Metric ton spring SOA

[Rubikahn]

Getting ready to do this soon. If I’ve researched this correctly, I’m taking axle tube width, spring pad height, and leaf spring thickness and that should be my new lift height.  Has anyone used new springs though and ended up with more lift than what the math added up to? Trying to get the front coils and shocks before I do this. Maybe I should do the rear, set the DS angle first, then measure out for the front coils? Any preference what everyone is using for shock mounts on the axle side? Reuse the u bolt/shock mounts or weld new ones onto the tube? 

[Pete M]

Most everyone that gets new leafs gets more than they expected. They will settle some though. 

If you can, I would do rear first. But then pucks are an easy addition if the front needs a bit more. 

Mounts welded to the tube allow you to place them where they work best. The stock parts are quite restrictive in that aspect.

[1989commanche]

I got new leafs from general spring. Got about 4” with no other mods

[Rubikahn]

46 minutes ago, Pete M said:

Most everyone that gets new leafs gets more than they expected. They will settle some though. 

If you can, I would do rear first. But then pucks are an easy addition if the front needs a bit more. 

Mounts welded to the tube allow you to place them where they work best. The stock parts are quite restrictive in that aspect.

I was hoping to do the rear first so that sounds like what I’ll do. Thanks Pete

[Rubikahn]

5 minutes ago, 1989commanche said:

I got new leafs from general spring. Got about 4” with no other mods

Were those the standard leafs or the MTs? What rear axle are they sitting on?

[Dzimm]

20 hours ago, Rubikahn said:

If I’ve researched this correctly, I’m taking axle tube width, spring pad height, and leaf spring thickness and that should be my new lift height. 

Don't take the spring pack thickness into the equation as it isn't changing location.  Your lift amount will be the axle tube and pad height.  This of course assumes you are using all the same parts so it may vary a bit using new springs and new pads but will get you a pretty close estimate.

 

As far as shock mounts, best solution would probably be to weld new mounts to the axle in roughly the same location the spring plates originally were, I have seen people use the shock mounts on the spring plate that gets flipped upside down and put on top of the axle but I'm not sure how that affects geometry and forces on the shocks.

[ghetdjc320]

New springs from GS will lift a lot more. Just stock replacement 4 leafs we’re about 2-2.5” taller AFTER settling.

[Rubikahn]

40 minutes ago, ghetdjc320 said:

New springs from GS will lift a lot more. Just stock replacement 4 leafs we’re about 2-2.5” taller AFTER settling.

Do you currently have a SUA or SOA? 

[ghetdjc320]

14 minutes ago, Rubikahn said:

Do you currently have a SUA or SOA? 

SOA. I had soa with stock 4 leafers and it was right at 5.5” over stock. The GS 4 leaf pack raised it to 8” over stock after settling. Ended up trashing them and installing some used springs from JW jeep