ZUK mod? Yes? or No?

[junkyardbiker]

I just ordered a set of new moog 15" 125# springs to do my Zuk mod. They are for a '96 4runner. Planning on putting 1.5 or 2" BJ spacers up from the relaxing the torsions, then trimming the rear coils for a normal stance.

This is it in full stock glory! Ive got a set of '02 Sequoia split 5s that im sticking 265 70R17 BFG rugged terrain T/A's on as well.

 

[KidVermicious]

Lookit that mad IFS flex.

 

[Hyde802]

taking this one step further...

has anyone removed all but the MAIN leaf, while using the appropriate coil to achieve the correct height?

not quite as good as a linked suspension, but should be better than straight leafs. use the coil for the suspension, and the single leaf to position the axle.

I might have to try this on my 85.

I bet youll bend that main leaf pretty quick. Removing the rest of the pack will surely cause pretty bad axle wrap, unless you have a traction bar. They did make them for jeeps, and it may be ok with a later chevy spring swap, but yout factory main leaf is ptetty flimsy and not designed to be run as a single leaf.

Pan hard shouldnt be an issue as it sits behind the axle, while the tank is in front, but youll have issues with both links on the passenger side.

 

[Hyde802]

Delete. I miss read

 

[KidVermicious]

I think you mean 86? But that grill says 87 -89

No, he's using 3rd gen springs to do the Zukmod with.

 

[Hyde802]

Dam! Quoted before I realized what I wrote.

Haha.

 

[KidVermicious]

 

[junkyardbiker]

Gotta love that IFS, do the BJ spacers give it any more really? And short of going long travel is there really any more I can do? Im already running trimmed bumpstops and the swaybar delete mod . Im hoping with the right shocks on the rear and the no cut ZUK coils I dont lose to much butt flex. If I get shocks that are say... 2 inches longer, will that give me more room to droop them?

 

[ToyoTech]

My old set up was BJ spacers. Low profile bump. Rear zuk mod using new 3rd gen rear runner coils and OME shocks all around. I loved it till one of the lower arm bushings took a shit and instead of rebuilding them. I just went LT lol

 

[ToyoTech]

LT up front...

 

[crash813]

Gotta love that IFS, do the BJ spacers give it any more really? And short of going long travel is there really any more I can do? Im already running trimmed bumpstops and the swaybar delete mod . Im hoping with the right shocks on the rear and the no cut ZUK coils I dont lose to much butt flex. If I get shocks that are say... 2 inches longer, will that give me more room to droop them?

Unfortunately IFS has its limitations. The BJ spacers will allow it to drop another 1.5" but you'll also be at an extreme angle for the cv's. Since they're independent, even if you get extra flex, you'll never get much weight on the droop. There's no leverage on it like on a SA. The only force acting on it is its own torsion bar which at full droop is little to none. I couldn't justify spending $3k to $4k on LT, especially for rock crawling but everyone's position is different.

 

[crazy gringo]

I did the zuk mod used the black magic coils 12" 125lbs it made the ride so much better than it was but, if I could have afforded to buy new springs or have them re-arched I would go that route instead.

 

[swimbikerun247]

Unfortunately IFS has its limitations. The BJ spacers will allow it to drop another 1.5" but you'll also be at an extreme angle for the cv's. Since they're independent, even if you get extra flex, you'll never get much weight on the droop. There's no leverage on it like on a SA. The only force acting on it is its own torsion bar which at full droop is little to none. I couldn't justify spending $3k to $4k on LT, especially for rock crawling but everyone's position is different.

Anyone used the kit from ESB Fabrications? I'm still trying to decide between long travel and SAS up front. The ESB kit seems to make the LT idea more affordable.

 

[89FourRunner]

Should I do the ZUK mod? I wanted to see if anybody had any reasons why I shouldn't do it. Horror stories? etc. Also if I were to do it should I do the 12 or 14 inch springs? Do the 14 inch springs raise it too much? more than even?


here is my truck...

No absolutely not. That truck has healthy rear leaf packs. Do not do the ZUK mod. That looks to be normal factory height, very healthy.

