RUF ... Calling GRM
- Thread starter armytaco
- Start date
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Here are my lessons from running 3 different RUF packs.
Lesson #1: Everyone builds them with too soft of a spring rate, making the spring bottom out and bend the axle housing. With 5 leafs the rate was 118in/lbs... with 6 it was 141in/lbs. The correct spring rate for these trucks is ~220 in/lbs.
Lesson #2: Flex + Leaking power steering eats bushings. I would eat a front bushing every couple months until I installed Prothane bushings. I still run prothanes to this day.
My first attempt were made from a 84 rear pack, and an 83 rear pack. My top leaf was an antiwrap leaf (its only supposed to be on the front half of the spring...) made from the main leaf of an 84 rear pack. I honestly think this leaf was worthless. Main leaf was the main leaf from a 83 rear pack, second leaf was the mil. wrap off the 83 pack, 3rd leaf is the stock 83 3rd leaf, 4th leaf is the military wrap leaf off the 84 cut down 3.5" shorter than the 3rd leaf on each side, the 5th leaf is the 3rd leaf off the 84 pack cut down so its 3.5" shorter on each side than the 4th leaf.
After lots of messing with the springs (upped the springs to be a 6-leaf pack, with more tapered leafs), I finally gave up and bought Old Man Emu CS009r rear springs. Night and day difference. This was mostly because they are 47" long, giving a better shackle angle.
If I made another pack again today I would do:
∙ 9-10 Leafs (217-235 in/lbs)
∙ 79-83 Main & 2nd Leaf
∙ Taper the rest of the leafs to match
∙ Run prothane bushings
∙ Consider moving the front hanger forward 1" to get a 35* shackle angle
Useful Resources:
Leaf Spring Rate Calculator: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=202296
RUF FAQ: http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/toyota-truck-4runner/265669-rear-up-front-faq.html
Roger Brown Suspension Page: http://4crawler.com/4x4/4R_suspension-III.shtml
Lesson #1: Everyone builds them with too soft of a spring rate, making the spring bottom out and bend the axle housing. With 5 leafs the rate was 118in/lbs... with 6 it was 141in/lbs. The correct spring rate for these trucks is ~220 in/lbs.
Lesson #2: Flex + Leaking power steering eats bushings. I would eat a front bushing every couple months until I installed Prothane bushings. I still run prothanes to this day.
My first attempt were made from a 84 rear pack, and an 83 rear pack. My top leaf was an antiwrap leaf (its only supposed to be on the front half of the spring...) made from the main leaf of an 84 rear pack. I honestly think this leaf was worthless. Main leaf was the main leaf from a 83 rear pack, second leaf was the mil. wrap off the 83 pack, 3rd leaf is the stock 83 3rd leaf, 4th leaf is the military wrap leaf off the 84 cut down 3.5" shorter than the 3rd leaf on each side, the 5th leaf is the 3rd leaf off the 84 pack cut down so its 3.5" shorter on each side than the 4th leaf.
After lots of messing with the springs (upped the springs to be a 6-leaf pack, with more tapered leafs), I finally gave up and bought Old Man Emu CS009r rear springs. Night and day difference. This was mostly because they are 47" long, giving a better shackle angle.
If I made another pack again today I would do:
∙ 9-10 Leafs (217-235 in/lbs)
∙ 79-83 Main & 2nd Leaf
∙ Taper the rest of the leafs to match
∙ Run prothane bushings
∙ Consider moving the front hanger forward 1" to get a 35* shackle angle
Useful Resources:
Leaf Spring Rate Calculator: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=202296
RUF FAQ: http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/toyota-truck-4runner/265669-rear-up-front-faq.html
Roger Brown Suspension Page: http://4crawler.com/4x4/4R_suspension-III.shtml
- Thread starter
- #3
Thanks I am quite familiar with them, though no experience. Everyone seems to love them so was curious why you didn't like them. Most setup a new hanger for the correct shackle angle and also to help get the caster back some with the drop hanger.
Did you adjust the hanger for the ruf for correct shackle angle? Do you think if setup from the get go with everything correct as far as angles you would of liked them? Do you think the ride would of been good?
I am trying to decide ruf 47" or ruf 51" or just getting a standard set of 3" lift springs from TG. Seems like setup good from get go a 6 leaf pack is a really good option and being able to cheaply get a 51" spring up front is good.
On the other hand they do require tuning for correct height etc.
I thought you mentioned custom leaves from deaver. If so what did they cost. A lot of complaints come from the run of the mill springs out there. I wonder if a good option would be a custom pack but defeats the budget I guess and opens a whole new can of worms.
...via IH8MUD app
Did you adjust the hanger for the ruf for correct shackle angle? Do you think if setup from the get go with everything correct as far as angles you would of liked them? Do you think the ride would of been good?
I am trying to decide ruf 47" or ruf 51" or just getting a standard set of 3" lift springs from TG. Seems like setup good from get go a 6 leaf pack is a really good option and being able to cheaply get a 51" spring up front is good.
On the other hand they do require tuning for correct height etc.
I thought you mentioned custom leaves from deaver. If so what did they cost. A lot of complaints come from the run of the mill springs out there. I wonder if a good option would be a custom pack but defeats the budget I guess and opens a whole new can of worms.
...via IH8MUD app
I really liked my ruf setup. In fact the last setup I had with the old man emu springs was one of the best spring setups I ever ran. I went away from it because I got a set of reverse eye springs for a song. Even thought they had to be rebuilt, they provided better stability and a lower ride height. The really are a great setup, with the right ride height, great ride, and have very little spring wrap (mostly because I run an 11-leaf front pack and a 14-leaf rear pack).
If you were to buy a pair new they would set you back ~$700. Mine came to me used and I'm still $350 into my front Deavers and $500 into the rear packs.
I don't think you read my post above about 6 leaf ruf's but they are too soft. You need a minimum of 8 leafs to support the weight of a full bodied truck. Otherwise the truck will bottom out, bending the front axle housing (I went through 3 housings before swapping in the old man emu springs)
The other side effect of too soft springs is that the truck will have a very bad side-to-side rocking when driving down the highway. This can be fixed with high dollar shocks and away bars... But I doubt your wanting to spend $1500 to keep the softer spring rate.
If you were to buy a pair new they would set you back ~$700. Mine came to me used and I'm still $350 into my front Deavers and $500 into the rear packs.
I don't think you read my post above about 6 leaf ruf's but they are too soft. You need a minimum of 8 leafs to support the weight of a full bodied truck. Otherwise the truck will bottom out, bending the front axle housing (I went through 3 housings before swapping in the old man emu springs)
The other side effect of too soft springs is that the truck will have a very bad side-to-side rocking when driving down the highway. This can be fixed with high dollar shocks and away bars... But I doubt your wanting to spend $1500 to keep the softer spring rate.
I did the RUF on mine with just the stock spring from the rear. Used the Budbuilt shackles that utilize the same frame mounting point.
Edit: It didn't matter on my truck since it's off road only now. It does have really bad lean to left or right depending on the terrain.
Edit: It didn't matter on my truck since it's off road only now. It does have really bad lean to left or right depending on the terrain.