Downsides to removing a leaf to reduce lift height

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Feb 3, 2014 | 02:09 PM
  #1  
So I've not found much specifically related to XJ's or SOA suspensions in general (aside from maybe some YJ dudes talking about their front ends).

I have what was supposed to be an RE 3.5" full pack in the rear. I've also got some of Liquid's sliders back there. It's been a little over a year and a half with the pack and I'm sitting at nearly 7" of lift in the rear (measured from tube to frame). I have no idea why or how I got double the lift from the pack (before the sliders I had nearly 6" on OEM shackles).

Anyway, in the interest of aesthetics and current budget, I would like to lower the pack at least somewhat to get rid of the rake (I've got 3.5" RE coils and .75 spacers up front already). Keep in mind I'm likely going to order up a pair of IRO 3.5" packs with the additional leaf in the future.

Are there any downsides to deleting a leaf from the packs? I don't really care about diminished pack life for the above reason. It gets wheeled rarely at the moment so there's that also.


Thanks!
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Feb 3, 2014 | 02:41 PM
  #2  
Its has only been a few months but I pulled out a leaf on my OME 4.5" leafs to get down to 3.5"
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Feb 3, 2014 | 02:45 PM
  #3  
Quote: Its has only been a few months but I pulled out a leaf on my OME 4.5" leafs to get down to 3.5"

Which leaf did you delete? I've got to rotate tires and adjust/clean the drums this week so I figured I'd tackle this problem at the same time. I hate my dragster rake with a passion
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Feb 3, 2014 | 02:57 PM
  #4  
Quote: So I've not found much specifically related to XJ's or SOA suspensions in general (aside from maybe some YJ dudes talking about their front ends).

I have what was supposed to be an RE 3.5" full pack in the rear. I've also got some of Liquid's sliders back there. It's been a little over a year and a half with the pack and I'm sitting at nearly 7" of lift in the rear (measured from tube to frame). I have no idea why or how I got double the lift from the pack (before the sliders I had nearly 6" on OEM shackles).

Anyway, in the interest of aesthetics and current budget, I would like to lower the pack at least somewhat to get rid of the rake (I've got 3.5" RE coils and .75 spacers up front already). Keep in mind I'm likely going to order up a pair of IRO 3.5" packs with the additional leaf in the future.

Are there any downsides to deleting a leaf from the packs? I don't really care about diminished pack life for the above reason. It gets wheeled rarely at the moment so there's that also.


Thanks!
Sounds more like got wrong springs.
.
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Feb 3, 2014 | 03:02 PM
  #5  
Quote: Sounds more like got wrong springs.
.
That's always a possibility and really the only logical answer. I never bothered to measure until after I put the sliders in the rear. It's kind of a moot point now since it's been so long; I'd like to just lower the ***-end until I can order up some of IROs 3.5" packs.

I could have sworn the packs from RE were labeled right on the leafs themselves but I can't recall off the top of my head.
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Feb 3, 2014 | 03:17 PM
  #6  
Quote: That's always a possibility and really the only logical answer. I never bothered to measure until after I put the sliders in the rear. It's kind of a moot point now since it's been so long; I'd like to just lower the ***-end until I can order up some of IROs 3.5" packs.

I could have sworn the packs from RE were labeled right on the leafs themselves but I can't recall off the top of my head.
Have you even called them ?
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Feb 3, 2014 | 03:26 PM
  #7  
Quote: Have you even called them ?
Haven't, I kinda wrote it off since it's been over a year that they've been under the heep before I bothered to take actual measurements or do anything about it.

Guess it couldn't hurt.
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Feb 3, 2014 | 04:56 PM
  #8  
Haha I never finished what I was saying. In the short time I have not noticed any draw backs of removing a leaf. It was done on advice from Dirk at DPG
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Feb 4, 2014 | 03:13 PM
  #9  
I installed a RE 4.5" full pack and it gave me about 5.5" of lift. I removed the bottom leaf from each of the pack's and it gave me 4 3/4" of lift. I have been running it for over a year and not had any problems and after a month or two it settled in at 4.5" of lift.
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Feb 4, 2014 | 06:20 PM
  #10  
the downside would be axle wrap
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Feb 4, 2014 | 06:57 PM
  #11  
Quote: the downside would be axle wrap
Doubt it.
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Feb 4, 2014 | 07:57 PM
  #12  
Quote: Doubt it.
X2- consider what a stock leaf pack is made of, now compare to RE lift spring pack. Axle wrap increase should be insignificant.
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Feb 4, 2014 | 09:43 PM
  #13  
Thanks for all of the input guys. Once I get some decent weather down here in OKC I'll hop under neath and delete a leaf. We'll see just what kind of relief I get.

Hoping to get some legitimate packs here sooner rather than later.
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Feb 4, 2014 | 11:03 PM
  #14  
Quote: X2- consider what a stock leaf pack is made of, now compare to RE lift spring pack. Axle wrap increase should be insignificant.
XX2 on that
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Feb 4, 2014 | 11:46 PM
  #15  
Would you take the lowest "overload" leaf off to do this? May have gotten 2 birds stoned at once, cause I needed longer center pins for my shim.
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