question for you front leaf guys

[sluginxlt]

were gonna be doin the sas on my brothers 95 ranger soon, he has chosen to use wrangler front leafs.... just wondering what you guys do about the "crumple zone". we did one tone axles on my buddys bronco and plated over the whole area with 3/8 plate.... it was strong and effective.... but looked terrible and was a pain in the butt. if any one has advice it would be greatly appreciated and pics always help. thanks guys.

 

[TireIron]

just wondering why go with leaves when you already have coil buckets setup factory?

 

[4x4junkie]

3/8" is a bit overkill ya think?

1/8" would work, although 3/16" if you feel safer with that.

(I've also heard of people just filling the crumple holes in with weld, but I wouldn't do it myself).

I would agree, keep it coils, most of the hardware is already there (especially if you use a Ford axle that's also setup for coils).

 

[sluginxlt]

it not my truck, so im not making the choices on parts, but he got a dana30 out of a 96 cherokee for 100bux and jeep yj leafs for 50 bux. its cheep easy and will hold up to what he needs it to do.

 

[TireIron]

the 96 cherokee axle HAS coil mounts on it already... unless you have stripped it already.

 

[Plop]

Yeah its My build. I am doin leafs because I am cool like that. I am going on the cheap side and couldnt find any EB D44 axles for a price that I can afford, plus I'd have to do a rear axle and that tacks on another few hundred bux. This truck is just to get the job done and get a little bit of a learning experience, once I feel that I am more capable I will do another truck with a different setup, so I am starting with cheap building blocks.

 

[bobbywalter]

eb axles suk anyway.


theres a light blue s10 and a black reg cab v8 ranger with 30's on them i did with leaves.

the ranger guy was working at a hospital (construction) over at seaway on fort last i knew back in summer. his first name is mike, i dont have a working number for him but seen the truck last thanksgiving at a home depot on allen rd. he was moving to trenton last i knew. you see it stop em and get a look ai it...mention bobby walter and i dnt think he will give ya any trouble


i made two holes on the inner rail 1 1/4 for access(or just go thru the front) and bolted 3/16 angle to it with 1/2 in bolts on the bottom and side and torqued till flat...and built off that with chanel and cut box for mounts. literally a 3 hr job for that..the back is done with standoffs made from channel and angle. the angle is a lil thicker there...steering and trac bar are modded straight axle chevy stuff with the ranger pitman arm reamed to fit.



theres jeeps runnign around with the same setup. i cant help myself

but its as next to free as it gets and works

 

[Plop]

i made two holes on the inner rail 1 1/4 for access(or just go thru the front) and bolted 3/16 angle to it with 1/2 in bolts on the bottom and side and torqued till flat...and built off that with chanel and cut box for mounts. literally a 3 hr job for that..the back is done with standoffs made from channel and angle. the angle is a lil thicker there...steering and trac bar are modded straight axle chevy stuff with the ranger pitman arm reamed to fit.

Thats what I got

 

[Toreadorranger]

YJ leafs wont hold the truck up, Youll have to add leafs to the packs so they wont be negatively arched.

 

[Toreadorranger]

Yeah its My build. I am doin leafs because I am cool like that. I am going on the cheap side and couldnt find any EB D44 axles for a price that I can afford, plus I'd have to do a rear axle and that tacks on another few hundred bux. This truck is just to get the job done and get a little bit of a learning experience, once I feel that I am more capable I will do another truck with a different setup, so I am starting with cheap building blocks.

You realize it doesnt get any easier or cheaper then ford radius arms on a 97-down ranger right? ford radius arms will fit on your cherokee axle just get weld on wedges.

 

[Plop]

OK I will put it this way... I WANTED to do LEAFS. oh and teh stocker YJ leafs were for just the placement of stuff, I am buying lift leafs just have to figure out how much. That is were the 35's come in hand.

 

[AKBroncoII]

Just use some stock wagoneer leafs. More arch and longer IIRC.

 

[bobbywalter]

waggy leafs are nice.


rear chevy straight axle 1/2 ers or 2wd 86 down rear 1/2 ers work ok too with heavier engines.

the 6 cyl wrangler springs didnt go as negetive as the sploder leafs in my particular application(ext cab v8/winch ect)but i broke both types.


gonna try those rear chevies next. eventually though, its safe to assume coils or coilovers will be under this thing. reg cabs get away easy on wrangler springs though with minimal adjusting.

the deisel did help soften my dodge springs but they are pretty beat now so its time to try something new.

fwiw ...i like the on road feel with the leafs...just too harsh off road.

 

[slammer67]

0n mine I plated the underside and added some gusseting on the sides

as for springs, I went with toyota front springs with a leaf added and the springs went inverted with weight on them

I bet your gonna have the same problem with wrangler springs

 

[sluginxlt]

thank you very much for the pics man. it doesnt make sense to me about the spring problems..... how much different in weight could the toyota be? our wrangler springs came from a inline 6 jeep, and i would think the front end of a 4.0 ranger couldnt be much more than the jeep could it? we could always put add a leafs in there. i know they stiffened the heck out of the back on my ranger