to leaf or not to leaf

[grundlepunch]

I want/need to stretch my tj..
I have a few options. I'm not going to move the rear right now so I'm left with the front. So now if I redo my front I'm not staying y_link.
Now do I 3 link or go with a leaf (waggy?)
If I go 3 link I have to clock my steering box. Make a new upper arm and mount.make my lower arms longer or move the frame mount. Move and fab a track bar bracket and cut and move my upper coil bucket/shock mount. This will also render my anti rock useless....

Option 2. I get rid of the cluttered mess of links and trackbars and throw some waggy leafs on there... Maybe I wouldn't even need to move my box with the right high steer arms. Also add some stability to my rig and make it more predictable. This might be a nice easy swap?

[Ruecifur]

why not leave the front alone, and swap xj springs onto the rear. You'll gain more wheelbase, and imho, front coil rear leaf is way better that front leaf rear coil.

[justtorchit]

so many pros and cons...

letz see...
How far are you looking to stretch???

with a stretched 3 link you can play around with your setup and have a really nice approach angle... I feel with the right 3 link setup you can make it predictable, but it might take a little bit getting used to...

now the leafs would be down and dirty simple while adding a bit of stability factor.

and talking with you it seams you are leaning towards leafs. i can honestly say ive never run a rig with leafs in the front so i dont know how much of a puker feeling they take away.

my final say is go with a well designed 3 link, and some coilovers.
and i feel if you ad a suck down winch you will be more satisfied in the end then going with leafs

Oh and i say coil overs because after cutting and moving the buckets you could mount some coilovers. also you could sell you front arms, springs, shocks, blablabla for some cash, to help fund... then in the end you would have a well tunable rig to fit your taste

[crosbike]

buy a yj.

[grundlepunch]

buy a yj.

fantastic advise thanks!

if i had to get another jeep to start over... i would

[crosbike]

fantastic advise thanks!

if i had to get another jeep to start over... i would

i try really i do. it get an lj if i were to start over.

[grundlepunch]

i try really i do. it get an lj if i were to start over.

lj = $$$$$$$$

yj = $

[95jeepYJ]

http://sisoffroad.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4469
3k new price :-)

[Ktmracer419]

fuck front leaves especially in a stretched rig.

think of the super terrible approach angle
and the children

[Arundlemcbrundle]

yjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj

i'm partial to leafs cuz its all i've wheeled. obv coils will flex better but i'm also a fan of the simplicity and stabilty of leafs. all those links and angles and death wobble. f that

and a well designed leaf can flex well

[Even]

buy an xj

wheelbase problem solved

[customcreationsllc]

I have leafs it is nice very stable Roll Center very predictable good for slow wheel crawling.

Simple to mount all you have to worry about is the leaf angle (brake dive) and the shackle angle (change spring rate).
Would you go with reverse shackles? That has pros and cons too.

Your amount of flex will be based on how far inboard the leafs are and how wide your axles are.

We'll see how well Leafs flex on the RTI without the Revolvers/z-boxes at the Jeep rally, I had 1300@20º with revovlers.
When I flexed it on my lift I lost 2 inches of vertical travel without the Z-boxes and revolvers, but now I have stiffer springs and added shackle stops I have no Idea where I am now probably close to 1000.

Make sure to put shackle stops so limit how far your leaf can travel backwards if it goes too far it will bottom out your drive shaft or bend the leaf.

My next jeep will have links. Better approach angle especially nice when doing drops.
I don't like having little shovel shackles sticking out there.

If you like hitting things hard go with links.

Axles mounted on Leafs have a mind of there own, they move every which way they are pushed, make sure nothing is close or it will hit.

Axle wrap really sucks.

Steering sucks with leafs and steering boxes when you get in a tight spot it is easier to stretch the spring and push the body away than it is to turn the wheels, you really notice it when you need to drive around cones.

I would go with full hydro get rid of the box if you don't need it. Do you plan on competing? You wouldn't be in the "stockish" class anyways.

Let me know if you want more insight on leafs.
~Justin

[grundlepunch]

cool thanks for the info. i ran a sprung over wrangler for a few years so i know what they are about. i would never run a z-box or revolver though.

the main reason i dont want to stretch my rear is that i just frenched in my shock mounts and i would have to cut off and box the last bit of my frame so i could move the coil bucket back.....but mike did plant the seed of xj leafs in the rear i donno how the hell i want to do it, i just know i want to do it

[grundlepunch]

buy an xj

wheelbase problem solved

no

[Ruecifur]

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...springs&page=3