I'm looking to upgrade my rear leafs. but don't want to go and purchace any.. the reason i don't want to purchace is I have access to a junkyard. I work at one. I am trying to find out what other type (chevy , ford, etc) rear leafs will cross with XJ leaf springs.. if anyone can give me any info it would be a great helpto get the Junkyard Dog up and runnin again....
Rear Leaf upgrade question
- Thread starter DaltonXJ
- Start date
- Location
- Bakersfield, CA
Almost anything that is 2.5" wide.......just mix and match till you get what you want. Here's plenty of info.......leaf spring threads
Grizzley
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- North Central Mass.
Dalton, just do a search like Goatman said, though his link seems to have died.
Quickly. . . Most use the SUA Dakota springs. You still have to use your main leaf and add the Dakota pack under it, with or without it's main leaf with the eyes cut off. Reports vary as to lift, mostly depending on condition of the used leafs and whether you use the main leaf, but 4+ inches seems to be the average. S10 springs are also supposed to work, though I forget what lift they'll give you.
Nice job! Now that we all know, you can expect some requests for comparison shopping in the yard for us.
Quickly. . . Most use the SUA Dakota springs. You still have to use your main leaf and add the Dakota pack under it, with or without it's main leaf with the eyes cut off. Reports vary as to lift, mostly depending on condition of the used leafs and whether you use the main leaf, but 4+ inches seems to be the average. S10 springs are also supposed to work, though I forget what lift they'll give you.
Nice job! Now that we all know, you can expect some requests for comparison shopping in the yard for us.
- Location
- Bakersfield, CA
Yep, looks like that link went away. I've posted to many leaf spring threads, so if you do a search using "leaf springs" and me as the poster you'll get plenty of info.
All you're looking for is the right leaf lengths, if you're going to mix and match, it makes little difference what they come out of. Wrangler leaves work well to add in, as do many others. You can find the exact right length leaves out of a number of packs, or cut them down so the lengths are all evenly spaced. Sometimes I see packs with mutliple add-a-leaves or other springs added in that have the ends stacked on each other, rather than evenly spaced, and that's going to give a harsh ride.
My old leaf pack was all of the four XJ leaves, a couple leaves from my original Tomken pack, and a couple of Wrangler leaves. My current pack is an MJ main leaf with a 1/2 ton Chev pack (minus the main and bottom leaf), and a couple of XJ leaves out of my old pack. I end up with a pretty thick pack, that carries weight well and is stable, and it still rides and flexes very well by minimizing the friction.
Have fun,
All you're looking for is the right leaf lengths, if you're going to mix and match, it makes little difference what they come out of. Wrangler leaves work well to add in, as do many others. You can find the exact right length leaves out of a number of packs, or cut them down so the lengths are all evenly spaced. Sometimes I see packs with mutliple add-a-leaves or other springs added in that have the ends stacked on each other, rather than evenly spaced, and that's going to give a harsh ride.
My old leaf pack was all of the four XJ leaves, a couple leaves from my original Tomken pack, and a couple of Wrangler leaves. My current pack is an MJ main leaf with a 1/2 ton Chev pack (minus the main and bottom leaf), and a couple of XJ leaves out of my old pack. I end up with a pretty thick pack, that carries weight well and is stable, and it still rides and flexes very well by minimizing the friction.
Have fun,
MGrobe
NAXJA Member #968
- Location
- Chicagoland-area, IL
Goatman,
Since you mentioned minimizing friction... I saw in an older thread regarding painting the rear leaf springs, that you recommended using an epoxy paint. Can you tell me what brand you used and how you came to the conclusion that epoxy paint was best. I ALMOST painted my leafs last year, but stopped short of it, because of my indecisiveness regarding type of paint.
Would love to do it this year as I have to remove my rear pack for something else really soon.
Since you mentioned minimizing friction... I saw in an older thread regarding painting the rear leaf springs, that you recommended using an epoxy paint. Can you tell me what brand you used and how you came to the conclusion that epoxy paint was best. I ALMOST painted my leafs last year, but stopped short of it, because of my indecisiveness regarding type of paint.
Would love to do it this year as I have to remove my rear pack for something else really soon.
- Location
- Bakersfield, CA
MGrobe said:
I only use epoxy paint because it's tough and very resistant to corrosion. If I run out, I just use regular paint. Someone posted that they found a graphite based paint at a farm supply place, that could work really well. I get the epoxy paint at a local hardware store, but I don't remember the neame.
