Add-a-leafs???? The Good, The Bad, The Terrible ride??? Needing a 2- 3" lift for the rear.

[Bugout 1]

Looking for opinions on add a leafs for a rear 3" lift. Is the ride terrible? Plan was to install a 4" lift with soft ride coils up front and a complete new rear 4" leaf pack but plans are changing and I think I'm going to stay closer to the mild side and go with a 3" lift and 31's  but really did not want to spend the $ on a 3" leaf pack because just getting this MJ revived has really drained my $.  Are there any other options for lifting the rear 3"? I might even consider a 2" lift but I think a shackle will only give about a 1" lift. 

[Pete M]

If budget is of concern, I would do 2" puck up front plus longer shackles out back and call it a day.   the rear is already higher than the front from the factory, so 2" up front and 1" out back levels it all out.    31s on stock rims will work great except for rubbing on the lower control arms, but that problem can be solved with WJ lower arms.  

 

 

[motownXJdad]

my opinion on add-a-leafs getting a bad rap about ride quality is this, its probably a combination of the short leaf pieces and poor shackle angle. Rusty's makes a full length add a leaf, and so does Rough country, I'm betting these ride much better especially if the rear shackle angle is 45°

[89 MJ]

I did a custom add-a-leaf (not a kit you can buy) in mine. It stiffened the ride up and made the truck feel more planted. I wouldn’t call the ride harsh at all. 

[Bugout 1]

1 hour ago, Pete M said:

If budget is of concern, I would do 2" puck up front plus longer shackles out back and call it a day.   the rear is already higher than the front from the factory, so 2" up front and 1" out back levels it all out.    31s on stock rims will work great except for rubbing on the lower control arms, but that problem can be solved with WJ lower arms.  

 

 

Yes, I plan on replacing control arms, I even have some rough country arms in my shop from a previous project (Along with many many jeep suspension parts). Will the 1" shackle cause driveline vibration from changing the pinion angle? 

 

1 hour ago, motownXJdad said:

my opinion on add-a-leafs getting a bad rap about ride quality is this, its probably a combination of the short leaf pieces and poor shackle angle. Rusty's makes a full length add a leaf, and so does Rough country, I'm betting these ride much better especially if the rear shackle angle is 45°

I kind of was thinking this too. 

[Pete M]

do those arms bend inward for tire clearance?  tubular is most certainly better than factory, but it might still rub.

 

no, 1" isn't enough to cause vibrations.

 

 

[PIKE]

Three add-a-leafes 

 

[75sv1]

I have RC control arms. I ran then for a few years. Only issue is that the upper use on 1/16 sheet metal. I like 3/16 to a 1/4. I did have Ruff Stuff control arms bracket put on them. I might think about welding on washers on each side. 

[Bugout 1]

14 hours ago, Pete M said:

do those arms bend inward for tire clearance?  tubular is most certainly better than factory, but it might still rub.

 

no, 1" isn't enough to cause vibrations.

 

 

I have some rough country arms laying around but I was thinking of going with some aftermarket WJ arms that are adjustable and also have the side bend. Any benifet to usisng stock WJ arms?  And what shackles do yall recomend? The adjustable ones from CORE4x4 look good. 

[ghetdjc320]

I run the bds 3” kit. That’s a 1.75” lift from the add a leaf rear. The leaf is about the same thickness as the factory leaves. You just need to redrill the locating pin hole to properly center them. Most add a leafs wil be for an XJ. You’re looking for one that is the right length so they are staggered propery in the pack. You could also go with a decent set of cherokee lift springs and just swap the main leaf with your MJ one. It’s been reported that it’s roughly a 1” difference in height. So basically, a 3.5” lift xj spring will net 2.5 on an MJ once the main leaf has been swapped. 

[Bugout 1]

2 hours ago, ghetdjc320 said:

I run the bds 3” kit. That’s a 1.75” lift from the add a leaf rear. The leaf is about the same thickness as the factory leaves. You just need to redrill the locating pin hole to properly center them. Most add a leafs wil be for an XJ. You’re looking for one that is the right length so they are staggered propery in the pack. You could also go with a decent set of cherokee lift springs and just swap the main leaf with your MJ one. It’s been reported that it’s roughly a 1” difference in height. So basically, a 3.5” lift xj spring will net 2.5 on an MJ once the main leaf has been swapped. 

How does it handle / ride with the add a leaf?  I had a Dodge Power Wagon that I did a 2" spacer front and add a leaf rear and it was the worst ride ever... and being that this is a lighter vehicle and really won't be hauling much in the bed I'm just worried about how stiff it will be. 

[motownXJdad]

2 hours ago, Bugout 1 said:

I have some rough country arms laying around but I was thinking of going with some aftermarket WJ arms that are adjustable and also have the side bend. Any benifet to usisng stock WJ arms?  And what shackles do yall recomend? The adjustable ones from CORE4x4 look good. 

Rusty's off road also makes short arms bent in for tire clearance for use with stock wheels👍

[Bugout 1]

going to a 2-3" lift - Would yall recomend an adjustable track bar and/ or double sheer mount? 

[Pete M]

stock WJ arms have a better ride than stock MJ arms, but I can't say what an aftermarket one would be.  factory WJ are the same length as stock MJ, so are good for 2" in all MJs and maybe 3" in some MJs depending on how much factory caster adjustment is left available.

 

stock track bar is similar.  2" it'll be fine.  3" and it might be not quite enough in some MJs. 

 

there's far more variability in MJ bodies/frames than you might think.   and 3" of lift is definitely the cusp of starting to pay a bunch more.  maybe.  or maybe not.   

[Bugout 1]

I don't mind spending some $ to get it right but if I can save some $ I also want to do that. Changing form 33x10 to 31's was due to the budget yes, but the $ spent on the suspension wasnt my concern, it was everything else that you need to go along with 33's such as brakes, gears, axle shafts, slip yoke, etc.....

Iv got some LJ 4.5" coils, shocks and front LJ arms that I was going to put under it because if I'm correct the 4.5" coils will only net 3" of lift or am I mistaken? and thats why I was just trying to bring up the rear. Like I said - I want to save $ but I'm also not affraid to spend $ if it would be better and make it ride better for 31's.  If I should just pony up and get new everything for a 3" (Coils, Arms, Sway bar links, Track bar, full rear leafs, shocks) I will, but if it will ride better with a 2" spacer and keep factory coils Ill do that and the control arm angle would be better too.  Best ride for a decent budget and 31's is the goal. If I had an easy way to lift the rear I could put on what I have and if it rides terrible I would just take it off and start over.  

[Pete M]

this is my old 90 at stock height on 31s with WJ arms.    you don't need any lift to run 31s if you have factory Jeep rims and WJ arms. 

 

 

[ghetdjc320]

1 hour ago, Bugout 1 said:

How does it handle / ride with the add a leaf?  I had a Dodge Power Wagon that I did a 2" spacer front and add a leaf rear and it was the worst ride ever... and being that this is a lighter vehicle and really won't be hauling much in the bed I'm just worried about how stiff it will be. 

Not sure, haven’t driven it yet. Sits nicely though. Keep in mind that tubular control arms without flex joints really limit suspension flex and but a lot of stress on your bracketry. The stock stamped stew design was actually well thought out. The WJ arms are also designed to have flex at the joints but shortening the sleeve negates that design somewhat. That necessary modification is what kept me from going the WJ control arm route along with some “up country” front coils and some slightly longer shackles.