Leafs & Level
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 794
Likes: 3
Leafs & Level
Hey guys just thinkin about doing an add-a-leaf, local parts stores have a rancho add a leaf kit for around 125 bucks. When I fill the bed with pallets or put the 4wheeler in it the truck sags in the rear. Will these leafs allow me to put a 4x4 360cc 4wheeler in the bed and still be level? It also says it will lift the rearend 1-1.5 inches is that realistic do ya'll think it may be more or less?
Also how do leveling kits work on the 4x4 97-03 trucks? I know they are nice cheap and simple on a coil spring suspension but how about our torsion bar suspensions are they still cheap and simple?
Thanks
Also how do leveling kits work on the 4x4 97-03 trucks? I know they are nice cheap and simple on a coil spring suspension but how about our torsion bar suspensions are they still cheap and simple?
Thanks
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 8,542
Likes: 5
From: Louisiana
Add a leafs can lift from 1.5"-3".
I'd guess it lift it around 2".
You can crank your torsion bars to make the front end come up, and you can do this up to about 3", but the more you go the rougher the ride is.
I've driven with people that cranked the torsion bars all the way(about 3"), and the ride is pretty rough, and after they put them back down to 2.5" it is alot better.
http://store.summitracing.com/Compar...eSKU=EXP-13128
This kit gives you new torsion bar keys that have different adjustments than stock, and you can lift the front to 3" and still have same ride as stock.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/97-03...11571063QQrdZ1
Just a few ideas for you to think about.
I'd guess it lift it around 2".
You can crank your torsion bars to make the front end come up, and you can do this up to about 3", but the more you go the rougher the ride is.
I've driven with people that cranked the torsion bars all the way(about 3"), and the ride is pretty rough, and after they put them back down to 2.5" it is alot better.
http://store.summitracing.com/Compar...eSKU=EXP-13128
This kit gives you new torsion bar keys that have different adjustments than stock, and you can lift the front to 3" and still have same ride as stock.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/97-03...11571063QQrdZ1
Just a few ideas for you to think about.
Last edited by MBBFord; Apr 22, 2007 at 12:39 PM.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 315
Likes: 0
From: Lower Mainland, BC
If you are considering add-a-leafs, I recommend you get full-length leafs and not short leafs. The short leafs apply pressure to the spring pack between the axle and the ends of the springs, and will eventually result in kinked springs.
Also, add-a-leafs will make the rear spring packs noticeably stiffer.
If you are looking for additional load-carrying capacity rather than additional height, perhaps overload springs would be better for you.
Increasing your torsion bar preload will increase the height at which your front end sits. However, remember that you have a fixed amount of total travel with your A-arms. If at rest your A-arms are set in the middle of their arc, you will have an equal amount of compression and droop. If you crank your torsion bars, you are changing the position at which your A-arms sit at rest to a higher position in the arc. This means the front end will sit higher at the expense of available droop, leading to a harsher ride especially on a bumpy road. It might even decrease overall compression due to the additional pre-load.
Also, add-a-leafs will make the rear spring packs noticeably stiffer.
If you are looking for additional load-carrying capacity rather than additional height, perhaps overload springs would be better for you.
Increasing your torsion bar preload will increase the height at which your front end sits. However, remember that you have a fixed amount of total travel with your A-arms. If at rest your A-arms are set in the middle of their arc, you will have an equal amount of compression and droop. If you crank your torsion bars, you are changing the position at which your A-arms sit at rest to a higher position in the arc. This means the front end will sit higher at the expense of available droop, leading to a harsher ride especially on a bumpy road. It might even decrease overall compression due to the additional pre-load.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 794
Likes: 3
I am looking for increased hauling capacity & lift. My a-hole friend has been talkin about his Super duty soo much and how easy and cheap they are to lift that I am ready to do it to my F-150 lol.
The link to the kit for sale on ebay is very very tempting especially if I could get it for around 100 bucks.
The link to summit did not work but I was able to figure out one of the SKU's and see the add-a-leafs you sent me.
