Wagoneer springs (1 Viewer)

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ksemerdjian

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Sep 1, 2019
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Castaic Ca
Thinking of the possibilities of going SOA and I've been reading about different spring options. I want to start off by saying that I'm not going to use my stock springs, the bottom leaf springs were removed and a add a leaf was installed and I am not going to search for stock used springs. So with that being said I want to install new springs so I'm looking for feedback on those who have used new springs like Wagoneer stock height springs, OME, Skyjacker or whatever you've used with good results. I realize with the lift springs the bottom leaf springs need to be removed.

Thanks in advance
 
Thinking of the possibilities of going SOA and I've been reading about different spring options. I want to start off by saying that I'm not going to use my stock springs, the bottom leaf springs were removed and a add a leaf was installed and I am not going to search for stock used springs. So with that being said I want to install new springs so I'm looking for feedback on those who have used new springs like Wagoneer stock height springs, OME, Skyjacker or whatever you've used with good results. I realize with the lift springs the bottom leaf springs need to be removed.

Thanks in advance

I've heard that 60 or 55 springs are good. From what I understand, longer springs will ride better and give better flex if set up properly. I've also seen people run XJ springs.
 
I've heard that 60 or 55 springs are good. From what I understand, longer springs will ride better and give better flex if set up properly. I've also seen people run XJ springs.
Yeah, I've read about the 60 and 55 series but the goal is to get new springs.
 
I have a set of gently used FJ55 springs. It will cost a little bit more than :beer: though. ;)
 
No reason to buy new springs especially if going with a more recent set. Newer springs especially if not off a wheeled rig will be as good as new. Save your money buying used springs for better improvements.

I love 99 Tahoe springs. 54" of soft driving flex:
View attachment 2446315
I'm into sheet metal and tie rod before I run out of flex. The other half of the setup is leaf spring sliders from Liquid Industry. Same at all four corners.

My setup lets me into a 7' tall garage door with my FJ55 without the roof rack:
View attachment 2446316

There is no way I'd run this setup without a sway bar but with a sway bar, I will easily out handle my 2002 Tacoma trd with 31s:


The above clip is the first time driving the FJ55 in about a year on damp/wet road. I can easily push it another 15mph faster than shown :eek:

When I get around to my Fj40 project, I will be doing the exact same setup.

That is sweet. If the springs were off of a newer vehicle I wouldn't mind it. I never read about Tahoe springs, I imagine the Silverado, Suburban and Tahoe would have the same leaf springs. I'll have to research this option, thanks.
 
I believe the Suburban and Silverado were much longer... and would be used much harder than a Tahoe. I would be inclined to go with the theory of "Tahoe is a soccer mom vehicle" ;)
Ok, I will be using FJ60 axles so I'll call Ruff Stuff Specialist to see what they have available for that setup. I like the sliding spring setup but I imagine I could also use regular shackles and still benefit from the flex of the longer springs.
 
Tahoe springs are 'same' 2.5" wide as FJ40/55 springs so no special spring perches are needed.

The sliders provide a no-bind solution as well as a MUCH lower lift for the amount of flex. I want to say I lost ~1.5" in the rear of my FJ55 when I converted from FJ55 rear springs with stock shackles to Tahoe springs with sliders.
Yeah, I looked it up shortly after I replied. That just makes this setup much more appealing. Thank you for your help.
 
Tahoe springs are 'same' 2.5" wide as FJ40/55 springs so no special spring perches are needed.

The sliders provide a no-bind solution as well as a MUCH lower lift for the amount of flex. I want to say I lost ~1.5" in the rear of my FJ55 when I converted from FJ55 rear springs with stock shackles to Tahoe springs with sliders.
I'm not sure if there is a difference but do the springs need to come from a 2x4 or 4x4 Tahoe?
 
I just went and looked. All six of my springs have four main leaves plus a thick straight overload spring.

On the front of the green 55 above, the overload spring is removed.

