1st gen pickup suspension question

[Chop Shop]

OK I have a legitemate question regarding the different years of springs:

It always seems like 1st gen rear springs have a bit more arch than the 2nd gen... Is there anything to that? Are they slightly different free arch off the trucks or is it just a heavier truck with the later model causing this effect?

Ok I dont do this often so enjoy it. I may have been wrong on this one. I will edit my above post for accuaracy.

I dont normally use the first gen springs when making custom packs because of the added arch that you noticed. When I would cut the 1st gen leaves they would not blend in properly with the arch of the newer springs.

anyways I normally use a second gen pack cut up for filler/support leaves under a third gen pack for the wheelers.

I just went out and looked at two pairs of first gen springs (one set in a truck and one set out already) and both pairs had that worthless short leaf under the overload. Neither set came off of a longbox either.

I guess I have always focused on the 2nd and 3rd gen springs and never gave that funny leaf another thought. I always just sold all the first gen springs at the swapmeet once a year cuz I didnt like to use them.

I also looked at 5 other trucks/runners I have and they are all 2nd gen and NONE of them have that leaf.

Im going to have to look over at a friends house that has lots of first gens and see what all his rigs have under them.

It still looks like its a worthless leaf thats no good for anything but an extra half inch of lift.

 

[Combat Chuck]

OK I have a legitemate question regarding the different years of springs:

It always seems like 1st gen rear springs have a bit more arch than the 2nd gen... Is there anything to that? Are they slightly different free arch off the trucks or is it just a heavier truck with the later model causing this effect?

I think that the second gen springs are a bit longer eye-to-eye, which takes some of the tension off the arch, and the later second gens are a bit heavier.

I also think (this is entirely conjecture here) that when Toyota first released the 4X4 pickup, they had the expectation that they'd see alot of abusive work use, and outfitted the rear springs accordingly, but when the second gen came about, it became clear that they didn't need that much overkill tension, and that they could drastically improve the ride quality with softer springs.

What I do know is that I've never seen a 40 or 60 series spring pack with as much arch as the first-gen rears. It's just ridiculous.

I also am beginning to think that chop shop's right about the extra stub-leaves, they're on every rig I can find.