I am going to put my stock rear springs in front. i was told that they move the axle forward about 2 inches, do i also need to move the shock mounts forward or can they stay in the stock position:confused: ? i am replacing the stock mounts with longer ones from sky manufacturing.

thats a good question?

I was also curious if the factory push/pull steering would work as well, or if it would 'bind up' ( I know - go X 0ver)

Ok I can tell ya what it will do since I just did it...
My rears (85 4runner) move my axel forward 2.5"...nice but sucks since I had to cut and re-build both the trac bar and drag link..I had to remove my adjustable link as it was way to long at its shortest...The shocks will not work in the stock position...you will have to go with ford towers or hoops...On the PS I just put the shock on the outside ( rear side) and ran a longer bolt, but on the DS you will have to force it back in as it will be crushed by the j-arm... You will need to put a 3/8" spacer on the DS since the PS is that much higher...and BTW you cant do that since it then puts the u-bolts right up into the j-arm...there is a lot involved if it is not thought out...Now with the springs up there you will need to make extended shackles or the rears will rest right on the frame as it pushes the stock one way back...onto the frame..The stock shocks are to short..will fit but no extenstion...It will mess the steering wheel position and turning to one side is dramatically cut..
I am going to make a new front spring hanger..since I will go 44044s or YJs ASAP..I was going to add to the pack but cant do that since it will run into the j-arm also...
The best thing is to get hysteer/crossover steering, U-bolt flip, before you do this...I found out the hard way but was in a hurry when I put my chevies on the rear and wanted to do the front..
I will post pics on what mine looks like...this is all TEMP until I can get something else up there...there is no way I will wheel this as it is and I only run it 2 miles to work and back..If I remember anything else I will add it in...I got pics and they will follow...

Shackle , had to cut into the mount, was resting on that also.

jpg.s1

draglink, this side needs the 3/8" spacer, see no room under ubolt to j-arm..shock pushed back into stock position...not good.

jpg.s2

i just put hy-steer on last weekend so that is not a problem, i am putting longer shock mounts on at the same time i am putting the rears in the front, so i will just have to move the mounts forward. i didn't want to do this just in case i ever wanted to put springs on that didn't move the axle forward so much. Already have the chevies, i can't wait to see how it turns out. hope this set up is as good as everyone says it is.

another view

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Ok..I missed that you did the hysteer already..I wont post pics since that is moot...LOL..That is the only thing with new towers..got to cut the old and no going back without a lot of re-re-cutting so to speak...

rear springs move the axle 2" forward up front.


I highly suggest adding a few leaves - rear springs have WAY to low a spring rate for use up front as-is.

Shock tower location is not really an issue - angling them one way or another is not a problem.

I agree with that on the rear springs..they did not lift the front as much as I thought they would..I was going to add two leafs from my 2nd set of rears...but had to stop since I do not have my crossover in and they would run smack into my j-arm...
More work for me to do still....

You would be better off adding the bottom leaf from a stock front pack (or even better would be the bottom leaf from a lifted front pack).

Do a search, there is a lot of good info on this. I just got done with the spring part of this and I ended up with a six pack of springs w/ longer shack. I didnt worry about the spacer because my sh$# is bent up enough it wouldnt matter. I might redrill the center pin hole on the axle to move the axle back a bit, but I would like it right where it is. So far so good.

Details of my rear -> front spring swap below:

http://4crawler.cruiserpages.com/4x4/4R_suspension-III.shtml#Front

I moved the shocks forward when I first installed the rear springs and since then, I've moved the axle another 3/4" forward and the shocks still work fine. You'll have to enlarge the bump stop pad on the frame if you intend to use it.

Mike at my work just had his done and rather than move the diff that far forward they just rebuilt the top of the diff pad and then built new hanger pads with the center pin in front of the front most ubolts.Keeps the diff where it is and no steering issues at all with the hysteer.He still had to clearance the front of the v-6 oil pan.When he is back from holidays I'll try and post some pics but it's going straight into the shop for the 1/4 elliptical and other mods.By the time it's done I'll have my star so I see if I can post them.