i have an 03 tj sport inline 6 dana 30 up front and i'm getting ready to swap in an 8.8 in the rear. i am considering putting leafs in the rear. do any of you know anyone that did this without doing a stretch? if so what leafs did they use? i'm only running 33s now and i don't plan on ever going any bigger than 35s. thanks for the input!

i have an 03 tj sport inline 6 dana 30 up front and i'm getting ready to swap in an 8.8 in the rear. i am considering putting leafs in the rear. do any of you know anyone that did this without doing a stretch? if so what leafs did they use? i'm only running 33s now and i don't plan on ever going any bigger than 35s. thanks for the input!

Stick to coils if you aren't even gonna stretch it. I don't see the benefit at all, you'll have to fab either way.

It's stupid to go through that trouble converting to leafs on stock wheelbase IMO... the only reason I did it on my TJ is that everything HAD to go to make room for the D70 and 40s and running leafs is easier than hacking up the rear frame to make room for coils or even coilovers.

FWIW do a google search for Brad Kilby's "TJ-7" I think that is what he called it. I think they were YJ leaves in the back of a TJ on 35s... but he had them SUA IIRC..

i have an 03 tj sport inline 6 dana 30 up front and i'm getting ready to swap in an 8.8 in the rear. i am considering putting leafs in the rear. do any of you know anyone that did this without doing a stretch? if so what leafs did they use? i'm only running 33s now and i don't plan on ever going any bigger than 35s. thanks for the input!

sell it and buy a YJ :shaking:

Gay.

Swapping coils for leafs is one of the dumbest ideas ever discussed in this forum, especially in a rear application.

Bad idea :rainbow:

well apparently running leafs on stock wb tj makes me a superfag! guess i'll just stick to coils.

Stick to coils if you aren't even gonna stretch it. I don't see the benefit at all, you'll have to fab either way.

It's stupid to go through that trouble converting to leafs on stock wheelbase IMO... the only reason I did it on my TJ is that everything HAD to go to make room for the D70 and 40s and running leafs is easier than hacking up the rear frame to make room for coils or even coilovers.

FWIW do a google search for Brad Kilby's "TJ-7" I think that is what he called it. I think they were YJ leaves in the back of a TJ on 35s... but he had them SUA IIRC..

sell it and buy a YJ :shaking:

Gay.

Swapping coils for leafs is one of the dumbest ideas ever discussed in this forum, especially in a rear application.

Bad idea :rainbow:

well apparently running leafs on stock wb tj makes me a superfag! guess i'll just stick to coils.

All of the above.

Like posted up top you will be throwing good money after bad with absolutely no benefit at all.

This should be stickied.

wouldn't i get less rear squat with leafs. also wouldn't that help with steep hill climbs helping to keep my front end down? and what do you mean stickied, black sheep?

Your anti-squat will entirely depend on what angle your control arms are run at... or in the case of leaf springs where the axle centerline is in relation to the front spring eye bolt... or if you add a traction bar where the axle centerline is in relation to the front pivot on the traction bar. Unless you spend decent $$ for leaf springs then plan on running a traction bar to make it work alright... otherwise have fun humping rocks:laughing:

Keep your spring buckets and even the axle brackets(you could beef them up though) and cut off the stock frame brackets and build some long arms the right way. That would be far less work and have way less drawbacks compared to leaf springs. You don't have to hack up the frame for moving coils back or anything like the normal reasoning is for leaves.

If you want to keep your stock control arm brackets everywhere then keep your lift low so that you don't amplify the problems that short control arms normally have(excessive anti-squat and jacking).

well my initial plans are to take my 2" coil spacers out and instal highlinel tube fenders and run some 33s. i like how you guys build your jeeps but where i live we have no rocks to climb. its all mainly just wooded trails with washouts. articulation is definitely key here and i want to keep a low center of gravity. i have not idea how to fab my own long arm kit or 4 linked triangulated rear. i want to learn but have really no one to help me other than the forums and a buddy of mine.

well my initial plans are to take my 2" coil spacers out and instal highlinel tube fenders and run some 33s. i like how you guys build your jeeps but where i live we have no rocks to climb. its all mainly just wooded trails with washouts. articulation is definitely key here and i want to keep a low center of gravity. i have not idea how to fab my own long arm kit or 4 linked triangulated rear. i want to learn but have really no one to help me other than the forums and a buddy of mine.

