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Topic: Additional Leaf Springs

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Additional Leaf Springs
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I got 6 inch coil spring lift at the front. However i did not get the full suspension lift kit. I guess the easiest option would be to place spacers at the rear suspension. Been wondering....idea What would be the effect of installing additional leafs to the rear leaf springs to get rear height equal to the front suspension. would that be recommended and how would the truck handle with the additional leafs. Your comments on this will be greatly appreciated. Thx

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adding additional leafs to back will make it ride way stiffer, and they wont flex well either. i would either get the full leaf pack, or lift blocks.

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lift blocks increase axle hop and/or axle wrap (the physics of the driveshaft twisting in one direction shoves one wheel down and lifts the other)

shackles increase leverage on the leaf springs, shortening their lifespan

that's from my understanding, so for small lifts (I have a 2" add a leaf) the AAL is okay, it rides a little stiffer but it's a Jeep. Any more and it'd be annoyingly rough, like riding around in a radio flyer, but at road speed rather than sidewalk speed.

My advice would be to go with new leaf packs designed for your application.

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The first and most important question is how are you going to be using your Jeep?

Just remember that a flatter leaf will flex better. For instance a 3.5" leaf pack with a 1" shackle netting 4.5" will flex A LOT better than a 4.5" leaf pack with the stock shackle will.

I wouldn't use lift blocks at all. Only "block" I would ever use is 1" of less that has the built in shim on it and only use it to correct the pinion angle. As stated above, a block just helps axle wrap (and thats not good).

As far as shackles go I wouldn't run more than a 1.5" lift shackle. Look into the boomerang style as they help solve a lot of the issues with shackles. I've ran shackles on 90% of my Jeeps without issues and wheel them hard. Just make sure it's greaseable!

AAL (add a leafs) typically are not the best option. They tend to sag since you use them in conjunction with a factory pack. Most packs can't handle them and the AAL just makes them fail much sooner. If you do opt to go with an AAL just make sure you get a full length one, not a short one. I've used AAL's in the past and have mixed feeling about them.

As stated your best option is to just get a new leaf pack from a reputable company and call it done.

You never stated what your rear sits at now, and what your trying to go to (yes I know 6"), but how much are you trying to lift it from what it's at now?

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89eliminator
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sorry about the lift block statement then.

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LEAD_NOT_FOLLOW wrote:

The first and most important question is how are you going to be using your Jeep?

Just remember that a flatter leaf will flex better. For instance a 3.5" leaf pack with a 1" shackle netting 4.5" will flex A LOT better than a 4.5" leaf pack with the stock shackle will.

I wouldn't use lift blocks at all. Only "block" I would ever use is 1" of less that has the built in shim on it and only use it to correct the pinion angle. As stated above, a block just helps axle wrap (and thats not good).

As far as shackles go I wouldn't run more than a 1.5" lift shackle. Look into the boomerang style as they help solve a lot of the issues with shackles. I've ran shackles on 90% of my Jeeps without issues and wheel them hard. Just make sure it's greaseable!

AAL (add a leafs) typically are not the best option. They tend to sag since you use them in conjunction with a factory pack. Most packs can't handle them and the AAL just makes them fail much sooner. If you do opt to go with an AAL just make sure you get a full length one, not a short one. I've used AAL's in the past and have mixed feeling about them.

As stated your best option is to just get a new leaf pack from a reputable company and call it done.

You never stated what your rear sits at now, and what your trying to go to (yes I know 6"), but how much are you trying to lift it from what it's at now?


Unfortunately this jeep is not situated in a place where the spares or project materials are readily available. Its in Africa! It is a daily drive but being in Africa DD is like doing Rubicon Trail every day! hope that answers that important question. Not much modifications are done to jeeps around here as they are not particularly popular tracks in this part of the world. Infact the highlift front suspension springs were donated by a friend who does not see the use of lifting the jeep.

I am thus trying to do the hi lift with limited resources. I do have an extra set of leaf springs and thats why i thought perhaps i could utilise them to do the lift at the rear without resulting to adding custom made spacers. And i have confirmed that i get about 3 to 4 inch lift with the springs and not 6 inches as earlier indicated. sorry for misleading you on that.....

In the absence of a new leaf pack and the complete kit, what options do i have? There has been no previous lift to the vehicle and this wil be my first project in respect of high lift suspension. Btw its a 96 XJ Country RHD.

Thx. 



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The extra set of leaf springs is oem......

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aci4369
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PlayStation wrote:

The extra set of leaf springs is oem......



OEM?



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