I'm 90% certain that the last pair of springs I got were 4wd version.
I checked out the springs on Rockauto and it looks like they have three different options. There is no difference between the 2wd and 4wd version as far as spring length or width. They have three versions, first is the 2wd at a spring rate of 1550lbs, the second is the 4wd version at a spring rate of 1650lbs and finally a third version which I'm assuming would be the HD version at a spring rate of 1750lbs. Oh and they all have 5 total leaves but the spring pack thickness changes.
 
Alcan springs made me a set of fj55 springs front and rear to replace the old OEM fj55 springs on my fj40. I wish I had done it a long time ago
 
Not really unless you are going full float... and even then... not really.

Hours upon hours of grinding on the FJ80 rear to get it ready for leaf springs. $1000ish for Hellfire knuckles so you can use leaf springs since stock steering setup doesn't work with springs.

Not going leaf springs? Lots of $$$$ for links/coils. I don't want to think of the number of Bens I've sunk for a front linked suspension for my FJ55 that isn't doing $80 heims... and that is going with a cheap quarter elliptical spring setup. $1500ish for King coil over for the other 55.

Fj60 front can have the spring perch frenched at the third member bump to keep the stock front width spring spacing.
The problem with the fj60 axles in my opinion is they are still too narrow to make it hardly worth it. Also the rear shafts are still not full float. You can get a rear 80 series axle for about 300 bucks and get full float, disc brakes, a parking brake, and stronger axle shafts. It can also be upgraded significantly if needed. Front is debatable I agree. A fj60 front axle can easily be widened to 80 series width. The 80 series front does give you stronger birfields so instead of getting rcv shafts you could get the 80 front with stock shafts and get hellfire knuckles. I personally didnt find the brackets hard to remove but I had a torch and plasma cutter. But just swapping in 60 series width axles I think gives almost no benefit except the rear drum brakes are more modern. But then you are also stuck with 3.70 gears too is a negative.
 
The problem with the fj60 axles in my opinion is they are still too narrow to make it hardly worth it. Also the rear shafts are still not full float. You can get a rear 80 series axle for about 300 bucks and get full float, disc brakes, a parking brake, and stronger axle shafts. It can also be upgraded significantly if needed. Front is debatable I agree. A fj60 front axle can easily be widened to 80 series width. The 80 series front does give you stronger birfields so instead of getting rcv shafts you could get the 80 front with stock shafts and get hellfire knuckles. I personally didnt find the brackets hard to remove but I had a torch and plasma cutter. But just swapping in 60 series width axles I think gives almost no benefit except the rear drum brakes are more modern. But then you are also stuck with 3.70 gears too is a negative.
Agree with both of you but for what I'll be doing with my cruiser the 60 series will be fine. I am planning on using Dave's axle extension sleeve which will make the 60 series axle 60" if I'm not mistaking, but that's also if I'm able to find one or have one made. If I'm not able to get my hands on one I feel it will still work for me, pluse the front and rear axle were free thanks to an awesome mud member...!
 
Agree with both of you but for what I'll be doing with my cruiser the 60 series will be fine. I am planning on using Dave's axle extension sleeve which will make the 60 series axle 60" if I'm not mistaking, but that's also if I'm able to find one or have one made. If I'm not able to get my hands on one I feel it will still work for me, pluse the front and rear axle were free thanks to an awesome mud member...!
I'm using the fj60 front with Dave's spacer up front and a 80 series rear.
 
I'm using the fj60 front with Dave's spacer up front and a 80 series rear.
How did that work out for you? From my understanding you need to extend the short side and by doing so you don't need to outboard your springs? What about the inner axle shaft, where did you get the correct length shaft? I connected Dave and unfortunately he had sold his last sleeve and wasn't planning on getting more so I need to have one made since. I'm sure I wont be able to find one that someone bought and didn't use.
 
How did that work out for you? From my understanding you need to extend the short side and by doing so you don't need to outboard your springs? What about the inner axle shaft, where did you get the correct length shaft? I connected Dave and unfortunately he had sold his last sleeve and wasn't planning on getting more so I need to have one made since. I'm sure I wont be able to find one that someone bought and didn't use.
That's correct. Trail gear has a inner shaft that will work if you look around on their site. Look at my build thread in the link below if u want. It might help you.
 

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