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Front Coil Springs

Discussion in 'General Truck Info' started by greg0187, Apr 29, 2008.

  1. TRAX and HORNS

    TRAX and HORNS Well-Known Member

    Once a truck gets dailed in there is nothing better. Will I put a m t up against anything ? You bet.
     
  2. KCCats

    KCCats Active Member

    Can anyone point me in the right direction for these springs?
    All I have found are the 2,5"id 10" long?
     
  3. mdjackson

    mdjackson New Member

    "I used 10" 225lb QA1's from Summit Racing $55 each. These springs gave a full 2" lift, running 6-12 R1 tractor tires" Look back a couple of pages. If I have two people up front, no bottoming out and no topping out. I did have to cut 1 and 1/2 coils off, just to get them installed. The Summit Racing springs are really tightly wound, meaning not much space between each coil, the AFTCO's appear much looser wound, so you have more space between each coil. IMHO, If you have a real load up front, go with the Summit springs, otherwise I'd look at the AFTCO's. Saw where other people have just used the truck weight to compress and install the new springs.
     
  4. KCCats

    KCCats Active Member

  5. mdjackson

    mdjackson New Member

    For only $40! That's just one big lunch at the golden arches.
     
  6. rugerman

    rugerman Member

    I went with the afco 250's. Plnty of spring for 2 250 lb passengers up front. I felt that if you go any higher than that you really can't compress the springs during travel, the tire takes as much or more of the load . have you put a lift in the front end by chance? I put a 2 inch plus the afco shocks and found that the short side half shaft is right at the top end, just about ready to bind when jacked up off the ground. I am going to go back and cut out 1 inch out of my lift . I have plent of clearance up there even with giving back one inch. I believe I bought mine from Summit or Jegs racing. I think they were 60$ shipped.
     
  7. KCCats

    KCCats Active Member

    But the 2 1/2"ID will fit?
    I added about 250 pounds at least to the front end with the plow mount and the winch and plow!
    Should I go heavier than the 225's?
     
  8. rugerman

    rugerman Member

    I can't say what the id was but I would assume they are about that. THey fit fine on mine as I recall, but keep in mind that a lot of small modifications that we do to these little trucks are just a hair off at times. Let us know what you find.
     
  9. KCCats

    KCCats Active Member

    OK 1 last thing then.
    For my 91 Mdb51, I added about 250# with the brush guard/plow mount.
    Will the 225# springs be heavy enough, or should I go with the 250#?

    OH and by the way, the springs that are on it now are going onto my Golf Cart (EZGO Gas), which my wife insists that I over worked, the reason I bought the truck!
     
  10. rugerman

    rugerman Member

    I would go with the 250 being that u added all that weight.
     
  11. KCCats

    KCCats Active Member

    Thank you!
     
  12. Jigs-n-fixtures

    Jigs-n-fixtures Well-Known Member

    I have a 94 Daihatsu, S110, with a Scisors/Dump. I have a pretty heavy bumper on it, roughly 100-lbs. Plus the plow, a sixty inch hydraulic electro hydraulic unit, that weighs close to 300-hundred pounds. So, when I started on the suspension I knew two things.

    First I wanted a heavier spring than stock, because it bottoms out fairly frequently off-road.

    And, that it needed to be strong enough to work with plow attached, and a load of sand in the bed. Which adds a lot of weight.

    I went with a variable rate set, of “QA1 High Travel Coil-Over Springs 10HT225–475”, from Summit. They cost me about $130 with shipping. They are 2.5-id, by 10-inch. They didn’t have any interference issues. The “High Travel” means that the totally compressed length is shorter, which helps prevent coil lock at full compression.

    They’ve been on for about two years. The variable rate has worked well in both unloaded, and fully loaded.
     
    Techspec360 and Limestone like this.
  13. KCCats

    KCCats Active Member

    That sounds like what I need?
     
  14. ttc

    ttc Active Member

    also check the struts, my drivers side was worn out and would bottom out even with 250 springs and i dont have any extra weight on the front end
     
  15. What was the height of the stock springs that you took out? What length of springs did you replace them with? I've got the spongy front end and am looking to order some new springs. However, I am not looking to lift the front of the truck if that's possible.
     
