Sucessful Dakota lift!!

[Cowboydoc]

after 4 hours of non english speaking <a href="http://www.serverlogic3.com/lm/rtl3.asp?si=1&k=junk%20yard" onmouseover="window.status='junk yard'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">junk yard</a> guys telling me i couldn't do it and offering me used leafs for 135 bucks, i got mine for 40 bucks. haven't gotten a chance to put them in yet, but what is a cheap alternative for the front?

Go with 93 to 98 ZJ springs. They are the same diameter, but are about 1-1.5" taller than stock, then a spacer from one of the many companies that offer them. I had some cheap spacers on the front for a while, but took them out because (I forgot to grease my frontend when I was reassembling everything) they squeaked alot. If you are around the Souther California areas, there are quite a few junkyards with loads of Jeeps and Dakotas. If you are in Oceanside, Ca...look up Gallant's trucks. Just a truck junkyard and the prices are cheap as hell.

 

[JnJ]

The topic is LEAF SPRINGS...........

 

[roXJeepr]

You got 4-4.5 from this lift ???? ....Could you post up some pix ? If this is true that means that I am perhaps closer to 6 inches of lift on the back of my jeep. That sounds high to me...

As far as AAL being a POS... The reason they are known for this is because they are a single HIGH arch leaf that is normally put in pack that is much flater...AKA the many leafs wear down the one leaf.

When they are put into a spring pack that has higher natral arch they do not wear down because they are not pushing against the other leafs as hard... AKA The many leafs are ALL working in unison....

They are nothing more than a very stout leaf. No better, no worst than any other leaf.

I will agree with you and will rephrase my statement. The AAL, by itself as a means of lift, is a big POS!! I wasn't ripping on RE or any other company, just meant that there are much better ways than the AAL. Also, this is my opinion from my experience.

 

[cykaaro]

Great thread! Thanks!
Hopefully doing this this weekend with my uncle. Was just seeing the finer points of what I need to do.
I started at -2" of lift and have done the XJ bastardized fix which initially got me 3" over stock and ended up 1" over. We'll see how this fairs. Just about to prep the springs for it, ie cutting the eyes out. I'm hoping I can get it to end up between 3" and 4".
For the front I used the mid 90's ZJ V8 coil springs which netted me exactly 2" over stock, so am looking at putting 2" spacers in, but will depend what I end up on the back end.

 

[cykaaro]

Actually didn't wait. Put the leafs in and now getting 3.5" over stock. Going away for the weekend so will see if they settle at all from there.

 

[cjwalkeriii]

Good to here... Now I have to get my lazy ass moving and put them on mine... Myabe this weekend.

 

[cykaaro]

Wasn't painful at all to do either. Dremel is your friend! LOL

Took me about 3-31/2 hrs to do from start to finish.d

 

[Dragline]

Actually didn't wait. Put the leafs in and now getting 3.5" over stock. Going away for the weekend so will see if they settle at all from there.

What combination gave you 3.5"?

 

[cykaaro]

What combination gave you 3.5"?

My main leaf is the original one that was sagging -2", put in the dakota packs with the eyes cut off, minus the oveload leaf. From what I've found and read it makes the ride really harsh, and too much crap gets caught in it. Instead I used the smallest XJ leaf on the bottom.
Just got back from my trip, and drove probably near 1000ikm, so it should be fairly settled by now, so will have to measure again, but doesn't seem to have lost any height, unless very minimal.

 

[oo7ravisXJ]

I Use The Springs And Got About 4 In And Now A Year Latter It At About 3.75 In

This isnt on topic, but where do you guys measure the amount of lift chage from. Are you guys just going from the ground to the bottom of the door with a tape measure then subtracking the privious measurment? -Travis

 

[Starscream]

This isnt on topic, but where do you guys measure the amount of lift chage from. Are you guys just going from the ground to the bottom of the door with a tape measure then subtracking the privious measurment? -Travis

IIRC you measure from the center of the hub to the bottom of the flare. I guess you could also use your idea.

 

[cykaaro]

Yep, center of the hub to bottom of the flare. Stock should be 17" back, 17.5" rear. Reason is, depending on rims and tires size, it will alter the height if you measure from the ground.