Leaf Springs-enlighten Me

YES , and as you mentioned ...............as long as the spring perches are part of the remodel. I've used several OEM offset center bolts springs and had some custom ones built by Deaver to accomplish different spring rates but mostly for the rear.............Although they can add some interesting effects to ride at either end...............just be mindful as it may also change your caster and pinion angles......... at either end..

 

My '66 already has a shackle reversal, and extended about 2" forward of the stock location. The reversal already make some different effects, but not bad, just different. The rearward pivot of the front spring will need to be fabricated, so my plan was to set that height to give about 5-6 degrees caster.
-Donny

 

In my experience, those flat overload springs are horrendous rock grabbers (and ugly!). Because you'd be mounting them up front where the weight won't change much with load, you would probably be fine deleting them.

 

See this thread- 1948 Cj2a- Labor Of Love

You can also check out my Perkins CJ6 thread. New Perkins CJ-6 We only had to replace from the crossmember forward on that one. At this point, I wouldn't do it any other way than full replacement if you want it to last long term.

 

I plan to do what you did on the CJ6. Just lop off the frame after some measuring and I have to extend it a few inches aswell to fit the YJ springs.

 

You won't regret it. You get a really clean look, and you won't have to worry about that section again.

 

Found a better flex pic taken a few seconds before the other pic I posted.

 

Show off

 

I have had excellent service from my BDS springs so far on my CJ6. They also have an excellent warranty. I drive it a lot, as long as the salt is not on the road. They flex well off road and handle well on road.

 

the bds 2.5 springs settle into about a stock height after a little use, flex nice and don't ride too bad either.

 

I thought it was the weight of my Jeep flattening them out more (4000+ lbs). I guess it would be around a stock "good" arch to my BDS springs now. Guess it is not just mine.

 

I'm running bds 3.5" yj springs on my cj3b and 37" tires. I modified the rear fender opening and extended the wheelbase to 85". Total frame length is 130".

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Love my YJ conversion. RC, 2in lift, with the short spring removed.
Great off road, can fly through the cow tromped farm lanes. Nice flex.
But on road manners are a bit scary , in the curves.
90 % off road, 10% ,on road.
If i used it much more ,(over 35-40mph, id have to build anti sway bars with disconnects.

 

Thought I'd update this. I bought a set of junkyard YJ springs for $100. I pulled a couple of leaves out of a couple spring packs to make them all match. I don't notice sway or poor handling. It's a somewhat firm ride but a significant improvement over stock leaf springs. They took a broken road pretty good at 45mph and after the front tires landed back on the ground it was still going straight.

I found somewhere to test the articulation. I'm sure there was a little more left before a tire left the ground. (These EEBrakes work really good btw.)








It's close but not touching.

 

i had that exact thing happen, but in less severe conditions. just trying to get up a stump, and the stupid thing folded up.