Leaf Springs in rear of TJ

[JPFreek1]

Has anyone out there swapped out their coil springs in the rear of a TJ in exchange for leaf springs? Just curious if the swap proved to be a good one.

[Scott Brady]

I read of that being done a few years ago in one of the Primedia pubs. Dont recall which one.

I can see the logic of the swap, especially after 3" of (non-long arm) lift, having owned a TJ.

[ujoint]

Brad Kilby did that years ago to his 97 TJ. I'll try and find some pics. That TJ is still rollin around, just saw it in Moab last year.

[Fergie]

Dirk @ DPG Offroad has a 3/4 ellip setup on his stretched and tubbed(not tubed) TJ.

[Fergie]

Dirk @ DPG Offroad has a 3/4 ellip setup on his stretched and tubbed(not tubed) TJ.

http://dpgoffroad.com/projectdd/projectddstretch.htm

[kjp98TJ]

it was/is faily prevelant in the offroading world. before the "ease" of attaining and installing a rear triangulated 4 link suspension. i'm not using ease lightly, as only meaning getting the parts to build the 4 link is fairly easy. truss, tabs, ends and links, etc. of course installing and moving everything, correctly, to get it installed is a whole other issue. not to mention if you, or you don't know someone, that can weld.

in short, IMO, i don't think it's worth the effort, time and materials to leaf the rear when you can put that effort into a 4 link.

[PhulesAU]

It's been done more as a "look what I can do" on crawler rigs, than as a useful mod for an all around rig.

[BigAl]

I've seen 2. One was on Xj springs with about a 6" stretch to the stock wheelbase. It was a comp rig and did very well. Some TJs get kind of a slinky effect going, making the body lean way over. I think the leaves would help with that but there are probably better ways. By the time you build a tract bar, weld on perches, and mount the springs hangers, you're probably have close to the time spent building a 4 link. edit: minus the math

[JPFreek1]

Very interesting input fellas, thanks for the response. I'm curious how a SWB and LWB (i.e. TJ vs. LJ) compare with the use of leaf springs vs. coils.

One issue that I currently have which may/may not be corrected with a 4 link, or leaf springs for that matter, is the amount of weight currently on my rear wheels. With the bumper rack system I have, as well as a roof rack, there's a tremendous amount of load on the rear axle thus causing my coil springs to undoubtedly be under extreme stress. Anyone have any suggestions on balancing the load between the front and rear suspension other than removing the bumper rack system from my current setup? I'm looking for functional suspension mods in this instance unless any of you has a better suggestion. Thanks!

[dennisuello]

Very interesting input fellas, thanks for the response. I'm curious how a SWB and LWB (i.e. TJ vs. LJ) compare with the use of leaf springs vs. coils.

One issue that I currently have which may/may not be corrected with a 4 link, or leaf springs for that matter, is the amount of weight currently on my rear wheels. With the bumper rack system I have, as well as a roof rack, there's a tremendous amount of load on the rear axle thus causing my coil springs to undoubtedly be under extreme stress. Anyone have any suggestions on balancing the load between the front and rear suspension other than removing the bumper rack system from my current setup? I'm looking for functional suspension mods in this instance unless any of you has a better suggestion. Thanks!

To support extra weight the leaf springs would have to be stiffer, and stiff leaf springs are way worse than stiff coil springs, more friction, etc. Use airbags to control additional weight and do a triangulated 4 link, as the cost to properly set up leaf springs and a traction bar will be near the cost of 4 link.