Should new rear leaf springs be identical?

I picked up two, new, Up Country rear leafs today (from the dealer) and when I put them in my garage I noticed that one of them had less "arch" than the other one - about 5/8 inch less. They look identical in construction, but there are a couple of other differences as well . One has a white paint spot on it while the other has a yellow spot. In addition, they both have the same main part number (392AB), but then they have different numbers after that - 2108 on one and 3070 on the other.

Any ideas? Do I have a mismatched pair, or will they "level out" once I get them on the vehicle?

Thanks,
Scott

I think my RE springs were both the same, maybe the dealer ones are different. I think the left spring that comes with the OME kits is a little taller to make up for the added weight of the driver always on that side.

Blue XJ said:

I think my RE springs were both the same, maybe the dealer ones are different. I think the left spring that comes with the OME kits is a little taller to make up for the added weight of the driver always on that side.

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I do believe that it just the opisit........when the the eng torques or when you mash the gas peddle from a stop, the left front fender raises to to the torque of the eng trying to roll out of the eng compartment.

Now as this torque of the body happen the right rear trys try's to squat on to the ground. the hire arc spring will be trying to resist this action.

the right leaf spring usually has more weight capacity (higher spring rate) to compensate for the torsional torque that the eng produces and the bigger the tire and the lower the gear ratio the more noticeable this is under load and.......:yap:

a Phone call to "Up Country" will get ya the most accurate answer.........infact, i would be willing to bet that if ya looked hard enough there is some destruction(instruction) that will tell ya which side they go on.hone:


Flash.

Call the dealer and run both complete part numbers. I would think the paint dots are an indicator as well. Also, the "up country" is a model of cherokee not spring maker.

DO NOT INSTALL THEM IF THEY ARE NOT IDENTICAL! TAKE THEM BACK AND MAKE THEM GIVE YOU THE RIGHT PARTS!

I'm just sayin......not like I had a jeep that was an inch lower on the passenger side or anything.

I mean.....I'm not admitting that I have an extra leaf on one side or anything ghetto like that to keep it level.

I'm just saying the springs should be the same.

dj's 2000 xj said:

Call the dealer and run both complete part numbers. I would think the paint dots are an indicator as well. Also, the "up country" is a model of cherokee not spring maker.

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:doh: MY bad! Instruction will still answer his question Let us know how it turns out. I still hold to my previous statement.

spring are correct just need to figure out which side go's ware.


Flash.

If you paid for them new, then return them. They should be equal.

If you do decide to use them then they will be at a different height once you install them. I picked up a set of junkyard XJ leafs to use the main as an AAL. One of the pair had less of an arch, about 5mm. I decided to use them and put the higher arch on the driver side to compensate for the weight of the driver.

That just can't be right ... the idea that one side of the jeep is supposed to ride higher until you sit in it or until you gun the motor ... can't be right.

I bought a set of heavy-duty springs -- basically the same as the Up Country springs -- from Quadratec.com, and they were both identical.

I also just looked in the dealer parts catalogue at http://allchryslerparts.com/ and they only list ONE leaf spring ... no mention of right or left.

You can also look at a lot of other online parts sites, and they all list only one spring, not a right/left situation:

http://www.partsamerica.com/Default.aspx
http://napaonline.com/MasterPages/NOLWelcome.aspx

Both springs really should be identical. It sounds to me like they gave you one Up Country, and one standard spring.

OK damnit, I am posting from experience, I thought they were supposed to be different when I recieved 2 different springs. I was WRONG, don't make the same mistake I did. Don't listen to people telling you that it was meant to be that way. The springs need to be the same. In short, I concur with Montana's statement.

montanaman said:

That just can't be right ... the idea that one side of the jeep is supposed to ride higher until you sit in it or until you gun the motor ... can't be right.

I bought a set of heavy-duty springs -- basically the same as the Up Country springs -- from Quadratec.com, and they were both identical.

I also just looked in the dealer parts catalogue at http://allchryslerparts.com/ and they only list ONE leaf spring ... no mention of right or left.

You can also look at a lot of other online parts sites, and they all list only one spring, not a right/left situation:

http://www.partsamerica.com/Default.aspx
http://napaonline.com/MasterPages/NOLWelcome.aspx

Both springs really should be identical. It sounds to me like they gave you one Up Country, and one standard spring.

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What year of jeep are ya trying to put the Up Country springs on?


Flash.

Flash said:

What year of jeep are ya trying to put the Up Country springs on?
Flash.

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From '84 to '01, the fit is the same: http://www.quadratec.com/products/56010_11.htm

Installed them on my '91 with no problems.

Thanks for the input!

I just returned both springs to the dealer. They are going to order another spring, match it up with one of the two that they have, and give me a matching pair.

They were as puzzled as I was.

Thanks again.



BTW - this is for a 99 Limited with the factory Up Country option.

montanaman said:

From '84 to '01, the fit is the same: http://www.quadratec.com/products/56010_11.htm

Installed them on my '91 with no problems.

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ATTENTION ALL HANDS!!!!!:worship: My brother has a 99 XJ with the "Up Country" suspension form the factory! not only that but he works in the parts department of a chry dealer ship! so i was ready to blow ya all out of the water! :worship:

I WAS WRONG and you were right!...........take them back and get the right ones!!!!!

THE LEAF SPRING ON A "UP COUNTRY" ARE THE SAME!:anon: :rtm:

Flash.

I just picked up a matching set of springs. While the new spring sent by the distributor also has a different 4 digit number (under the main part number), at least this new spring is an exact match with one of the earlier ones.

Now, if it would just get warm enough for me to want to work in the garage....

Thanks again for the input. This site rocks! :spin1: