Just an extra inch in the back..

[badbronc92]

So right now I've got a 2 inch lift on the truck with 33x10.50x15s on 15x8s. The truck sits good but I'd like just a little more lift in the back than the shackles provided. I know a lot of people say stacking blocks is a bad idea, but what about just an extra inch block? Any other possible suggestions? Leaf swap? Thanks.

 

[Sunk]

Swap in a set of leafs from a 4 door explorer. If it's a little too high, you can use the other hole on the shackles. Or you could do an add a leaf, but I think the Ex leafs are better.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

id steal the second leaf out of another pack (ranger, bII, exploder...your choice) and add it to your pack. the ride will be a little stiffer, but not bad.

stacking any amount of blocks is bad. i dont even like the axle wrap the factory block produces....

 

[Sunk]

Yeah that could work too. If you willing to/capable of pulling apart leaf packs and mixing and matching them, anything is possible. You could even come up with a set up where you could remove the factory block.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

if you can operate a wrench and a can of PB blaster, you can make leaf packs.

a high enough stack of leafs to elimate the factory block would ride pretty rough methinks. ive been meaning to grab a pair of shackles to toss in the truck so i can knock those damn blocks out...just one in a list of a million little things i never got around to doing...

 

[badbronc92]

what about a set of skyjacker springs from their 4 inch kit...that would be if I swapped the shackles back out with the stocks and removed the block. I'm assuming that could more or less even out height wise? What about ride? They're called softride springs but somehow I'm not so sure of that.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

a lot of aftermarket lift companies' springs are way stiffer than most guys really need (wether they realize it or not).

guys that just want the height and spend all their time on the street couldnt care less. my truck sees occasional off road and lots of towing/hauling these days, so loaded performance is important to me. a rear end that rides too rough is going to beat my boat to hell (after i just spent all that time adjusting my boat trailer spring rate to better suite my light-ish boat).

lift springs have a higher arch. generally speaking, the higher the arch, the stiffer the spring. shackles allow you to keep a shallower arch, while giving your springs more usable "swing"...thus more suspension travel and a smoother ride...but with the same spring rate (eg. the proper amount of rear end sag, and not too harsh unloaded).

 

[Sunk]

I have a Explorer pack, with my old Ranger main leaf (eyes cut off) under the Ex main. This with Belltechs and the factory block put me level ( I'd actually like it a tad bit higher in the rear) with the SkyJacker 6" springs up front.

It's fairly stiff, but nothing unbearable. I'm sure you could figure out something with less leafs that amounts to less lift and is less stiff. Unfortunately the stiffness is kind of a subjective term and can't really be determined in a universal way.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

Unfortunately the stiffness is kind of a subjective term and can't really be determined in a universal way.

actually, it kinda can....its called spring rate.

unfortunatly spring rate numbers dont mean much to me (or a lot of people for that matter). i just know what my butt tells me and so far it tells me the stock ranger spring rate is about right. i might even go softer if i can do so without loosing ride height.

 

[Sunk]

Ok that's true, but you went on to say what I meant. Some will ride in a stiff truck and think it's not unbearable, and vice versa. How stiff you like it is up to you.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

i knew what you meant...i wasnt really argueing, just being a smartass. i should learn to control that a little better

'tsall good

 

[Sunk]

It's cool, I kinda got that, just wanted to clarify though.

 

[Yellowsplash]

what about a set of skyjacker springs from their 4 inch kit...that would be if I swapped the shackles back out with the stocks and removed the block. I'm assuming that could more or less even out height wise? What about ride? They're called softride springs but somehow I'm not so sure of that.

Skyjacker leaf springs are advertised with the assumption that you are using the stock block. If you want to remove the blocks, keep the shackles and that will net you 3.5-4" of lift. This may be alittle on the expensive side though.
If it were me, I'd just swap in an extra leaf (not an add-a-leaf) but rather a leaf from a stock spring pack. Use the second leaf or take the main leaf and cut the eyelet holes off to the right length to make the leafs taper correctly throughout the whole pack. This won’t make it ride noticeably rough like a traditional add-a-leaf.