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Add-a-Leaf?

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Old Oct 24, 2011 | 10:34 AM
  #1  
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Default Add-a-Leaf?

I'm thinking of getting a 3" lift add-a-leaf because I'm on a budget, but What are your options on this technique?

My rear leafs are saggy as many stock xjs, will add-a-leaf fix this? Also I've heard it is a rougher ride.

Basically I want to do this lift right the first time and if I have to spend a bit extra to get a quality setup, I would prefer that.

Thanks
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Old Oct 24, 2011 | 10:54 AM
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this has been covered on this forum a LOT. adding 1 good leaf to a pack of bad leaves leaves with a bunch of bad leaves and 1 good leaf.
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Old Oct 24, 2011 | 11:04 AM
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I will take a look, thanks
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Old Oct 24, 2011 | 01:19 PM
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waste of time.

add a leaf would be doing it wrong, so in the intrest of doing it right, get full packs. A cheap fix to the sag while you save for full packs would be an extended shackle.
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Old Oct 24, 2011 | 01:27 PM
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I ran AAL for awhile and have had 0 problems. The guys that are in the offroad clubs around here run them fine. Im sure they will work fine for you. Full packs are 100% the better option though. Try a bastard pack (a whole bunch of AAL's). Full packs= easy and right. AAL=cheap and easy.
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Old Oct 24, 2011 | 01:29 PM
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Originally Posted by brookhart63
I ran AAL for awhile and have had 0 problems. The guys that are in the offroad clubs around here run them fine. Im sure they will work fine for you. Full packs are 100% the better option though. Try a bastard pack (a whole bunch of AAL's). Full packs= easy and right. AAL=cheap and easy.
nobody said they caused problems... they just don't fix the problems that are already there. Adding a leaf to a brand new leaf pack is still all brand new leafs. Adding a new leaf to a worn or sagging leaf pack is still a bunch of bad leaves and one good one. Not sufficient.
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Old Oct 24, 2011 | 01:31 PM
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My packs blew and the AAL helped.....But..... now i have full packs because i saved my money
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Old Oct 24, 2011 | 01:36 PM
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If your leafs are already sagging then get a full pack.

You may get lift out of the HD leafs and the $35 shakles that you can get at a parts store.
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Old Oct 24, 2011 | 06:31 PM
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Thank you for your responses. What is a lift kit with a good bang for your buck with full leafs? I saw zone offers one, any others worth mentioning? Will stock gears and my current brake lines be alright (auto tranny)? and do I need a steering stabilizer or is a t case drop sufficient?

thanks much
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Old Oct 24, 2011 | 06:50 PM
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Originally Posted by brookhart63
Full packs are 100% the better option though. Try a bastard pack (a whole bunch of AAL's). Full packs= easy and right. AAL=cheap and easy.
Agree.... Except, Bastard pack is a good cheap option, not just "a bunch of AALs". In some ways they are better than brand new Lift springs. You get a lift you can adjust from about 1" to 4", since you are using used springs, they are already broken in. Unless you got them from a substantially lighter donor, they will not sag, they already did that. OK all springs sag.. But it's a pretty good chance the donor springs will come from something heavier than an XJ.
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Old Oct 24, 2011 | 07:32 PM
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Originally Posted by mitchrugrash
Thank you for your responses. What is a lift kit with a good bang for your buck with full leafs? I saw zone offers one, any others worth mentioning? Will stock gears and my current brake lines be alright (auto tranny)? and do I need a steering stabilizer or is a t case drop sufficient?

thanks much
steering stabilizer has nothing to do with the lift, or a transfer case drop, did you mean sye? lol. You don't need an sye or transfer case drop at 3". longer lines would be good. Stock gears will be fine, and a steering stabilizer is only there for added comfort, if all your steering components are good, you don't even need to have one on the vehicle.
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Old Oct 24, 2011 | 09:08 PM
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if you're on a budget and really want the lift AAL will work fine

I'm on AAL while saving money for a full pack and haven't had any problems. my stock leaf pack was in good shape tho
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Old Oct 24, 2011 | 09:18 PM
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Originally Posted by mitchrugrash
Thank you for your responses. What is a lift kit with a good bang for your buck with full leafs? I saw zone offers one, any others worth mentioning? Will stock gears and my current brake lines be alright (auto tranny)? and do I need a steering stabilizer or is a t case drop sufficient?

thanks much
I'm very happy with my 4.5 inch zone kit. I have the AAL, but that's cuz my leafs were replaced with brand new stock ones in febuary. If yours are sagging now, go full packs
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Old Oct 24, 2011 | 09:25 PM
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i just picked up a RE 3.5 for around 600 with full packs, with out shocks though. might be something in your budget, might not, im just throwing ideas out there for ya. also ran 2in shackles for over a year on saggy leaves till exhausting them.

btw 2" kit from Fatbobsgarage.com is around 80. its an inch less than you put out there but its cheap, you can use current shocks and everything else.
might be good for the time being till more money is saved up.
once again, just ideas to put out there.

Last edited by LeRoy90laredo; Oct 24, 2011 at 09:27 PM.
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Old Oct 24, 2011 | 09:59 PM
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Originally Posted by 93gc40
Agree.... Except, Bastard pack is a good cheap option, not just "a bunch of AALs". In some ways they are better than brand new Lift springs. You get a lift you can adjust from about 1" to 4", since you are using used springs, they are already broken in. Unless you got them from a substantially lighter donor, they will not sag, they already did that. OK all springs sag.. But it's a pretty good chance the donor springs will come from something heavier than an XJ.
An AAL is just a stiffer leaf that you add into a pack. A bastard pack is several stiffer leafs with more arch.
Bastard pack=AAL, IMO
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