I have a set of Toyota tacoma leafs. Still need cut off the frame. But will do so soon. I plan on cutting the eyes off and using the two top leafs and adding them to my stock leafs. Mine are almost completely flat. And can't afford new ones at this time. But want to get heavy duty ones when I can afford them. Anyways.....I was told by a fellow mechanic that the bastard pack thing is hard to do. How hard? I can't imagine it being too bad. any thing I need to know first? I am also replacing my leaf spring bushings at the same time. And adding 1 inch shackles too. Got them all cheap. Shackles are used but great shape. He says I should buy all the bolts and u bolts because they will break. Anyone break theirs? I hit them with pb blaster like product made by BG called In Force. Sprayed all the nuts and bolts and bushings down. Real good too. Jeep started clanking a little more after. So this needs done soon. But should I get new bolts? Also how hard is replacing the front leaf spring bushings? He mentioned they are very hard. And he said he wouldn't even do them. He has a 95 XJ 2 door 5 speed 4x4. Which he is also selling BTW. He replaced the rear bushings on the leaf springs. That's it. Which brought his back up a little I think. But he didn't have the sag mine has. I already replaced my shocks as well. I know this is long but I'm new to XJs and need some help! Better to know before hand. I don't want to get working on it and all the bolts break and I can't get anything back on. Any help or incite would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

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I am sorry but this "mechanic" sounds like a moron

 

To instal a bastard pack you don't need to remove your stock springs at ALL or at least the XJ mainspring can stay inplace. To install the bushings you do have to remove the springs from the XJ. I can add or remove a leaf from my bastard packs in less than 30 minutes. Take me longer to go to the store to get the new center bolts.

 

Who on Earth told you to use Taccoma springs??

Coming from someone who has bastard packed, don't.

 

Why not? They are free. Someone on here said they have them on theirs. And its working. No one told me to do anything. I'm just doing it. Need to get the sag fixed. Just temporary really.

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I'm new to turning wrenches. Thanks for your "help". Don't comment if ur going to say something not very nice. Doesn't seem to me u have any real info to add. So if would please just not comment on this thread. I'm looking for a little help. Never had a vehicle like the XJ. Always Hondas. To all others who are willing to help thank you.

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Thanks for your info. You think I should get new u bolts and all? Or just go with it and see what happens? I mean dodge is.only down the road so I guess I can get the stuff from them if something breaks. I just don't know if they will have it in stock. Cant let the jeep sit on a rack for a day.

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And BTW I am new at turning wrenches. I have a ton of tools I got from my grandfather. Also tons of other tools that the other mechanics have. I have yet to do a project like this on any truck.or 4x4. This is why I ask. All the guys are willing to help. I just don't want start and run into problems. I like to know first what could happen. Better safe then sorry. Any help would be great. Thanks

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Personally I see nothing wrong with the toyota leafs. I can't see much of a difference between those or the dakota or s10 leafs everyone else uses. If I had some laying around, I would have made a bastard pack already My main concern is I'm not sure if your factory u bolts will be long enough to accommodate the new leafs. If you figure there roughly 1/8th an inch thick, probably more. Make sure they will be long enough. I had a buddy nearly die because he skimped on buying new u bolts, personally I would say no less should be sticking out than the thickness of the nut your using... if that makes sense. Also don't forget after 100 miles or so to go back and retighten everything as the springs will settle Sorry for the long post but this is something I feel very strongly about, hope this helped

 

This is the info I'm looking for! Thank you. That's a lot of help. I understand exactly what you are saying. I will look at the stock set up and see how much room I have to play with. I really don't want to be driving and one or multiple nuts fall off. I think ill start looking for extended ones now. See how cheap I can get them.

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Buddy you got it all wrong... I am certainly not trying to be 'mean'... But I am trying to steer you away from a mechanic that is going to bend you over do the deed and not take you out for dinner and movie...

I know we all have done this... but the info is out there man... it's simple to find... and if you had just looked it up you would not have had to wait for an answer

this mechanic is giving you bad info buddy... he likely just wants your money...

ok you want some info...

watch this...

the bushings are cake... you can remove them several ways... they can be pushed out, but I have seen people cut them out... and burn them out



the bastard pack will work with ANY 2.5" wide spring...

you will most likely need new u bolts, not because they will break, but because they extra leafs will make the leaf pack TOO thick for the stock packs

the stock XJ leafs are nearly flat from the factory

you should get new leaf spring clamps as the stock ones will be rusted to hell

you will need new leaf spring center bolts



more reading on the bastard pack... after this you are ready buddy...

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f51/s1...ard-pack-1380/

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f11/3...fs-s10-597341/

http://www.lunghd.com/Tech_Articles/...udget_Lift.htm

http://www.rocklizardfabrications.co...dget_boost.htm


hope this helps... no hard feelings I hope...

 

i wouldn't use tacoma leafs myself because i spend alot of days looking at them falling apart all the time. doing an actual bastard pack is not hard at all i built mine in less than an hour for both sides. make sure you get new pins and the stock ubolts probably will not be long enough. mine were not. i went to carquest and they have longer ones. i used hardened steel center pins found them at the hardware store. make sure the pin is thin enough to fit through all the leafs mine were different diameters so i had to reem out the XJ upper leaf.


i agree with him. you are on a public forum you will always get responses like that.

 

Ok seems I may have miss understood. Lol. I'm a Mechanic. And one of my fellow workers was saying it will be hard to do. Maybe he thinks I can't do it. I have been working for Toyota for nine months now. And we swap frames on certain tacoma and tundras. It's a recall. Some got bought back. Some get parts replaced. Some just get undercoated. But the tacomas all get their shocks and leafs replaced too. These leafs on this truck are low miles. But they did replace them anyways. So I thought what he bell ill try em. Sorry I thought you were calling ma a moron. This mechanic isn't trying to work my XJ. I am. But he's giving me pointers. I thought he was crazy for telling me that it would be hard to do. As in the leaf spring bushings, shackles, and bastard pack. Either way I'm doing it. Just need to know what I'm going to run into. And what parts, bolts, nut, whatever to buy before I do all this. I can't have the jeep sit anywhere. It's my dd. But I want to replace the bushings and bump up the jeep up in the rear. Just looks bad. I can tell its sagging and getting worse. I didn't help the sagging.....I just moved and filled it up multiple times with loads of junk and hauled it to my new place. So that made it worse. Again sorry man. I was shocked. But all good now. Thanks for the info. I searched on here. But I'm on my cell and am reading and reading but no true answers. I found some useful info. But wanted more suggestions. Looks like I need extended u bolts before I add the leafs. So that's my next step. But I think replacing the bushings and shackles I can do now. See how it works before adding leafs. Thanks.

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you will be fine... just get in a get it done... just plan for it and make a day of it...

 

I guess I will have too. Thanks for the info.

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