More f-150 spring stuff
#1
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More f-150 spring stuff
Found lots of F-150 spring swaps thread, but none of them talk about the Tacomas.
I hate my stock springs on my 01. Ive been thinking about spring swaps for a long time, and I found this out.
Heres your 01 Taco spring.
Heres your F-150 Spring
Now you tell me, am I getting excited over nothing here, or can I actually just bolt these on without relocation hangers. I have a 3'' lift now. Ive heard the F-150 springs give about 3 inches of lift on older yota's. And as long as its close enough, I don't mind building a custom rear shackle for adjustments.
It appears the 150 springs will move the rear axle back about 7/8''. Looking at the tacoma front spring mount theres enough room to redrill a hole a little further forward. Unless 7/8'' extra wheelbase isn't a bad thing.
I hate my stock springs on my 01. Ive been thinking about spring swaps for a long time, and I found this out.
Heres your 01 Taco spring.
Heres your F-150 Spring
Now you tell me, am I getting excited over nothing here, or can I actually just bolt these on without relocation hangers. I have a 3'' lift now. Ive heard the F-150 springs give about 3 inches of lift on older yota's. And as long as its close enough, I don't mind building a custom rear shackle for adjustments.
It appears the 150 springs will move the rear axle back about 7/8''. Looking at the tacoma front spring mount theres enough room to redrill a hole a little further forward. Unless 7/8'' extra wheelbase isn't a bad thing.
#4
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the holes would be off by .25/in. (1/4) divide that by two (for two holes) and you get 0.125 (1/8)
so the holes would be off by 1/8.
if its not close enough to squeeze the bolt in, it should be easy enough to put a jack under the axle to arc the springs out.
so the holes would be off by 1/8.
if its not close enough to squeeze the bolt in, it should be easy enough to put a jack under the axle to arc the springs out.
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Thinkin I could weld a piece of 1/8'' plate steel over the old holes on the front hanger. Then redrill about 5/8'' further forward. Think I'm gonna go for it. The thought of not having to relocate hangers is nice. Plus anything better then this:
#7
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Ordered springs, and u-bolts today. Should get them next week some time. Gonna take lots of pics and post em here. Also gonna go with firestone air bags, flipping my u-bolts, making my own shock mounts, and building custom bottom air bag perch. Should be fun.
If anybody has any tips please real free to post them, kind of thinking this might be one of the first 01 tacoma's on the web with F-150 springs.
If anybody has any tips please real free to post them, kind of thinking this might be one of the first 01 tacoma's on the web with F-150 springs.
Last edited by ThatGuy1295; 03-24-2012 at 09:53 PM.
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#8
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good stuff. i am going to put f150's in my 4runner soon. along with an SAS. at my buddy we have the springs and actually a set of stock tacoma springs. im gona compare them just for the hell of it.
#9
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good stuff. i am going to put f150's in my 4runner soon. along with an SAS. at my buddy we have the springs and actually a set of stock tacoma springs. im gona compare them just for the hell of it.
Ya I'm sure about the sizes, mostly wanted to make sure it wasn't gonna give me to much lift.
But it sounds like it shouldn't be more than 2 1/2'' or so.
Last edited by ThatGuy1295; 03-25-2012 at 03:03 PM.
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Half way there. Got one side done today.
Tore this junk out
Built my own U-bolt brackets because I wanted to do a U-bolt flip, and provide a nice place to mount air bags.
Was able to use the factory rear shackle, but had to modify the front mount because the ford springs are an 1/8'' wider. And 7/8'' longer on the front, the rear portion of the springs is the exact same size as the factory springs. The factory mount has a bend in the back side, as seen above if you cut it out and weld in a flat piece theres room for the ford springs. So far the ride height is about 1'' lower then what it was with my 3'' lift block. Which is about what I wanted because the truck was a little to positive in the rear.
Gonna weld up some shock mounts tomoro and finish the other side.
Tore this junk out
Built my own U-bolt brackets because I wanted to do a U-bolt flip, and provide a nice place to mount air bags.
Was able to use the factory rear shackle, but had to modify the front mount because the ford springs are an 1/8'' wider. And 7/8'' longer on the front, the rear portion of the springs is the exact same size as the factory springs. The factory mount has a bend in the back side, as seen above if you cut it out and weld in a flat piece theres room for the ford springs. So far the ride height is about 1'' lower then what it was with my 3'' lift block. Which is about what I wanted because the truck was a little to positive in the rear.
Gonna weld up some shock mounts tomoro and finish the other side.
Last edited by ThatGuy1295; 04-08-2012 at 07:22 AM.
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All done. Sits about 1/2'' higher in the rear than the front, measuring from top of tire to bottom of fender. So this spring swap on a tacoma gives you a 2 1/2'' lift in the rear using no blocks, no AAL's, with factory rear shackle. Its perfect with a 3'' lift up front. Remember I used the 3+1 pack, not the 4+1. Nice and level
Last edited by ThatGuy1295; 02-17-2013 at 07:12 PM.
#13
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I did notice one very insignificant side affect. With the factory exhaust the F-150 springs rub on the tail pipe a little next to the rear shackle at full extension. That way nobody can't say I didn't tell them
That and their really stiff
That and their really stiff
Last edited by ThatGuy1295; 02-17-2013 at 07:13 PM.
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Nice man. I'll have to head up to Washington one day and have you help me do mine
Last edited by ThatGuy1295; 04-08-2012 at 05:23 PM.
#17
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Nice build, I may be using this as a guide in the near future to upgrade the rust bucket I have for the rally, maybe the springs will outlast the truck. +1 on a better ride, I definitely like that idea
#18
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Nice find and execution! I can't believe I've never seen F150 springs on a Taco, with how close of a match they are. What kind of shackle angle did you end up with? Can't quite tell from the pics. Just curious, if could you have used the original hole in the hanger and just have had a more relaxed shackle angle? Or would that likely push the tire into the rear of the fender on compression?
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I did test it in the stock hole. When the springs compressed and flaten'd out the rear shackle was completely maxed out and the springs started to buckle. And you really don't want to move the axle back an inch. Ya not a good idea.
By drilling a new hole 7/8'' forward you end up with the same shackle angle as the stock springs had, as well as the axle being centered in the wheel well.
By drilling a new hole 7/8'' forward you end up with the same shackle angle as the stock springs had, as well as the axle being centered in the wheel well.