2" lift springs...

lowtideride · 05-31-08, 06:51 AM

I am having a hard time finding any lift springs around the 1-2" size for a 1983 pickup. Alcan is the only place I know of to get them. I have read that marlin crawler spring provide a nice soft ride. But, only come in 4" and 5" lift kits. I was wondering if anyone has ever ordered the 4" kit and took a few leaves out to make the lift a little lower. If anyone has information please let me know, kinda new to pickups..

-Al

KLF · 05-31-08, 06:55 AM

Downey sells 3" springs for the front, then they will sag like all Downey springs do...

I believe the OME Dakars are supposed to be 50mm, which is right around 2", although they usually get you about 3" of lift.

knixen · 05-31-08, 07:22 AM

the OME kit is very good!

WarDamnEagle · 05-31-08, 08:03 AM

x2 on the OME but you will get a bit more than 2 inches...at least I did with Heavy front and medium rear springs on my 4Runner. Maybe medium front and back would be lower.

Hilux · 05-31-08, 09:44 AM

I thought North West off-road specialties had them but I haven't look in a long while...

KLF · 05-31-08, 01:23 PM

North West Off Road = No Warranty Or Returns

I wouldn't buy air for my tires from those guys. HORRIBLE customer service tales.

I have about 80,000 miles and 9 years on my OME springs, they are on their second truck now. I wouldn't hesitate to buy them again, in fact I will be.

lowtideride · 05-31-08, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KLF

North West Off Road = No Warranty Or Returns

I wouldn't buy air for my tires from those guys. HORRIBLE customer service tales.

I have about 80,000 miles and 9 years on my OME springs, they are on their second truck now. I wouldn't hesitate to buy them again, in fact I will be.

Aside from how long they last, how is the ride? Not after a stiff ride too much, something a little on the soft side.

Hilux · 05-31-08, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowtideride

Aside from how long they last, how is the ride? Not after a stiff ride too much, something a little on the soft side.

oh, come on man, put your purse down!

WarDamnEagle · 05-31-08, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowtideride

Aside from how long they last, how is the ride? Not after a stiff ride too much, something a little on the soft side.

Buy medium front and rear spring and medium shocks. Buy the entire kit, greasable pins, anti-inversion shackles, etc. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

KLF · 05-31-08, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowtideride

Aside from how long they last, how is the ride? Not after a stiff ride too much, something a little on the soft side.

I have heavy fronts, medium rears. I think the ride is as good as it can be for a leaf-sprung truck on 33's. Besides the heavy front bumper and winch on the nose, I carry about 200 lbs of stuff (tools & supplies) with me all the time in a big box in the bed. The truck actually rides even better when it's loaded up with maybe another 300-500 lbs or so in the bed. I believe the ride quality has more to do with the shocks than the springs, I have Bilsteim 5100's which I am VERY happy with.

If the ride is too soft, it will be too bouncy. It's a tradeoff.

I keep my springs slathered in grease and a graphite-based lube, I do it twice a year, just did the messy job again yesterday. Really helps keep them riding smooth.

douglashuft · 06-01-08, 01:55 PM

downey sells 2" for the rear of a 93. I assume you have an ifs front end, their t bars are a "bit stiff", in fact I have an "extra pair".

lowtideride · 06-01-08, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hilux

oh, come on man, put your purse down!

Eat shit, I DD a roofless, caged, bobbed 60 series for years.

KLF,
Thanks for the info, I have driven many leaf sprung rigs with lifts and many where wayyy to stiff. It seems like your set up would work good for me if I removed a leaf or two to soft them up a bit.

Is there a recommend supplier of these lift kits?

Thanks again for the help,
-Al

lowtideride · 06-01-08, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by douglashuft

downey sells 2" for the rear of a 93. I assume you have an ifs front end, their t bars are a "bit stiff", in fact I have an "extra pair".

Nope, 83 has a solid axle...Looking around on the forums Downey springs have really not been liked by many.

douglashuft · 06-01-08, 02:32 PM

Oops, thought you said 93. I bought mine before I learned of ih8mud and also of the many other suspension options. It is true, Downeys are pricey and not popular but oddly enough mine have performed great.

lowtideride · 06-01-08, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by douglashuft

Oops, thought you said 93. I bought mine before I learned of ih8mud and also of the many other suspension options. It is true, Downeys are pricey and not popular but oddly enough mine have performed great.

Thats good to hear.

tlcruiser66 · 06-02-08, 02:49 AM

If you're looking for a good soft spring that will probaby end up at 2" try Trail-Gear, good prices and good quality. They have your 3" springs for $199 but you can usually find outside vendors who will give you a discount and free shipping.

HeavyMetalViking · 06-02-08, 09:31 PM

You could always just run stock springs and get extended shackles. Same right, a little lift, and WAY cheaper than getting all new springs. I've got OME rears w/ 5" shackles and it feels great.

lowtideride · 06-13-08, 07:41 PM

Got Downey 3's...handles good. A little stiff. Ill post some pictures soon.

pappy · 06-15-08, 07:19 AM

Downey's will settle. I had a set on the 4Runner for years. The rears settled the most.

05-31-08, 06:51 AM	#1
lowtideride Ride On... Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Florida TLCA# 14891 Posts: 7,049	2" lift springs... I am having a hard time finding any lift springs around the 1-2" size for a 1983 pickup. Alcan is the only place I know of to get them. I have read that marlin crawler spring provide a nice soft ride. But, only come in 4" and 5" lift kits. I was wondering if anyone has ever ordered the 4" kit and took a few leaves out to make the lift a little lower. If anyone has information please let me know, kinda new to pickups.. -Al __________________ www.NFCruiserheads.org FJ45 Crawler and a 1983 Hilux... has had no peers for 50 years...

