Joel, Skid_plate: 2" shackle lift for 99 Limited

[Chips]

I am ready to purchase a 2" lift for my MS limited 99 with factory tow package.

I am toying with the two options:
1) 2" shackle lift
2)2" Add-A'Leaf

I tow a 20' boat alot with my MS and thought that a Add-A-Leaf might give me more strength. Does anybody know if this is true.


I have determined that if I go the shackle route I need a shackle for a 84 Toyota Pickup.

Can somebody tell me where I can purchase these. I saw Skidplate's photo on his website and liked them, but I don't know who makes them. I also want to get the greasable pins. (location, part number?)

Thanks for the help,
Chips

[99SportLimited]

Take the picture to an off-road shop, thats what I did and they knew exactly what it was and it only costs about $48. You know you have to get longer shocks for the back right? If you go with Rancho the shock number for the RS5000s is RS9125. I have a set of these if you are interested........

[cwic]

isn't the RS9125 the rancho9000 series which are adjustable?

[Chips]

I did the lift and here's what I used.

Old Man Emu shocks all around.

front: OME model: N57G
rear: OME model N54 medium

they make a heavy model for the rear if you want: model N56


I did a T-bar crank in the front (1.25"). That is easy to do, but if you crank it too far it gets very rough, or at least mine did. I cranked it to 2" and then dropped it down a bit.

I put in an custom long add-a-leaf in the rear spring pack instead of using a shackle lift and I like it.

Chips

[skidplate98]

So how much lift did you get from the add-a-leafs ? And what are the part numbers for the add-a-leafs or what custom add-a-leaf did you used?

Skid

Chips said:

I did the lift and here's what I used.

Old Man Emu shocks all around.

front: OME model: N57G
rear: OME model N54 medium

they make a heavy model for the rear if you want: model N56


I did a T-bar crank in the front (1.25"). That is easy to do, but if you crank it too far it gets very rough, or at least mine did. I cranked it to 2" and then dropped it down a bit.

I put in an custom long add-a-leaf in the rear spring pack instead of using a shackle lift and I like it.

Chips

[Chips]

I bought the add-a-leaf kit from a company called:

John Baker Performance [phone]
I believe that they are in Wisconsin.

The kit is originally for the Montero, but it works fine on the Montero Sport and it normally runs $150.00, but the owner is trying to get rid of this model and he is selling them for $50.00 for the kit until they're gone.

The kit consists of

3 leaves per side and new locking nuts for the U bolts and a new longer bolt and locking nut for the spring pack. I had to cut off 1" on each end of the longest spring (use a cut-off saw, not a hack saw, the spring steel killed my Saw-Zall blade) because the end of the leaf was touching a metal keeper that is riveted on to the 2nd from the bottom OEM leaf.

It isn't necessary to cut off the end, because it didn't change the ride at all.

Note: if you get the kit I would install poly/ rubber pads at the end of the leaves you're going to use, if not you hear a squeaking noise when driving slow. I got them from a local metal fabrications shop.


The two longest add-a-leafs that I used gave me about 1.5" of lift. I think the 3rd leaf would give you a total of 2 - 2.5" of lift.

The ride does become a bit stiffer, which would be fine if you're doing the majority of your driving off road. Unfortunately I do the majority of my driving on road and opted to have a local shop fabricate a leaf.

I will post the info on the fabricated leaf later today.

Chips

[Chips]

Rear leaf spring fabrication:

This is a follow-on to the previous post.

I opted to have 1 leaf spring fabricated to add to each side of the original OEM leaf spring pack of 4 leaves. I did this to give me the lift that I wanted (approximately 1.5", fine for 32" tires) and still have a factory feel when driving down the road.

I took my leaf springs off and went to a local steel fabrication store that makes leaf springs.

They made a 41" long leaf and they arced it (bent it) to match the original leaf springs. At each end I had them put on a poly/rubber pad (this just takes them drilling a hole [approx 1/2"] at each end and inserting a pad that provides a buffer between the steel leaf springs. I inserted this leaf spring directly in the center of the OEM spring pack (now 2 OEM springs above and 2 OEM springs below).

The factory leaf springs on the Montero are 2 3/4" wide and approximately 1/8 to 3/16" thick. The leaf he made were 2 1/2" wide and 1/4" in thick.


A 2 3/4" wide leaf would be perfect, but they didn't carry that size (they said that they thought that it might be metric, not a standard U.S. size). Using a thicker leaf gave me more lift, but having them make it long maintained the soft feeling ride.

It cost be about $60-70.00 to have the both springs made. I live in California and everything is expensive out here. It would probably be another $20-$30 anywhere else.

**You have to take the factory spring in to get the right Arc, but the guys made the leaves in an hour.


I hope that this help,

Chips


I just wanted to say that this Forum and all of the guys on it have really helped me figure out numerous projects on my truck and I really appreciate all of the help!

Thanks,

Chips