How big is yours? Measure up!

I'll measure all of mine tomorrow when I'm in a nice dry parking garage. If I can I'll pull my bike rack off before hand to get a more accurate measurement.

 

I’ve been beating the tar out of my new ATS springs. Originally they had a much higher arch to them, but i went wheelin last weekend and really worked them. Then loaded up a ton of firewood in the back a few days later. They now sit at 22.5”.

 

Finally measured where it’s at with the stock, worn out springs. I know I’ve been saying this for years but 6112s are coming soon. It’s about time.

Hub to fender:
20.5 DF PF 21.5
23 DR PR 22.75

Ground to fender:
34.5 DF PF 36
37 DR PR 37


Tire size is 265/75/16, measurements were taken with a full tank of gas. Nothing in the bed aside from the ~80lb bedcover.

It’s clear that the drivers front spring is the most worn out, not only from measurements but because it bottoms out on every single bump. It’s gotten so bad that the bump stops are getting torn up.

It’ll be interesting to see how much those numbers change once I put on 6112s. I’m planning on setting them to the lowest setting, maybe one clip up on the drivers side. The leafs seem to be in decent shape considering the mileage, I’ve never felt them bottom out even with ~900lbs in the bed.

 

Preloading only one spring may adversely affect handling/steering. Better to install a shim on the drivers side.

 

Very true. We’ll have to see what the heights are after I install them. That said- anything has got to be better than the current setup. The drivers front spring is so shot that it simply rides the bump stop on sharp right turns. The whole truck keels forward and down.

 

6112s specifically tell you to use different clips for driver and passenger sides. I have mine set to 5/3 with heavier rated springs and the truck sits level side to side.

 

Very interesting. I did not know that.

 

I would add though, based on other member experiences, it sounds like offsetting the clips by 1, versus the 2 Bilstein recommends, seems to address the classic "Tundra Lean" we deal with up front for some folks. Maybe DC folks, I can't remember. They don't pay me enough around this place. I don't even get free beer!

 

I fail to see how it doesn't increase the possibility of adverse handling and steering though, but what do I know? I'm going to look into it tomorrow.

 

The majority of the non symmetrical weight in these trucks is on the drivers side. Full tank of gas is over 150 lbs, plus the battery and the driver. Toyota put different springs on the passenger and drivers side front suspension, the aftermarket world isn't going to bother making two different springs for our trucks with that little difference, so it makes sense to make up the difference with preload on the springs. Adjusting preload for weight is standard practice on motorcycles with much more finicky suspension, having an extra quarter inch of preload on one of my front springs on my truck isn't going to bother me at all.

 

That makes sense. I get it. Physics and math is acceptable.