How many leaves in your springs?

According to the service manual, the CJ-5 is supposed to have 7 leaves each side up front, and 9 each side in the rear. My '55 has 12 leaves up front each side and 13 each side in the rear.

Is this unusual?

The drawing in the manual shows 13 in the rear and the drawing of the front leaves is not clear enough to count accurately...

Which is "right" and if you were to remove a few to soften the ride, which would you remove? Long or short or a combination of both?




Randy

 

My 68 has 9 leaves in the front and rear. One early "grooved" pack on the passenger side front, and a "flat" pack on the driver side front. The rear 9 leaves are both "flat".

 

i got a "heavy duty" replacement front set with 12 leaves, with the plow and another 300lbs they would not give.
you need to remove the leaves evenly or one leaf will take on too much load, I went down to 10 and it is still stiff.
my rear had 9 in the replacement set, I added one leaf from the front pack to my rear pack but my usage really demands swaybars instead.

 

I did notice that the passenger side had grooved leaves. Maybe channeled is a better word....at any rate there is a thinner section down the middle of each leaf, about 1/3rd the width of the leaf. Just went out and looked, all four packs are made up of channeled leaves...

This jeep was originally sold in Reno, Nevada. Maybe the dealer ordered it with heavy duty springs thinking it would have a snowplow put on it....

When I was a kid it had a stiff ride.....50 years later it has a rough ride!

 

I suppose that if you were to remove a few leaves, the thing to do would be to remove the whole assembly, corner by corner, and remove an equal number front and rear. But which to remove?

they measure like this, more or less...10", 14", 18 3/4", 20", 22", 26", 28", 32 1/4", 34 1/2", and 37 3/4". The top two leaves attach to the frame and shackles, giving a total of 12. This has a rear shackle setup...

 

There's lots of variation in leaf count and other characteristics. Jeep offered a standard and "heavy duty" suspension package for the entire run of the CJ-5, to the best of my knowledge. The standard springs will have fewer leaves. I believe that Ken (oldjeep) posted a list of leaf counts in an earlier post ... GIYF.

Best solution to saggy or too-stiff springs is to replace with new, IMO. They won't be exactly like the originals, but very few would notice.

If I wanted to remove some leaves, I'd take the pack apart and remove some of the shorter leaves. I'd lube between the leaves or put plastic shims between. Then I'd put the pack together with a new spring center bolt and new clamps. Then I'd reinstall with new u-bolts.

Try lubing the springs with an oil. The Jeep mechanics oiled the spring leaves on cars that came in for routine service - a pump oiler with half-solvent and half motor oil. Soft tires also help - I run about 12-15 psi on the street. Measure the contact patch and air down till you get an even footprint. There's also discussion of this in old posts - GIYF.

 

I recently replace with Rancho springs that had 6 leafs. Way too stiff & too little suspension travel so pulled out the two shorts and now the ride is great. The shocks are now doing there job. BUT I'm not look to do a lot of heavy hauling so for me it was the way to go.

rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

 

First I had to google GIYF....and then I put "spring count" into the search window instead of "leaf springs" as I did before. As usual this has been covered and I was rewarded by this link:

http://www.generalspringkc.com/Leaf_Springs_Jeep_CJ_DJ_1945_1975_s/1950.htm


7 to 9 seems like a pretty normal count, for a stock jeep with no accessories.

It probably would be best to buy new and keep the old originals intact.

I read somewhere that you can just knock out the silentbloc bushing that new springs usually come with and then use the existing shackles and frame mounts...I have the old threaded type shackles...

Randy

 

It's member "oldtime" - I searched and could not find his post.

I recall he posted some info from the parts book. My books don't go back that far.

 

My '57 has 9 leaves and grooved on the rear, 7 leaves up front, passenger grooved, driver side not grooved.

 

Anywhere from 5 to 13 leaves per spring assembly for a CJ5/6.
The exact number of individual leaves depends on spring location (front or rear) the model, the vintage, the engine and standard vs. optional.
Three manufacturers Mather, Eaton and Liggett.
Three designations Standard, Heavy Duty, or Maximum Load.

Individual leaf removal should be done so that a uniform staging is obtained.
Uniform staging will equalize the stress under flex.

 

Ken,

Thanks for that! I searched your posts but was unable to find much on the springs. A 7 leaf front and 9 rear should soften things up. I'll see if i can find a manufacturer's mark somewhere on the old springs, just for fun..

And Howard! You have come through for me again...The folks at generalspringkc.com said they could cross reference original part numbers if I could find them, and I'm pretty sure that is what you have provided...I'll call them again tomorrow.

The first time you helped was just a few moments ago. I just replaced the rear pinion seal and wanted to be sure the axle vent was clear. Back in June of 2011 you posted a picture of the exact location. A search turned it up.. There mine was, under a small patch of old oil and crud......plugged of course.

 

Talked with generalspringkc.com, and they were able to cross reference the OEM part numbers and come up with a new spring pack of nearly the exact dimensions, capacities etc.....

I now have a 1000# spring on each side up front, and they have an 805# 7 leaf that would fit.

Each original rear is a 1005# pack and their replacement would also be a 1005# pack...

Howard, do you remember what your replacement packs were rated at and /or do you remember where you got them? I have the SRI (spring research institute) numbers for the replacements...97-298 front, 97-305 rear....

Randy

 

All 4 of mine are 12 leafs sept 70 / regist 1971 renegade I

 

Why would you want to duplicate the OEM spring, when it's too stiff per your original post?
You have the HD spring option as my '56 did originally. Rode like a lumber wagon, as will a new spring spec'd to the OEM load rating. Go with an aftermarket spring with a decent warrantee, and save the 100+ lb anchors you have on there now for "originality" if you want. My '56 came with a rear PTO, front end frame weight, and a plow. Hence, the HD springs. When I took the ubolts off, they literally fell into pieces, over 50% of the leaves were broken, and not due to rust.

 

I guess what I meant is that they were able to cross reference the OEM 12 leaf with 7 or 9 leaf aftermarket replacements..dimensions, pack height, attach points etc. Unfortunately the only rear pack that they have, other than a custom order, is a 1000# just like the originals.

Guess I wasn't very clear....

 

Roger that, I knew you were onto something but wasn't sure of what it was
There's choices out there that'll definitely give you a better ride than what you have. That said, you can try and pull a few leaves out of the ones you have. Nothing ventured- nothing gained.