Add-A-Leaf installation & Leaf spring upgrades
Looking for a 1" to 2" lift or a little more payload to carry that extra trail gear?
Quality Aftermarket Leaf Springs are very expensive, How about an Add-A-Leaf
with some new bushing, U-brackets and plastic friction pads for about $100.00.
Jeepers
I started with the factory CJ-8 springs that came off
my wifes '81 Scrambler
First I ordered an Add-A-Leaf for the rear of a CJ,
made by Hellwig, the leafs were only about 18" long
(kind of like overload springs, too short and stiff)
I returned them and then bought a set of BDS
suspension Add-A-Leafs for the rear of a YJ, from a
local shop, "Hoak's 4WD & RV Performance Center"
thats located in Wrightsville, PA.
So I took the old spring packs apart and the plastic or
teflon pieces all fell apart. I ordered new ones along
with some U-brackets from National Spring Co.
The add-a-leafs I bought were for a YJ (thats what i
wanted). They are about an inch and a half to long
for a CJ, so i just cut off about 2" from one end, and
ground it smooth. I also got some Energy Suspension
spring eye polyurathane bushings.
(polyurathane last longer and is firmer. Rubber is
softer and more flexable, and also deteriorates faster
They both have pro's and con's)
To take apart the spring packs remove the straps and
then hold springs together with a C-clamp while
removing center bolt, then slowly release spring
tension by opening up C-clamp.
Caution: some spring packs contain alot of energy.
Those "Straps" that are wrapped aroung the springs
both factory and aftermarket limit flex, (mostly droop)
so if your looking for more articulation try using
U-brackets like these pictured. Normally they have a
steel rivit holding them to the springs but i used some
Grade "8" countersunk screws and nuts. If you look
closely you can see i staked the nuts to hopefully help
keep them from backing off.
I then replaced all the plastic friction pads, bushings and
assembled the packs with new center bolts. Also
installing bolts with spacers through the top of the
U-brackets. These might be removed later during testing
the suspension if they prevent the spings from coming
apart during axle droop.
This is a pretty good picture
of the finished project, i think
about 3 hours total time, i
worked on this over a 5 day
period.
The rear of "3/4tonYJ" is about
2" higher, and also stiffer. I
think after i get my tool box
and other gear (which seems
to be growing all the time)
it will drop about 1" and have
a greater payload which was
the reason for me doing this.
questions or comments:
E-mail- 3/4tonYJ
