Information about Add-a-Leafs and Blocks
There's a lot of misinformation and opinion bouncing around about add-a-leafs and lift blocks. Both AAL and blocks have a bad reputation. Here's an e-mail exchange that helped me gain a healthy perspective on the subject.
From: Richard Gauthier [goatman@lightspeed.net]
Sent: Saturday, May 05, 2001 9:49 AM
To: socalxj@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [socalxj] add-a-leafs and lift blocks
I think it's inevitable that our leaf packs will sag some over time because of the way we use our vehicles. The Nationals seem to hold up the best but they're also the most expensive. Instead of using an add-a-leaf, I used leaves from the original stock spring pack, in fact I'm using all four of them in mine. I've had the springs apart a number of times and just kept adding leaves to get a little more lift and overcome more sag. I also hate to admit it (not really) but I have blocks also, and I'm breaking the "only use one block rule" because I have three 3/4" Tomken blocks. Now I hope I haven't ruined my reputation with this disclosure, but the blocks are all pinned together and cannot go anywhere, and I also have bigger diameter u-bolts which are stronger than the stock ones. I am going to eventually eliminate the three small blocks and go to one large block, but I said this last year when I put the third one in and I haven't gotten around to it yet. BTW, does anyone have a round tuit, if so can I please have it so I can get rid of my three lift blocks? :^)
I now have 8 leaves on the left side and 9 leaves on the right side because the right side sagged more from my tire/gas can/hi-lift carrier swung open. It does flex well, though, and rides very nice even with the RS9000's set permanently on 5, which those who have ever ridden with me can attest to. One of the side benefits of having more leaves in the spring pack is more resistance to spring wrap, and the small additional lift from each leaf, about 1/4" per leaf. Since I've always had flexy springs and 1.5" of block (now 2.25") spring wrap has always been a problem, but I mostly eliminated it with Rancho kicker shocks. After installing a Tera 4 to 1 and adding that other 3/4" of block the spring wrap was back with a vengeance on extremely steep ledges and climbs, like Dump Bump in Moab, so I built a traction bar that eliminates it completely. Actually, if you're willing to go ahead and invest in a good traction bar, blocks become a very good option in gaining the amount of lift that you need without getting springs that may be too stiff. I have found, however, that adding some of the stock leaves gives good load carrying ability and maintains a good ride without having to spend more money. I did, however, cut the leaves to the right length and I use full length plastic liners instead of just the plastic spring pads.
Richard Gauthier
Bakersfield, CA
President, NAXJA
goatman@naxja.org
http://www.outdoorwire.com/4x4/jeep/gallery/xj/rgauthier88xj/index.htm
http://www.jjournal.net/jeep/features/XJRun/FeaturedXJ/
'88 XJ 4.0, auto, d44, 4.56's, 7.5" lift, 33x12.50 Swamper SSR's, locked f/r, Warn
xd9000i, TeraLow 4to1, etc.
-----Original Message-----
From: Berkeley Johnston
To: 'socalxj@yahoogroups.com'
Date: Thursday, May 03, 2001 9:59 AM
Subject: [socalxj] add-a-leafs and lift blocksGroup,
I'm eating humble pie here. After shooting my mouth off a couple of weeks ago about add-a-leafs and blocks, I feel obligated to post this message to the group. The reason I need longer u-bolts is that (I can't believe I'm saying this) I'm about to add BOTH add-a-leafs AND blocks to my XJ. You can probably tell by the length of this essay, that I'm torn about the issue.
Yes, blocks and add-a-leafs are notorious for being the cheap dead-end route to quick lift, then a ruined suspension. Both methods have that reputation for good reason, but knowledgeable folks have knocked me down off my high horse in recent days and explained that they can be used to good purpose, too.
Really cheap lift systems use either blocks or an add-a-leaf spring to gain *the entire lift* in the rear. Putting a big-lift leaf into an old, worn out factory pack, won't work for long. There's no way an extra leaf can carry the whole load, and so it's ruined in no time. The blocks, sometimes 3 or 4 inches or more, cause the leaf pack to dramatically over-bend when the tire is stuffed up into the wheel well. Excessive block lifts also cause the spring to S-curve. The extra lever-arm created by the blocks allows the forces entering through the drive shaft to twist the axle, causing the leafs to bend into (and eventually stay permanently as) an S-shape.
In my case (and there's still a small part of me that cringes to hear it), I'm adding both an add-a-leaf and a 1" block to help with my big load. When I originally bought my Old Man Emu/TeraFlex system, I never even thought about all the weight I would be carrying... I bought the flexiest set of OME rear leafs, the JC1B pack. My XJ is fantastic when empty, but a pig when loaded. Most of the time, I'm carrying my family of five, a 130 pound dog, all camping gear, and spare parts and tools. I end up with a negative lift in the rear! I should have bought the JC2A pack, which is both taller (by 10mm) and stiffer.
The people at ARB (who make OME stuff) and Rocky Road Outfitters both agree that adding the JCXL add-a-leaf, a leaf designed to go into any of the four XJ spring pack options, would help tremendously. The JCXL becomes the third leaf (full length) in the pack and adds 20% more stiffness, possibly a 1/4" of lift, too. That should help the XJ ride higher and better when full. I'm confident that the OME JCXL is a good move.
My original lift, after it settled, is about an inch lower in the rear. RRO (rocky-road.com) suggested blocks to make up that inch. They run blocks in their vehicles and like them. They don't see premature spring failure with just an inch or so of block lift. Honestly, I'm less confident about adding the blocks... they may ruin my springs. I don't think they will, but, in either case, I've got plans-in-the-making for a 7" or so lift this winter, so the suspension mods only have to last the summer.
Berkeley