Hilux springs

[nuckle]

Just finished building my hilux/blazer and am pissed at the leaf springs, I have bent two. All it takes is rock the size of a nickel to send it end over end down a hill! I am having trouble spending close to 200 bucks for the junfac 4 link kit and shocks. Anyone use the red leafs or the delarin ones. I dont want to spend money on them if there not any tougher.

[skinny_TC]

Hi Nuckle.
I haven't used the red leafs or delrin leafs yet, still using the stock ones. I have bent them a couple of times, I've been bending them back into shape.
I considered the four link kit be decided to leave the leaf springs on it. Although it does not crawl like a four-link would, I'm not using it for competitions anyway.
It's still one of my favorite trucks.

[dkur4000]

Hi Skinny. How do you have your leaf springs set up?
I'm having issues with the steering arm bending the leaf on mine, but haven't tried fixing it yet. Just wanted to know how others have their leafs set up.

[skinny_TC]

Hi Skinny. How do you have your leaf springs set up?
I'm having issues with the steering arm bending the leaf on mine, but haven't tried fixing it yet. Just wanted to know how others have their leafs set up.

Hi dkur4000,

Welcome to the site. Do you have a photo of how the spring bent? Is it set up in a stock configuration?

When my springs bend it isn't because of the steering arm. I swapped the knuckles around so the drag link is in front of the axle. You can check out my build thread here: http://www.tamiyacrawlers.com/forum/showthread.php?1114-F350-HL-Build

I notice the leaf bends when I do a lot of 3rd gear running. My guess is that it bends because the shackles are backwards (in my opinion). I plan to move the "swing shackle" to the rear leaf mount location, but that's low on my priority list.

[PsycoJuana]

On my Hilux I run only the main spring! with a few chopped for spacers, as to fit solid onto the axle. I bend them alot when I'm wheeling with it :) axle torque. I always have a spare set on hand so once they get so bad i can just swap on a new one.

if you are ruining the full leaf pack don't thing it would happen, unless u are bashing it. maybe try soft and slow

[DRW-FJ40]

I've been eyeing the delarin ones at RC4WD. Would be interested in your opinion if you end up going that route.

[dkur4000]

I did the "chino" mod to my Hilux. It helped with articulation some. I moved the steering servo next to the shifting servo and that helped immensely. Yes running in 3rd gear is fairly rough on springs. I got that out of my system. Now I run mostly in 2nd and 1st gear. I am thinking of getting the red leafs to improve suspension travel even more.