Removing a rear leaf to lower the rear??

[latrucker]

I am wanting to lower the rear a small amount. Would removing one of the smaller leaves on a 11 leaf spring be a viable option? I only do street cruising, no trails. Seems to be the only way to lower the rear but don’t want to cause an unsafe driving condition.

 

[Broncobowsher]

Leaf springs contain a lot of magic voodoo. But what you describe, yes, safe, lots of people do it. Now for the voodoo, which leaf? Few leaves ever just do lift. Spring rate, anti-wrap, etc. All part of the spring voodoo package. Just pick one, try it. see how it goes. The main leaf can't be done. You say 11 pack, so second and third are going to have to stay. The 11th I would leave as well. Something in the middle, sure. Just not one that has the spring alignment wrap, those are important.

You may need shorter centering bolts. A spring shop (lucky I have a couple here in Phoenix) has a large selection. Amazing how non-universal the center bolts are. Head diameter to fit the axle tight and not shift around, often overlooked for something as simple as it is small enough to clear the hole but not actually be a proper fit.

 

[TAC71]

I run the WH 11 pack. I take out the third leaf from the top.
Obviously you can't remove the top leaf and WH packs have a military wrap on the second leaf. So I remove the third leaf. My leafs are about 15 yrs old and I do wheel my Bronco pretty hard.
I do run a trac bar to eliminate the spring wrap, which you find to be a problem.

 

[Broncobowsher]

I ran a traction bar even with all the leaves still in place because of spring wrap. But that was wheeled hard, lots of gear, lockers, and a lot of motor as well. I know of a lot of other people running 10/11 leaf packs that were not as hard, not the power, not the gearing, not an issue with spring wrap without a traaction bar.

 

[latrucker]

These are the Deaver Duff rear springs. Looking at the photos, any suggestions on which one would be the best to remove? Also, I have the Duff torque tamer so Axel rap will not be a problem.

 

[TAC71]

Take brighter pics of the front and rear of the spring

 

[DirtDonk]

By the way, your shocks are on upside down.
Turn them over and you’ll have more clearance anyway. Not that it looks like you have a clearance issue, and yes, it may rub on the boot some.
But Bilstein Shocks are meant to be mounted so that the factory applied decal reads correctly with the Shock installed on the vehicle.
Some go boot up/body down, some go boot down/body up.
Sometimes it matters little, sometimes it matters a lot. I try to make a habit of always installing them so that they read correctly.

 

[latrucker]

By the way, your shocks are on upside down.
Turn them over and you’ll have more clearance anyway. Not that it looks like you have a clearance issue, and yes, it may rub on the boot some.
But Bilstein Shocks are meant to be mounted so that the factory applied decal reads correctly with the Shock installed on the vehicle.
Some go boot up/body down, some go boot down/body up.
Sometimes it matters little, sometimes it matters a lot. I try to make a habit of always installing them so that they read correctly.

Good to know, I had no clue. Definitely will swap them around.

 

[latrucker]

Take brighter pics of the front and rear of the spring

First pic is rear

 

[ntsqd]

Something that I do with those shock boots is cut the small end off so that they can't fit tight on the shaft. When placed shock body up and having the boots attached to the body this means that no water or debris can accumulate inside them, but they still protect the shaft from flying debris.

The shorter the leaf, the stiffer it is. If you remove the shortest leaves you'll have the most effect on overall spring rate. Which shouldn't be confused with being a direct ride height adjustment.