I wanted to post about lessons learned here on my first Leaf spring install of any kind.
I had previously installed airbags to help with the sag problem when truck was full of camping gear. I found out the airbags give a bouncy ride and limit travel on rear wheels more than you think.
Taking those things off was a pain and added to my time for
doing the passenger side last night. You will need a cheater bar
to get the bolts loose at the far ends of the leaf springs, the muffler will give
you fits as well. I went through several versions of lifting the axel up and down trying to get something loose, finally I got the front part of the spring free from the truck. The rest came with lots of tugging, and saying four letter words. when you get the leafs out on the ground next to your dakars
you will SAY " WTF no wonder my truck is whimpy and can hold little load. "
Next , installing a Dakar leaf, doing this alone I put the think in my lap
and manovered into place, not a good idea, I will work standing on the next side, I ended up standing because I did not have the strength to move it where it needed to go. Bent the brake line, not sure
If I will replace it or not. I was able to mount the rear in the hanger, then I worked for way to long ( hours ) trying to push , pull , pry the thing into place to get the front bolt in. Go to walmart get a come-along makes it easy.
I also wanted to make a comment on the shocks.. WOW, the crap that came on my
offroad pkg for shocks, I guess wheeling to them is an empty truck riding around on the golf course. I can not belive those bilsteins worked at all. The N182 shocks will work much better.
Tonight Drivers Side. I hope to get that faster than 5 hours it took for the passenger side.
Stay Tuned. --tmoore
2 N182 TACOMA 05+ REAR SHOCk
2 FK29 TACOMA REAR DRIVESHAFT SPACER
1 OMEU53A TACOMA 05+ U-BOLT SET
And the bushings for the leafs.
Reply 1 : Emu Dakar leaf springs INstall
i want to know, do you think it is ok to put in dakars with no new shocks? eventually i will upgrade, but to begin with i want to stay with stock shocks.
good luck with the install.
Reply 2 : Emu Dakar leaf springs INstall
I have OME shocks in the front a rear to replace the bilsteins. To be honest, I am surprised Bilstein allowed their name on the TRD shocks. My OME's are TWICE as beefy, and MUCH smoother. Spend the $400 on some OMEs and you won't regret it.
Reply 3 : Emu Dakar leaf springs INstall
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Originally Posted by pointerDixie214 I have OME shocks in the front a rear to replace the bilsteins. To be honest, I am surprised Bilstein allowed their name on the TRD shocks. My OME's are TWICE as beefy, and MUCH smoother. Spend the $400 on some OMEs and you won't regret it.
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Reply 4 : Emu Dakar leaf springs INstall
i replaced my oem bilsteins 2 days ago with donahoes and WOW what a difference. those stock shocks are garbage.
Reply 5 : Emu Dakar leaf springs INstall
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Originally Posted by jedi You replaced the stock shocks w/ the OMEs without any lift? I want to lift my truck, but I have to do it part by part. Can I just swap out my stock junk, for the new OME shocks for the time being?
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Reply 6 : Emu Dakar leaf springs INstall
if you want to do it part by part then buy the parts and wait to install them until you have everything that you need. that way you only go through install once.
Reply 7 : Emu Dakar leaf springs INstall
I can not wait for my HOE'S They go on soon as I get them, I hope by monday.
this setup is for 2" of lift and ability to haul all my camp stuff and kayak on top.
I almost look like beverly hillbillys going down the beach.
Reply 8 : Emu Dakar leaf springs INstall
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Originally Posted by pointerDixie214 I replaced my stock shocks when I lifted it... I have a 3" lift on this truck... You can do the rear shocks seperate from the lift, but I would do the front at the same time as the lift, or essentially you are doing all the labor on the lift again when you replace the front shocks...
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Reply 9 : Emu Dakar leaf springs INstall
i havent purchased control arms yet as i havent decided on which ones i will go with.
Reply 10 : Emu Dakar leaf springs INstall
Feel your pain on the springs. I installed mine alone as well and it took me a good 6-7 hours to get it done.
Reply 11 : Emu Dakar leaf springs INstall
planohog, sounds like you did it the hard way. Don't you have somebody that can help you? An impact gun and long socket extension helps a lot. A big set of jack stands for the trucks frame, and a smaller set to hold the axle once you lower it down. Remove the shocks. Everything else is just loosening and tightening bolts.
You'll need to grind/cut off the excess threads of the leaf centering pin because the bump stop fits overtop of it.
Reply 12 : Emu Dakar leaf springs INstall
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Pb planohog, sounds like you did it the hard way. Don't you have somebody that can help you? An impact gun and long socket extension helps a lot. A big set of jack stands for the trucks frame, and a smaller set to hold the axle once you lower it down. Remove the shocks. Everything else is just loosening and tightening bolts.
You'll need to grind/cut off the excess threads of the leaf centering pin because the bump stop fits overtop of it. |
I have a few air tools, and a cheater , i drilled the hole a bit on the bump stop
rathern than trip the bolt in the sprigs, should go better tonight
--tmoore
Reply 13 : Emu Dakar leaf springs INstall
Got the process down to 2.5 hours on the drivers side. WOW what a diffrence,
I have a few pics that I can upload later to show the diff in stock offroad and
the kit I used. N182 shocks and dakar springs.
The BAD Part is HOE's are backordered for a week or so.
I measured about 20" from center of front tire to top lip of fender
I measured about 25" from center of rear tire to top lip of fender
so I have a dragster right now.
filled it up with servers last night during a midnight migration, maybe 500 lbs rode like a 1965 cadilack with curb feelers. the ride was styling and profiling on the tore-up down town dallas streets ,
I cant wait to hit the beach for a test run
Reply 14 : Emu Dakar leaf springs INstall
here are the pics
if you wonder why your truck sags with a bag of sand in it .
http://divetx.org/mods/DSC00629.JPG
see the rest
http://divetx.org/mods/
--tmoore
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