johnj92131 Posted March 8, 2017 Share Posted March 8, 2017 Picture below is the 86 diesel MJ. To me, the axle looks like a dana 35 and the leaf spring pack seems to have 5 leafs which means "metric ton/big ton" package to me. Can any of you tell me more about this picture? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted March 8, 2017 Share Posted March 8, 2017 Dana 35. The springs appear to have a non-OEM helper leaf of some kind. The metric ton package always came with the dana 44 rear axle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted March 8, 2017 Share Posted March 8, 2017 or AMC-20 in 86. I see the helper spring, but I also count 4+1 in the main pack. are all the factory leafs' ends the same shape and equally spaced from each other? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnj92131 Posted March 8, 2017 Author Share Posted March 8, 2017 I actually count 5 leafs on the drivers side and 6 leafs on the passenger side. It may just be the point of view of the camera, not sure. I have another picture of each spring pack to look at taken from the front side of the rear axle to look at. The truck is in Michigan and I am in San Diego. So I have to rely on pictures. Asked Jeep for a build sheet, but was told it was too old to get the factory build sheet. The VIN on the truck decodes to a standard payload, not the metric ton payload (the VIN on my 91 does decode into a BigTon/MetricTon payload). Question: How many leafs would the standard payload 1986 spring pack have? Guess I can ask Automan and a couple of other diesel owners here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted March 8, 2017 Share Posted March 8, 2017 3+1 for a standard pack. there is a booster leaf visible on the pass side but it's just a clamp-on style and isn't part of the main pack. is it just me, or do the factory overload leafs look bent? in the end, I don't think there's any plus to getting these particular leafs as they look used and abused. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted March 8, 2017 Share Posted March 8, 2017 They look like original standard 3+1 springs with hacked AAL jobs on each. Only one place for these IMO John - the scrap pile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARareBreed Posted March 8, 2017 Share Posted March 8, 2017 My Jeep was factory Dana 35 but had 5 leafs. 3 of the leafs have rebound clips where the other 2 were too short to have a rebound clips. it looked like everything was factory. Explain that Eagle! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnj92131 Posted March 8, 2017 Author Share Posted March 8, 2017 They look like original standard 3+1 springs with hacked AAL jobs on each. Only one place for these IMO John - the scrap pile. Tend to agree, Don. But it will be a while. After the engine transplant is finished, running properly and the truck is registered in California. Will be very happy if I get it back home and registered by the end of September of this year! Next will be an upgraded turbocharger and retune for around 340 lb/ft torque. Then maybe time for a new axle and spring pack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted March 8, 2017 Share Posted March 8, 2017 My Jeep was factory Dana 35 but had 5 leafs. 3 of the leafs have rebound clips where the other 2 were too short to have a rebound clips. it looked like everything was factory. Explain that Eagle! factory leafs taper to be thinner at the ends. yours looks like someone ordered some custom packs. (ignore the second leaf in that pack. it's a main leaf that I cut and shoved in there) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88whitemanche Posted March 9, 2017 Share Posted March 9, 2017 Seems as if the passenger side leaf pack Is broken from the "helper leaf" it's all deformed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnj92131 Posted March 12, 2017 Author Share Posted March 12, 2017 They look like original standard 3+1 springs with hacked AAL jobs on each. Only one place for these IMO John - the scrap pile. Looking way down the road to replacing the spring pack (next winter). I am inclined to go with a original 3+1 spring pack simply for a more comfortable ride match to a good set of shocks all the way around. Then to cover extra weight capacity, when needed, use a set of air bags on the rear axle. Does anyone have experience with this on their Comanche they would like to share? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 Does anyone have experience with this on their Comanche they would like to share? Sort of. When I bought my '88 Chief it had a lift on it. The rear lift was a pair of long AALs. The ride was horrible. After driving it and wheeling it for a couple of years I finally realized that I not only didn't like the lift, I also didn't need it. So I put a pair of stock XJ spring in the front and pulled the AALs out of the rear. I needed rear shocks at that point and didn't have anything that would fit, so I bought a set of Pep Boys cheapest Gabriels, and the ride was MUCH better. That bottom, straight leaf in the factory spring package is an overload leaf. It doesn't do anything when you're running light. When a load drops the three primary leaves enough to contact the overload leaf, it stiffens up the suspension to carry the load. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeep Driver Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 They look like original standard 3+1 springs with hacked AAL jobs on each. Only one place for these IMO John - the scrap pile. Looking way down the road to replacing the spring pack (next winter). I am inclined to go with a original 3+1 spring pack simply for a more comfortable ride match to a good set of shocks all the way around. Then to cover extra weight capacity, when needed, use a set of air bags on the rear axle. Does anyone have experience with this on their Comanche they would like to share? Thanks I did just that, you'll be looking to replace the front springs too. You'll end up with about 2"+ of lift over where you are now. The standard springs are comfortable with about 1200 lbs of load..........I picked up a load of marble that was weighed at 1200lbs. I'm in line for the military wrap springs, Joe tells me I might get 3/4-1" of lift beyond where I'm at now..........which is good. ACOS in the front, easy to level out. Ride is comfortable to me but stiff, which I like, Bilstein 5125. Just expect that one thing leads to another.......always does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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