That brings up a good point. On the 5 lug Taco's you don't run the 4x4 overload when using the 4x4 leafs because it's really curved and will hit speed bumps. So we use our 5 lug overloads. I have 5" cut off each end of my overloads.

I'm sure the same rules apply for the earlier trucks as far as year spans go, meaning, certain years will be shorter or longer and have to be used with the correct year span. Do you know if all the early 4x4's (pre 95 and back) use a 3 leaf + overload pack? (minus the 1 ton that someone mentioned earlier in the thread that uses a bunch of leafs, I forgot about those trucks)

 

OK here's a good question... what about us earlier trucks? I want the back of my truck lower but I don't want to lose any hauling capacity (or maybe gain if I could). Would the same apply to the earlier leafs? So take a 4x4 leaf and pull out 2 leaves, slap it in, drops it a couple inches but doesn't lose hauling capacity? If I could get 2-3" drop AND still haul I'm all over that...

 

How much did the charge you to de-arch them?

 

Did a little research online and found a place that sells replacement leafs... and they had the dims for both 2wd and 4wd leafs... and they're the same length eye to eye. So I'm going to compare the arch on the 2 and see if the 2wd has more of an arch. If so I'm probably gonna grab a pair of 4wd leafs from a guy I know and remove a leaf and use that... should lower it a bit and give me more load capacity. I'm also going to throw a hitch on the truck so I need the strength for that too. I don't care if the ride's rougher, when I have a load it'll be fine.

 

My guess is if you did get a 4x4 pack and remove a leaf for drop, (on top of the small amount of drop you'd get using the 4x4 pack in stock form, since it will most likely not be as curved as the 5 lug pack, or different on the ends by the bushing than the 5 lug pack) you'll find once you remove that leaf it won't be as firm as you thought it was going to be.

My guess is if you have a 3 leaf and overload 4x4 pack, and remove a leaf, you'll have a pack that's very similar to the original 5 lug pack, if not slightly softer due to that extra leaf being gone.

 

I'm guessing if I take a leaf out of a 5 leaf pack and leave the overload in, it'll be firmer than my 3 leaf with no overload. If the 5 leaf pack winds up being lower I might leave it like that. Gonna try it that way first anyway. if I can use as is that will be ideal, although I'm guessing there won't be much difference since stiffer springs will drop less when the same weight is placed on them. if total drop is 5" on the stock springs, the 4wd springs are 2" shorter, and I get a 3" drop, then it's the same. Since I have to still replace the front eye bushings on my stockers, sounds like a perfect time to do some experimenting... provided I find the time!!!!

 

Hey any of you guys have a set of stock 2wd leaf springs loose? Need the height to compare to a 4x4 leaf. basically the height of the arc from the floor to the eye. Is there a website with this info, maybe with compressed stock heights of 2x4 and 4x4 springs? I might have a line on some stockers for decently cheap and want to make sure of what I'm getting. If it was $25 I'd just grab 'em anyways and if they don't work, oh well, but this guy wants $75 for clean, almost new ones from an '81.

Thanks in advance!

 

not sure where i seen it but someone placed the overload upside down on the top of the springs to lower his truck......... not sure how well this rides but its sometihhng im looking to try should i find another pre-taco truck when i drop it......