Leaf spring removal

[arsonteg]

Hey guys i have a 90 HB and i wanted to kno what you guys could tell me about leaf spring removal. Right know I have 3 inch blocks on the HB and I'd like to drop it another inch or two. Nothing drastic, I dont want to slam it. So my questions are:

1- What are the pros and cons to removing leaf springs?

2- Where can I find a write up on leaf spring removal?

and

3- Are there any alternatives for dropping that I could consider?

Everyone on here is usually really helpful . . . so thanks in advance to anyone that responds

[arsonteg]

Nobody?

[Desert Rat]

Not clear on what you want to do - are you wanting to remove individual leaves, or are you wanting to remove the entire spring pack?

Your truck is a 2wd, right?

To remove the packs, you need to get the frame on jackstands and the wheels off. Unbolt the 2 ubolts on each side securing the axle to the spring pack and use a floor jack to lift up the axle. Regular through bolts hold the spring to the hanger in front and the schackle in the rear.

I wouldn't remove an individual leaf, as your spring rate would end up way to soft and you'd bottom out on every little bump.

[arsonteg]

Hmm . . . Thanks for the response. It definitely helped. I was aking about removing individual leaf springs and yea it is a 2wd. Since removing an individual spring is a bad idea . . . What other alternatives are there for lowering in the rear? I cant find round u-bolts long enough to be used with a four inch block so what else is there to do besides airbags?

[Desert Rat]

Do you have any offroad shops near you? I have a place locally that will custom bend Ubolts to your spec. Do you have the axle to frame clearance to run a block that big? If not, you're probably looking at needing to do a custom 4 link with coils or bags.

[arsonteg]

I've been to a few shops, but none offer a round u-bolt thats long enough. I was able to find the square u-bolts long enough, but those wont work. The clearance shouldnt be an issue. Right now I have three inch blocks on there and there is still space.

Where can I find more info on a coil conversion?

I've never been a big fan of bags . . .

Thanks for all the help man, I really appreciate it.

[Desert Rat]

Well, a coil conversion will be full custom and require significant fab work.

While not directly applicable, start reading up on 4x4 sites. The theory is the same; the ride height is different. There's lots of tech on doing 4 link setups on places like Pirate4x4. I wouldn't post though....with a lowrider, you'd get flamed to pieces there, but the info should be good.

[arsonteg]

Cool. Thanks again for all the info. I guess I have to do some more research.

[NissanhardbodyKa]

Hey man I was reading over your post and i might have some advice to help you out. look into belltech.. they have leafsprings that will drop you 3 inchs with jsut bolting them on and then if you want a little more you can add a 1 inch block more to get it to where you want it.. I jsut got the front drop spindles for the front. I did a block set up in the back before.. Had it 5 inches.. but everytime i hit a bump it was smacking the frame haha.. I didnt do the arch inthe fram but it worked for what it was.. Here is a link to check out mine.. i am going to do the 3 inch in teh back with the leafs .. i got a body kit so i dont want to go to low.. here is links.. the first one is for the leafs. http://www.stylintrucks.com/pa...=3346h ... co...81240

[arsonteg]

Thats awesome. Thanks for the link man, I'm def. going to look into that . . . The myspace link says the profile is set to private so i couldnt se the pics . . . Howd you get five inch blocks on there? Did you have to have the u-bolts made?

[NM50]

The trick thing to do is notch the frame so the axle has room for deflection.Lowrider mag. had a tech write up about it.Cool for drifting,it was a three link but was just for lowrider show.

[arsonteg]

The trick thing to do is notch the frame so the axle has room for deflection.Lowrider mag. had a tech write up about it.Cool for drifting,it was a three link but was just for lowrider show.

Does anyone know where to find the write up? It'd be a nice sticky to have floating around . . .

[NissanhardbodyKa]

LOl well what happend with that was my father inlaw had a ford that had 5 inch blocks on it for lift.. So i took the blocks cause he scraped the truck.. I got the u bolts and everything for it.. Just had to dremmel out the notch where the pin goes into the block.. oh yeah man try that link now. I will turn the privacy link off.. sorry I forgot i had that on..

[arsonteg]

LOl well what happend with that was my father inlaw had a ford that had 5 inch blocks on it for lift.. So i took the blocks cause he scraped the truck.. I got the u bolts and everything for it.. Just had to dremmel out the notch where the pin goes into the block.. oh yeah man try that link now. I will turn the privacy link off.. sorry I forgot i had that on..

Hahaha . . . Nice. I cant find u-bolts long enough anywhere . . . I have the blocks . . . All I need is the bolts. Nice project btw . . . I like the look of that 2nd photoshoped pic on the page.

[NissanhardbodyKa]

Did you try the local Advanced auto and such.. I know the one here has over sized ones.. If not man check out belltech for that too.. they might have some. I know that they have alot of the block kits.. The block kits come with the ubolts and all. That might be your best bet.. Oh thanks.. Yeah I have been messing around with that to get an idea of what i am going for.. the first two back and then front are with the Xenon body kit.. I ended up getting another thats on the truck in the second row first pic... And thats supposed to be close to the factory nissan candy color.. I think it would be fine like that.. so thats what i am going for.. But yeah man feel free to send me a a message anytime if you need something... My email is [email protected].. talk to you later..

[arsonteg]

Thanks for al the hel everyone. I was able to find some 13 inch u-bolts that fit the dif perfectly and have enough space for a five inch block. I'll try to post some pics once its dropped. Thanks again for all the help guys.

[NissanhardbodyKa]

thats cool where did you find them at??? And your welcome.. you know my site url... If you need anything man hit me up there..

[arsonteg]

I was able to find them at an autozone that was on the other side of town, about an hour away. Two autozones less than ten minutes from my house and neither carried the u-bolts. I thought that was weird, but atleast I was able to find them and I didn't have to special order anything. I was also able to find them at a local NAPA but they wanted more than six times as much as what I paid for them at autozone . . . So I lucked out.