Additionally, I don't know why anyone does the zuk mod. A pair of add-a-leafs for our trucks can be had for around $35. That's what I did. I see too many zuk modded rear ends that look so high in the back it's silly. Even more absurd is removing a leaf because your zuk mod made the height too high. Thats a lot of pointless work. Stick a spring between the frame and leaf pack, then remove a leaf? What? Just add a leaf people. Haha.

This is a stock 4runner IFS with 2" add-a-leafs ( I had minimal sag in the rear to begin with):

It sits an inch higher in the rear or so. 3" from a zuk mod just looks silly. Good Luck.

 

[ToyoTech]

I rock crawl my LT


If you haven't done the zuk mod. You really have no say in it

I know tons of local guys that done it. Coils ride much better than an aal
That runner does not have healthy leaf pack. If that's true than mine would have been since my parents owned it since day one and never been off road or used for anything other than moving people for 20 years before I got a hold of it.

I guess it's easy since I got my coils free and another set at home chilling.

Back when I has bj spacers. Non adjusted stock torsion bars and 3rd gen coil in rear. OME shocks all around

 

[crash813]

3" from a zuk mod just looks silly. Good Luck.

Don't hold back, tell us what you really think.

Most people come to these boards to discuss ideas, you know, trading opinions and weight pros and cons. AAL and Zuk mods are two options that can achieve different things. One reason the Zuk mod is so popular is that you can gain ride height but also a softer spring rate, which means its doesn't ride like a wagon. Most AAL's are a very stiff, very linear spring rate. So if you're old leafs are tired, the entire pack is usually gone.....the soft ones, the stiff ones and adding AAL's only replace the stiff ones. So you've regained height but your ride quality sucks. Zuks with stock replaces are usually progressive springs so you regain that entire range. The linear springs such as the black magic generally are a softer rate gaining height simply by being longer. As far as looks, those are always just an opinion of the viewer. Maybe people overload their runners with gear, so fully loaded, its level. Most trucks actually come stock with that type of rake. So again, there are pros and cons. Obviously you like the easy install of AAL's and the factory stock look, but lets keep things constructive or we'll have to start a thread of things we think look silly on almost stock looking trucks.

 

[crash813]

BTW - one thing that hasn't been addressed with thread is that there are some complaints about the noise. Some people hear it, some don't. Some are ok with it, some aren't. I hear then pop and adjust a little with they flex out off-road, but nothing serious. Having never heard them in my daily drives.

Another good place to check out if you are considering this is actually Zuk's page. Yes, he is actually a man and quite intelligent. His site, which has some great differential and gear setup information also has some info on the mod that took his name.

 

[ToyoTech]

The so call zuk mod. I can't say if he was the 1st to discover this. I seen an ad in aus magazine where a company sells coil springs for this exact mod. Says best of both worlds. Have the load capability of a leaf and ride of a coil suspension.

 

[89FourRunner]

I meant no disrespect Toyotech, Crash, or to discredit anything you have said.

What I am saying is, if he sticks a coil in there, odds are he is going to have too much lift. The OP posted a picture of his truck from the side, I assumed him asking "Should I do the ZUK mod?" was in reference to the current stance of the truck. The ride height in that picture is pretty close to factory, I was merely advising him not to do the ZUK, not because it was a bad idea (even though I don't like it), or worse than any other option - but because it will most likely raise the rear end too much.

Now, my intention wasn't to push any buttons, and I happen to find this forum very helpful, but the fact that I haven't stuck a spring over a bump stop between a frame and a leaf pack doesn't disqualify me from a valid opinion.

Some like the idea of a coil, some don't. Maybe I shouldn't of made a comparison to begin with and I did so as a viable option to what the OP might have considered rear end sag. I've seen and worked with these things new, and I have seen new factory style leaf packs installed on 1st gens too, and I still hold to the opinion that his packs are at about factory height and most likely fine, as far as height goes.

To each his own.

 

[ToyoTech]

Mine from his picture sat about the same when I was all stock. The rear end has always bottomed out way to easy ever since I can remember as a kid riding in the back. Even brand new from Toyota there wasn't much room between spring and bump. I bet the spring just soften up over the years and compress way to easy and bottom out. I still think the op should do a mild lift for a better ride. I loved my old bj spacer and zuk mod when I had it not the smoothest but way better than stock. Maybe it's the extra travel before the bumps that helped.