leaf spring question....

[ratboy93]

i just installed my ft 6" long arm on my rig.( which was missing all kinds of nuts bolts and bushing sleeves) but in my opinion the rear leaf pack is insane stiff! so here is my question i dont have money to run deavers like i want to at the moment so these leafs are gonna have to work, what if i took 2 leafs out of the pack? the two short stiffer ones?

has anyone ever done this?
insights?

 

[61scout80]

what brand springs are they? what shackle are you running? Competition or recreational use? what is your shock set up?

 

[ratboy93]

the brand is whoever full traction uses its a one inch shackle nothing special came with the kit. the shocks i am using are 16" triple bypass f.o.a.'s. and the rig is for jeepspeed not crawling

 

[shortbussrydah]

I have 4.5" leaves that are too stiff as well, sometime in the near future im trading someone for 3" leaves and then putting shackle relocation brackets on to achieve a better shackle angle

http://naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=956630
that gives you an extra 1.5" of lift


as far as i know, flatter springs and proper shackle angle = more flex

so i think your headed in the right direction

unfortunately a lot of leaf packs arent rebuild-able so that will dictate your next move... you could always offer to trade someone leaves, turns out people like big new leaf springs and would gladly give you their smaller ones

 

[ratboy93]

well we will have to see... for me and jeepspeed these full traction springs sit a little bit too tall and are def too stiff. im gonna take a couple springs out of the pack and see how she reacts if shes still to stiff i think im gonna sell them and try and get a set of deavers.

 

[chris_amrein]

I put new Rubicon Express leaf springs in my daily driver and it sat too high and was too stiff. I took out the bottom 2 leafs and that brought it down enough. I don't carry anything in the back of my Jeep so I wasn't suprised it was too high and stiff. I always planned on adding the leafs back when they settled and/or I started offroading more but so far it hasn't really come down any.

Chris

 

[ratboy93]

but did it make the springs any softer?

 

[61scout80]

any axle wrap issues with pulling out leaves?

 

[julio_a]

deavers will probably be way stiffer.

 

[ratboy93]

well i dont know about the axle wrap.. deavers will not be stiffer unless i get the race pack. i want to get a prerunner pack. the race packs from deaver are like 10 leafs... wayyy stiff but can handle a huge huck.. im looking into ranger rear springs because you can get a set of deaver springs used for a ranger fairly cheap. im just curious about the length and what not.

i can get the new mounts from poly performance and build a new shackle and get a set of stock height ranger deavers and it will be sure to be smooth. i dont know i dont want to spend more money though

 

[julio_a]

you can try to run it as is and see if it settles some? i have deavers in mine and its way stiff, but i have no weight in the back either.

 

[ratboy93]

yea i guess your right but these springs still sit a little tall for my liking

this is what she looked like after working yesterday to get the kit installed

 

[ratboy93]

picture is kinda dark but you kinda get the idea

 

[tcm glx]

If the leaf pack is new, you might want to let it break in before taking any leaf packs out..... I chased for a team that ran these for a while, and had success with them.

 

[Mike1331]

nice rack/bar. def beat on them before you take any out. I have a set of nationals and they were pretty stiff and tall but they def take the hard hits nicely. Aren't full tractions leaves made by national?

 

[ratboy93]

what was there setup? if you dont mind me asking?

 

[ratboy93]

i dont know who makes there leafs? i think im gonna call them and ask them and give them hell for shorting me all kinds of bolts and sleeves for the bushings. like 45 dollars worth.

tcm glx: what setup were they running?

 

[ratboy93]

ok so i just called full traction to ask about the rear leafs and the sales guy who helped me got all offended when i asked who made the rear leafs then proceeded to tell me they make there own. then i told him they need to work on there customer service because my kit was short some bolts and sleeves and i think he almost had an anerism he was so upset hahaha what a fawkin douche bag. go fawk yourself sale clerk dude

 

[ratboy93]

I WAS ALSO THINKING WHAT IF I SWITCHED TO SPRING UNDER AND A LONGER SHACKLE? I WOULD MOST LIKELY HAVE THE SAME TRAVEL BUT A LOWER STANCE?

 

[crazyjim]

FYI, from what I've heard FT has deaver make their springs for them. They aren't deaver spec, but they're a good leaf. Weigh them down a bit, tools, spare, etc. Things you have normally anyway, and get your shocks valved to control them and you'll be set!