NorthWoods Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 So I bought my project truck and it has a soa swap in the rear and 4.5 inch coils in the front. I'm looking to swap the front coils out for 6.5 inch clayton coils. It appears that the soa swap on the dana 44 gained 4 inches when done compared to factory height specs. I guess what I'm trying to come up with is how to gain 2 inches in the rear to level the ride height. Does anyone make 2 inch lift springs. Do you think a new set of factory springs with an aal would net me 2 inches? I do not want to use lift block and would prefer to stay away from longer shackles but will go that route if necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 if you only got 4" out of an SOA, then your leafs are likely quite saggy and I'm betting that a set of new leafs will give you the extra height you seek. :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthWoods Posted January 16, 2016 Author Share Posted January 16, 2016 You really think that my leafs could have 2 inches of sag? I mean they are probably 28 years old but they are not flat by any means. Using the guide on here for factory ride height it says that the height on a factory 4x4 in the rear is 9 1/4 inches from top of axle tube to bottom of frame. I am only getting a measurement of 13 inches with a soa. so really it only gained 3 3/4 inches. I'm sure that I have some droop but do you really think I could achieve another 2 1/4 inches from a new set of factory springs? Looking at replacement springs I see 3+2 or 3+1. I am assuming a 3+1 would allow more flex but would they have the same height or relativaly close payload. Any suggestions on good replacement springs that will allow good flex to match up with the long arm kit I install on the front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 Numbers don't lie. The minimum gain you can get from a SOA conversion is the sum of the axle tube diameter + 2x spring perch offset + leaf pack thickness. Â Â A D44 tube is what, 2-3/4"? The spring pack is another 1-1/2". and the perch offset is about 1/2" x 2. That's 5-1/4" ... minimum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthWoods Posted January 16, 2016 Author Share Posted January 16, 2016 Yeah I understand that. I guess I just wanted to make sure that those factory spec numbers were actually correct. I have a set of 3+1's in there now and think I will go with another set of 3+1's for rear suspension flex. I'm sure I will be loosing payload capacity but I'm not planning on doing much hauling with this rig when its finished anyway. Maybe I'll see how much I gain from a new set of leafs then decide from there how much more I need to account for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnkyboy Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 Keep in mind that the truck had a factory rake,typically 6"-6.5" up front will make the truck sit level. Â I would put in the new coils and see where it lands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthWoods Posted January 17, 2016 Author Share Posted January 17, 2016 Well does anyone have any reccomendations on finding factory rear spring replacements? I keep seeing springs from crown spring but they say they fit mjs and xjs. I was under the assumption that mj springs are longer then xj springs by a few inches. I could be wrong though. I also came across springs from sd truck and general spring, both of those appear to be mj specific. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackrabbit41 Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 just put in some 5.5 inch coils Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthWoods Posted January 17, 2016 Author Share Posted January 17, 2016 I am in need of rear leafs no matter what, so once they are installed I will figure out what height I am going to use in the front. 5.5 coils will be too short for the clayton setup I will be using in the front. The clayton setup requires a minimum of 6 inch front lift for proper clearance. I believe iam pretty set with using their 6.5 coils up front and I am trying to get the rear up to a matching height. At this point I am just looking for which replacement leaf springs are worth spending my money on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87MJTIM Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 Two suppliers of springs for our MJs are General Springs out of KC, MO and Hell Creek. Â Â I have GS on mine with the 3:2, military wrap. Â These lifted the rear by about 3" from the old sagging springs. Â I has to put 2" spacers up front. Â I kept mine SUA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackrabbit41 Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 General springs has really fast shipping. It took them 4 days to get me mine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc. Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 What are you guys referring to on the 3+1 and 3:2 etc.? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87MJTIM Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 3:1 - the first is the number of main leaves, the second is the "helper" spring.  The second gives additional support for heavy loads.  3:2 - has an additional helper spring.  I will find photo of my springs.  