I would feel very comfortable throwing an AAL in those original leafs. That XJ is in fantastic shape.

 

So as promised a couple pics of today...today is tonight over here, nearly midnight.

so this is the spring shape when detached from the axle...looked ok to me, so decided to simply add the AAL


It’s taken me quite a while to get to the point of actually adding the leaf, between being a novice who’s never touched suspension, not really having the best tools and doing it all solo, just jacking the thing up safely took me long enough...but got there in the end.



Found cable ties work quite nicely to hold the pack in place while I readjusted my c clamps.

only problem now is lining up the axle to torque it down with the U bolts. I made it so difficult for myself...comedy of errors I’m not gonna get into, but basically the axle has moved off center and I have to play “jack chess” to get it back.

Will post final result when im done...could be a while.

 

Yes, it's much much easier to get the axle back on the springs with 2 people than one. You run back and forth but if you can place one side in the pin you should be able to rotate the axle into place to put the other side in.

 

Using cinder blocks doesn't exactly scream safety. You didn't have the jeep resting on them did you?

 

I did have to use it to put the jack on to get it high enough, but put wood in between the brick and the jack - The vehicle is on jack stands though.

 

That's the wrong way to use a cinder block for support too.... sketchyyyyy

 

It was just there to support the free weight of the axle, but yeah probably not the smartest thing. I'm really quite a novice at all this so I'm learning as I go.

 

Yeah, it looks like you have proper stands supporting the weight of the truck in front of the wheel wells...

 

Directly after AAL install I gained 4inches off a 3 inch add a leaf. I expect it’ll settle around 3 inches. Seems stock leaves were in good enough shape after all.