What spring to run? (1 Viewer)

[RockTactics]

We have had good luck with Dodge Dakota springs. We use the rears all the way around on our rigs. 56'' long with offset center pin, rolled ends, with delrin tip inserts. They ride nice and flex great. I recently did this conversion on a DJ5. I have my FJ40 tore apart or I would get a picture of that. Here is a shot for ya.

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[matchan420]

I would be very interested in pictures of your Dakota sprng set up. Sounds like a good length just between the Chevy 63's and the 47 inch fj60 or fj55 rears...are there particular year springs that seem to work better?

 

[RockTactics]

I would be very interested in pictures of your Dakota sprng set up. Sounds like a good length just between the Chevy 63's and the 47 inch fj60 or fj55 rears...are there particular year springs that seem to work better?

I personally like the 1998 5 leaf design. I think the rate is 100lbs difference from 1998 to 2004. I have been talking to a spring manufacturer about building me a set of springs based on the Dakotas, but running a Cherokee bushing, and a military wrap. I will get you some pictures of my setup this next week when I am back in town.

 

[RockTactics]

I ended up tearing into my cruiser a lot further than I anticipated so I went out tonight and took a couple pics of the heep with the same setup. It has the 1998 Dakotas all the way around. these pictures dont do it justice. dark and with my phone. Hope it helps.

This is the adjustable Hangers so you can adjust your shackle angles and limit your up travel in different terrains.

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We use the adjustment on the perch and plate to gain an extra inch of wheelbase, and to help with departure angles. These U-bolts were off another project and are not staying. we were using them to roll the rig.

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Here is the rear axle with low profile spring perches, and adjustable top plate. With keeping the spring as close to axle centerline as possible, and 7'' perches it helps control axle wrap and keeps a lower stance.

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We moved the axle back 13'' if I remember correctly on this DJ5. We mounted the rear hangers off the bumper.

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[RockTactics]

This is a picture of my front setups that I really Love. I have heard debates forever on shackles in the front are better because it helps preload the tire on steep climbs. I have heard shackle reversals are better because it helps departure angle, and tracks better. If you french your hangers in the front it generally leaves the shackle side low on the frame and the spring isnt close to parallel at all. Mounted that way leaves the shackles and spring hanging low and acts as an ancor in a rock garden. It will also change your pinion angle all over the place through suspension cycle.

So I came up with this design. You get to have the better tracking, better departure angle, flat belly, you preload the tire the same as a shackle up front, and best of all you can have the spring setup correctly with one inch lower on the fixed eye of the spring. You can also give your rig a nice low stance. Hope you like.

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[RockTactics]

I know its a heep. but here is a stance shot. By the way it has TOYOTA parts in it!

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[D O C]

Well I went with the fj62 springs. Flipped the pin and took the 2 short leafs out. Now the only problem is the plate that holds the spring to the perch on the passanger side will not line up. Not usre if I can re drill it, due to it being to close to the original hole.