Share Posted October 2, 2016 23 minutes ago, jdemaris said: I assume it is something you will only have to do once, so I guess the price is not a big deal in the long-run. I envy how clean your rig looks. Never seen any road-salt I assume? Spent the first 20 years in Georgia, next 10 in Maine, and then with me. The frame is in really good shape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaunt Posted October 21, 2016 Share Posted October 21, 2016 Nice... Why not top mount them though to get a little more clearance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fred heath Posted October 27, 2016 Author Share Posted October 27, 2016 On 10/21/2016 at 3:21 PM, Jaunt said: Nice... Why not top mount them though to get a little more clearance? looked at that. Too radical of an incline. I'd be at 45 degrees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donnie Posted October 28, 2016 Share Posted October 28, 2016 Fred, your working skill's are to be admired as well as your choice of the fine quality tool's that I am able to see...congratulations on a job well done ! ......................................donnie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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