The Build-Up Begins...

84Toyota4x4 · Jun 4, 2008

Well, I finally bit the bullet and ordered all new suspension for my truck to replace the super stiff (and now bent) NWOR 4.5" springs it had when I bought it. I ordered my parts late night on the 1st this month, and they were waiting for me when I got home tonight (the 4th). Bought, shipped, and delivered in less than 3 days. I'm impressed.

Anyway, not much to add to this thread now, or for a little while really since I wont have much time off for a little while (switching to grave shift on Ft Lewis for a couple weeks). But, I'll add bits and pieces and ask questions along the way Im sure.

Im just excited to possibly have some suspension other than the sidewall flex on my tires (its that bad), and get rid of those damn springs and horrible shocks. The suspension on this truck has been a huge thorn in my side for the 4 years Ive owned it.

So, heres the obligatory first picture for now...

~T.J.

EDIT: Guess I could mention its the full rear kit with 4" springs, front spring hanger, front shackles, front shock hoops, front shocks, and front 4" springs. I already have hy-steer and flip kits and such, so it was easier (and cheaper) to just order what I needed for the front. The rear it was actually cheaper to just order the kit, and you end up with more parts too, haha.

2pwrlftrs4u · Jun 4, 2008

:corn:

84Toyota4x4 · Jun 4, 2008

Yeah, Im still here... July 25th was looking like my first day of out processing, and then I would use all my remaining (terminal) leave for the mobilization all through August since August 31st is the end of order date. BUT, today I saw a memorandum with my name in a list for a possible extension of 365 days

~T.J.

London Gentleman · Jun 5, 2008

Sweet! your truck is gonna look and flex good!

84Toyota4x4 · Jun 6, 2008

Took some measurements real quick tonight since this whole driveshaft angle thing has been bugging me.

My t-case is at 4

Thanatos · Jun 7, 2008

Is that like being Stop-Lossed? I was out there in the desert (06-07) and I give mad props to you guys.

84Toyota4x4 said:
Yeah, Im still here... July 25th was looking like my first day of out processing, and then I would use all my remaining (terminal) leave for the mobilization all through August since August 31st is the end of order date. BUT, today I saw a memorandum with my name in a list for a possible extension of 365 days

~T.J.

stealthrunner1 · Jun 7, 2008

You'll like this suspension way better than that Nwor. piece!!!!!
Mark m. drove the F-Toy in canada an said he might try trail gear springs on the blue truck.....this time....they flex good!:awesomework:

crash2 · Jun 7, 2008

Right on TJ :awesomework:

lilyota · Jun 7, 2008

I love my tg spring you love this setup and i'll try and get you some pics of the rear shocks soon heres a shot for motivation and still had couple more inches togo before the bump stops let me know if you need any help.

84Toyota4x4 · Jun 7, 2008

seafarinman said:
Is that like being Stop-Lossed? I was out there in the desert (06-07) and I give mad props to you guys.

Kind of. He had asked (but apparently edited it out) if I was still on Ft Lewis with him. Basically, my mission was 1 year to augment the post since all the MPs were deployed. Well, that year is coming to an end here (July 31 was my last "working day"), but now "they" are requesting people to stay since the units that are now returning can only work the road commitment for about 3 months before they have to return to desert training again for another deployment in the rotation. Therefore, they want "experienced" people to stay while theyre gone again. I want to effing go home! Anyway, stop loss keeps people from getting out of the service to control manpower, this would be just an extension of orders I already had.

~T.J.

MIG'DHORSE · Jun 7, 2008

lilyota said:
I love my tg spring you love this setup and i'll try and get you some pics of the rear shocks soon heres a shot for motivation and still had couple more inches togo before the bump stops let me know if you need any help.

howd those 5" springs settle for you? i have the 4" TG springs sitting in my garage, and i'm frenching / inboarding the springs to keep it as low as possible... and maybe pulling a leaf or two. i want it to sit as low as possible with leafs.

84Toyota4x4 · Jun 7, 2008

lilyota said:
I love my tg spring you love this setup and i'll try and get you some pics of the rear shocks soon heres a shot for motivation and still had couple more inches togo before the bump stops let me know if you need any help.

Cool thanks. Id like to see how you ended up doing it. Im pretty anxious to get started on this, but my damn work schedule is hell coming up. That, and I need to figure out how Im going to power my welder where the install will take place. I think Im gonna have to run it off the generator to get it tacked together at least, then hopefully I can move from the barn to the house to burn it all in once its set.

