Rear Leaf Springs

[Ryannn]

Can I combine Explorer Leaf packs till I have 5" of lift? maybe more to get rid of the stock block?

-Ryan

 

[Will]

The ride would be hell and you would have very little suspension travel in the rear, for starters.

 

[Ryannn]

What would be the best way to approach this then? I dont want any blocks... But I want travel and ride quality... & no I do not want Chevy springs.

 

[3.0ranger1227]

Deavers

 

[06RangerXLT]

deaver F31 leaf pack. id go re arched chevy. you will be amazed. plus 5x less $$$ then deavers

 

[Ryannn]

Even with the F31 pack I need another 2" of lift...? So could I add the beltech shackle?

 

[straycat]

Just put on an add-a-leaf like I did at the rear. I got a 3 1/2 inch is setup. The ride is great and I love it. I put it on back in July 2001 on my 99 Ranger and I have never had a problem with the leafs springs. I bought the truck new in July of 99.

 

[Will]

Add-a-leaf is okay, unless you use a short one. A short one makes a hard spot and if you regularly load the truck, you'll eventually bust a leaf spring. Happened to me twice.

There's nothing wrong with using the factory block. But getting a set of springs arched to fit your truck is the way to go.

 

[straycat]

Arched springs are great. But you need to find them or have somebody do yours. If you have a lot of milage on the truck it would be better to have them replaced. I know there are spring shops that can arch your springs, but it is time consuming since you have to take it all apart and drop them off for a day or 2. If that have something on hand that would be better for you. Call around and see what you can find. My truck had 12,000 miles on it when I did the lift and everything still look great and the ride is really super nice. I have so many buddies who have been in my truck on long rides and they all can't believe how smooth my Ranger is on the road and on trail rides. I guess if I ever did bust a spring I would just get arched springs or Devers. But in all the years I have had lifted 4x4 and 2wd trucks I have never busted a spring using an add-a-leaf.
My early blue 76 Bronco with a 390 went back and forth from California and Ocala, Fl over 10 times. I added an add-a-leaf setup to it. I was running 35's on it. I went to Moab 8 times with it in a 5 year period and never had any leaf spring issues. I guess it might just be luck of the draw or something. But I wheeled that 76 and winched a lot of other trucks who got stuck or broke down. I put over 100,000 miles on that Bronco. That was a great truck. I only got rid of it when I got back into SCCA road racing and bought my 72 911S (race only version) that was imported to the USA for racing only. I made it street legal and got it tagged here in Florida. That duck tailed spoiler hot rod car came with a 285 hp 6 banger. I bought that back in 1985 with only 3,000 miles on it. Ok, so I got back into an expensive hobby, but I love to take corners at a heart pumping speed....lol

 

[DRanger024]

I have 4 door explorer leaves and chevy drop shackles with no blocks and sit at the exact same height I did with stock leaves/shackles and blocks. Take the explorer leaf/chevy shackle combo and ad the factory 2.5" blocks and you have a good set up that rides very nice. There's hardly any axle wrap with the stock blocks, if any at all.