raceready
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Cheap homebrew leaf pack tech writeup and pics
A long time ago I posted about using a Dodge Van leaf spring main leaf. I thought I might revisit that mod.
Initally I used S10 leaves below the stock main spring, which netted a lot of lift, but had the shackle pointing straight down or slightly forward. It looked good, but rode like crap with really poor articulation.
So, I looked through EVERY leaf spring in the Hollander database until I found this.....
Dodge Van Main leaf springs are the SAME DISTANCE from the front eye to the center pin.
Any dodge van rear leaf spring from 79-97 will work in an XJ
The distance from the center pin to front eye bushing is 23 inches, which is exactly the same as the stock cherokee. The rear half ot the dodge spring is between 30.5 and 31 inches pin to eye. (some 1 tons are 30.5 and 30.75)
the cherokee is 28 5/8 pin to eye in the rear.
the older vans use a round eye in the front, and the newer models use an oval bushing, I used oval ones and I think it may help the spring flex, but this is just my opinion.
I used mid 90s full size chevy pickup rear shackles for boomerang shackles, and notched out the bottom flange of the rear body for clearance.
I tried several combinations of S10 and stock leaves to get the right height (I can't remember the exact combo), but I think I put in the Van overloads
It ended up with a soft riding pack, slightly arched, and not much thicker than stock. I could have gone taller, but this was a DD and we only wanted to use 31s, plus then I would have to buy different front Coils. Actually it would sit taller, but the one piece skidplate/receiver pulled it down a bit.
and finally here is some of the 91(wifes) next to the 97(mine lol) for comparison. both are on Firestone Destination MT's 31/10.50s, and the 97 is a stock "Up Country" so it sits 1.5in taller than a standard stocker.
A long time ago I posted about using a Dodge Van leaf spring main leaf. I thought I might revisit that mod.
Initally I used S10 leaves below the stock main spring, which netted a lot of lift, but had the shackle pointing straight down or slightly forward. It looked good, but rode like crap with really poor articulation.
So, I looked through EVERY leaf spring in the Hollander database until I found this.....
Dodge Van Main leaf springs are the SAME DISTANCE from the front eye to the center pin.
Any dodge van rear leaf spring from 79-97 will work in an XJ
The distance from the center pin to front eye bushing is 23 inches, which is exactly the same as the stock cherokee. The rear half ot the dodge spring is between 30.5 and 31 inches pin to eye. (some 1 tons are 30.5 and 30.75)
the cherokee is 28 5/8 pin to eye in the rear.
the older vans use a round eye in the front, and the newer models use an oval bushing, I used oval ones and I think it may help the spring flex, but this is just my opinion.
I used mid 90s full size chevy pickup rear shackles for boomerang shackles, and notched out the bottom flange of the rear body for clearance.
I tried several combinations of S10 and stock leaves to get the right height (I can't remember the exact combo), but I think I put in the Van overloads
It ended up with a soft riding pack, slightly arched, and not much thicker than stock. I could have gone taller, but this was a DD and we only wanted to use 31s, plus then I would have to buy different front Coils. Actually it would sit taller, but the one piece skidplate/receiver pulled it down a bit.
and finally here is some of the 91(wifes) next to the 97(mine lol) for comparison. both are on Firestone Destination MT's 31/10.50s, and the 97 is a stock "Up Country" so it sits 1.5in taller than a standard stocker.
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