I would like to know what everybody thinks of an idea I've been mulling over for softening the ride of my 4x4 truck. It's a Toyota with a solid front axle with leaf springs. I figure the tech should also be applicable to the rear ends of Mopars so don't shoot me!

Here's the idea: Initially, I was thinking of just removing the bottom leaf to lower the overall spring rate and soften things up but I know this would also lower the truck, which I don't really want. So then I thought, what if I removed half of the leaves, leaving two in to keep the axle positively located, and then replaced the shocks with some light coilover assemblies? If the proper parts were used, it seems like this could maintain the stock ride height while reducing the spring rate. What say y'all?

isn't it kind of the same as people using air shockes to lift the rear?
the shock mounts are not designed for lifting, rather dampening.

Like some of the replacement front shocks I have gotten don't even extend. they are just hard to move in or out.

Just like you shouldn't use a shock perch for a coilover on an old mopar, you shouldn't on a toyota either. Toyotas are heavily used off-roading, so there should be absurd numbers of aftermarket replacement springs you could buy instead of coilovers.

You could sell it and get an 85 or newer (somewhere around 85 IIRC)with independant front