Leaf Springs

[kshinnall]

What the advantages and disadvantages between 6 pack, 9 pack and 11 pack leaf springs? Looking at several different set ups on putting a 2.5" lift on my 71.?:?

 

[bronconut73]

More, thinner leafs like the thick leaf packs will typically ride better while still maintaining their weight rating.
The thicker packs can reduce axle wrap but they are typically so soft that you would still get axle wrap.

These soft, thick packs will articulate really well. They really are the way to go.

National
Deaver
WH
JBG
TBP
BC
And our friends at
Duff's.

Love my WH leaf packs, Duff's are great too.

 

[bronconut73]

Oh, I see its your first post.

Welcome to the best eb site of all time!

 

[kshinnall]

Oh, I see its your first post.

Welcome to the best eb site of all time!

Thanks!!
Finally getting around to working on my 71, even though I've had her for 22 years. Married, kids, divorce, married again, but always kept my trusty old Bronco.
Just looking at several different 2.5 kits. I'm between Bronco Graveyard (shipping cheaper) and WH 2.5 kits, but WH is $341 just for shipping, OUCH!! I know cheaper isn't always better, just wanting the best bang for my buck.
I don't do a whole lot of off roading with her, simple trails and just enjoy driving her around.

 

[AxlesUp]

if that's Cabot AR Duff and BC is likely the closest to you. distance is money when shipping leaf springs.

welcome to the board!

 

[bronconut73]

Duff is my fav.

 

[DirtDonk]

Well, we know it's hard shipping leaf packs around the country, but don't trust the calculator on our site when it gets into those stratospheric heights!
Were there more things (like an entire lift kit?) or just the springs? Either way, when it gets into that range it's often less expensive to ship the whole order via truck, rather than UPS.
Definitely call in and at least double check the pricing with one of the sales guys to make sure.
Although I'm sure it's still going to be cheaper with one of the others that are closer to you, it might at least bring it back down a notch!

Thanks

Paul

 

[blubuckaroo]

Welcome kshinnall.
The different spring packs all have advantages and disadvantages.
I've had several leaf spring setups. Even though I really like my newest eleven leaf National spring pack for ride quality, they don't handle loads or a trailer nearly as well as my old six leaf setup.
So... It all depends on your use.
I can recommend though against the add-a-leaf lift. It has a very rough ride.

 

[barronj]

Welcome to the board. It's a first-rate brain trust you can tap and get a dazzling degree of help/input/suggestions.

I had the add a leaf kit for 5 years, ugh.

 

[DirtDonk]

I would say that any 6-leaf pack has all the disadvantages and none of the advantages of 9, 10 or 11 leaf packs.
The only ones I've ever used were STIFF(!) with all the capitals you can put in there!
The more arch a pack has, the harsher the perceived ride quality is. The "multi leaf" springs, as some call the thicker 9-11 packs gain at least some of their softer street rid via their thickness. It does away with quite a bit of arch for a given amount of lift. This thickness in the center is also why more people than ever need to use tapered shims to keep their pinion angles in check. That's not really a downside, other than the additional cost.

Everybody actually does theirs a little bit different from each other, with one thing or another in mind. But the bottom line is that the thicker packs are a better compromise between lift height, load capacity, ride quality and safe handling for a short wheelbase lifted utility truck like our Broncos are.
Some are biased one way or another to highlight one or more of those characteristics but all are good quality parts that do the job way better than the old-school 5 and 6-leaf packs that EB's came with from the sixties.

You won't regret the higher initial cost of the modern design springs once you've ridden on them. Especially if you had the older ones to compare too first!

Paul