Anyone have any idea on my driveline question earlier?

~T.J.

lilyota · Jun 7, 2008

just tack weld your rear perches on put it all together leaving your u bolt snug but not tight put the wheels on and set it on the ground get the jack under the front of the diff and jack it up (it will shear the tacks very easy)till it points at t-case flange I went just a little under from being straight on. tack you perches again take it all all a part and weld it up. I had very good luck with this no vibs at all,with regular tires on it.

84Toyota4x4 · Jun 7, 2008

Well, that was my plan. I just figured I would do it a little different. The way I see it, they're supposed to be parallel since I have a single joint on each end, not pointing at the output like a double cardan shaft.

I have some vibrations now, and I would like to get rid of them if possible when I do this since I need to change the perches anyway.

I'm actually wondering if it would be worth it to just leave the perches I have now on and see how it drives. Then I can take measurments with the actual springs on and everything and change the perches later once I figure it out.

The vibration I have now isn't too bad, and it could be from the spool, the unbalanced bias Iroks, or the bent rear springs which have the axle sitting all funny anyway, haha. Even with all that, its still surprisingly smooth.

~T.J.

Grommit327 · Jun 9, 2008

Supposedly you want the two parallel since you're using a single joint at each end but I've heard that even with a single joint if you point the pinion right at the t-case output it turns out pretty good. Don't quote me on that though :redneck:

84Toyota4x4 · Jun 13, 2008

I finally got a chance to do some work on this thing. Ashley jumped right in and started tearing stuff apart too. I think she was just as excited as me to work on the thing

So, heres what I started with, and one of the main reasons I decided it was time for new suspension. As you can tell, the shackle angles are completely different. The drivers side spring is bent and ALL messed up.

Heres how the wheel was sitting. The rear axle was very crooked under there.

I decided to snap a couple pictures real fast of the driveline angles just for reference.

Heres Ashley pulling the driveline off.

After that, we dropped the axle down and Ashley started taking the leaf packs off.

I also took the wire wheel to the frame on both sides to clean it up and get it ready for the new hangers up front.

And heres where I left off at. The axle is off, springs off, and I dropped the gas tank to give myself more room for working on the passenger side front spring hanger.

So, tomorrow I will be tack welding everything in place and checking angles and such. If all that looks good, I'll weld it up and the axle will be getting installed again.

Also, I decided to wait until after I drive it again before I try and change the spring perches. That way, I can take measurements and such with everything installed. If it works, Ill leave it alone. If not, Ill pull it back off and change them. It works ok the way it is now, so Im wondering if I just get the axle straight again so the spool isnt fighting itself, if that will solve my wobble I have.

Cant wait for tomorrow to get going installing new parts!

~T.J.

crash2 · Jun 13, 2008

OMG--she's getting dirty :redneck:

WOW---your going someplace with it :awesomework:

84Toyota4x4 · Jun 14, 2008

Work was slow today, it was hard to get motivated since Ive been sleeping so late into the day from coming off grave shift. Anyway, I took a couple pictures of my "setup" that Im working with.

Im working out of Ashleys barn (horses and all). Its tight, but it works out ok.

Heres the power source for the welder.

And some of the tools. The tool chest is in the shed next to the barn, I just have my cart out for the "commonly used" stuff.

Anyway, on to work. Got the front hangers tacked in place 6" forward per Trail-Gear.

Then I got the stock rear shackle hangers marked and cut off.

Then I hung the springs to make sure everything looked good.

I didnt have the shackle hangers tacked onto the frame at the right angle (left to right as viewed from the rear) at first, so the shackle plates were off a little (one more forward than the other). I cut one tack weld, moved it over a little, and got the plates to sit square to each other. Got the other side right the first time.

I double and triple checked my measurements for the front hangers, the shackle hangers side to side, and the shackle angles. They were all the same, so I went ahead and welded them on (don't laugh too much at the welds).

After they both were welded on, I went a head and shot them with some paint.

I ran out of time after that because it was getting too late to run the generator, and the horses needed to come in. So, tomorrow I will get the front hangers welded on, painted, and then I can start bolting stuff back up to at least be able to roll it around.

Like I said before, Im going to run the stock perches and see what happens, and I need to come up with a way to mount the rear shocks that I like as well. For now I just need to get it movable so its not in the way of the barn too much if possible, so I will need to take it apart and put it together a few times throughout this project unfortunately.

I tell you though, it sure feels good to be doing something to this thing Ive wanted to do for years!

~T.J.