I had a leaf ute its had extended shackles but i don't think that helps with flex. I just put full coil chassis from a wagon wreak under it. Problem solved

 

Not many with leafy GQs
Most convert as above to coils
Ask this Q in the MQ/MK section
There all leafies
Generally extended shackles(illegal in some states) or reset leaf springs (2" more)plus the appropriate shocks of course

 

My mate put a 2in lift in his GQ leafy with extended shackles and reset leaves. Doesn't flex nearly as well as my coil wagon, but does the job.
Here's a quick shot of his flexing:

 

Ok so what is a price for a cheap spring lift kit and what is a price for a medium? if you get my meaning.

im seeing 1500ish on the cheaper scale.

Any to avoid?

 

I used to go through in my old ute 89 leaf spring a blacksmith. Nissan stell they use in their springs can be retempered (whilst cruiser will sag again very quickly). He lifted it 2 inchs front and rear and it stayed there for the 3 years that i had the truck and is probably still there. had to but new shocks but that is all. You do not need to replace the springs, take it to a spring works place and get it done, al s*#t load cheaper...can't exactly remember but around the 1000 buck mark from memory....

 

I am running 60 series Toyo springs (Kings) and Superiour shackles and I find that mine flexes pretty well and have won a comp or 2 with that setup. Within the next week or so it should be engineered with that setup, I have "in principle" approval just need it ticked off by the transport now and all will be sweet.

 

Got a quote for $2200 for a full EFS 2" lift, thats shocks, shackles, pins steering damper, bushes the lot, seems pretty good. and from what ive read EFS have a good name.

 

Dude, if you're only going 2" you don't need all that stuff. Your stock shocks can cope with 2" lift as can your damper. If they're cactus then replace em but if they're still good just keep em.

I had a Landcruiser ute with leaf springs that would blow most peoples minds. Get hold of "Superior Engineering" 4wd Accessories Australia | 4x4 Parts | Landcruiser Parts | Brisbane, Australia - Superior Engineering & get some 3way drop shackes for the rear. Then go to "Snake Racing" 4x4 Accessories, Suspension Kits and 4x4 Parts for your 4x4, 4WD vehicle | Snake Racing Australia & get their drop shackles for the front.

Both shackles will give you a 2" lift but superior's 3way drop shackles will allow the leaf to twist & with the drop function can give you up to 28" of travel. The reason you get 2 different sets of shackles is that if you were to fit 3way drop shackles to the front, you can get a sloppyness about the front end when cornering on road.

These shackles come with pins & new high quality rubbers. They're so easy to fit you could do it yourself & should cost no more than $1K. You won't get better performance out of leaf springs any other way. If you do this though, then you prob should get extended shocks. Tough Dog would be the best. I wouldn't use Rancho's on a leaf sprung vehicle, they wouldn't cope with it & would restrict things as they use small valves internally.

I do highly recommend serviceing ea leaf pack while you're at it. This involves pulling the leaf pack out, splitting it (making sure to put it back together the same way), sanding ea friction surface & polishing, then smear a high quality marine grade (water resistant) grease between each leaf, then bolt the pack back together & make sure the edges of each leaf & clean & grease free before giving the whole pack 3 coats of good quality paint.

You'd be surprised what a difference that will make & how easy it is.

I guarantee if you do this you won't be disappointed. This is what my cruiser was like with the drop shackle locking pins still in!!!!! You can expect even more result from a patrol. I didn't have drop shackles on front when these pics were taken, just extended ones.

 

Dude, if you're only going 2" you don't need all that stuff. Your stock shocks can cope with 2" lift as can your damper. If they're cactus then replace em but if they're still good just keep em.

I had a Landcruiser ute with leaf springs that would blow most peoples minds. Get hold of "Superior Engineering" 4wd Accessories Australia | 4x4 Parts | Landcruiser Parts | Brisbane, Australia - Superior Engineering & get some 3way drop shackes for the rear. Then go to "Snake Racing" 4x4 Accessories, Suspension Kits and 4x4 Parts for your 4x4, 4WD vehicle | Snake Racing Australia & get their drop shackles for the front.

Both shackles will give you a 2" lift but superior's 3way drop shackles will allow the leaf to twist & with the drop function can give you up to 28" of travel. The reason you get 2 different sets of shackles is that if you were to fit 3way drop shackles to the front, you can get a sloppyness about the front end when cornering on road.

These shackles come with pins & new high quality rubbers. They're so easy to fit you could do it yourself & should cost no more than $1K. You won't get better performance out of leaf springs any other way. If you do this though, then you prob should get extended shocks. Tough Dog would be the best. I wouldn't use Rancho's on a leaf sprung vehicle, they wouldn't cope with it & would restrict things as they use small valves internally.

