Leaf Springs

I have a 1974 CJ-5 that needs the leafs springs replaced but I need to save a little money and I heard about a couple of different options. One option would be to go with "Holbrook Longleafs" another one is "Blue Torch FabWorks" and the last one I found was a "Spring over Axle by John Nutter" Could someone give me some idea on the better option. They all seem to go along with the samething with just a few changes. Any advise would be helpful for my year of jeep. Again staying with the leaf springs seem to be a cheaper way.
Thanks,
Dave

 

Someone on here has the long leafs as I asked about them before. I did a 4wd.com 2.5 inch lift and it rides a little better, but not great. Spring over is more complicated than it sounds. You could do YJ leafs that improve ride as well. There is a write up on that here also.....

High5

 

Teh Blue torch kit is for 76+ cjs and wont work on our intermediates without modification.

Spring over is good for trails, my jeep is sping over. If you plan on driving it on the street, i would steer you away from spring over. It ends up being more expensive than a lift kit.


I have no experience with teh holbrook, but i've heard good things.

 

Everybody who deals with Bob Supplee says good things about his advice and any transaction. You might give him a call and see what he says.

 

Seems like all of your proposals is more expensive than simply buying a new set of replacement springs. I fail to see where you're saving money with the listed options.

 

...i believe the money saved is in the long run.

if you want lift, do it right, otherwise you'll end up fixing/replacing it to get what you wanted in the first place

as much as we all want to save money, if you skimp on some of the parts (like your leaf springs) you may end up spending more on what you should have gotten in the first place.

then again:
J-ust
E-mpty
E-very
P-ocket

good luck with your decision

 

Rocky road is about 3 weeks away from producing a bolt on YJ spring conversion for early CJ's. You might consider that. I think Boyink had the longleaf thing, you might ask him. IMHO these things have diminishing returns, I see people on Pirate hacking up their rigs and spending like 4-5 times as everyone else much for a 2% gain. It's pretty lame. OME is a pretty sick suspension, although you won't be getting a ton of lift with 'em.

 

Here's what I got out of em in terms of timing, although they seem to be lagging pretty hard haha.

chris@rocky-road.com

to me
show details Feb 5 (1 day ago)
Reply


Yes, both kits will probably be on the same page, also the pre 76 kits have a lot of the same parts as the 76 and up kit but there will be a few extra frame mounting brackets so the pre 76 kits will cost a little more, Can't guess on price yet. And it may be about three weeks from today before any kits are ready, we are getting lots of orders for current products plus we are trying to introduce three or four other new products all at the same time, so the shop is slammed right now.
thanks,
Chris



Also here's the link to the site: http://www.rocky-road.com/jeepsus.html

I'm definitely going to do the bolt on myself. Too many pros to pass up: easy to return to original, no cutting or welding, ect. I know it's not the super cool MANLY way to do it or w/e but I don't buy into that d*ck measuring deal anyhow.

Especially considering it's just about impossible to find some good DETAILED instructions on a YJ spring swap with measurements and whatnot. Even the one on this site isn't that great, it's more like...The concept or something.

 

There is a reson for that. Every Jeep is different and people use different parts to do it with. There is no way to write a definitive conversion document for each and every unique situation.

What would you do if there were detailed instructions with measurement and your Jeep did not have any of the reference points that were used?

I could have put the measurements in. But then I actually pushed my rear spring mounts back 3 inches and the front forward 1 inch when I did the swap the article on this site is based on. That would not work for your Jeep unless you had already moved your fuel tank up into the bed like I had.

This is why people cannot put in the details you want.

 

Just my opinion, but I believe that new spring /shackle mounts should be bolted AND welded into place.

Jeeper Creeper:
I think you would be happy with any smooth riding aftermarket spring. The wider springs do last longer though. Stay SUA to save $ and effort. Keep your shackles a little longer, weld in some anti-shackle flip mechanism if you need it. Don't buy new shocks untill you have whatever springs installed so you get the correct shock length.

Watch out for your short rear shaft if you increase lift, or suspension travel. Probably nothing you don't already know.

 

My first choice was the HB’s then I heard of the YJ conversion kit and considered that until I found out they just go back to 1976 and newer, soo I pretty much decided to go to the BDS’s until I could afford something else. But hearing that they maybe coming out with the YJ conversion kit for 1974 and earlier I’ll wait to see how they are priced, and the changes I would need to make to install the kit. I just want to be up and going by this summer.
Thanks for all the feedback,
Dave

PS: Where and when could I find out when they hit the market?

 

opps..... double posted