I've used the search on this topic, but unfortunately there aren't too many Mighty Max P.ups out there......so here we go....

Deciding between adding longer toyota shackles to my leafs...which will only give about 1.5 inches of lift $69.....or should i go with the add a leaf option $??? and not sure how much lift it will give. I'm assuming that the add a leaf option will make the ride stiffer, especially when the truck is not loaded up, therefore causing the light rear end of the truck to skip out alot over little bumps. Is this a correct assumption? As well, the only shackle that I've been told will fit my truck (92 mighty max V6) is from an 85-93 Toyota. Does anyone know of any other shackle that will work.....I believe the 83-93 Montero has the same rear suspension configuration as my truck. In the front, I am just going to adjust the torsion bars...to get the 1.5 inches, and trim the bump stops. So beyond this option, I guess the next step would be a body lift?

Any advice, recommendations would be great!

Are you 2wd or 4wd? If the spring length is the same or no more than a tad longer, and you are 2wd, I think the 4wd rear p/u springs are taller, and if just longer, get a spring shop to re-arch them to the right length, which gets you a little lift right there. Re-arching higher to a shorter length would require a somewhat longer shackle that would lean more forward at the bottom - a little more initial stiffness.

I kind of don't like just a longer shackle. This changes the pinion angle and unmatches the front and rear ujoint angles some. You also get more level ground clearance to the body and frame, but the longer shackle with the same basic spring height does not improve the departure angle, since the angle from the tire to the shackle is the same. You want to increase basic spring height, and with fixed front shackle, and minimal rear shackle longtitudinal tolerance, you have to have a spring with a higher (if you hold your head upside down) arc.

A good leaf spring shop can take your leaf stack apart, untemper the leaves in an annealling oven, bend 'em on a tighter curve, and re-assemble the stack with neat teflon slicky strips between leaves so they are as smooth as coils.

OR, coilover's in place of the shocks, with adjustable spring seats to change the ride height, and maybe take a leaf or two out of the leaf stack.

OR (TAH-DAH), the rednek solution. Air shocks and a big Gabriel sticker for the bumper.

getting your springs rearched is good but i would not do the add a liefs becouse of the ride.and you are wrong about the shackles.you need the shackles for the front axle of a 85 or older truck.i have done this i realy like it.

Toyota front leaf extended shackles, Summit Racing P/N PRA-0084

These shackles are 4" longer than stock (I measured them).

those are the exact ones i have on my truck.i got about 2 to 2 1/2 inches of lift out of them.

Same here.

I had the leaf pack disassembled, re-arc'd, and a 5th leaf added.
This is better than just the "add-a-leaf", as that method adds the 5th leaf to the existing stack, and tries to lift the vehicle by arching the existing 4 leafs. This means the 5th leaf is fighting the existing leafs, and must be very strong. This will result in a stiffer suspension than mine, and with the springs forced into a greater arc, will reduce the articulation by limiting the axle's range of movement. It will ride stiffer. Taller, but stiffer.
And which ever you do, the rear shocks will still be the right length.


Re-arcing longer leafs from another vehicle will cause the same problem with the rear shocks as the longer shackle.
The longer rear shackle will move the rear axle's range of movement down by about half the increased length of the new shackle. This means on full axle droop, the rear shocks will max out before the axle does, and you'll wreck the shocks. You'll need longer shocks, with a movement range moved away from the frame to match the axle's new range away from the frame.

Trimming the front bumpstops will also mean the front shocks may max out as well. Those may also need to be longer. I've wrecked 1 pair up front already.

Thank you, Don. Good explanation.

John B.

I swapped my shocks and brake lines out with longer ones two years ago in anticipation of doing the suspension lift, but only got around to it a month ago. Once I found out about swapping out the UCAs I knew I wanted to go that route, so I held off until I gradually obtained all I needed.

Besides, I had other priorities before the suspension lift. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

...other priorities...


...man, you have the best built up 2.6 rig on the planet!

How is the UCA swap? Steering?