Time to Re-Arch My Springs

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DoubleNickels

DoubleNickels

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Joined
Jan 21, 2014
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Ketchum, Idaho
Well well, enough of my family caught on that I'm a cruiser addict and they've all pitched in to help get my stock springs re-arched (1989 FJ62). I could use some help in determining what the proper ride height should be (i.e. just how much the shop should bend 'em).

I plan to run 32" tires, potentially 33" tires in the future. Can someone tell me an approximate distance between the ground and the top of each wheel well?

ALSO: I fully expect some of you to tell me re-arching is a waste of time and/or money, but budget-wise this makes the most sense for me right now.

Thanks!
 
add a leaf..... do it your self is not hard, and you will get a lift and better longevity out of it I know a lot of shops charge over 100 a spring to remove and reach at that price you can outsource a better way to lift your rig
 
Get new stock springs?? They are not to bad price wise.
Then longer shackles and you will fit those 33's you want.
Just a thought if you where going to spend the money on re-arching anyway.
 
Yep, looked into the add a leafs. I'll be removing and installing the springs myself, so that's not a concern. Nor is the overall complexity of the AAL option. In the end I'd be looking at about $250 for the AAL's ($40 per spring for the OME longs, new u-bolts, new bushings, etc.). Instead for about $400 I keep all the existing parts and just get a bit more life. Agreed this may not be the preferred path but tis the path I've chosen.

@jpsfj60 , I've looked into new stock springs but they didn't seem affordable. Mind providing a link?

STILL... I'm curious about my original question. Height. Can anyone provide measurements?
 
I will take some stock measurements next Monday at work. Will take pics also.
I am putting on new stock springs and shackles and bushings at the end of Jan or as soon as my rear ones are done being made.
Will then take new measurements and pics to see what you think. I think I am going to go with a 1in bigger shackles not sure yet.
If you are interested in stock springs I can get you a price and help with shipping.


DoubleNickels said:
Yep, looked into the add a leafs. I'll be removing and installing the springs myself, so that's not a concern. Nor is the overall complexity of the AAL option. In the end I'd be looking at about $250 for the AAL's ($40 per spring for the OME longs, new u-bolts, new bushings, etc.). Instead for about $400 I keep all the existing parts and just get a bit more life. Agreed this may not be the preferred path but tis the path I've chosen.

@jpsfj60 , I've looked into new stock springs but they didn't seem affordable. Mind providing a link?

STILL... I'm curious about my original question. Height. Can anyone provide measurements?
Click to expand...
 
Damn you helpful MUDsters, intent on looking at the bigger picture. Next time I'll just ask "how high is your truck, and what are your tires" without giving so much background :hillbilly:
 
@DoubleNickels Stock measurements are listed in my build thread... believe back are 1160mm and front are 1058mm eye-to-eye but I could be wrong, dont quite remember off hand. If you are looking for a temporary refresh then the AAL with rearch is great. Might see if the shop can add the AAL for you while they are at it. If you can save up a little money then go with the springs from Terrain Tamer, OME or Ironman and then add the rest of the stuff later. There is always ALCAN to get custom springs but that is running into the price of getting a whole set. Unfortunately with these trucks there really is no "bandaid" type fix for the suspension. I got lucky and was able to find someone that had done the AAL on their stock springs and had them overarched (to add some extra lift) and then changed directions on their project so I got the springs for $100 (all together) spent another $180 getting the backs flattened out some so that I could actually use stock length shackles and still netted 2" of lift on the day of installation.

@jpsfj60 Have you looked at the price of new stock springs? Quoted cost from guys like Onur is close to $500 each and that is not counting the freight shipping to get them to you.
 
image.jpeg
You don't even need a lift for 33s. I'm running stock sagged out springs with 252k on them, clearing bfg k02s with a -22 backspace. Not a bit of rub even fully articulated, and looks sick!
 
Last edited:
gregnash said:
Interesting. I thought there was no one making stock replacements without special order like @reevesci and @Beachcomber Bernie did.
Click to expand...


G, There are several out there (I found 13 companies) making a stock replacement spring. Most have an inventory stock as well per their sites. HOWEVER, only 3 replied to my email and phone inquiries. So 10 were immediately "13'd"

Jason
 
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reevesci said:
G, There are several out there (I found 13 companies) making a stock replacement spring. Most have an inventory stock as well per their sites. HOWEVER, only 3 replied to my email and phone inquiries. So 10 were immediately "13'd"

Jason
Click to expand...

reevesci said:
ALSO! when they say it will be 2-3 week handling time... THEY GOT $hit-canned as well... NOT IN STOCK IMO.. they are buying or building from an outside source.

J
Click to expand...

Ah ok..... so really there are only 3 out there that really have them. I am sure there are lots of companies that will say they have them but really it is like you said, either they are gathering from an outside source to build on demand at which point I am sure they will probably come back and say "oh so sorry, we thought these were in stock but they are not and the new tooling charges have changed so we are going to have to jack the price up." or something to that order.

I think the best bet is that unless you can find a set that is in good condition to do an AAL on and re-arch some I would just deal with hitting the stops for a short bit and save the pennies for a new lift. If it weren't for me finding those springs that were already AAL'd and re-arched (which then had to be de-arched) I would still be saving for the lift kit to take me 2.5" over. Most places you will find that just springs alone will run you about $750 plus S+H. @DoubleNickels Since you are in boise maybe see if you can work something out with Kurt @cruiseroutfit for some decent takeoffs from a truck they worked on to get you by for the time being.
 
gregnash said:
@DoubleNickels Stock measurements are listed in my build thread... believe back are 1160mm and front are 1058mm eye-to-eye but I could be wrong, dont quite remember off hand. ....
Click to expand...

Good Lord, your build thread is up to 44 pages! Awesome, I'll do some digging and find your measurements.

@Nicholas Bethke , that's a tough looking rig. I agree it looks pretty good even with flat springs - but my front bump stops are seriously about 3/4" from the axles which can even make navigation of a rough parking lot a challenge.
 
The end parts where the bushings go in are the "eye" so the eye to eye measurement is the distance between the two eyes from the center of each.

Yeah check in the last 4 pages or so as I just did the suspension install.
 
A brand new FJ60/62 driven off the showroom floor in the eighties only had about one inch of downward wheel travel in the fronts (at best) before hitting the bump stops.
I climbed under one at the dealership back then when I was poking around. I was surprised.

Toyota designed it that way (I'm guessing) so that the front springs would never be over stressed and could last the life of the vehicle (if a leaf didn't break).

So what you're perceiving as flattened out old springs, really is good ole FJ60 original suspension (minus a 1/4" or so).
 
I've got some "good ole FJ60 original suspension" for sale if anyone wants em.

Can't say it rode very "good"
 
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