The perfect bastard pack ... maybe

[4.3LXJ]

I am sort of always tweaking my suspension to get what I want. Too cheap to just buy leaf springs I guess. I had a set of rear springs consisting of the main and a S10 heavy duty rear spring. If I used three leaves, it was good riding but not tall enough. If I used the whole thing, it had the right height but was too stiff. Our XJs are apparently quite a bit lighter than other comparable rigs which might explain why they do so well off road. So anyway, I have always wanted to experiment with some Isuzu Rodeo springs. They are slightly shorter than S10 springs, have about 2" more arch in them and have thinner leaves. The width is a metric size that is about 1/16" shy of the width of our springs, close enough. Here is the spring out of the vehicle.



As you can see, it has quite a bit of curve to the leaves. Here is an S10 leaf next to the Rodeo leaf

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It is a well set up spring, here it is disassembled. Notice the space between each leaf. This space is called "snap". Probably because the spring will snap apart when the center pin is cut.



To use this spring, it is necessary to cut off the eyes with a torch and use the main leaf as our #2 leaf. I tried using all three leaves with the bottom leaf upside down. This would be a good design for a two stage spring and not allow the leaves to over flex and loose their temper. I set it down and got an amazing 6" lift with it. However it was too stiff like that. I then removed the #2 Isuzu leaf, which would be our new #3 leaf and kept the bottom leaf upside down. It looked like this.



This gave a very soft spring with something like a stock spring rate with 3" of lift. But it seemed a little soft like that. So I took the leaf I removed and cut it to 10" from center on the short side and 12" on the long side and put it right side up in the bottom. This changed the spring from a two stage spring to a single stage four leaf spring, which is what was factory and a little stiffer, but still flexible. My estimate is that it is about 1/3 greater spring rate just like my front RE coils. This netted a 4" lift together with my 1" spacer blocks gives me 5" rear lift which gets me level, which is where I started only now I have softer springs.

I am going wheeling Sunday and try them out. But I can tell already that it will be more enjoyable without those stiff rear springs.

[Capndave]

what year rodeo?

[4.3LXJ]

Any of them that don't have rear coils. Dodge Raiders too

[toebee97]

Nice... I'm definitely gonna have to try this instead of s-10 leafs. Thanks!

[pingpong]

Nice write up.. any rreason why you didnt consider using MJ leafs ?

[4.3LXJ]

Originally Posted by pingpong

Nice write up.. any rreason why you didnt consider using MJ leafs ?

I was looking for certain characteristics in the leaves themselves such as higher arch and thinner steel. These had what I wanted. These flex well and ride very well.

[pingpong]

If you get a change look at the MJ leaves.. the main is kinda thick.. the other 3 not so much. Talk about an Arch. they give a lot of lift, and flex well too

[4.3LXJ]

One problem with MJ leaves is finding one to rob. So far, what I have rides very well on and off road with lots of flex. I think I just need to add one short one in the bottom and I will have it. I have kind of gotten where I want a softer ride in my old age.

[pingpong]

Yeah they are getting harder to find in the j-yards. I think I am going to do something with my DD ride... Speaking from experience the MJ leaves flex awesome on a MJ.. in fact they might be too soft... I always had bad axle wrap

[4.3LXJ]

That is a problem with a flexy spring, they are bendable. We always go back and forth when building bastard packs. The axle wrap is not a real issue for me though because I have installed a CV joint in the drive shaft and if I do get a few degrees change due to wrap it won't affect the length of the shaft much. But I sure like the way it rides and flexes.

[nismo5]

theres a mj at chico pnp must have just been put out rear leaves are still on it and it has aftermarket shackles and yeah i go to pnp way too much i bought some more lebaron hood vents when i was telling the guy at pnp what they were for he said "yeah theres some guy with a cherokee here in town that has all kinds of crazy holes cut in his hood"i guess your pretty noticeable steve

[4.3LXJ]

Originally Posted by nismo5

theres a mj at chico pnp must have just been put out rear leaves are still on it and it has aftermarket shackles and yeah i go to pnp way too much i bought some more lebaron hood vents when i was telling the guy at pnp what they were for he said "yeah theres some guy with a cherokee here in town that has all kinds of crazy holes cut in his hood"i guess your pretty noticeable steve

Yeah, I just saw it today while I was there. Didn't have a tape measure with me though. Anybody know if the main leaves interchange between them. I am thinking that the MJ main with the Isuzu leaves under it would be perfect. The Isuzu leaves still have a little more arch than the MJ.

[nismo5]

mj springs are a couple inches longer than xj springs im pretty sure from eye to eye they also move the axle back a couple inches because of the center pin hole i lost interest because i didnt wanna relocate the rear shackles i think theres threads on naxja about them

[4.3LXJ]

OK, thanks. I didn't have my tape measure with me today. I will stick with what I have. I am happy with it.

[nismo5]

yeah when i measured it was enough difference that seemed like it was alot of work or i could just order lift springs so i went the easy way but your bastard pack sure as heck beats the price by a long shot im sure