leaf spring question

On my '66 I currently have 10 piece leaf springs. All the places I look for new ones all say stock replacement, yet they are anywhere from 7-10 leafs. I am going to go w/ all stock wheel and tire size and really need the original ride height to make it look correct. This will more or less be only a show and pavement ride, w/ very little wheelin'. (it's already seen its rubicon days and needs some quiet time) Any help will be greatly appreciated. Incredible website by the way, just the thing for a rebuild referance. Thanks alot and keep up the great work,

Dave atriot:

 

Spring manufacturers can obtain the same ride height many different ways. The number of leaves do not determine ride height. They can use different thickness individual leaves. The leaf material (alloy & temper) can vary. The length of the non-primary leaves can vary. The arch can vary. Fewer leaves will probably mean a more flexible arrangement. Thinner leaves probably means a more flexible arrangement.
Regardless of the number of leaves, if it's advertised as stock,they should restore the stock height & appearance of your vehicle.

To illustrate this point: My '71 RII model was originally (stock) equipped with 10 front leaves and 12 rear leaves. I replaced them with 2 1/2" lift springs that only have 6 leaves each.

 

I saw the same thing when I was looking. One site will offer both springs as original. The difference might be in the year or the engine (weight). My '59 with an F-head 4 cyl. has the 7 leaf in the front. The 10 might be for later model jeeps or for ones with the Dauntless V6.

 

OK now I get it ....The number of leafs only dictates the softness of the ride right? Well being as this will be primarily a street driven rig I would guess the logical choice would be 7 leaf rear and maybe 10 front? It has the v6. Thanks alot for the speedy replies. This forum rocks.

 

No, the number of leaves is only due to the choice of the spring designer. You can make springs with the same height and rate with many different combinations of number of leaves, leaf thickness, and leaf length. Don't read anything in to the number of leaves. Plus the knowledge and technology of materials has advanced a lot since these Jeeps were built, so the steel alloys and processes used to make modern replacement springs could be quite different from those used in the day.

Jeep used a lot of different springs over the years, with different numbers and thicknesses of leaves.... 5, 7, 10, 11, 12 leaves, likely more. It depends on what Jeep was using at the time and the options that the build sheet specified.

 

Ask the spring manufacturer what the spring rate is for their particular spring pack. They will give you the number of pounds it takes to compress the spring pack 1 inch. This is the best way to tell how the ride and articulation will be. I did this several years ago for my '56 f-head and found the rates among the big companies varied a lot. Some companies won't tell you their spring rate.

 

I'm seeing that on the 54 also was going to do a 2.5 lift found out it will actually lower my jeep 1 inch from were it sits stock figure that one out, now I found a kit that works with the original springs no blocks just few extra spring sections to add for lift 2 inches from stock

 

If a 2 1/2" lift will lower your Jeep then it isn't stock currently...

 

this jeep is untouched when i got it from the original owner

 

The add-a-leaf kits out there will make the ride much stiffer and give much less flexibility. On another rig in the past I had a local spring shop make me an extra leaf for each spring pack. The leaf was of a hair thinner metal than the stock leaves but it was long and fit between the 2nd and 3rd leaf from the top. Gave me some height and still flexed and rode well. You could also do this but also ask the spring shop to arch your springs for the additional you height you need. Just jack up rig at the center of the front and back bumpers and measure how much height you need to get the look you want. The spring shop can arch it that exact amount and the extra leaf will help it hold that arch. This has also worked for me in the past.
I currently run Rancho 2 1/2" springs and had them arched an additional 1 1/2". The spring rate on these Ranchos is lighter than any other brand that would give me their rates. They flex unbelievably well.

 

A 2 1/2" lift gives 2 1/2" of lift over stock factory ride height. If a 2 1/2" lift will lower your Jeep then your Jeep can't be stock factory ride height. Simple logic.

 

had 3 vendors tell me on a 3b a 2 1/2 lift will lower height 1 inch due to the different style springs
so I went this way

 

Different style springs from what? I'm trying to understand how a lift kit will lower a vehicle?