Leftspring Helpers?

[Mr_Bowtie]

Anyone ever use these on any application?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Hellwig- ... 1c1856bcb5

I was looking to help my rear springs out a little. The Van sits pretty level, but once you start moving the back end sinks down. My rear leafs/shocks must be pretty weak cause my bump stops are almost broken off were the suspension is riding on them when the Van is moving.
I also wanna do a 2" lift later this summer/fall with 29" tires...nothing crazy to start with, so I think the leaf spring helpers may be the ticket to just "help" my tired leaf springs out until I bite the bullet and get better(also more lift) leaf springs in a year or so when I go 4" lift.....

So, will those helpers keep my back end up? Or should I just go with coil overs like I have in my '93 & I know they work good.

Nick

[WoodButcher]

I wouldn't waste my time or money on "helpers". I had a set years ago and while they do lift and help they put a funny torque on the existing springs, pressure where none was meant to be. For less than that $100 you could go to the JY and get additional leaves, the auto parts store for new u-bolts and be done with it. With the money you save get some beer and invite a real helper!

[Mr_Bowtie]

So, I have never messed with leaf springs before.... If I find another set of leaf springs I can combined 4 or 5 out of the bunch to make one and that will add the lift I want just like that. Cause if its that easy I am off to the junkyard and ripping those stock ones out soon. Or maybe even just browsing craigslist. My big thing is I don't wanna drop $300 on leafsprings right now. So, if I can put two used stock sets together somehow I will do that. How much trouble is it opening up the leafsprings?

[kennyj]

When it gets warmer you should come down to the pic-n-pull in Rockford. We can have a j/y gathering. Maybe we can even find 355 and rattle his cage.

[WoodButcher]

So, I have never messed with leaf springs before.... If I find another set of leaf springs I can combined 4 or 5 out of the bunch to make one and that will add the lift I want just like that. Cause if its that easy I am off to the junkyard and ripping those stock ones out soon. Or maybe even just browsing craigslist. My big thing is I don't wanna drop $300 on leafsprings right now. So, if I can put two used stock sets together somehow I will do that. How much trouble is it opening up the leafsprings?

Easy. I got about 2" of lift with added leaves and it rides hard when empty which my van never is. IIRC the top leaf and bottom are the only two that are stock. I did this to the rear of my kid's jeep and the full size chevy I had before this as well in a similar way. I got leaves from the JY that I thought would fit in took mine apart then mix and match, easy... Before buying leaves measure what is on your van, lift the body and let the axle hang, measure the length, width and arch. Thickness is important but not critical. You want leaves with more arch than you have. If you replace what you have with the same number slightly heavier / thicker more arch you'll probably get what you want. You'll need to replace the bolt that holds the pack together in the center with a longer one as well as the ubolts.

[icebrrg3rd]

When it gets warmer you should come down to the pic-n-pull in Rockford. We can have a j/y gathering. Maybe we can even find 355 and rattle his cage.

So, what are the prices for leaf springs in Rockford? I'd need the whole steel leaf set-up to replace my fiberglass ones. Maybe even find a G-80 rear...

Can't wait for nicer weather.

-Andrew

Coming soon...AstroSafari Junkyard Meet 2011!!!

[kennyj]

So, what are the prices for leaf springs in Rockford?

On their price list it says leaf spring - $24.99 + $2 core.
http://www.lkqselfserve.com/FindaLocati ... fault.aspx

[Mr_Bowtie]

^Oh ya we got have a junkyard run this spring/summer!

[workinVan]

hey when you do finally do the lift let me know and i'll help out, i'll even bring my own BFH,
I do have an associate in slinger with a lift in his garage, don't forget the beer.

[Munken]

Now I´m envious, why don´t I live in US? First a JY run and then I could bring MY FBFH and bang on the side of the "100 Dollar Baby" while you fix the leaves.
To Ohare it´s $850 and only 9 hour, so that is no problem.
The hassle is that I'm going to Thailand this summer for the birth of the new kid.

Maybe next year....................

[Mr_Bowtie]

hey when you do finally do the lift let me know and i'll help out, i'll even bring my own BFH,
I do have an associate in slinger with a lift in his garage, don't forget the beer.

Score!......I will definatly be contacting you when the time comes! I will bring lots of beer! We should put a lift on your Van while we are at it!

My good buddy who lives in IL bought a '99 Safari AWD & is thinking about lifting it too. So, hopefully I will inspire him with my lift.

Munken that would be awesome! You can put a dent in my $100 Van!

[Munken]

My idea was to make it symmetric, bang a dent on the sliding door side.......

[Mr_Bowtie]

Then it would look like it got double T-boned!