custom packed leaf springs?

[Surrey]

Hey I have some ford explorer leafs I was planning on sticking under my b2, and was wondering about opinions on adding some of the stock leaf into the pack to get a bit more lift?

I was thinking cut the eyes off and use the main leaf from the stock pack, but will this really get me any more lift?
My biggest concern is making my pack too stiff, as I expect the explorer leafs will be stiffer than stock to begin with.

 

[brinker88]

That's what I'm running. Main explorer leaf coupled with ranger and explorer leaves. I can get 15+ inches of travel out of them with Belltech shackles.

 

[Surrey]

Can you elaborate on which leafs you used? Is that the explorer leaf (main +2 others) and the two small ones from the ranger pack?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

There's a couple of threads on this, I don't remember quite where. I think copykat did something with b-ii and ?dakota? leafs. I read that the ?dakota? leafs are thinner than most other and so will flex better. This thread was talking about what he found in a junkyard.
You could also try re-arching the springs. That's something that I plan on trying but haven't got to yet so can't give any feed-back. I've seen good results reported - no results long term yet. Someone on TRS made something with some rollers and a pipe bender, I think there is something about it on the homemade tools thread.

Richard

 

[Surrey]

The only problem with re-arching the springs is I hear old springs like these will just sag again after a year or two - and the fact that involves $$$.

The reason I ask about explorer and stock springs specifically is because I have some explorer leafs I was planning to stick under my b2, but was wondering about repacking them before doing so.

Anyone know whether shorter or longer leafs give better lift than the other?

 

[brinker88]

Explorer main, ranger, explorer, ranger, explorer ranger. No overload spring. I used those springs coupled with belltech shackles to net me 4.5-5 inches of lift. I'm not even using the OEM block. I do however have Ballistic Fabrication axle seats which sit 1/2" taller than the factory ones.

I never re-arched the springs and all the leaves I had were used.

 

[Surrey]

Hmmmm. I think I might have to try just that then.

Is your second leaf a cut down main ranger, or the 2nd spring from your pack?
Off hand I wanna say my ranger pack is only a main +2 more.

 

[brinker88]

They're the second leaf in the pack.