Decent springs for Spring Over

[youngjeeper]

I'm tired of changing out Stock springs every trail ride. I like the flex they have and the soft ride, but they are too old and just don't last. Wouldn't mind a little extra lift with some new springs (2" or so) but want the same soft ride and flex. What does everyone have with their spring over, and how do they hold up? I'm considering custom springs made, but want to hear about the other options and experience (how long they last, ride, flex). The other combo I'm looking at is ranco 44044's and chevy's, But I don't really want to change the wheelbase and move my rear hangars back more.

[-Bluegill-]

I was impressed with the ride quality & flex of the 44044's on Tony's "Big Pig". Dunno about the Chebbies though - my only experience with them is on Yota trucks - they flex like crazy.

[Stuka]

The 44044's dont seem to hold up. I wonder how a new set of stock or 2" springs from BJ's would hold up? Also, are you running bump stops to prevent them from over compressing?

[jeeping1974]

I'm replacing the front springs on my j10 with either 2" or 4" leaf springs from BJ's, I just have not made up my mind which way to go yet. I'm thinking 4" for me since I have almost no weight in the back end.

[etjeep]

Dan,
This may not help your problem, but how many leaves were in the packs that you are bending? IIRC there was a 4-leaf pack and 7-leaf pack made. I don't know if there is a correlation? I have a 4-leaf waiting for me to do the SOA but hearing this, I don't know if I should just take a leaf out of my 4" lift springs instead. My SOA project will not happen until over the next winter. I wonder if anyone else who wheels is bending them up like you?

[cajun_lad]

Or you could run SOA w/ 4" lift springs.

[trcooperone]

I used stock GW springs that had where a 7 leaf pack and they where way to soft and they where just about inverted with just the engine weight. They also didn't match the lift in the rear.

I made my own pack. I use an old dodge ramcharge 4" pack with a few of the original GW pack and make a pack that gave me about a 3" lift which worked perfect to matck 63" chevys in-boarded in the rear

[jeeper4life]

I went with bds springs on the front because I'm sprung over and didn't have to have too much spring wrap. I have had good luck with them not twisting too much in other jeeps that were spung over. The leafs are thicker than most sets I've seen but are soft riding and do flex well. I've also heard if you bend them bds will replace them, no questions, but I've never bent them. Here's a picture of the jeep were running them on. We've not had a problem with axle wrap yet and It has 41" Irocs and Dana 60's with an Arb in the front and a detroit in the rear.
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn303/jeeper4life_photo/P3280087.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn303/jeeper4life_photo/P3280088.jpg
This jeep also ramps over 2000 on a 20 degree rti ramp. It's the only jeep around here to ever max out a local four wheel drive shop's ramp here in town. The ramp is about 7 feet tall.
Erik:fsj:

[etjeep]

Or you could run SOA w/ 4" lift springs.
Joey,
Is that what you are running?

[cajun_lad]

Joey,
Is that what you are running?

Yes sir.

Fairly broken in BJ's 4" lift springs front and rear. SOA front and Tad's shackle flip rear. I cleared 40" tires with no fender trimming. But since I am running J10 axles on a NT Chero, I had to trim some for flex clearance.

[78 Arizona Chief]

Dan,
I have been running a set of 1-2inch taller than stock custom Alcan springs on my SOA for over two years now. I went through three sets of stock spring finally taking one out at Moab. Ordered the Alcans and never looked back. Flex is fantastic and the springs since being installed have only settled around .5-inch.


When it comes to SOA and our heavy pigs, the key is to have the second leaf extend all the way under the two spring eyes, main eye being hte most critical. The stock springs don't do this and is why they turn into 'Ss' when you hit the brakes hard. I think my front packs are 7 or 8 leaves, would need to check. Just call Tom at Alcn, tell him what you've got and what you want and they can do it. Fast service, excellent product and very durable. I think it was around $550.00 for the front leaves.

Hope this helps.
Kevin.

[orangecherokee]

Alcans :cool:

http://www.alcanspring.com/

[youngjeeper]

Brandon..Yeah, I extended the bumpstops long ago to limit the compression of the springs, but I think it's just the fact that all the springs I'm getting are 20+ years old. I was considering *new* stock springs, but wouldn't want to waste the money, wanted to hear if anyone had experience with that first.

Eric, The springs one the front I believe have all been 7 leaf, and 5 leaf in the rear. Not positive on the rear, Jeep is in GA right now so can't really go and check.

If BDS has a "bend return guarentee" that may be a nice option.

I'd like something a little higher than stock..about 2-2.5" so I can take off my body lift and bring the COG down a tad.

Kevin and Nick, I've hear nothing but good from Alcan, and I think they have a break a spring return guarentee too?

Keep the comments coming..I still have awhile to figure things out, still have to figure out what to do about the roof (try to fix or chop the top?)

[-Bluegill-]

My plan (budget minded, btw) is to make a b@st@rd pack from my stock leaves & YJ leaves, for ~1.5" lift. My stockers have done good so far, but I lost ~1.25" of height from bolting on the 230lbs of bumper & winch.

[orangecherokee]

My next set will be Alcans... unless I link the front :rolleyes: and yes they will typically hook you up if one snaps but I haven't heard many that have.

[etjeep]

I have put any thougts of SOA on the back burner for now so I can get out to wheel the rest of this year. Custom springs sounds nice. The stock springs do not seem to be able to hold up for people that wheel hard like Dan. My initial thought is a SOA with a 4" lift spring seems like you would be more prone to a flop, although the Black Diamond springs I have are very stout. It sounds like Dan's lack of steering ability was the root cause of his flop, whereas just having a SOA does not necessarily mean youo will flop if you can manage the terrain a bit with steering.

