2002FX4's leaf-to-coil swap thread
#1
2002FX4's leaf-to-coil swap thread
Well guys, I've been 'over' the leafs for abit now, especially with how even the 6" Toyota leafs are reacting to the weighty 4.0; they're flattening out pretty damn good.
Soo, I've been in the planning stages of switches to coils for several months. Today the first pieces for my new front suspension finally arrived (not that it took 'em awhile to come, I just wasn't quite ready to order anything). I'm spilling the beans now in that I'm going with a 3-link (driver's side upper) with panhard.
I've already ordered the link material and a majority of the brackets from Ballistic Fabrication and my order is "In Process" currently, so I'll be looking for that nice present within a few weeks, I'm guessing. The brackets I recieved today are from Poly Performance and are the frame end of the lower links and the axle end of the upper link.
The two lowers and upper will get Ballistic Joints (their version of a JJ) on both ends, with the panhard getting a heim on the axle end and a poly bushing on the frame end.
As for the link material I am using 2" OD .250 wall DOM for the lowers, with 1-1/2" OD .250 wall DOM for the upper and panhard.
Onto the pics..
^ From left to right: Passenger side lower link frame mount, upper link bracket for top of diff, driver's side lower link frame mount. All brackets are 1/4".
Soo, I've been in the planning stages of switches to coils for several months. Today the first pieces for my new front suspension finally arrived (not that it took 'em awhile to come, I just wasn't quite ready to order anything). I'm spilling the beans now in that I'm going with a 3-link (driver's side upper) with panhard.
I've already ordered the link material and a majority of the brackets from Ballistic Fabrication and my order is "In Process" currently, so I'll be looking for that nice present within a few weeks, I'm guessing. The brackets I recieved today are from Poly Performance and are the frame end of the lower links and the axle end of the upper link.
The two lowers and upper will get Ballistic Joints (their version of a JJ) on both ends, with the panhard getting a heim on the axle end and a poly bushing on the frame end.
As for the link material I am using 2" OD .250 wall DOM for the lowers, with 1-1/2" OD .250 wall DOM for the upper and panhard.
Onto the pics..
^ From left to right: Passenger side lower link frame mount, upper link bracket for top of diff, driver's side lower link frame mount. All brackets are 1/4".
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I guess I just dont get why people build one setup when they know in the near future they will upgrade it. It just doesnt make sense to me to spend 200 on coils only to sell them for a loss later on to buy coilovers, when if you just looked around a little you could prolly find a good deal on some nice C/O's.
#11
i get the idea of working up, and I like that he actually got it started and will evolve with time. I wish I would have just jumped head first cause i am missing precious wheeling time and it sucks. I am thinking of getting a wheeling beater just for the summer so that I dont have to borrow a buggy to run the hard ****.
But as far as coils, vs coilovers, coilovers are infinitely adjustable and infinately simple to place. if you dont like your ride height one day, you can adjust it fairly easily, If the dampening is too soft or stiff, its a rebuild away, not to mention you can adjust nitrogen pressure.
coils can preform quite adequately and yet so can leafs. a well built leaf suspension can outdo a poorly built coil suspension. but its in the builder/driver to get to the desired result.
Im excited to see this build, hopefully you dont have the troubles with spring rates like you did with the all pro leafs. with coilovers, spring rate is infinately adjustable
But as far as coils, vs coilovers, coilovers are infinitely adjustable and infinately simple to place. if you dont like your ride height one day, you can adjust it fairly easily, If the dampening is too soft or stiff, its a rebuild away, not to mention you can adjust nitrogen pressure.
coils can preform quite adequately and yet so can leafs. a well built leaf suspension can outdo a poorly built coil suspension. but its in the builder/driver to get to the desired result.
Im excited to see this build, hopefully you dont have the troubles with spring rates like you did with the all pro leafs. with coilovers, spring rate is infinately adjustable
#12
I completely understand and agree about coilovers, and I'd LOVE to have 'em someday. Right now I'm just as curious as anything to get away from this current leaf setup and try the coil route, not to mention the linked route. I'm lucky I have Zach (and a few others, but him moreso) as a 'guinea pig' if you will for the RE coils under our 4.0. I'm very optimistic and excited to get this thing goin'.
It makes sense in having a (possibly) better suspension than one previously had rather than waiting (a more prolonged time period) for one aspect of the build before changing the entire thing, especially when the ultimate suspesion wanted is quite a ways out; I probably won't dive into coilovers for a year or two.
I guess I just dont get why people build one setup when they know in the near future they will upgrade it. It just doesnt make sense to me to spend 200 on coils only to sell them for a loss later on to buy coilovers, when if you just looked around a little you could prolly find a good deal on some nice C/O's.
Last edited by 2002FX4; 05-28-2008 at 11:06 PM.
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There also used to be several 'light' wheelin' spots within 15-20 mins. of my house, but in the past 6 months ALL of been fenced off for one reason or another. This leaves me having to deal with a commute of some sort, usually no less than ~2 hrs. That's also where my work schedule and funds for gas more than anything factor in.
My last time out was probaby about two months back at Cleghorn (just NE of Azusa, near the Cajon Pass) with Justin (84socal). That's when I broke my front drive shaft. Havn't really had an opportunity since to get back out.
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