best junkyard aal?

jackdup · 09-22-2008, 03:16 PM

so alot of ppl use different junkyard leafs and i want to know which would be the best for my purpose
i want a minimum of 2 and a max of three inches
i want to to be able to flew decent within reason
the rocklizzard uses just one xj aal leaf and got a hair over 2 inches..but the one other writeup with the white street xj used the main and an extra second leafe and only got 2 inches..i would do that but idk how it would flex?
someone please help to give me some direction because i got my spacers and though it may be nothing to you guys...a budget booste for me is really exciting..haha
thanks

cheapfix · 09-22-2008, 04:20 PM

I have added 2 XJ leaves in my pack - I still get full flex (into my inner fenders - I still haven't bumpstopped the rear), and droop is limited by my shock length (using YJ shocks and homebrew bar pin eliminators), so it flexes OK.

This setup rides great when I am towing/with gear/full of fuel, but is pretty rough ride when empty.

If I were building for off-road only, and wanted 3" with soft ride, I would look into maybe just adding an s10 main, or a Dakota main only.

jackdup · 09-22-2008, 05:20 PM

cool...thanks alot for the help..will three inches in the rear and 2 in the front look bad? i know ill have exactly 2 1/8 inches in the front to be technical..and i dont do any towing or load it down alot..my rear leafs are sagged about half an inch...so i want to an s10 main leaf and put it under my main leaf correct? three inches is the max i want for now..could an s10 leaf possibly give me more than that? and what kind of s10..any year..2 or 4 wheel drive..4 or 6 cylinder..thanks

one more thing..how much lift did you net with the extra xj main and second leaf

jackdup · 09-22-2008, 06:25 PM

any info on the s10 aal?

Mr_Random · 09-22-2008, 06:40 PM

I'm pretty sure any 2wd s10 leaf will work fine, and I bet short beds are a different spring rate, but I can't guarantee that...

I got a hair over 3" with the main and second leafs from an XJ, and it rides just barely stiffer than stock. Pretty much the same story as the other guy, I like it because I can load up with crap and barely sag. I'm gonna put Rubicon JK shocks with or without home made bar pin eliminators depending on how much that will limit or compliment flex.

I personally think that it looks weird with the rear taller, I have 3.5" in the front and I think it looks good just a bit taller than the back...

jackdup · 09-22-2008, 07:19 PM

thanks alot man..im having some trouble finding out what i need to do even with searching a whole bunch...so now i know i need the 2 wheel drive s10 packs if thats how i wish to go..i definitly cant go over 3 inches right now...so what is my best option to get between 2 and 3 inches..i realize it depends on the condition of the donor packs to..but generally what is my best route...thanks alot for any help

Mr_Random · 09-22-2008, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackdup

thanks alot man..im having some trouble finding out what i need to do even with searching a whole bunch...so now i know i need the 2 wheel drive s10 packs if thats how i wish to go..i definitly cant go over 3 inches right now...so what is my best option to get between 2 and 3 inches..i realize it depends on the condition of the donor packs to..but generally what is my best route...thanks alot for any help

Yeah, your year wont like more than 2.5" without an SYE anyways. From what I've seen, you're pretty much guaranteed 2.5" at least from just the main s10 leaf with the eyes cut off, if not the overload leaf from the s10's is almost 1/2" thick! Since you'll have four packs' worth of leaves around, take a couple days to mix and match, it's pretty much trial and error, but most people get it the first time!

jackdup · 09-22-2008, 07:49 PM

ok here is one more question...an aal wont correct sag right? it will just add height from where you currently sit...so if i am sagging about a half inch..and get some higher mileage s10 packs..and just throw the s10 mainleafe under my stock one...it should really only put me between 2 and 2.5 inches over stock..thanks much guys..sorry if im being alittle technical but i like to get things striaght before i take the wrong action

Mr_Random · 09-22-2008, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackdup

ok here is one more question...an aal wont correct sag right? it will just add height from where you currently sit...so if i am sagging about a half inch..and get some higher mileage s10 packs..and just throw the s10 mainleafe under my stock one...it should really only put me between 2 and 2.5 inches over stock..thanks much guys..sorry if im being alittle technical but i like to get things striaght before i take the wrong action

Well yeah, that probably will help! Sounds like you're set!

BTW, I agree that you should get as much information as possible before heading in to it... Just so you know, I'm only eighteen and did the lift last year!

CLHart426 · 09-22-2008, 10:24 PM

im confused on this whole thing here--if I were to do what hes doing-getting an s10 pack..id take the main leaf---which im guessing is the bottom one?-- and putting that under my xj main? or do i put it right above it and under the other stock? this is confusing as ****

pumpkinXJ · 09-22-2008, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CLHart426

im confused on this whole thing here--if I were to do what hes doing-getting an s10 pack..id take the main leaf---which im guessing is the bottom one?-- and putting that under my xj main? or do i put it right above it and under the other stock? this is confusing as ****

you take the s10 main cut were the bolts go threw off. put it under your xj main. you can use the rest of the xj leafs for just that lift or play with mixing them for more lift.

i have about 4 inchs of lift on my 98 the stock shaft was to short and binded up bad actually broke the tailshaft on my tcase. im now running a drive shaft outta a 93 grand cherokee. i was longer and it fit perfect no vibes. just thought id let you now incase you didnt have the money for the sye. im about to do the s10 bastard pack myself or the dakota ones. my leafs sag.

Mr_Random · 09-23-2008, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CLHart426

im confused on this whole thing here--if I were to do what hes doing-getting an s10 pack..id take the main leaf---which im guessing is the bottom one?-- and putting that under my xj main? or do i put it right above it and under the other stock? this is confusing as ****

Here's a crude example of the s10's pack:

................O -Axle
...0------------------0 -main leaf
.......-------------- other leafs
..........----------

Here's of the XJ:

...0------------------0 -Main leaf
........-------------- other leafs
............---------
..................O -axle

s10 bastard pack:

...0------------------0 XJ main
......---------------- s10 main with eyes cut off
........------------- other leafs
..........----------
................O -axle

Now, remember all of these will be arched, the s10 more so than the XJ (because it's spring under). Between a quarter and one third of an inch of height will come from the s10 leaf being there anyways, but more height will come from the arch it gives to the rest of the pack.

and viola! You have a lifted Cherokee!

jackdup · 09-23-2008, 07:35 AM

ok i think im set on what i need to know to get the height i want..thanks alot guys..now i know 97 plus is prone to vibes..but for now...a one inch tcase drop should be plenty for the two inch lift im goin for...what other things should i consider with getting myself into the lift...any other things that need attention..replaced? things i need to look out for that may get extra wear on them...thanks alot

kadetklapp · 09-23-2008, 08:24 AM

I was planning on a Rusty's BB AAL which is supposed to be only good for 1.75" of lift. I was thinking about adding ZJ front coils and an S-10 leaf to the rear.

Would this give me too much ( don't want to do SYE right now, or a T-case drop)?

Mr_Random · 09-23-2008, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kadetklapp

I was planning on a Rusty's BB AAL which is supposed to be only good for 1.75" of lift. I was thinking about adding ZJ front coils and an S-10 leaf to the rear.

Would this give me too much ( don't want to do SYE right now, or a T-case drop)?

There is tons of info going around about ZJ springs, but what is basically being said is that only TWO types are desirable, and you'd be lucky to get 2" out of them... I got about 2.5" from them, but that's because I have the 2.5L...

You could possibly get 1.75" front and back by using the right ZJ coils, and making a bastard pack from the SECOND s10 leaf, rather than the main.