I really don't want the rear to be way higher than the front so I would like to get the leafs and the torsion keys. I have been under my truck and played w/ the torsion bars be for and looking at the torsion keys I do not understand 100% where they would go and how they lift the truck. Can ya'll help explain that too me?
Thanks
The link to the kit for sale on ebay is very very tempting especially if I could get it for around 100 bucks.
The link to summit did not work but I was able to figure out one of the SKU's and see the add-a-leafs you sent me.
I really don't want the rear to be way higher than the front so I would like to get the leafs and the torsion keys. I have been under my truck and played w/ the torsion bars be for and looking at the torsion keys I do not understand 100% where they would go and how they lift the truck. Can ya'll help explain that too me?
Thanks
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 8,542
Likes: 5
From: Louisiana
The torsion bars fit into the lower control arm, and then go to a crossmember on the frame farther back and they fit into the keys in that crossmember.
The ones in the kit have a different "setting" that is alittle better than stock, and is made to ride like stock when it's lifted. Hard to explain, but easier to show.
That kit on ebay would be ok, but you could look around on there and get the keys for cheap, and the add a leafs or blocks what ever you decide on.
The ones in the kit have a different "setting" that is alittle better than stock, and is made to ride like stock when it's lifted. Hard to explain, but easier to show.
That kit on ebay would be ok, but you could look around on there and get the keys for cheap, and the add a leafs or blocks what ever you decide on.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 794
Likes: 3
So you think I could get it even cheaper buyin them individually? What should I look for in the keys & leafs to make sure they are good quality? How do ya'll feel about buyin a detroit locker off of ebay if it says its new then would I have the manufacturer warranty? I am a noobie at ebay.
Thanks
Thanks
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 8,542
Likes: 5
From: Louisiana
IF you are buying it through someone that has a store on company on ebay with a couple thousand sells w/ as close to 100 % positive feed back and you pay with paypal, then you should have nothing to worrie about.
I've bought about 20 things through ebay and haven't had a bad run in w/ anything yet.
About the keys, It depends, how high do you even want to go?
If you only want to go one or two inches, then just keep the keys you have and cranck them.
I've bought about 20 things through ebay and haven't had a bad run in w/ anything yet.
About the keys, It depends, how high do you even want to go?
If you only want to go one or two inches, then just keep the keys you have and cranck them.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 794
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Right now my rearend is slighty higher than the front. I would like to keep the ratio the same but raise them both. So if I raise the rear 2" w/ leafs then raise the front 2" w/ keys or cranken the bars. But I don't want to skrew up the suspension w/ the tbars.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 8,147
Likes: 1
From: Joppa, Maryland
You can go with 1.5-2inches just cranking the stock units up, just make sure you get the truck aligned after you do it. If you do a search in the '97-03 forum you should find a lot of posts about it. I did it on my '00 with no ill effects (only had the truck for about 10k miles though).
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 794
Likes: 3
http://www.partsamerica.com/productd...e=1374&PTSet=A
Do these look like the long ones that won't cause kinkage / damage to my factory leafs?
Do these look like the long ones that won't cause kinkage / damage to my factory leafs?
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 794
Likes: 3
http://www.autozone.com/R,APP1421908...ductDetail.htm
Which do ya'll think look better? The picture at autzones website looks like they are wider, longer, and thicker. But I cannot tell
Which do ya'll think look better? The picture at autzones website looks like they are wider, longer, and thicker. But I cannot tell
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 794
Likes: 3
Alright guys 1 more link
http://www.partsxdirect.com/part.aspx?aid=547
This last one is a 2k pound helper spring, it does not say anything about lift. But its design looks like it would do the most to add weight support but I want the lift out of it more than anything else. What do ya'll think about this one? Anybody have it or someting simliar?
http://www.partsxdirect.com/part.aspx?aid=547
This last one is a 2k pound helper spring, it does not say anything about lift. But its design looks like it would do the most to add weight support but I want the lift out of it more than anything else. What do ya'll think about this one? Anybody have it or someting simliar?
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