Well honestly you dont have to have a long arm to do well offroad. You can still highline your rear fenders and your front if you want to keep your COG low and run a larger tire. But heck even with 33s you dont need much lift at all. I dont have a huge lift and run 35s on a SA lift. Sure I could drop mine more but right now I am happy with what I have.

I like the idea. Are you doing the leaves to save money on the TJ coil brackets for the 8.8. I don't think you need long arm for 33s.

I like the idea. Are you doing the leaves to save money on the TJ coil brackets for the 8.8. I don't think you need long arm for 33s.

x2. i like the idea also. it is something different. you aren't going to win on an rti ramp but SOA leafs are a solid choice for a driveable vehicle on and off road. you could use YJ leafs i would assume.

This whole topic was pretty much hashed out as to why he or any TJ owner for that matter doesn't want to swap to leafs in another one of his threads. Theres no benefits and no cost savings. And I wouldn't call any properly setup SOA or Long Arm suspension "Good" or "Solid" for the road. Both suspensions are so soft, the vehicle pretty much lumbers down the road. And hence usually shortly after the lift and tires go on it, it sits up in the back yard more and more inbetween wheeling trips to the point where you eventually just buy another daily driver. Everybody in the group of guys that I wheeled with, once they went LA or SOA, pretty much all but stopped driving them on the street, myself included.

This whole topic was pretty much hashed out as to why he or any TJ owner for that matter doesn't want to swap to leafs in another one of his threads. Theres no benefits and no cost savings. And I wouldn't call any properly setup SOA or Long Arm suspension "Good" or "Solid" for the road. Both suspensions are so soft, the vehicle pretty much lumbers down the road. And hence usually shortly after the lift and tires go on it, it sits up in the back yard more and more inbetween wheeling trips to the point where you eventually just buy another daily driver. Everybody in the group of guys that I wheeled with, once they went LA or SOA, pretty much all but stopped driving them on the street, myself included.

X2... sad truth, but true.... I'm a candidate as well.
But I did always drive TJ's throughout college on at least 33's and got up to 37's.. but as soon as I could afford another vehicle, I got a DD for gas and avoid wearing out the tires so damn fast...

But, I can't fawkin stand SOA on TJ's... just get a YJ and stop bastardizing TJ's like a red headed step child...

This whole topic was pretty much hashed out as to why he or any TJ owner for that matter doesn't want to swap to leafs in another one of his threads. Theres no benefits and no cost savings. And I wouldn't call any properly setup SOA or Long Arm suspension "Good" or "Solid" for the road. Both suspensions are so soft, the vehicle pretty much lumbers down the road. And hence usually shortly after the lift and tires go on it, it sits up in the back yard more and more inbetween wheeling trips to the point where you eventually just buy another daily driver. Everybody in the group of guys that I wheeled with, once they went LA or SOA, pretty much all but stopped driving them on the street, myself included.

X2... sad truth, but true.... I'm a candidate as well.
But I did always drive TJ's throughout college on at least 33's and got up to 37's.. but as soon as I could afford another vehicle, I got a DD for gas and avoid wearing out the tires so damn fast...

But, I can't fawkin stand SOA on TJ's... just get a YJ and stop bastardizing TJ's like a red headed step child...

Meh, my LJ is on a LA setup and it handles better than it did stock, IMO. And I agree...a switch to leaf springs is of no benefit. Proper geometry is the key to getting the traits you are looking for.

Meh, my LJ is on a LA setup and it handles better than it did stock, IMO. And I agree...a switch to leaf springs is of no benefit. Proper geometry is the key to getting the traits you are looking for.

In their defense, LA in a longer wheelbase application isn't as bad. BUT, I don't mind the LA ride in a TJ either, at least an over the counter kit..