Suggestions for making a 6" rear leaf pack?

Goat · Jan 13, 2005

I'm thinking about ways to make a 6" leaf pack for the rear. Here is my idea.

5 leaf 3.5" YJ leaf pack under XJ main leaf & XJ 2nd leaf.

What do you think? I'm open to suggestions on other donor packs or other ways of going about this.

I don't want BOR's springs or RE's so those options are out.

Goatman · Jan 13, 2005

If you want, search "leaf springs" using me as the poster. I've commented in most leaf spring threads and there's some pretty good info out there. Sorry, don't have time to write it out now. Getting the right lift height is trial and error, go with your first intuition and then pull it apart and adjust it if needed.

Goat · Jan 13, 2005

Goatman,

I read all your posts very good stuff. I'm just looking for someone to double check my logic that's all.

The XJ main leaf is ~49" while the YJ main is ~42.5". I'd have to cut the eyes off the YJ main leaf to get it into my pack. Is this a bad move when dealing with springs?

Also, since the YJ pack is so much shorter, due you think that there will be a lack of support of the XJ main?

Does increasing the number of leafs increase the the ability of the spring to resist wrap?

Goatman · Jan 13, 2005

Goat said:
Goatman,

I read all your posts very good stuff. I'm just looking for someone to double check my logic that's all.

The XJ main leaf is ~49" while the YJ main is ~42.5". I'd have to cut the eyes off the YJ main leaf to get it into my pack. Is this a bad move when dealing with springs?

Also, since the YJ pack is so much shorter, due you think that there will be a lack of support of the XJ main?

Does increasing the number of leafs increase the the ability of the spring to resist wrap?

Yes and no

Yes and no

Yes

Nothing wrong with cutting off the spring eyes, but you want to have spring pads, which means either full length liners (with edges, on the top leaf) or the pain of drilling a hole for the stock pads. I'd also bevel the ends of any leaf that you shorten so the stress point isn't a straight line on the leaf above it.

Not if you cut the other main leaf as long as you can. If you're building on off road lift pack, you want the second leaf nearly as long as the main leaf.

The length spacing should be closer on the front half of the pack for this reason.

I'd combine the YJ leaves with your stock XJ leaves to come out to 7-8 leaves total, as evenly spaced as possible with all the spring pads on the ends. I'd also drill a hole in some pads and put them in the middle, leaving a small gap between every leaf. If you reduce the friction, you can add more leaves to maintain ride and flex with a stronger spring.

Gil BullyKatz · Jan 13, 2005

check out this thread for before...
http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=40971&highlight=fabworks

and these pics for after...

XJ_ranger · Jan 13, 2005

semi on topic post -
would you reccomend Full military wrap on either end or both ends for the 2nd leaf?

RCP Phx · Jan 13, 2005

First thing Id recommend would be some proper length U-bolts that arent bent and also get the "open" style spring clamps so the leaves can flex!

Gil BullyKatz · Jan 13, 2005

RCP Phx said:
First thing Id recommend would be some proper length U-bolts that arent bent and also get the "open" style spring clamps so the leaves can flex!

We tried...couldn't find anybody open that carried the right size we needed...
Would you prefer threaded rod?

The other reason was this:

No sense installing new U-bolts when you can't use them for the full width project.
The rebound clips will be "adjusted" as needed.

BlackOut98 · Jan 14, 2005

just buy a 3" add-a-leaf, 1.5 inch shackle, and a 1.5 block, and of coarse you will need new u-bolts.

MJ1990buildup · Jan 14, 2005

BlackOut98 said:
just buy a 3" add-a-leaf, 1.5 inch shackle, and a 1.5 block, and of coarse you will need new u-bolts.

and then a week later you're ass end will begin to drop exponentially

BlackOut98 · Jan 14, 2005

thats what i did and i have had it on for about 6 months and its still at the original height

Goat · Jan 14, 2005

BlackOut98 said:
just buy a 3" add-a-leaf, 1.5 inch shackle, and a 1.5 block, and of coarse you will need new u-bolts.

Have AAL now...hate it. I plan on make longer shackles as needed. Don't want to use blocks because my motor likes to eat springs.

Gil BullyKatz,

Nice setup, got any flex shots? Is it still at 8" or did they sag?

wolfheartak · Jan 14, 2005

Goat said:
I'm thinking about ways to make a 6" leaf pack for the rear. Here is my idea.

I don't want BOR's springs or RE's so those options are out.

Are you dead set on making your own? Otherwise Deaver Springs and National Spring in SoCal are good options too.

-Marisha

Goat · Jan 14, 2005

wolfheartak said:
Are you dead set on making your own? Otherwise Deaver Springs and National Spring in SoCal are good options too.

-Marisha

I'm not dead set against it but part of the fun in having a wheeler is building it, at least to me anyway.

wolfheartak · Jan 14, 2005

Goat said:
I'm not dead set against it but part of the fun in having a wheeler is building it, at least to me anyway.

I understand and respect that! And just curious too...

Back to the making of the springs (Hijacked this one a little, not intentionally)

-Marisha

Goat · Jan 15, 2005

would full length liners be too much between all the leafs? I have no experience with them so I don't know how much they soften a spring.

Suggestions for making a 6" rear leaf pack?

Goat

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