I would like to add my two cents here. The concept of adding leaves is not hard. You just put them in and add a new center pin, or center bolt if you prefer and you put it back in. But there are two issues here I would like to address. First, you will change your pinion angle by 2°. This may not be a big deal, but it can be and cause a driveline vibration. If so, you will need to put in a 2° shim so don't cut off your new center bolt until you are sure about that. Second is proper leaf spring design. If you look at your current spring you will notice that it has evenly spaced leaves of uniform change in length. If you just add a couple of leaves you can change it enough that the spring bends primarily in the middle instead of evenly. Also if you are just trying to get back to your original height, one leaf will probably do it and not compromise the dynamics of the spring.

 

The change in degree depends in the lift amount. if these gain less than expected it won't be 2 degrees. If more it could be more. Its also somewhat unluckily at least imo that he will get vibes for a sub 3" lift...

 

With all due respect, you need to do the math here, like in high school geometry. For every inch increase in shackle length, you change the pinion angle by almost exactly 1°. So a one inch lift shackle is 2" longer than stock and therefore changes the angle by 2° This is why so many guys do a cheap shackle lift and get driveline vibes.

 

I understand what your saying. About the vibration. From what I have read u are right. I'm not particularly looking to lift the jeep. Just get the rear back up. It may turn out to possibly a one inch lift in the rear when all said in done. But if I do get vibrations I will fix it. The leafs I'm going to use will be long...should pretty much match the length of the xjs leafs. And I haven't decided on just one leaf or two. I may throw just one in for now and see what happens. But I should get an even bend I think. I was worried about adding a leaf and I thought if one was two short it could possibly break the stock leafs. Not sure if it would. But I wanted a long enough leaf to reach end to end. Or close to it. That way its a nice even bend.

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As far as u bolts go from everywhere I've looked carquest is the cheapest, and knechts is a close second. Still close to 10 bucks a piece though... ouch.

 

I get ubolts at a local shop if I have time... around $8 a piece for grade 8

 

Update: I went to install my leaf spring bushings and one inch shackles today. Found out part of one of the eyes is broke off. The driver side front. Small part of the "wrap" is broke off...60-70 percent of it is still there. But now I'm thinking of just getting new leafs. Probably one of the heavy duty sets from jeep. Not sure though. Luckily I didn't get far...I was on the first bushing and it looked ok. Not bad...or in need of replacement. But was going to anyways. And one of the guys I work with came up and noticed the small peice missing and said I might as well buy new leafs. Or take them somewhere to get fixed. So that's that. No more bastard pack for me. Going the more expensive route and getting new leafs. Still going to install my once inch shackles tho I think. So there you have it...

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