Do you know the history of the vehicle? Heavy loads carried by either your family since new, or possibly by the previous owners? Besides that, or during the course of many years something has caused the leafs to lose their spring specs.
OEM springs are one thing, but some leaf manufactures have some different metallurgy formulas, and temperature tempers that have received their share of complaints. That has been spotty, sure.., but here at
you might find that some will report better, or worse leaf replacements from here, or there, from time to time.
Some might go for OEM replacements from the dealership, (if available, blah, blah), but shrill about the high cost, and call them 'stealerships'. Some obtain fresh looking OEM replacements from another similar vehicle, (with low mileage), from a junk yard. You might find that OEM parts, (no matter where you get them), might serve your needs better now, and in the possible future sale/trade-in value(s).
I have found O'Reillys carrying a lot of Godless communist chinese red-army controlled slave labor divisions making Jeep/Cherokee replacement parts that have flooded the U.S.A. automotive parts departments, blah, blah. Damned near a crap shoot as per quality control. By bad experiences with chinese cloned crap, I find that O'Reillys, (and others), tarnish their reputations. I've gotten a bad belt, bad alternator, bad ignition switch from them within the past two years. Bottom line on that is that the different stores have different sources.., usually.., but I am seeing that pipe from china spewing forth more crap into all.., and over their counters.
You could have the leaf springs re-tempered at some shop in your big city perhaps, and then re-installed with new bushings, or you could just buy low, or high quality leaf springs. However, said replacement leaf springs will have what future? Stay in the family, or sold in it's near future? She could just ride it out until sold, as is, or go and give her a better ride, and..; of course looking good upon that some future sales date. If wanting to keep the vehicle around for some future classical car show, go OEM. Me.., I want a balanced suspension ride especially on black, or clear icy roads so as not to interfere with my steering functions in said. Balanced brake components es muy importante. (Pingon neoma, mabuhey, blah, blah)
Me.., I looked at those above options, and instead figured I'd try leaf springs, (and coils, shocks), that seem to perhaps have better quality control, by spending my hard earned money on tested/manufactured XJ leaf springs that can handle a historical proving ground, i.e., Australia. Like I wanted to purchase leafs with 'military eyes', i.e., the type where there is a length of leaf that rests just below the eyes, blah, blah, but after calling to place that order I was advised by ARBUSA.com counter clerk that they were being recalled, or dumped, whatever, but they would not be available for any price due to the fact that they left the plant sub-standard. I did not want to spend any further time waiting for the plant to make proper ones, and then waiting for a cargo ship, and the rest of the time consuming logistics to get them through the pipe to me in Alaska. However, I could instead get their regular 'oem' looking aftermarket types; Cadillac ride, medium ride, or heavy duty ride. Went with the latter, as I wanted leaf springs to allow me to carry occasional extra weight inside, as well as occasional trailering whenever the need arose. As far as a DD, my XJ does well insofar as it has a not-too-severe old California 'rake' now, i.e., the nose is lower than the rear which really helps to avoid getting high centered on snow drifts across the road, etc. To each his/her own. Me.., I hate shoveling snow in a blizzard around any of my vehicles, lol. Snows in Indianapolis right? Anyway, I am happy knowing I've got good springs, and not having to do that job again.., lol, like ever!!!!! By the way, with the use of Old Man Emu, (OME, not to be confused with OEM), the rake from their coils to leafs is about an inch, and a half higher in the rear, and increased overall height of almost two inches. Perfect. Do you know the history of the vehicle? Heavy loads carried by either your family since new, or possibly by the previous owners? Besides that, or during the course of many years something has caused the leafs to lose their spring specs.
OEM springs are one thing, but some leaf manufactures have some different metallurgy formulas, and temperature tempers that have received their share of complaints. That has been spotty, sure.., but here at
you might find that some will report better, or worse leaf replacements from here, or there, from time to time.
Some might go for OEM replacements from the dealership, (if available, blah, blah), but shrill about the high cost, and call them 'stealerships'. Some obtain fresh looking OEM replacements from another similar vehicle, (with low mileage), from a junk yard. You might find that OEM parts, (no matter where you get them), might serve your needs better now, and in the possible future sale/trade-in value(s).
I have found O'Reillys carrying a lot of Godless communist chinese red-army controlled slave labor divisions making Jeep/Cherokee replacement parts that have flooded the U.S.A. automotive parts departments, blah, blah. Damned near a crap shoot as per quality control. By bad experiences with chinese cloned crap, I find that O'Reillys, (and others), tarnish their reputations. I've gotten a bad belt, bad alternator, bad ignition switch from them within the past two years. Bottom line on that is that the different stores have different sources.., usually.., but I am seeing that pipe from china spewing forth more crap into all...
You could have the leaf springs re-tempered at some shop in your big city perhaps, and then re-installed with new bushings, or you could buy low, or high quality leaf springs. However, said replacement leaf springs will have what future? Stay in the family, or sold in it's near future? She could just ride it out until sold, as is, or go and give her a better ride, and..; of course looking good upon that some future sales date. If wanting to keep the vehicle around for some future classical car show, go OEM.
Me.., I looked at those above options, and instead figured I'd try leaf springs, (and coils, shocks), that seem to perhaps have better quality control, by spending my hard earned money on tested/manufactured XJ leaf springs that can handle a historical proving ground, i.e., Australia. Like I wanted to purchase leafs with 'military eyes', i.e., the type where there is a length of leaf that rests just below the eyes, blah, blah, but after calling to place that order I was advised by ARBUSA.com counter clerk, (Talk to them, they will get you what you need), that they were being recalled, or dumped, whatever, but they would not be available for any price due to the fact that they left the plant sub-standard. I did not want to spend any further time waiting for the plant to make proper ones, and then waiting for a cargo ship, and the rest of the time consuming logistics to get them through the pipe to me in Alaska. However, I could instead get their regular 'oem' looking aftermarket types; Cadillac ride, medium ride, or heavy duty ride. Went with the latter, as I wanted leaf springs to allow me to carry extra weight inside, as well as trailering whenever the need arose. (August 2011--Coils $160, Leafs $110). As far as a DD, my XJ does well insofar as it has a not-too-severe old California 'rake', i.e., the nose is lower, than the rear which really helps to avoid getting high centered on snow drifts across the road, etc. To each his/her own. Me.., I hate shoveling snow in a blizzard around any of my vehicles, lol. Snows in Indianapolis right? Anyway, I am happy knowing I got good springs, and not having to do that job again.., lol, like ever!!!!! By the way, with Old Man Emu, (OME, not to be confused with OEM), the rake from their coils to leafs is such as to give an overall lift of almost two inches, but also giving that slight rake, making the rear just a bit higher than the front. Perfect.
BTW: Adding a Kangaroo Bull bar bumper, and Winch made the stance even 'mo-betta.
*HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL*
