Skyjacker leaf springs

[1RangerNut]

I just got my b2 and it has radius arm drop brackets that look like rough country's but it has full leafs that look like the pic below. So I'm assuming they are skyjacker's?

Anyway, the whole thing rides like a dump truck, so I was thinking about taking some leafs out, if I remove the overload's and one other leaf do you think it would lower it around 1.5", that way I could put my chevy shackles in to help get them laid back, cuz right now they are straight up & down.

Also would I need to remove the wedge or could I just turn them around?

View attachment 13173

 

[1RangerNut]

Anybody??

 

[4x4junkie]

I wouldn't suggest removing the overload leaf entirely... You're asking for the leaves to bend or get fatigued over time and break right where they go over the spring perch on the axle.

If you want to pull out the leaf just above the OL though, that might work. Or if the overload is almost (but not quite) flat, you could try turning it upside-down so it's not in as much contact with the rest of the leaf pack (or sub in a lesser-arched OL from a stock leaf pack).

If you happen to have Rough Country front coils (you mention your brackets are possibly RC), that's probably more a reason for it riding like a dump truck than the leafs. Stiff non-gas shocks could be playing a role too.

 

[1RangerNut]

It's weird, when driving they feel almost solid, but I was just playin around on some snow piles and they will flatten out some. I assume it's because of the shackles being straight up and down??

And the coils are about the same, they will compress some, I forgot to zip-tie the brake line back and it almost got pinched..

Ride height-

Flexed no swaybars, open diffs, on gravel-

 

[4x4junkie]

Those overloads appear to be barely contacting anything at all... I don't think they're affecting much.

I think the issue is those 5 (what look to be massively thick) leaves on those leaf packs. New springs (and shocks) all the way 'round are probably what's in order here.

Skyjacker's leaf packs use 3 leaves (plus OL) and seem to be about on par with the #2 option payload stock springs on a Ranger (or a stock 4-door Explorer leaf pack).

The shackle being straight up/down probably doesn't help either, though I think that's happening because the leafs are also too short. When I put Skyjacker FR34 leafs on my BII, the shackle had a decent rearward angle to it (more so than with the same leafs on my Ranger).

 

[1RangerNut]

Do bronco's have a block like rangers? Maybe they took it out and added some leafs? But it looks like there are 5 leafs in the pic & they look like mine. Maybe SJ changed their packs from the older ones???

The over load is almost 1" thick, so I was hoping that removing it and the leaf above it would help flatten the pack out some (making it longer), that would help the shackle angle and allow me to run the longer shackle which I've read helps flex.

 

[1RangerNut]

Also, my B2 did not like the FA600 the drivers tire is turned out pretty far, the pass. is tipped in like it lost lift, the tie rods are pretty close, and the steering wheel is vertical not horizontal.

Hard to tell but you can see the tire is turned out.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

You just installed the pitman arm? Have you had it aligned?

 

[1RangerNut]

Yes, I just installed it last night.

No, I haven't had it aligned, it had a regular drop arm on it already and I didn't think it would change so much, I was wrong. LoL

 

[1RangerNut]

 

[4x4junkie]

Yeah you have to align it. It's probably waaaaayyyyy toed-out.

If the tie rods aren't touching, don't worry about it (and if they do touch, I'd use a press to bend the driverside tie rod back ever so slightly rather than choosing not to run the FA600 arm).

No blocks on BIIs. BII stock leafs use something like 5 or 6 individual leaves w/o an overload leaf. The leaves also taper to much shorter lengths to maintain a proper taper of the leaf pack (the bottom leaf is maybe 9-10" long).

 

[1RangerNut]

I understand that pushing the links down could cause the tires to toe-out but what would cause the change in camber?

And, I wonder what I have for packs then? Maybe they had the stock ones re-arc'd?

I'll just have to play around with them untill I find something I like.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

When your toe gets pushed out that much is causes the tires to fight each other causing your suspension to raise or sink...thus looking like your camber is messed up.

 

[1RangerNut]

I see that, I was messin with it earlier and toe will definitely make the suspension do funky things.