Removing leaves from hilux rear

[MatthewS]

Hey all,

Messing around with my rear suspension ATM, I have a set of tough dog 0-300kg leafs at home waiting to go into the ute, I have a style side extra cab with no weight in the rear. I was wondering if anyone has taken the second stage out of there leaf pack on our models lux's and how was your experience?

I have seen it done many times on weekend play toys but wanting to know the pro's and cons on a daily driver with no weight. Will it destroy the leafs?

Another option is to put the standard leafs in with extendable shackles and take the 2nd stage out and put the tough dogs in later in the year when I go touring...


Thoughts people??

Cheers Matty

[Alesnik]

IMO theres no need to take out the second stage as you arent using it until your loaded up and your springs flatten out and come in contact with them, if you were after a softer ride etc remove a spring or two from the main pack

[evl253]

Ok I've got an 09 dual cab lux. Front has been levelled with sway bar removed. Front end flexes pretty good now I've removed the sway bar. Handles fine to. I want the rear to flex a bit more. Would removing a rear load leaf help this? I already know about needing longer rear shocks n brake lines. Flexed it up this army for a test. Left front up a big mound. Lhf had about 5mm clearance to the extended bump stops Rhf had maybe 10mm to max droop. Lhr tyre just touching the ground not enough for traction. Stock rear springs n shackles extended all the way rhr still about 30mm to bumps. Would bit softer help flex? I can't go to a real soft pack as still load it up when needed and tow a loaded car trailer that weighs around 2-2100kg. Softer ride unloaded would be nice.

[nicebike]

Suggestion: Get a spring works to put a bit more arch in the top three leaves, the thin ones. Also get the bottom two, the thick ones, flattened out so they have no arch at all. Don't take either of the thick leaves out.

If, for example, you were take out the top thick leaf, the result may be localising of the stress and flex of the thin leaves around the end of the remaining thick leaf. This could result in fatigue and /or breakage . Similar issues could arise if you removed the bottom thick leaf or both thick leaves.

This will give you a lot better ride and let things flex more easily. You will still have the support of the thicker leaves if the suspension compresses that far.

If you find this too soft and that you are down on the thick leaves more often than you like, it is a simple matter to add another thin leaf under the main leaf.

The spring works will more than likely suggest (read try to talk you into) adding a fourth thin leaf in the first place. This happened to me and I found the result too stiff for my purposes at the time (light loads)

[evl253]

I'll look into it. dunno of anyone here in Bathurst only orange. anyways here is a pick of the back. doesn't flex like some of the crazy setups you see obviously.

[nicebike]

In that pic it looks like the R/R is pushing up a bit better than the L/F ???

[evl253]

lhf is about 5mm off the bump stops not much more left in it. rhr spring was bent upwards past flat. rhf was nearly at full droop.

[nicebike]

lhf is about 5mm off the bump stops not much more left in it. rhr spring was bent upwards past flat. rhf was nearly at full droop.

That sounds like the back could actually be doing pretty well flex wise, particularly for a leaf sprung, road going ute. And particularly if it is empty in the pic. Ride quality might be a different issue.

I just thought that the front looked to be down a bit from the flare, and it does sound like you have about 10mm at the wheel left. Whether or not chasing that little bit will give you a worthwhile result is up to you to decide.

Ute also appears to be facing uphill a little. If it was pointing downhill, the weight transfer might cause the front to come close to full compression and the back to flex a little less flex. In other words, you might be doing better than you think

[evl253]

would these style of springs be what your talking about nicebike? not the best picture but these are for an older hilux of a mates. thick flat leaves well arched top leaves

[nicebike]

would these style of springs be what your talking about nicebike? not the best picture but these are for an older hilux of a mates. thick flat leaves well arched top leaves

That's the sort of thing. They look like aftermarket rather than reworked stockies, cos they have four thinner leaves, not the three of stockies. Obviously a lot of that arch goes when the weight comes on, but you can have them set so that a reasonable amount of arch is retained and so that the softer top part of the spring pack can move a bit before the thick lower leaves come into play. Flattening the thick leaves contributes to the room to move.

Leaf thickness can obviously affect things too. I don't have notes so can't be sure, but I think the leaves on stockies may very slightly thicker than some aftermarket springs - probably not enough to matter.

[evl253]

yeah they are aftermarket of some breed for a solid axle lux.

[Jearonn17]

Hey all. Just wondering if anyone have removed a leaf from the leaf spring. Im planning to do mine but not too sure because there will be only 2 leaves left(except the 2 straight bottom ones). Any experts here that can give me some pointers? Cheers.

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[TOYZX]

From the factory pack? Why??

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[sa_lux]

Good question well asked Toyzx

W H Y ???????

Is there a YT I have missed ???????

[Jearonn17]

From the factory pack? Why??

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Because of rash unladen ride. I just wanna make the ride a bit softer. Even if i lose some load ratings its ok.

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[nicebike]

Keep the standard 3/2 number of leaves but have a reset to put more arch in the three primaries.

Leave the two secondaries as is. That will work.

[Toeknee2]

Hi Nicebike, I've been thinking about trying to take the 'vibration' out of my ride. I'm not too bothered by the bounce, I carry a few tools in the back so I don't really experience much bounce at all.
Its the harsh way that the ute rides over the small stuff that annoys me.
If possible how would I go about improving this?
It's a 2017 make with an alloy bull bar and 18" wheels (running 32psi).
Thanks in advance.
Tony

[Jearonn17]

Keep the standard 3/2 number of leaves but have a reset to put more arch in the three primaries.

Leave the two secondaries as is. That will work.

To be honest i did not understand what you said can you explain it in a more easy-to-understand-for-newbies way. Cheers.

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[creaky]

Leaf springs are made up of a set of leaves, usually 4 to 7 of them of varying lengths and curves and thicknesses.

Secondaries are the heavy load carrying springs that mainly activate when the suspension is partially compressed when carrying weight. They do not affect the initial spring rate which dictates the small bump response that you are seeking.

The primaries control the initial suspension travel and thus are the focus in improving the small bump compliance that you are seeking.

Resetting springs can be a cost effective way of changing the ride characteristic of the leaf spring set. Nicebike is suggesting that you could take the leaf pack to a specialist spring works who could re-curve the primary leaves to provide more separation between each leaf as a way to get a more comfortable initial ride for small bumps.

In reality though you need to remember that it is a ute so the rear is designed to carry a significant load variance so will be stiff when lightly loaded. The most effective (not cost effective) outcome would be to install a set of aftermarket 'comfort leaf packs' with nicer shocks (e.g. Bilstein at the lower price range).

[Toeknee2]

Thanks Creaky.
I'll talk to a guy who resets leaf springs tomorrow, see what he suggests.

Now what about the front? There's a 'vibration' from roughish roads that comes through the front that I would love to iron out. I'm assuming the only fix here would be to change the shock absorbers? I know the car warranty would most likely be voided if I touched the springs.
Any suggestions for the front?
Thanks!