56" of Marlin goodness!!!!

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black95

black95

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Aug 25, 2008
Threads
127
Messages
2,499
Location
Colorado
Looking just like I hoped, I've always been a leaf spring kinda guy. Always thought it was cool to look under a 4x4 and see nothing but an axle and springs with no 4link clutter. :D Mmmmmm.........Looooooong springs!!! ha ha
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It's been pretty tough figuring out where to locate everything. Marlin didn't have any answers since the 2nd gen 4runner has none of the reference points that the trucks do. Had to figure out how much rear deflection the springs would have and how far they would allow the axle to move backward, but you also have to add in for the arc of centerline changing as the spring swings up.

I ended up burning that front spring hanger on and off 3 times and cable tieing the truck to the floor, then forcing flex on the spring with a floor jack. I've put the shackle end on twice, but it has to come off today because the shackle angle is too steep. :bang: I'm a little bit of a perfectionist, but that's not why I'm trying to get things so perfect.......I need that axle centered so I can stuff 37's!!!!! lol.

I will get much more use out of that axle now, those springs flex like crazy on thier own without the weight of the axle, gonne be cool to see how well it does. I'll be more happy to get rid of the on-road wierd handleing quirks than the added flex.
 
Got the axle in and the shackle angle set to 25 degrees. Marlin says 22 degrees, but it just didn't look right to me.

Had to torch off those darn shackle mounts five times to get it right, let me tell you, EVERYTHING changes when you move either one of the shackle mounts even a 1/4 inch--and you can't do one side at a time because when they're both holding the weight of the truck things change!

Really hoping this thing works better when it's done, and stays together, probably should have checked to see if the welder I hired is certified........:D
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Doing some more measuring and found out the driver's side is a little lower than the passenger side, but I should have expected that, because I got the springs from Andy.

He seems to have a problem with his trucks leaning to that side...........

:lol:
 
She works for milk and cookies too!!!


Did some more checking into that whole "driver's side lean" thing. The more I looked at it the worse it looked. So I did some measuring......LOTS of measuring.......and it turns out my factory center crossmember is welded in a 1/2 inch out of square. Yeah, the crossmember I was measuring off of. Damn Toyota! That whole thing caused one shackle angle to be too great, lowering the one side. Those damn shackles are killing me!

Oh yeah, and all the finish welding was done just to make things more fun. Took an hour and a half to move that driver's spring mount a 1/2 inch. That would have haunted me forever, so I'm glad I moved it.

Lean fixed.
 
Looks good! Your welder has all the Proper Gear, Err I mean... a Kick ass Helmet with Flames, and thats all you really need to make killer welds

is it sitting about the same height as before?


They just don't make jack stands tall enough!
 
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pay no attention to the dangerously placed jack stands in the background......;) actually, with the wood blocks out, it would have been at ride height. just have to have more room to get my full sized self under there.
 
Pleased to report that the 4runner is moving under it's own suspension again.

I have to say that I am VERY pleased with the marlin spring set up. I now have a ridiculous amount of rear suspension travel, and all the weird rear-steering, sliding through turns, funky body leaning, staying leaned when parked, PITA removable sway bar links and all other general quirkyness is history.......I can absolutely haul-ass down rampart range road now. :D

Damn, I really hated that link suspension.........I know 4 links are all the rage, but as far as I'm concerned, you can keep that junk. Nothing but high maintenance.

The ride of the new (to me) leaf springs coupled with the spankin' new Bilsteins shocks is outstanding! blows the old setup away.

Bring on the rocks!!!!!
 
Kick ass dude! Leaf Springs flat out work!

Ill Link mine once i figure all the ins and outs of building a proper 4 link, and when alot of other little crap is fixed.
 
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