ZUK mod? Yes? or No?

Just did the no cut ZUK on my '89 yesterday. Since I dont have a lift of my own I used an auto skills center. The mechanic there was utterly confused when I told him what I was doing. "Well I've been working on Toyotas forever and I've never heard of this, I think its stupid!" Then wouldnt let me use his spring compressor. So I told him he must know nothing about Toyotas. Any ways I got a good bit of lift, maybe 3"? Used 3rd gen 15" 125# springs. It rides amazing now. Just need a set of 2" BJ spacers now and real shocks all around!
 
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I appreciate everyones responses. Great discussion.

To clear things up my truck bottoms out a lot. I was thinking that the zuk could be a good remedy for that and provide a much wanted more comfortable everyday ride. I hate the look of some trucks, zuked or not, that have a higher back end than the front. If that would result from the zuk mod than I don't want to do it. Maybe there is away to figure the right spring for the job to only achieve a smooth ride and an even amount of lift?
 
Red88TopangaCa said:
Should I do the ZUK mod?
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Many who have not done it have their opinions. Facts/First-hand feedback from those who have done it Zukcessfully, including those on Zuk gear installs link, are best.

Re-arched springs or new Toyota OEM springs are still same poorly designed springs; They would just sag again.
Zuk is economical short-term solution. I used 12-inch, 125 lb/inch Black Magic Springs and am completely happy with them. See my post on yotatech.
Old Man EMU are clean and robust but would lift it 2 inches above stock- you would have to lift the front then deal with the increased angle of your CV joints. Also watch out for spring pack clip bolt hitting fuel tank (pic here). Ruined Adventures and Defrag's (search) experiences with it would be valuable; They have done more with their 4Runners on OME's than any of us could only dream of.
I could not speak for AAL's

Quatre Coureur said:
Your truck sits level. Don't be fooled by the smaller rear wheelwells. I bet if u measure the frame height front n rear it would be the same. Spend ur money elsewhere. :biggrin1:
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It is sagging. Rim to lip of wheelwell in front should be approx 1.5" more than rim to lip of wheelwell in rear.

Red88TopangaCa, check frame to leaf pack distance in rear. Before my Zuk mod, I had 7.75 inches. With 12-inch, 125-lb/inch coils, I got 9.25 inches. Would you be happy with that?
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I know I love mine so far. Area near my house that I wheel in, I normally creep through in first gear because the front shocks were shot along with the rear springs sitting an inch off the bumpstops. Yesterday me and the missus ran it at about 30 mph and even got maybe a few inches of air here and there. Set of Gabriel VST shocks of front, 3rd gen coils in rear. Still blown shocks in rear since I was waiting for measurements after ZUK for shock lengths. No noise from the coils but I am having a small issue with my tires rubbing the coils at flex.
 
Red88TopangaCa said:
I appreciate everyones responses. Great discussion.



To clear things up my truck bottoms out a lot. I was thinking that the zuk could be a good remedy for that and provide a much wanted more comfortable everyday ride. I hate the look of some trucks, zuked or not, that have a higher back end than the front. If that would result from the zuk mod than I don't want to do it. Maybe there is away to figure the right spring for the job to only achieve a smooth ride and an even amount of lift?
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Cut the upper metal bump stop and it will stop bottoming out but will kill your spring back sooner than later.
Returning to stock height still won't give you that much of a better ride. Do a small lift and you will gain more travel and softer springs will help with ride quality.
 
ToyoTech said:
Cut the upper metal bump stop and it will stop bottoming out but will kill your spring back sooner than later.
Returning to stock height still won't give you that much of a better ride. Do a small lift and you will gain more travel and softer springs will help with ride quality.
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Any suggestions on how to achieve a small lift? that sounds like the answer to my problems.
 
Well since it seems ur set on lifting it, lets run thru ur options.
1) new leaf springs. Some ppl aren't too hip on factory springs, so maybe some from Deaver or Alcan.
2) zuk mod. This is a legitimate way to get some lift and not kill ur ride. It's also flexible in the sense that u can choose how high and stiff u want to go depending upon the coils u choose.
3) longer spring shackles. While these will provide a moderate amount of lift, the 6" eye to eye version provides 1.25" of lift, they won't increase ur spring rate or load carrying capacity. They are greaseable which is a benefit.
4) add-a-leaf. Overwhelmingly the least recommended way to go.
I think I covered the main options. It's up to u now. :D
 
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crash813 said:
As a quick fix, I'd definitely would do it again. For a long term solution, not sure.

I picked a pair of 3rd gen coils up as well from a pick a part for less than $30. Jacked up the truck, threw them in there and bam.....no more bone jarring ride. Personally, my ride still seems rather rough, especially slow stuff but I think alot of that has to do with the shocks more than anything. I have the rs5000 and think they are just too stiff. I don't get near the flex out of mine that toyotech is showing. Not sure if its a difference in the life left in the used 3rd gen springs, shocks or something else. I couldn't ride on the flat springs anymore and didn't have the cash for anything else. I don't see any negatives on running them so at the very least, it was fast and cheap. Will I keep them....don't know, but I'd definitely do it again in the same circumstances.
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Crash do you have any before/after pics of your rig with the 3rd gen springs installed? I'm looking at buying a pair to do this but I'm concerned about the length. I know the black magic coils are shorter but I like the idea of not cutting the bump stop.
 
3rd gen runner coil. If they are too long. Cut them down a little.
Honestly I would run the full 3rd gen coil
Install bj spacers up front with diff drop kit and sway bar drop kit if you still run sways. I don't lol.
Reason to keep the full length coil is from my experience (still run them). It almost takes the leaf spring out of doing any work and the truck is supported by the coil basically giving you a similar rear coil ride

If you haven't noticed almost all SUV now are coils cuz coils are a softer ride but can't handle a lot of weight. Since you will still have the leafs. You can still load up and have the support you need

One thing I did notice running the coils is. If your bed is empty, The ride is softer than just leaf but with camping gear. It's much nicer ride. Either way empty or loaded. I would not go back to stock leaf spring only set up
Also OME shocks all around is perfect for that amount of lift.
 
Thats the route I was looking to go. What coils are you running Toyotech? I think you said newer 3rd gen coils, do you have a part number? The front coils look about 1.5" shorter than rears.
 
parkay said:
Crash do you have any before/after pics of your rig with the 3rd gen springs installed? I'm looking at buying a pair to do this but I'm concerned about the length. I know the black magic coils are shorter but I like the idea of not cutting the bump stop.
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Sorry, no pics, but I'd agree, they probably give about 2" lift. Find yourself a local pick-a-part and grab a used pair. I think I paid maybe $30 for the set. Try it. If you don't like it, cut them down. If you still don't like it, take them off....no harm, no foul.
 
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