05-31-08, 06:55 AM	#2
KLF IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Southern NH Posts: 1,715	Downey sells 3" springs for the front, then they will sag like all Downey springs do... I believe the OME Dakars are supposed to be 50mm, which is right around 2", although they usually get you about 3" of lift. __________________ KB1OSF '87 Toyota xcab SR5 - SAS'd, stuff '98 Lexus ES300 '04 Toyota Highlander

05-31-08, 07:22 AM	#3
knixen IH8MUD Regular Join Date: May 2007 Location: Tromsoe, Norway Posts: 289	the OME kit is very good! __________________ knixens runner on 39,5 iroks

05-31-08, 08:03 AM	#4
WarDamnEagle IH8MUD Addict Join Date: May 2007 Location: UK and Gulf Shores, Alabama Posts: 507	x2 on the OME but you will get a bit more than 2 inches...at least I did with Heavy front and medium rear springs on my 4Runner. Maybe medium front and back would be lower. __________________ 1985 4Runner - second round of upgrades done! 1997 FZJ80 - locked and stock 2007 HDJ100 - DD .....and these are just the Toyotas

05-31-08, 09:44 AM	#5
Hilux IH8MUD Addict Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: fawk'n with the font TLCA# 9h9-69 Posts: 703	I thought North West off-road specialties had them but I haven't look in a long while... __________________ "He's in a 46 Ford and we're in a DeLorean. He'd cut through us like we were tinfoil." E. Brown.

05-31-08, 01:23 PM	#6
KLF IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Southern NH Posts: 1,715	North West Off Road = No Warranty Or Returns I wouldn't buy air for my tires from those guys. HORRIBLE customer service tales. I have about 80,000 miles and 9 years on my OME springs, they are on their second truck now. I wouldn't hesitate to buy them again, in fact I will be. __________________ KB1OSF '87 Toyota xcab SR5 - SAS'd, stuff '98 Lexus ES300 '04 Toyota Highlander

06-01-08, 01:55 PM	#11
douglashuft IH8MUD Regular Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Pacifica CA TLCA# 13623 Posts: 328	downey sells 2" for the rear of a 93. I assume you have an ifs front end, their t bars are a "bit stiff", in fact I have an "extra pair". __________________ Doug -Bone stock 94 22re mini (except for bumpers, sliders, skidplates, rear locker, 1" body lift w/trimmed fenders and 33" tires. IFS still works -Locked 93 fzj80, OME 851/860, deflared/linered, metaltech sliders, 285 Cooper stt's, family tent trailer tow vehicle -fj62 replaced by the fzj80

06-01-08, 02:32 PM	#14
douglashuft IH8MUD Regular Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Pacifica CA TLCA# 13623 Posts: 328	Oops, thought you said 93. I bought mine before I learned of ih8mud and also of the many other suspension options. It is true, Downeys are pricey and not popular but oddly enough mine have performed great. __________________ Doug -Bone stock 94 22re mini (except for bumpers, sliders, skidplates, rear locker, 1" body lift w/trimmed fenders and 33" tires. IFS still works -Locked 93 fzj80, OME 851/860, deflared/linered, metaltech sliders, 285 Cooper stt's, family tent trailer tow vehicle -fj62 replaced by the fzj80

06-02-08, 02:49 AM	#16
tlcruiser66 IH8MUD Addict Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Auburn, Wa. Posts: 652	If you're looking for a good soft spring that will probaby end up at 2" try Trail-Gear, good prices and good quality. They have your 3" springs for $199 but you can usually find outside vendors who will give you a discount and free shipping. __________________ 1966 FJ-40 Under Construction. 1985 4Runner. Something to play with while the 40s out for mods. 2003 GMC Sierra Quad-cab. Duramax diesel w/ all the toys. Diablosport Predator tuner and 33" tires.

06-02-08, 09:31 PM	#17
HeavyMetalViking IH8MUD Junior Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Somerville, MA Posts: 112	You could always just run stock springs and get extended shackles. Same right, a little lift, and WAY cheaper than getting all new springs. I've got OME rears w/ 5" shackles and it feels great. __________________ 87 4Runner, 5spd 22RE, 4" rear OME lift, 1.5" BJ spacers, Sway Away T-bars, 34" mudders, lockright in rear, TG shock mounts, OME shocks, Flowmaster 40, Warn transformer, custom smittybuilt rear bumper, custom skids

06-13-08, 07:41 PM	#18
lowtideride Ride On... Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Florida TLCA# 14891 Posts: 7,049	Got Downey 3's...handles good. A little stiff. Ill post some pictures soon. __________________ www.NFCruiserheads.org FJ45 Crawler and a 1983 Hilux... has had no peers for 50 years...

06-15-08, 07:19 AM	#19
pappy In debt to the Shaman Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Back in Reality TLCA# 10004 Posts: 2,538	Downey's will settle. I had a set on the 4Runner for years. The rears settled the most. __________________ aka Bushrat 1969 FJ40 Project TEROTE: Tim@DOA 3FE stroker (aka 2FE), H55F, SOA/SR, 35" MT/R, 3:1TC ... assembly in process 1985 4Runner: lifted, locked, Tim@DOA 22RE, 4.7 tc, with 33" training wheels. R151F with dual 23-spline TCs in the garage.

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