k_kuch
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- New Hampshire
Could someone explain what a lift with add-a-leafs are? What is the difference in quality compared to rear springs? And yes, I have searched!
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Add-A-Leafs
- Thread starter k_kuch
- Start date
kd5dwy
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Central Arkansas
The rear suspension of the Cherokee uses a leaf-spring suspension (there is a more technically correct name for this - named after someone, but I forget what it is). Leaf springs are made of pieces of flat steel that are bent into a curve. Several of these curved pieces of steel, or leafs, are stacked together to create the spring.
The stock leaf springs are designed to provide a certain ride height, load capacity, and handling characteristic (comfort of ride).
Add-A-Leaf lifts are exactly what they say they are - they add a leaf into the spring that is very stiff and cause the stock springs to bend more than they normally would. This increased bend causes the vehicle to sit up higher, but due to the stiffness of the leaf in the kit, can deteriorate the handling characteristics.
From what I've seen, some people feel very strongly about type of lift versus the next. I 've seen a general consensus that new springs are preferable to add-a-leafs if you're willing to spend the additional money, but many will say that the add-a-leafs are just fine too. In the end, you have to learn about each type, decide what you think is going to work best for you (how you drive, where you drive, amount of time on street vs. time off-road, and amount of money you're willing to invest), talk to people who have different types of lifts to get their opinion, and go with what you think is right - If you make a mistake, you may be out a bit of money, but you can always change.
Hope this answered your question.
The stock leaf springs are designed to provide a certain ride height, load capacity, and handling characteristic (comfort of ride).
Add-A-Leaf lifts are exactly what they say they are - they add a leaf into the spring that is very stiff and cause the stock springs to bend more than they normally would. This increased bend causes the vehicle to sit up higher, but due to the stiffness of the leaf in the kit, can deteriorate the handling characteristics.
From what I've seen, some people feel very strongly about type of lift versus the next. I 've seen a general consensus that new springs are preferable to add-a-leafs if you're willing to spend the additional money, but many will say that the add-a-leafs are just fine too. In the end, you have to learn about each type, decide what you think is going to work best for you (how you drive, where you drive, amount of time on street vs. time off-road, and amount of money you're willing to invest), talk to people who have different types of lifts to get their opinion, and go with what you think is right - If you make a mistake, you may be out a bit of money, but you can always change.
Hope this answered your question.
HaleYes
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Clay County, IL
kd5dwy said:
Very nice!
Couldn't have splained it better myself.
:thumbup:
Hale
jesterbomb
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Alberta
Haleyes said:
Amen to that!
Sometimes add-a-leaf's (Also known as AAL), are used to increase the load-bearing capacity of a vehicle. More complicated versions are those "Load helper" AAL's, that (In theory) don't add lift, but help support a truck once the load reaches a certain weight.
Personally, I think that AAl's got a bad reputation from companies mismatching the add a leaf they were selling with the factory leaf they were going to be installed in. Of course, it's impossible to engineer one leaf that will satisfy every possible customer and all the various uses they will be put to. If you were going to try a lot of high speed stuff, I would think you would be crazy to get an add-a-leaf. If however you were just trying to get a little more lift so you could get to your favourite fishing hole, you would probably be more than satisfied. Anyplace in between... ehhh, depends.
BTW kd5dwy, is the other name "Hotchkiss" or am I just mixed up?
k_kuch
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- New Hampshire
Thanks guys...great explanation kd5dwy.
kd5dwy
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Central Arkansas
For future reference, the technical name I was trying to remember is "Hotchkiss" and is also sometimes referred to as "Buggy Sprung".
