Add a leaf ...or airbags?

[Coast Steve]

Hey guys,


After hauling a few heavy loads, I see my rear axle is pretty close to the rubber bump stop, plus the truck seems to sit just a little low.


I'm thinking I'm am going to either add a leaf on my springset to stiffen things up, or add adjustable air bags, I think you can get a generic kit to do it.

I have leaf front and rear so would need to do 4 bags or 4 leafs.

I just wondered what the "experts" thought about this? I'm leaning toward the extra leafs myself.

Thanks,

Steve

[WELDER]

I'm no expert, but from what I've done in the past to some of my Chevs and such, add-a-leafs will keep the cost down and get the job done. The nice thing about bags is that you can deflate them for a smoother ride when you aren't hauling heavy loads, whereas add-a-leafs will yield a harsher ride all the time.

Typically, overload airbags are used in fullsize truck applications, where the extra weight in the bed is significant.

I vote for add-a-leafs.

[draggbody]

buy a set of timbrens and call it a day...

[Stuff99]

id vote on bags. but only on rears

[woodhe1]

I always add a leaf to the trucks that get dump boxes. It takes a couple of hours. The local spring guy makes a set for me for $75.00 and includes 4 U-bolts and a center bolt.

dan

[Coast Steve]

Thanks for the input and ideas guys,

I decided to add a leaf on all 4 corners, I can't afford the good airbags, and would need to do some mods to the cheap set I could get.



(No one really seems to know what a Canter is) and they say the bags are made for specefic models but not mine.

So It's off to a spring shop and off road place all in one on Thursday.

around $85 per leaf x4 leafs plus longer U bolts and instalation.

They said around 5-$600 done

[Coast Steve]

So an update on this new spring option,

The so called "top offroad" shop on the North shore was a flop.
They modify all the full sized 4x4's for offroading, so I thought this would be the place to go, I called them and explained I wanted to add a leaf to all 4 corners to stiffen things up and increase my load rating.

Sure we will be able to do that no problem.

After droping it off, I got a call an 2 hours later.............UM we don't have anything even close to being strong enough to help boost your trucks loading capacity, our biggest spring won't do a thing to move it up and rearc it, your stock springs are just to thick and strong.
(Fair enough , but I did give all the dimensions on the phone a week before)

So I take the bus back to pick up my truck and then drive to the ferry back home,
(a little bit disapointed and a day wasted)

Then on to a "real spring shop" A few days ago I was at "Canada Springs" talking to David Church, they custom made me real springs using all the new wear pads, and nuts with custom made u bolts and did it properly.

In their shop they had springs I couldn't even lift, and trucks that could carry 4 of my trucks, so I new I was in the right place, they make everything there custom from scratch with huge machinery.

They have a staff of talented guys that know what they are doing over there, they made all the parts and installed them in less than one day and I picked up the truck to get back that same afternoon.

My new springs are 7/16" thick and 2 3/4" wide and around 36" long
The fronts are slightly thiner at around 3/8"

And what a difference!, it rides only about an inch higher, and corners much better, feels more stable and will haul more cargo safely.
The ride is a tad rougher as expected but well worth it in the higher load capacity

They had no trouble at all with my RHD Japanese truck.

All in all I'm very happy with their work.
here's some pics. I do highly recommend Canada Springs in burnaby BC,
toll free at 1 800 565 2288

[fupabox]

Good to know there are still "specialists" out there that actually know their business...these guys seem few and far between these days.
congrats on the upgrade:)

[Coast Steve]

Hi Steve, I’m pleased you’re happy with the job we did for you and for the “plug” on your truck forum.

We at Canada Spring pride ourselves on doing the job properly, the way things should always be done. We’ve been in business for over 20 years and have dedicated mechanics with over 70 man years of experience in our shop that take a lot of pride in their work. They’ve often been refered to as the problem solvers when it comes to suspension systems and if a job isn’t right, they’ll make it right!

We also have installed a new state of the art “Bee Line” brand laser guided wheel alignment system and a new 30,000 lb hoist. We also have a wheel balancing system that will balance your wheels while still on the vehicle.

Thanks again for your support and if we can be of service in the future or if you have some friends or family that have vehicle suspension or wheel alignment issues, we will do our best as always.



P.S. Don’t forget to re-torque your u-bolts after about 300 km. After that, you are good to go unless you remove the u-bolts for whatever reason.



Thanks again, take care

Dave Church

[Tech Doug]

Just put a used set in a DD51T was not to hard, some fabbing and creative thinking springs sagged after three inch lift kit had to do something!!!! The drilling rig is for core samples I think. since have put on out riggers back outsides, they are happy with the performance of the truck mainly that it works well in confined spaces and handles the wieght well. the tires are from a truck I ordered from the Phillipines they are CHAO YANG CM882-6.40-6.50-13LT-85L with tubes.

[starpuss]

Just put a used set in a DD51T was not to hard, some fabing and creative thinking springs sagged after three inch lift kit had to do something!!!!

i like your tires what are they?

[greg0187]

Is that a drilling rig? Seriously.... What is that in the back?

[Coast Steve]

Wow! COOL!

A working machine all the way.
Looks like a water well drilling deal?

Well done on the air bags

[erixun]

Very cool! I like your tires and wheels as well, what are they? where did you get them? size, type etc... also what size are your wheels and what are they originally meant for?

[o8k]

The suspense is killing me!!!!

1) what tires are those?
2) what kind of drill?

[Ironraven]

+1 on the tires, those things look MEAN!

[Tech Doug]

i like your tires what are they?

THE TIRES ARE CHAO YANG CM882 6.40-6.50-13LT-85L they came on a truck I got from the Phillipines!!!

[Tech Doug]

The drilling rig is for core samples I think , the tires came off a truck I ordered from the Phillipines they are CHAO YANG CM882-6.40-6.50-13LT 85L.

[Stuff99]

heh that truck is from flatlanders in regina, sk.

nice little core rig on there! I am going to be putting a small SMEAL derrick on mine to. Just need to make the crown again.. it got stolen..

like so
http://www.smealderricks.com/show_image.asp?filewidth=400&filename=Products-Photo2-29.jpg

[mitsu911]

Just put a used set in a DD51T was not to hard, some fabbing and creative thinking springs sagged after three inch lift kit had to do something!!!! The drilling rig is for core samples I think. since have put on out riggers back outsides, they are happy with the performance of the truck mainly that it works well in confined spaces and handles the wieght well. the tires are from a truck I ordered from the Phillipines they are CHAO YANG CM882-6.40-6.50-13LT-85L with tubes.
What re DD51T? Is that a mini truck model? Were they equipped with these aribags as standard rear suspension?