I do highly recommend serviceing ea leaf pack while you're at it. This involves pulling the leaf pack out, splitting it (making sure to put it back together the same way), sanding ea friction surface & polishing, then smear a high quality marine grade (water resistant) grease between each leaf, then bolt the pack back together & make sure the edges of each leaf & clean & grease free before giving the whole pack 3 coats of good quality paint.

You'd be surprised what a difference that will make & how easy it is.

I guarantee if you do this you won't be disappointed. This is what my cruiser was like with the drop shackle locking pins still in!!!!! You can expect even more result from a patrol. I didn't have drop shackles on front when these pics were taken, just extended ones.

A 2" Dobinsons kit I put in a solid axle Hilux has schitloads more travel and flex than that, without the aid of illegal drop shackles too.
A leaf sprung will flex just as good if not better than a coil if the spring lengths and rates are good with the right length shocks.

 

You can do a 3" lift on leaf rear patrol & get good flex
3" coils & shocks in the front & no sway bar.
2" leaves/ extended shackles & 4" shocks in the rear.
on the rear you WILL NEED Leaves, bushes, extended greaseable shackles,greaseable pins,& extra long shocks so you can get good down travel.
I have supplied this kit for lots of guys in Brisbane with no complaints

Cheers

 

Thanks sparky, i was wondering about extended shackles. the springs are extra heavy duty and the ride is very rough, i could remove a leaf or 2 and try extended shackles.

Zordo, what price am i looking at?

Thanks guys.

 

Thanks sparky, i was wondering about extended shackles. the springs are extra heavy duty and the ride is very rough, i could remove a leaf or 2 and try extended shackles.

Zordo, what price am i looking at?

Thanks guys.

$1750 + fitting if required
Cheers

 

double post

 

I have a few questions about the extended shackles.

1. does it lean more than usuall when on the side of a hill, i find myself driving across the sides of some steep hills.


2. Seems like it would sit like a normal 2" lift but with alot more down travel, this is importaint as this is a work vehicle and it cant look to extreme.

i'm very interested in this idea, but not sure about the 3way.

 

What Sudso said. That flex on the 75 series looks not much better than stock. And leaf springs is probably the only time I would use Ranchos as far less dampening is required compared to coils.

 

Rancho's seem to work pretty well with leaf springs.

BTW Sharky1 what do you think of those Dueller MT's? Dont see many around and I'm curious what they're like for wear, self cleaning ability, wet and dry road traction etc.
Cheers

 

$1600 Free freight to Brisbane, $30 to Sydney, $50 to Melbourne. Will have to give freight quotes to elsewhere https://www.suspensionstuff.com.au/shop/product_info.php?cPath=137_156_189&products_id=1823

 

Coils for the front? is there somthing im missing here, i've got leafs front n back

just going to stick with a 2" spring lift for now, figure i can add shackles latter if i want.

 

Ok fair point. Same price

 

Are extended shackles legal? legalish?

 

Nothing is ever simple, thanks for all the info guys.

It has a steel tray and tipper so its pretty heavy, its a work ute so its going to carry some weight sometimes but hopefully. It's days of being massively over loaded are gone, as are mine.
It's always going to be a compromise with this thing, but hopefully I can add or remove leafs to get what I want, I don't want to go down the dreaded air bag route as I'm not a big fan of them. If I have this thing to soft I am going to squash it flat

 

Well got the front 2" leaf pack on, it sits 110mm higher than before, it will be interesting to see where it settles too.

 

There we go. lifted leaf ute.:cheers:

2" spring and extended shackles, front working well but rear still way to stiff, have pulled 1 leaf out of the back but i feel if i take any more out i won't be able to carry any weight, but the back is neither compressing or extending well.

It will go more but i need to make an adjustment to the diff breather, i think removing the sway bar helped a fair bit.

 

Good work.

Do you have pics of the rear (trying to) flex? You want the shackles to be sitting at a 35-45 degree angle (from vertical) when on the flat, this will take the bumpy harshness out of the ride and also allow the spring to move easier = flex and compression.

 

Nah didnt bother with the rear, it seems to me that the only way to get the rear to flex is to take leafs out, but i still need to carry weight at the moment but give me 6 months and i might decide that her weight carrying days are over and rip some more leafs out. and maybe a new lighter tray.

 

Ok screw carrying weight, i want comfort and travel. I can take another 2 or 3 leafs out but i think the weight of the tray will sag it bad. i plan to put another big thick leaf on the bottom of the pack as a spacer to keep all the height i can. Im going to get it flexing and comfortable then i'll worry about getting it to carry weight.

 

Maybe a triple convoluted air bag supporting the super soft leaves would allow flex and carry weight. You might need to be happy with a 3" lift in the rear though.

 

Maybe a triple convoluted air bag supporting the super soft leaves would allow flex and carry weight. You might need to be happy with a 3" lift in the rear though.

You got me there "a triple convoluted air bag" what is that? overgrown airbag?

 

By the way I am getting some custom rear leaves made which are designed to flex better and I will have a couple of load options. I will let you know how testing goes.