3:2 Springs  Military wrap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 What are you guys referring to on the 3+1 and 3:2 etc.? Â There is also a 4:1 configuration; four main leafs + one overload leaf. 3:2 and 4:1 springs are considered metric ton springs and have a higher rated load carrying capacity than the stock 3:1 springs. Â 3:2 example: Â Image Not Found Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthWoods Posted January 18, 2016 Author Share Posted January 18, 2016 Yes 1800 lbs for 3+2 and 1340 for 3+1. Both provide the same ride height, the 3 +2 is a 3/4 inch thicker pack but also has 3/4 inch less arch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc. Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 That is what I was guessing, but now I know for sure. Thanks. Safe to assume a 4:1 would ride stiff? I also assume it would not flex well either? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016  the weight rating is more apt to affect the flex and ride. :thumbsup:   Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87mjdriver Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 I have hell creeks 3+2 springs. They are nice, I have put some full loads of rock in my bed, probably dangerously overloaded. Flattened the springs almost to the bump stops. But they did add a significant lift over my old sagging springs. My SOA netted about 8 inches, then I swapped to the HC springs and had a good rake. Because of MN ridiculous lift/bumper height laws and a visit by a trooper, I have to swap them out for the 3+1 springs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crash Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 I have hell creeks 3+2 springs. They are nice, I have put some full loads of rock in my bed, probably dangerously overloaded. Flattened the springs almost to the bump stops. But they did add a significant lift over my old sagging springs. My SOA netted about 8 inches, then I swapped to the HC springs and had a good rake. Because of MN ridiculous lift/bumper height laws and a visit by a trooper, I have to swap them out for the 3+1 springs Maybe pull one of the over load leafs out and see where it sits? Unless, you have a buyer for your leafs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016  I have hell creeks 3+2 springs. They are nice, I have put some full loads of rock in my bed, probably dangerously overloaded. Flattened the springs almost to the bump stops. But they did add a significant lift over my old sagging springs. My SOA netted about 8 inches, then I swapped to the HC springs and had a good rake. Because of MN ridiculous lift/bumper height laws and a visit by a trooper, I have to swap them out for the 3+1 springs Maybe pull one of the over load leafs out and see where it sits? Unless, you have a buyer for your leafs.    that only works if the overload leafs are providing lift, which they aren't in his photo because they don't touch the leafs above. at best he'd lose the thickness of the spring. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87mjdriver Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 I thought about that too, looking at specs on line there is almost an inch difference in the leaf pack thickness, so that drops me a little, The other thing i was wondering about is if there is any ride height differencein the first 3 leaves between the 2 different packs.   No buyer as of yet, but in the next month or 2 I will have swapped out for the lighter pack, and will have the HC metric ton leaves for sale, and this summer i will be moving from duluth to the seattle area so i could possible deliver in reson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 I thought about that too, looking at specs on line there is almost an inch difference in the leaf pack thickness, so that drops me a little, The other thing i was wondering about is if there is any ride height differencein the first 3 leaves between the 2 different packs. The factory service manual tells us how to measure ride height, and there is only one spec for 2WD and one spec for 4WD. Both specs are plus-or-minus 1/2-inch, but there's no mention of one spring type riding higher or lower than another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthWoods Posted January 28, 2016 Author Share Posted January 28, 2016 A factory metric ton spring will provide the same ride height as a factory 3+1 spring. The metric ton pack is thicker by 3/4 inch but the springs have 3/4 inch less arch so it provides the same height. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 A factory metric ton spring will provide the same ride height as a factory 3+1 spring. The metric ton pack is thicker by 3/4 inch but the springs have 3/4 inch less arch so it provides the same height. The MJ in factory configuration has the rear springs under the axle. The thickness of the leaf pack doesn't matter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthWoods Posted January 28, 2016 Author Share Posted January 28, 2016 Sometimes those simple things slip my mind. Well in that case a metric ton factory leaf spring will have a 3/4 inch lower ride height then a non metric ton. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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