[j20brett]

the 44044's ride great, but i bent them the first time out. the key would be to have the second leaf military wrappen around the main leaf for more resistence to bending.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m146/brett6819/katemcy%20feb%202008/DSC00249.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m146/brett6819/katemcy%20feb%202008/DSC00251.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m146/brett6819/katemcy%20feb%202008/DSC00258.jpg

[misfittom138]

Keep the comments coming..I still have awhile to figure things out, still have to figure out what to do about the roof (try to fix or chop the top?)


Chop the back half. :D

[misfittom138]

My next set will be Alcans... unless I link the front :rolleyes: and yes they will typically hook you up if one snaps but I haven't heard many that have.

I got a quote from Alcan for mine. Looking at 215 each for fronts and 230 each for the rears. Not bad. :cool:

[etjeep]

Chop the back half. :D
That would be different, like the one for sale on NC4x4.
http://www.nc4x4.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45807

[etjeep]

I got a quote from Alcan for mine. Looking at 215 each for fronts and 230 each for the rears. Not bad. :cool:
Thats actually reasonable considering the time cost of changing it once.

[Slick Willie]

Michael may have to attest to my front springs, but I think they're 4" CRusty's. Michael had them for 5 years and had them well broken in when I bought them from him. They're only about 3" taller than stock now. But they flex great, ride...well...can't go over 20 mph, so...and they seem pretty stout. I've hit them on a rock a couple times (although soft), they held up.

[misfittom138]

That would be different, like the one for sale on NC4x4.
http://www.nc4x4.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45807

Exactly!!!! I like it!

[Tad]

That would be different, like the one for sale on NC4x4.
http://www.nc4x4.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45807 There's something wrong with those front springs.
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee49/performance_innovation/IMGP0312.jpg

Unless I am wrong that shackle is flat forward.

AnyWay:
Dan,
I think the Alcan springs would be great.
Baring that, and since I can not afford them, I am running something similar.
Take it with some salt, as a pre-75 FSJ my fronts are shorter and will never flex as well as the '75-'91 springs.
I do however have pretty good luck (it was mentioned above/before) with running a full length secondary main spring.
I have bent a main spring (it's why I carry a spare) but I think the full length secondary one kept the rest of the pack in decent enough shape to be reusable.

[etjeep]

Tad,
I know nothing about this rig, but you are right, the front shackle angle is too flat.

The full length scondary spring, military wrap or not appears to provide some additional structure as one would expect. How much does it affect flex?

[youngjeeper]

Spring talk aside,

I am actually thinking of chopping my top (somewhat) like that. I was thinking of moving the rear roof line to a little forward of halfway on the rear doors. Just in the thinking stage now, I'm trying to figure out something that will look good, and keep me and my dog safe.

Now it's just a matter of $$...shouldn't of sold my tube bender and 60's :banghead:

[orangecherokee]

Now it's just a matter of $$...shouldn't of sold my tube bender and 60's :banghead:


WHaaaaaaaaaa!!?????? :eek:

[youngjeeper]

WHaaaaaaaaaa!!?????? :eek:

Me being in Utah and my Jeep and equipment being in Georgia..didn't see when I'd ever get around to doing anything. Everything just sat in the garage. Needed some cash, sold it :rolleyes:

Sucks now that I move to FL and I'm 4 hours away! :(

Oh well, lesson learned. Probably will NEVER find the deal I got on that stuff ever again.

[Tad]

...
Oh well, lesson learned. Probably will NEVER find the deal I got on that stuff ever again. Not the exact one, yea, probably not.

Only consolation I can offer on some of our dumb *** purchases and sales is this...
...we do not get any smarter with age on the hard parts.

Ok, that was not a great consolation, but it was at least honest.

[wickedwagon767]

I bought a new pair of Rancho44044's and...........returned them 2 weeks later after I saw a pair of them bent on what seemed like a mild "hit".....and ,well, I found a Cherokee I wanted and returning them was the quickest way to cash:D. I hear they ride great and flex well but don't hold up to the hard stuff.

In hindsight , I'm glad I did because when I buy front springs next they're going to be Alcans. They aren't cheap,but they're only about $100 more than the Rancho 44044's and should never have to be replaced.

[wickedwagon767]

Not the exact one, yea, probably not.

Only consolation I can offer on some of our dumb *** purchases and sales is this...
...we do not get any smarter with age on the hard parts.

Ok, that was not a great consolation, but it was at least honest.

:thumbsup:

Sad,but true

[4x4fEvEr]

Had to ressurect this thread. I'm having the same problems. Was runnin rancho 44044 and while they flexed I bent both and before I could limp off the trail I broke one so no more of those. Keep in mind I'm broke so no alcan for now. I'm gonna run stock springs with two main leaves and a AAL which will bend but what I wanna know is if I invest in a MORE shackle reversal kit like Cappa did on HotDog wouldn't it be less likely to bend leaves? Even if I had Alacans that shackle reversal would be extra insurance no?

[j20brett]

Bent both my rancho 44044's twice now. Will be doing the shackle reversal once i build a new front driveshaft

[4x4fEvEr]

Yeah no more ranchos who has done a shackle reversal

[Dmntxn77]

Yeah no more ranchos who has done a shackle reversal

If you are SOA (or 6" + lift), it likely that you wont be able to adjust the pinion angle enough to do a shackle reversal...

[4x4fEvEr]

Does a reversal turn the pinion down? I'm ruunin a HP 60

[j20brett]

You can adjust the front spring mounts to achieve the pinion angle you want with the reversal. I think it needs to come down about 2 in in the front from all the kits ive seen.