Which leaf springs do you run front and rear for your soa Cruiser. Im asking because I cant get any flex out of my stock springs and Im looking for options

You need to add FJ55/FJ55 (front/rear) and FJ40/FJ55 (front/rear) to your list. Also you might consider adding FJ60, I know some people are running those springs.

I did waggies cause I needed more lift than the blazer springs I was using, had more flex/travel, and are alot more common than cruiser springs (and often cheaper...junkyard here wanted $12 each for them).

Also, they are longer than the cruiser springs so you may need new mounts. All mine were totally screwed up so I had to make new ones anyway so that was not a factor in choosing a spring other than cruiser ones.

I have two sets of FJ55 rears disassembled out on the driveway awaiting media blasting and painting with Corroless followed by a graphite based paint. One set will get an extra leaf, from some FJ40 fronts trimmed to fit in the middle, added for the front!

My FJ40 has stock springs front and rear. The 45 Truggy has rear FJ60 springs on the front and F350 1/4 ellipticals on the rear.

stock fronts and FJ55 rears out back :smokin:

i can ramp over one thousand on 23 degree
im also around 10"longer in the wheelbase

I run my stock springs...they are nice and flat and flex great...I flipped the rear springs and gained 3" of wheel-base!:smokin:

Ok, I have stock springs and they suck. What is the problem? I dont get very good compression OR droop. (no my shocks are not limiting):confused:

I run OME front and fj60/62 spring on the rear, I haven't driven it
yet to see how the rear springs work. The front is the same way I ran it for 3 years and the OME's work good on the front.

OME.....

old man emu?


or

origional manufacture equipment?


Dan

OME = Old Man Emu

OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer

I dunno why your stock springs won't flex...

The guy that did the spring work on mine uses stock 40 springs on all his SOA's, and easily maxes a Rancho 9012 in both directions... Can't run hi-steer because the axles stuff right into the frame... Nice and low for stability, and flexes like hell..

Originally posted by MD11Fr8Dog
I have two sets of FJ55 rears disassembled out on the driveway awaiting media blasting and painting with Corroless followed by a graphite based paint. One set will get an extra leaf, from some FJ40 fronts trimmed to fit in the middle, added for the front!

ummmm....couldn't have put it better myself...hehehehe

- Some things for flex:
Shackle angles ~45 degrees
springs cleaned/graphite painted or teflon inserts
lubed bushings and/or greasable pins.
properly located/orientated shocks ie: pins parallel to driveshafts, NOT to axle
open spring wraps for droop

Originally posted by woody


ummmm....couldn't have put it better myself...hehehehe

- Some things for flex:
Shackle angles ~45 degrees
springs cleaned/graphite painted or teflon inserts
lubed bushings and/or greasable pins.
properly located/orientated shocks ie: pins parallel to driveshafts, NOT to axle
open spring wraps for droop

I learned it from a Jedi Master!! :D

Hauling my 34 leaves to a new home construction site where two Russian guys are gonna media blast them with ground up corn cob in about 15 mins!!:smokin:

Hmmm, shock pins parallel...I have to think about that one!

Ok new question, should I run5 or 6 leaves in The FRONT with STOCK springs?

thanks Dan

Originally posted by crawlin cruiser
Ok new question, should I run5 or 6 leaves in The FRONT with STOCK springs?

thanks Dan

I think the stock fronts have 6 and the stock rears have 5, at least the ones I just took apart did. I think a lot of folks experiment with number of leaves!!I will be running adding a leaf to the 55 rears that I will run up front, per Woody's technique! I'm taking the longest leaf from a set of 40 springs and placing it in the middle of the spring pack, between leaves 4 and 5 and trimming to fit - I'm starting to like cutting and grinding metal :nuke: (Did my first Sawzall cuts yesterday cutting two rear body mount bolts under the rear channel!! Way cool!!:smokin:). I'm also leaving the 1 inch wide wraps open - they will still be on, sticking straight up, to keep the leaves from twisting/working out sideways!

IMO, the number of springs you need varies greatly with the truck setup...engine weight, battery location, winch weight, etc all factor in.

On mine, I started with a set of FJ55 rear spring packs, with the square-cut leaf ends. Stock is 8 per leaf pack. With the full weight of the truck, they compressed to flat or a slight negative arch....TOO soft. Added a leaf in about the 4th position, modified from a FJ40 pack, and that solved it.

My rear packs are also from the rear of a FJ55 and are their softer riding version - tapered ends on the leaves. I was able to leave these stock with all 8 leaves.

Mine rides awesome and flexes great....no complaints whatsoever. You will be best off starting with stock numbers and then playing with the number of leaves...yeah, each change is a 1/2 day job, but since they are cleaned and freshly installed, it's a quick swap.

Also, stock FJ40 packs were 7 leaves, weren't they?!? (Have to check - got about 6-7 sets laying around the garage somewheres....)

oem 6 leaf wranglers in front, 8leaf stockers with added leafs in rear.

Originally posted by woody
Also, stock FJ40 packs were 7 leaves, weren't they?!? (Have to check - got about 6-7 sets laying around the garage somewheres....)

Hmmm, I'll check the only set I have out in the garage!!

Also, Woody, were you able to get those measurements I emailed you about??

ok thanks Guys.