Low-mid lift leaf spring options

[ghetdjc320]

In reviewing the options for my next build, I’ve been thoroughly reviewing the current options for full replacement springs (no add a leaf setups). I’ve used the 4 leaf General Spring setup in the past SOA and it added a good 2-3” over a regular soa with used 4wd 4 leafs. 
 

So what results have you had? Looking for pictures especially if you have them. General Spring, Hells Creek, 4 leaf, 5 leaf, military wrap etc. 
 

Personally I’m looking for about 2” rear 3” front lift to help soften the factory rake but not level the truck.

[watchamakalit]

I have GS military wraps with 3" built in. Spring under. I went 4.5" re coils and the truck sits pretty much level so far. I have about 2000 miles in them and no major settling yet. I have loaded them enough to squat the rear of the truck.  They will squat about 1-2" and then hold really well with a load.

 

Overall in am really happy with them. Might swap the fronts for a 3.5" just to gain some rake when empty and help it hold a load closer to level.

 

Here is the closest comparison I have to loaded and unloaded.

 

 

 

[ghetdjc320]

18 minutes ago, watchamakalit said:

I have GS military wraps with 3" built in. Spring under. I went 4.5" re coils and the truck sits pretty much level so far. I have about 2000 miles in them and no major settling yet. I have loaded them enough to squat the rear of the truck.  They will squat about 1-2" and then hold really well with a load.

 

Overall in am really happy with them. Might swap the fronts for a 3.5" just to gain some rake when empty and help it hold a load closer to level.

 

Here is the closest comparison I have to loaded and unloaded.

 

 

 

Looks good! When you say you got the 3” GS military wrap spring, are you referring to a taller “free arch”? Also what size are your tires. 
 

Regarding the GS springs, the standard 5 leaf has 1” less free arch compared to the 4 leaf model. So was that a special request? If so, what’s the free arch? I would imagine that both the 4 leaf and 5 leaf models should provide very similar lift provided they have the same free arch since the 5 leaf just has an extra overload which shouldn’t effect lift. 

[watchamakalit]

My springs were the "comanche club special"  I believe they were 3.5" over stock with the metric tonne capacity.  I think they are 5 leaf. I am running 31" x 10.50/15 general grabber atx. Pretty happy with the setup so far.

[1989commanche]

On 1/24/2022 at 7:44 AM, watchamakalit said:

My springs were the "comanche club special"  I believe they were 3.5" over stock with the metric tonne capacity.  I think they are 5 leaf. I am running 31" x 10.50/15 general grabber atx. Pretty happy with the setup so far.

Those are the ones on my truck 

[watchamakalit]

Yup thats the ones.  Nevermind the shepard ear....

 

[JYau]

What are these "comanche club special" leaf springs?

[watchamakalit]

General spring built a special spring that wasnt listed on the website for a long time. Its the military wraps. They are now listed on their website I believe.

[87MJTIM]

7 hours ago, JYau said:

What are these "comanche club special" leaf springs?

GS offered a discounted price if enough MJ owners ordered sets.  They needed like a dozen or more to make the production worth the time and money.

 

I heard recently that the MJ springs are contracted out to another supplier.

[JYau]

Cool, I just looked them up and their website says they are still available. 

[Parei_doll_ia]

2 hours ago, JYau said:

Cool, I just looked them up and their website says they are still available. 

They have the not military wrapped ones available. I got my MW springs on the last batch they made, and they said it'll be 6 months to a year before they'll make any more. The MW ones are the only ones made in house I think

[JYau]

 

1 hour ago, keeponjeepinon said:

They have the not military wrapped ones available. I got my MW springs on the last batch they made, and they said it'll be 6 months to a year before they'll make any more. The MW ones are the only ones made in house I think

Interesting... I found the thread from 11/2019 that talked about getting the military wraps ordered from General Spring. They seem like the perfect spring. Anyone know if these are still available? Or if there is interest in doing another bulk order?  I might give them a call and ask. 

[watchamakalit]

If memory serves it is the gsc-571. 1700lb payload 3+2 springs.

 

They are available on the website.

[Parei_doll_ia]

3 hours ago, JYau said:

I might give them a call and ask. 

It's due to a material shortage, they'll still make them, but they took it off the site because of the long delay.

