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]

What springs

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.


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

[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

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 and yes they will typically hook you up if one snaps but I haven't heard many that have.