This one goes out to those who really know spring packs.

Back a couple years ago, I had a little problem with my first replacement spring pack. It was a beautiful 10 leaf pack from National Springs. As I understand, one of 10 identical sets spec'd by some three letter vendor. Oh, it was nice, flexible. Maybe too soft, the Xterra started looking like some variant of a bulldog. Then, one day, I came out of work and the back end was dragging. the longest leaf broke......snaped at the rear shackle.

So, for those who remember my tirades about certain 3 letter vendor. I got a hold of another set of springs to keep me going from some FOG up in Denver. Finally after about 1 year, I negotiated a replacement.

The replacement is not from National, likely from Rancho, and a couple extra leaves where included. They forgot to send bushings, so it took a couple more month's to get this detail resolved.

Finally, I get them installed, but I have not done much wheeling in the last year due to an injured child.

Now I've gone out wheeling and found that the rear spring pack is likely equivilent to something found on a 3/4 ton pickup. I carried 40 of the Windsor Wall concrete blocks a couple weeks ago. Very little change in ride height. This was about 960 lbs in the truck.

I need to soften this bad boy. I have NO FLEX. I placed a floor jack under the spring pack and lifted. The entire truck tilted, no stuff what so ever. The distance between top of axle and the bump stop changed very little.

Which leafs should I remove to improve the flex. Short ones, middle ones, or a couple longer ones. I have done one side and removed three of the smaller leaves, but it may not be enough.

Looking for qualitative information. Should I throw 2-3 hundred pounds in the truck and try to stuff the rear tire? I want to get this done prior to Saturday when I head off to Moab.

Information appreciated.

ow.

The fastest solution is to go to a spring shop, and tell them what you want.



After that, if you look at your leaves, you will see a progressive change in length, and a change in thickness. The lowest (Bottom) leaf is sometimes the thickest, and shortest, and acts as a back up if you really smoosh things down that far (A load leaf).

As logic would indicate, the thicker ones are the stiffest...and taking them out will loosen it up the fastest.

It sounds as though you have a bastard step child sort of rear end...so I won't hazard which leaves do what in what order...

But, generally, the longer leaves are on top, and they get shorter as you get closer to the ground.

If you have too many leaves, and you want to remove some...keep that proportion in mind for the one's to keep....longer ones on top, shorter on bottom, and more flex from thinner leaves than thicker.

Hope that helps a bit.