[JYau]

I sent an email to them asking about the GSC-571 and they got back to me with, "I am sorry those are no longer available."

[ghetdjc320]

If you look carefully at the specs for the 2 available options, the 4 leaf actually seems to provide more lift than the 5. The spring rate on the 5 is quite high for an unloaded truck. Your riding on the 3 main leaves basically and the free arch of the 4 pack is 1” higher than the 5 leaf. It’s the 2 overload springs that are adding all the weight capacity.

[JYau]

On 11/22/2021 at 11:49 AM, Rubikahn said:

Just got off the phone with General Spring. The GSC-571 springs with the military wrap are on back order. Estimated wait time is approximately six months. 🤦‍♂️

 

I saw this in another thread. Seems like I might just give them a call and see if there are plans to actually bring these back in the future. If 6 months is accurate it looks like we might be waiting until May.

 

But, are there any real advantages (other than strength) of the military wrap over the standard 4 or 5 leaf springs? On my MJ I'm just looking to lift the back up a few inches due to age and sag and to give the truck a bit of a rake since I added 2-3 inches to the front.

[Big_Mark]

18 minutes ago, JYau said:

 

I saw this in another thread. Seems like I might just give them a call and see if there are plans to actually bring these back in the future. If 6 months is accurate it looks like we might be waiting until May.

 

But, are there any real advantages (other than strength) of the military wrap over the standard 4 or 5 leaf springs? On my MJ I'm just looking to lift the back up a few inches due to age and sag and to give the truck a bit of a rake since I added 2-3 inches to the front.

The advantage and why they are called military is if you break the leaf with the bushing in it, the top leaf should keep the pack together enough to "get out" of a sticky snitchuation!

[ghetdjc320]

IMO, on our trucks there is little to be gained with the military wrap version. Spring flex causes the fatigue that “could” cause a spring to break under severe circumstances and granted, under those circumstances you’d be very happy to have a military wrap. But I seriously doubt that many MJ’s are repeatedly flexing out their suspension with very heavy loads on 1700lb GS 5 leafs. It’s not an “upgrade” I’d hold my breath for. 

[JYau]

Thanks for all the input. It doesn't sound like to me that it is worth holding out for the military wrap version. At first it wasn't clear if they added any additional lift that you wouldn't get with the standard springs. I'm not planning on using my MJ hard, the only thing I'll have in the bed is some wood on occasion and typical hardware store supplies. 

[ghetdjc320]

23 hours ago, JYau said:

Thanks for all the input. It doesn't sound like to me that it is worth holding out for the military wrap version. At first it wasn't clear if they added any additional lift that you wouldn't get with the standard springs. I'm not planning on using my MJ hard, the only thing I'll have in the bed is some wood on occasion and typical hardware store supplies. 

If you end up getting the 4 leaf pack, please measure before and after the swap. Really trying to get a good idea of how much they lift various rigs

[JYau]

On 2/12/2022 at 9:36 AM, ghetdjc320 said:

If you end up getting the 4 leaf pack, please measure before and after the swap. Really trying to get a good idea of how much they lift various rigs

I will be sure to get that information into the forums. FYI, it might be a few months before I get the springs in. I like to wait until the weather gets nice out here in New England. 

[Big_Mark]

On 2/10/2022 at 7:38 AM, ghetdjc320 said:

IMO, on our trucks there is little to be gained with the military wrap version. Spring flex causes the fatigue that “could” cause a spring to break under severe circumstances and granted, under those circumstances you’d be very happy to have a military wrap. But I seriously doubt that many MJ’s are repeatedly flexing out their suspension with very heavy loads on 1700lb GS 5 leafs. It’s not an “upgrade” I’d hold my breath for. 

Agreed!

 

I have had experience with broken leaf packs but it was never the main leaf, just other leaf's in the pack. Pro Comp 4" lift CJ-8, they ended up breaking after I did SOA + 5.0 and 36" tires. I thing the combination of tire size + torque + HP + flex was too much for those brittle springs. The leaf's were circa 1998-2000 I think they most likely use different steel these days.

 

P.S. the pack stayed together because the band kept the broken parts from shifting out.

 

When they broke there was a loud BAM!!

 

🤣