Dodge van Spring Write up

I have been calling dealerships all morning... the 98 uses different part numbers but I am wondering if the over all lengths are the same... not getting any clear answers. I'll use that link ya gave me Carts
 
I got a picture!
HPIM0279.jpg


Here are the main springs all primed up ready for paint. I will paint them today. Now i am just waiting for parts from RE to show up, i still have to replace the bushings. One thing to note tho. On the newer springs the front eye uses an oval buchings. You have to go to the dealer to get them. I have no idea how much they are yet tho as i havent had time to go down and get them. I will ask my uncle tonight to order them with his discount. More pictures when the parts get here.
 
Those are nice and non-pitted like my chevies LOL!!!
What did you use to clean them up? Wire wheel or flap disk? I used a wire wheel last time and it didn't do as nice a job as I was hoping for. Do you think a flap disk would be too bad on the springs? I don't want to mess them up because they are heat treated etc. I don't know if a flap wheel would get too hot?
 
J-Roc, i used a couple things. I hit them with a wire wheel first to get all the loose stuff off. Then set them on the floor and brushed a liberal coat of phosphoric acid on them. Its called metal prep and etch mine was made by kleen strip. You can find it at HomeDepot. Then rinsed with clean water and wire wheel again to get rid of anyfilm left over. the phosphoric aicd dissolves the rest and etches the metal in preperation for paint. Works really nice. Do a search to find out more.
 
Sweet, we have a homedepot here on this side of the pond :) I'll have to inquire about that stuff... but it looks like the spring is brand new! No pitting or anything!!! Thats fn' crazy

I can't wait to go to the yard and pick up a set of these springs, the shitty thing is that it's going to cost me $100

So I'll have Chevy leafs (previous bastard packs), XJ leafs, and Van leafs kicking around in my garage to tinker with...32 to be exact HAHAH!!!
 
The springs do have some pitting but since i treated them with phos acid the rust wont come back. It was just minor surface pitting anyway. And i have some new pics.
HPIM0321.jpg

New pain. You can actually see the pitting a little and the wear from the spring pads. They do look new tho.
HPIM0319.jpg

Here is the rest of the pack. There is a 6,5 and a 4 leaf pack. Each with one overload. This pack is the 5 spring pack. 4 leaves one overload.
HPIM0323.jpg

They have a slight bit of arch. My main objective is using these with my rubicon express pack to fix the shackle angle. My current pack is about a year old. Rubicon Express 3.5" pack.
If these are too big let me know. And i should also note i do not know how to change the size.
 
What length shackle are you going to use with these? It looks like it could definitely do good in correcting shackle angle, but I'd be concerned with it interfering with bumper bolts/ and the shackle box when the spring compresses and the shackle rotates backward.

It'll be interesting to see how it turns out.
 
Currently i have a rubicon express 1inch lift shackle on there, but have a 1.5 inch lift bommerange shackle on the way. This will keep the spring out of the shackle box as well as give me back the lift i will loose when i run the longer srping. If it does interfere i will either trim whatever is in the way or lower the mount. If the added length of the shackle doesnt give me back all the lift i will add the overload leaf in cut down to basically a small block.
 
any pics of these on the jeep yet? i'm lookin into doing this also. my shackle angle sucks @$$. tryin to get it to flex better and have a smother ride,
 
Anyone know the spring rates for the 1/2, 3/4, and 1 ton vans?

Anyone compare the main leaf thickness & arch from these different packs?

I suspect the 1/2 tons are the closest to XJ leaves in spring-rate.
 
userbmx1315 said:
any pics of these on the jeep yet? i'm lookin into doing this also. my shackle angle sucks @$$. tryin to get it to flex better and have a smother ride,
Click to expand...
No pictures yet. Still waiting on my new shackles from RE. should be here wed, and ill prob finish building and installing them monday.
 
law.74 said:
Anyone know the spring rates for the 1/2, 3/4, and 1 ton vans?

Anyone compare the main leaf thickness & arch from these different packs?

I suspect the 1/2 tons are the closest to XJ leaves in spring-rate.
Click to expand...
My springs are from a 3/4 ton. I am only using the main leaf. It would be nice if it is a little sitffer tho because of the added weight i have when on the trail. I dont think just the main would matter much tho
 
2000bluexj said:
No pictures yet. Still waiting on my new shackles from RE. should be here wed, and ill prob finish building and installing them monday.
Click to expand...

ok, waiting to see hows yours turns out to decide if i want to this to mine, if its smoother then i'm going this route. keep us updated
 
Any updates on your progress yet 2k? Really looking forward to seeing the final outcome of this mod...

I found a few sets of springs on car-part.com but everyone wants $100 minimum...I'll still looking out for that killer deal :)
Good news though, I ordered new bushings from work... TRW with Lifetime Warranty for $11 taxes in, can't beat that by a long shot!
 
Wait, so you're going to a longer spring to fix shackle angle issues, but then you're putting a boomerang shackle on it? Boomerang shackles are a shackle angle bandage. I don't see much sense in fixing your angles if you're gonna put the bandage right back on.
 
The bomerang shackle would be to keep the shackle from hitting the box, since it would be pointing back more.
 
A boomerange does nothing for shackle angles. It just reduces a chqance of hitting the shackle box or bumper bolts. The only thing that affects shackle angle is spring length.
 
J-Roc said:
Any updates on your progress yet 2k? Really looking forward to seeing the final outcome of this mod...

I found a few sets of springs on car-part.com but everyone wants $100 minimum...I'll still looking out for that killer deal :)
Good news though, I ordered new bushings from work... TRW with Lifetime Warranty for $11 taxes in, can't beat that by a long shot!
Click to expand...
Which byshings were these/ part numbers? Thanks. I still need the frony bushings, Parts should be in wed,
 
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