xjbuilder

so i am very confused on leaf springs! how are they measured and what vehicles can i pull them off of to help with my lift? i have a 89 cherokee and i want to know wat vehicles stock have a larger spring so i can swap it out on my cherokee to get a little lift or what size i need to buy?
any help is greatly appreciated!!

funkle95xj

I don't know of any direct swaps, but you can use springs from an S10 or a Dakota to build a bastard pack. Basically using the XJ main leaf and all the subsequent leaves from the other leaf pack, sorta like a DIY add a leaf. Here's a decent writeup on how to build your own packs.

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f51/s10-springs-bastard-pack-1380/

And here's another link to a well outlined budget lift that even includes ideas for the front suspension too...

http://www.lunghd.com/Tech_Articles/...udget_Lift.htm

Hope this helps!

BuckB91XJ

X 2 on using rear leafs from an S-10 or Dakota. You can also use front coils from a Ford F-150. Really rough ride but, will give an XJ 4 inches of lift.

funkle95xj

The F-150 springs are the ones they used in the lunghd article, and they said they were very stiff too. Of course some V8 grand cherokee springs and a 2" spacer would net about the same amount of lift with a bit better ride. I've also heard that the Dakota leafs make for a slightly flexier, smoother riding bastard pack due to having about the same spring rate as the XJ springs do. Combine all this with some inexpensive (RC, Rustys, Pro-Comp) shocks and it's a heck of a good lift for very little money IMO!

Hambone46

Will the leaf springs of a Colorado work as well? There is a crashed one in the woods near where i live, and was wondering if they are the same as a S10 set?

funkle95xj

I'm pretty sure the colorado uses the same width rear leafs, but I'm not sure on the length or the spring rate.. If you can get them for free, might as well get them and do a little "experiment", then let us know how it goes.

xjbuilder

o nice thanks for the tips guys that helps alot! so just to sum it all up i can pull the leafs from an s-10 and use some f-150 coils to get about 4in.? correct? wat year for the s-10s and f-150s?

Starbuck75

If i remember right one of the write ups i read used the coils out of a v-8 Grand cherokee also, supposed to be a better ride than the f - 150 ones.

thebrow89

what really matters is that the springs are the same with and make sure the doner springs come off a truck that had the spring under the axle because from what i understand that is where u really get ur lift from. i did an s10 pack and it worked great. good luck

89Cherokee

I would use a set of ford t-bird coils instead of the f150 coils. That is what I have sitting in my back seat waiting to pick up a set of leafs. They will net about the same lift at the f150 with a WAY softer ride!! Plus they are variable rate coils which makes for a great on-road ride as well as great flex off-road.

Here is a write up about the setup:
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6487279

If you find a dakota for the leafs take the rear brake line also - it will give you more travel length than a wrangler (about 5-6 inches instead of just 3)

funkle95xj

The years for the Ford springs are 65-79 F100 & F250, and 75-79 F-150. The grand cherokee springs won't give you the sam lift as the Ford springs will, so a spacer would be needed, but the ride would be much better. I have also heard of the T-bird springs working, definately worth a shot I'd say! And as for the leaves, I have always heard the Dakota packs ride better than the S-10 due to the Dakota packs having a nearly edentical spring rate to the XJ springs.

ktmracer419

you can use any leaf springs that are 2.5" wide for lift.

spring under axle trucks will have more arched leaf springs providing more lift.

dodge durango leaf springs provide about 5" of lift over stock, but ride and flex terribly and you will need offset leaf spring perches because the leaf centering pin is a little off.

I have also heard to chevy blazer zr2 leaf springs bolting up and giving about 3.5" of lift

xjbuilder

ok wow awesome sounds great i will run down to some pick-n-pulls around here and see wat i can find thanks for the advice guys!

xjbuilder

hey wat year s-10 leaf packs can i use to make my pack?
or wat years of other vehicles?

89Cherokee

Pretty much any year - just look for under axle leafs with little or no rust that are 2.5" wide. You will be cutting the eyes off the new leafs and adding them to the original leaf pack.