  16. ttc

    ttc Active Member

    I think I went with 225lb springs it lifted the front about inch. I got straight springs from summit racing the ones if you look in the forum. If you watch motocheese what's up mini truck I think the springs be used maybe better
     
  17. Techspec360

    Techspec360 New Member

    Do you think the "non-straight" cut ends would fit better? I saw a few mention that the perches were designed to accept the end of the springs not flat?

    For that reason, I was looking at these https://www.jegs.com/i/AFCO/921/23225B/10002/-1 they appear to be the non-flat ends.
     
  18. harley rose

    harley rose Member


    Yes they may fit better BUT I did not see an I.D. so they not fit at all !! They are also to weak to make the change out worth anything. I have available the ONLY Spring ever designed for your mini truck. They are 225-475 PROGRESSIVE RATE so much better than a linear spring . $199.00 to the door https://www.facebook.com/groups/321138688489740/
     
  19. harley rose

    harley rose Member

    YES , they much better !! They are the spring I used to sell BUT now have a completely NEW SPRING designed for the mini !! They will fit minis from 1987 - 2020 !!
     
  20. KCCats

    KCCats Active Member

    Sure now you come up with that!
    I just put the Summit 300# on mine, just took the grinder and rounded the inside and they worked great!
     
  21. Limestone

    Limestone Well-Known Member

    I took Jigs advice, on my 89 Daihatsu hijet, with new struts out of UK, and new progressive springs from summit,(175-350) with the same set up on the front end, plow,winch, maybe not as heavy a bumper! With the new struts, and the new springs, witch are great, a slight challenge getting the spring compression tool out, when all together. I used small oak(hard wood) shims, so as not to mar the springs, and cylinders, to remove the tool! Once removed, Walla. It worked great. I am very happy with the end result. I used the original top mounting spring bushing hardware,(saving about $60.00 each side) just cleaning it up and undercoating it, before I mounted it to the new 2" lift I fabbed and installed on top of the strut. A lot of great info! Thanks guys!
    Limestone
     
  22. Techspec360

    Techspec360 New Member

    Limestone, were those flat machined ends on those springs?
     
  23. Limestone

    Limestone Well-Known Member

    Tech,
    I wouldn't say that they were machined. But as memory serves me, they looked like the were cut on a sheer to length, and then heated and formed, as a coil, and heat treated. So answering your question, the end was flat, with a slight crimp to it, if you will, that is caused by a sheer, and not flat smooth as being machined. I have seen bottoms of springs being flat machined, and these were not. I didn't see the need for it in my application. Everything went together the way it was supposed to. I was very happy with, Jigs, advice, and suggestion!
    Limestone
     
  24. Techspec360

    Techspec360 New Member

    Nice, thanks for the feedback. Got a link to the springs by chance? Trying to determine which ones you ordered.
     
  25. Acerguy

    Acerguy Moderator Staff Member

  26. Techspec360

    Techspec360 New Member

    Yeah I saw those, but if you look at the diameter of the spring it’s substantially larger than the stock ones. Worried about losing tire clearance and I also read that you may have to bend the spring perch in order to accommodate the end of the springs.
     
  27. Limestone

    Limestone Well-Known Member

    Tech,
    Summit racing, Qa1 coil springs 12ht 175/350. $59.95.00 Is what I used! I got this info from Jigs and Fixtures! On the forum, go to, New struts, Heavier Springs, under Daihatsu Hi Jet and read the really great info on this. It was very help full for me. I think you'll enjoy it! The springs fit like a glove!!! Good Luck, keep us posted!
    Limestone
     
  28. Limestone

    Limestone Well-Known Member

    Tech,
    So FYI! With that parts info, and shipping to be considered. I actually saved a few bucks, getting the exact same springs from CarId. Free ship, and a $10.00 discount coupon, that my wife found. It's been a fun project that finding parts at a reasonable price can become challenging to say the least!
    Limestone
     
  29. ttc

    ttc Active Member

    Look up your build on partsfan I have not had any issues finding parts. I only deal with Impex for parts out of japan
     
  30. Techspec360

    Techspec360 New Member

    SO you actually went with the 12" length springs? Stock are around 10". I assume you gained some ride height? Any issue with those coils binding/bottoming out on compression?
     

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