front leaves

[tjdeerslayer37]

What's everyone running for front leafs on their sas? I've got a FW 44 in the front with a 302 above it and I need to find a short leaf (51-53") eye to eye that is stiff enough to keep positive arc. Dummy me tried cherokee rears and they're way too flimsy, the top leaf, the one with the eye in it, bends around all the leafs under it basically and goes negative. the truck is fairly big and I just don't know what kind of leafs I need because I can't find lenths listed anywhere. Once I find a leaf that fits ill search for a lift set somewhere. Right now the top of the hood is in the ball park of 5'6" or so on 36's seeing as im eye level with it lol. Thanks

 

[cammeddrz]

1973 -1987 GM 1/2 ton rear leaves are 52", just like the cherokee springs are 2 1/2" wide, and counting the overload leaf, have a total of 7 leaves, i pulled the overload leaf and 1 more on mine. but different from the cherokee springs the centering pin is exactly in the middle at 26" between the eyes, and the cherokee is 23" back from the front eye.

but the 1989-1994 toyota 2wd pickup rear springs are 51" but are 2 3/8" wide and the centering pin is 22 1/2 back from the front eye. so the centering pin is much closer to where you need it but i would bet those springs are as soft as the cherokee rears you already have

you can always add a leaf to stiffen them up, i have the 2 1/2" leaves i pulled out of the gm springs that i would be glad to send you for just the price of shipping

 

[tjdeerslayer37]

I did add leafs that's what's weird, I added 2 chevylift leafs that were about 4" total shorter than the cherokees, 2" on each end and they stay stiff but the cherokee leafs bend over top of them at those 2 points. Thanks for the info, im going to look into those chevy leafs

 

[cammeddrz]

yeah just go and find some junkyard chev 1/2 ton rear springs. i would bet they want less than $50 for the set. but like i posted remember that the center pin is 3" further back, and therefore will cause problems with locating your axle.

 

[Explorin94]

I used Yj springs off the front and put an add a leaf in. They flex fine, but I have a 4.0 and you are running the 5.0......big weight difference there. Look into a set of frnt leafs from a K5 Blazer, they might be right for you.

 

[cammeddrz]

Look into a set of frnt leafs from a K5 Blazer, they might be right for you.

uh.......47" not anywhere close

 

[tjdeerslayer37]

I think location will be okay seeingg as its a little messed up right now lol and I can always shift my rear bracket some to get it positioned right. I think the set is 40 bucks at the jy but ill most likely have to re-bushing them too unless I get lucky and find a cleaner truck.

 

[tjdeerslayer37]

Here's a pic of the truck, you can see the front axle is set back a little, that's with the jeep leafs reversed so it should sit ok with the chevy leafs. You can see the negative arc in front of the tires too.

 

[cammeddrz]

all right as long as you can "shift" it to make 3" disappear. i would bet that its harder than it sounds

 

[cammeddrz]

holy sh-t! you had to have a huge drop bracket to compensate huh?

 

[tjdeerslayer37]

If I had a stock shackle the leaf would be sitting on the underside of the frame guaranteed lol. Its only sitting in the driveway we haven't wheeled it yet and won't till we get new springs. Didn't expect them to be how they are. Plus those drop shackles will help me shift it too.

 

[cammeddrz]

those drop shackles will help me shift it too.

only if the center of your wheel-well is 26" forward of the rear leaf-shackle because one end needs to be solid mounted and the other end can have a drop bracket. so either the front is solid and the center pin ends up 26" back from the front shackle, or the back is solid and the center pin ends up 26" forward of the back shackle

 

[tjdeerslayer37]

That's what I was saying before, I can remove the bolts in the back hanger and move it forward or back to make it 26" from where it needs to be.

 

[cammeddrz]

That's what I was saying before, I can remove the bolts in the back hanger and move it forward or back to make it 26" from where it needs to be.

awesome your rear shackle is only bolted on, that will make it a cake-walk. un-bolt it, drill, and re-bolt it. i actually left my sway bar on during this process as a means of keeping the axle located as i mounted the springs

 

[NMB2]

your main issue is the way you built your brackets/sas. You probably arent going to find a leaf to do what you want without getting a rediculously stiff/arched springset.