Add-a-leaf vs. F-150 leaf pack

[Paraphoe]

I would like a little boost for my sagging rear (on the truck, no wiseass remarks ) and I'm debating which to go with. I already have warrior shackles, FYI. The AAL seems a lot easier in terms of just ordering a part and not having to find a junkyard with the right F150 and battle rusting bolts, etc., but I've also read that the AAL will flatten back down over time and the 150 springs will not (at least not as much). Anyone do the AAL and then switch to the 150 spring swap? Any thoughts or opinions on this? Appreciate any input.

 

[jonlax]

When i got my add a leaf it was more arched than the f-150 leaf i got from the junk yard. It was also more stiff since it is new. It fixed my saggy rear and then some (about 1 1/2 iches up from before and i carry about 170 lbs of crap in the back).

BTW i ordered the pro comp AAL.

 

[Paraphoe]

When did you install it? Any flattening?

 

[jonlax]

About 2 years ago and it did not flatten one bit but then again i have only driven the truck 8k since i purchased it.

 

[beach]

Anyone else have this issue with AAL.. friends truck he did an AAL on the driver side, and though it helped with the sag, it's noticeably harsher but only on the driver rear, like hitting bumps or anything feels like the driver side is reacting harsher. I know someone else who said the same thing. I was thinking about doing this for the sag, but may spend the extra money for firestone air helper bags to bolt on as a friend did that on his Tahoe and not only did it fix the sag but seems to drive smoother as well and handle loads better since you can adjust them.

AAL is a lot cheaper but I don't want that annoying harsh feeling from the driver side?

 

[yellowford]

Thats why the pro comp springs are pro crap springs, the aal's I had in my old one made the ride really stiff in the back and bouncy. If you do go with aal's make sure to get full length ones as the short ones are what make the ride bad.

 

[Paraphoe]

What about the ones from 4wheelparts? They're only $35...

 

[yellowford]

If their the procomp short aal's then those are the same ones I had would not buy them again do to what it did to the ride. I know if I get aal's again it will be full length to help with the ride the short ones just make it to bouncy.

 

[AmsoilGuy]

I got new f-150 springs with more of an arch put on them to raise the back end up a little. It is a little rougher ride but well worth it in the end.

 

[jrowe6]

couldnt you just get a replacement oem leaf? i fixed my rear sag with a set of air shocks. works great. but i dont have a lift so that obviosly wont work for you.

i am considering a lift so im am also curious how to fix this issue because i plan to remove the air shocks when i do the lift. is there anything wrong with getting 3 or 4" shacles instead of replacing or beafing up the leafs? what about re-bending the leafs?

 

[Paraphoe]

couldnt you just get a replacement oem leaf? i fixed my rear sag with a set of air shocks. works great. but i dont have a lift so that obviosly wont work for you.

i am considering a lift so im am also curious how to fix this issue because i plan to remove the air shocks when i do the lift. is there anything wrong with getting 3 or 4" shacles instead of replacing or beafing up the leafs? what about re-bending the leafs?

I COULD get a replacement OEM leaf, but why would I pay the ridiculous prices for basically the same thing I have now? Even if I could get em cheap, they'd probably flatten out quickly as well.

As for shackles, I have the Warrior ones. While they do lift the back, I think they also contribute to the flattening of the leaf a little. They're not a fix for sagging leaf springs. And re-arching probably isn't worth it. It wouldn't likely last long, would cost a lot, and with your truck being a 99, the springs are already 12 years old. Better off adding to the pack or replacing them, IMO.

If their the procomp short aal's then those are the same ones I had would not buy them again do to what it did to the ride. I know if I get aal's again it will be full length to help with the ride the short ones just make it to bouncy.

Do you have a part number or link to the full length ones?

 

[joecrna]

Lots of choices, your answer lies in the intended use of the truck. Airbags are great for carrying a load, but they must be deflated and possibly removed for offroading (no articulation). Airshocks are similar but severly stress the shock mounts. The shock mounts were simply not designed to carry the load but are a quick, relatively inexpensive, fix. Shackles will provide lift but alters the arc the spring moves through during compression and can decrease lateral stability (important for towing large loads). Rearching and adding to the leaf pack gives lift, adds to carrying capacity and increases lift while maintaining lateral stability but is expensive.

This brings us to Add-A-Leafs and F-150 packs. All spring alternatives will sag over time, it just depends on the load you are carrying. Stock springs, stock load = sag. AAL, F-150, re-arch or adding to the pack = more capacity but if you use it they will sag over time too. If you simply add leafs without re-arching the new leafs they are carrying the load and fighting the stock springs "new" arch. They will flatten with time. F-150 packs replace all but the first leaf (which must remain the stock distance eye to eye and should really be re-arched to fix this). As a result, they will last the longer. Unless you overload them too.

Fully loaded for deep offroading, I carry 1500 lbs behind the front seats. 100k miles and 4 years and they are starting to get a little soft. Remember, within the realm of normal automotive use, all spring steel is the same. Capacity is related to arch and the number of leafs in the pack. Actually the distance between the primary spring eyes and the axle as well as this geometry plays a role too. For most people, the F-150 solution without re-arching is a reasonable one. It all depends on your use of the truck.

 

[ExploringNC]

I did the F150 leafs and still think it's one of the best mods I've done. Cost was only $40 and took only about 3 hours to do but I got lucky and found a F150 in a bone yard that someone had allready gotten the axle out of so everything was allready unhooked. I would deffinitly do the same to both sides whatever you do. Changing the spring rate on just one side will cause the truck to jump to the side when hitting a pump.

 

[jonlax]

This brings us to Add-A-Leafs and F-150 packs. All spring alternatives will sag over time, it just depends on the load you are carrying. Stock springs, stock load = sag. AAL, F-150, re-arch or adding to the pack = more capacity but if you use it they will sag over time too. If you simply add leafs without re-arching the new leafs they are carrying the load and fighting the stock springs "new" arch. They will flatten with time. F-150 packs replace all but the first leaf

While all spring alternatives will sag over time the AAL will sag less. The F150 packs are over 20 years old and they sag just like the explorer. also replacing more than one leaf from the explorer pack will result in the same stiffness that the one add a leaf will.

Also i would not reccomend any sort of re-acrching since the factory packs already have trouble with the explorer rear end. Why waste the money on something that will fail with in 6-12 months of normal driving.

Finally shackles DO NOT flatten springs. Its an optical illusion and has been looked over and measured my many members on here.


Paraphoe here is a link to the F-150 leaf pack thread. It will show you just about everything you need to know down to the tee.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=101035&highlight=f150+leaf

It takes alot of work just to get a few leafs that a long AAL will do in less than half the time. My ride is actually better since i have done this and does not bounce all over the highway like it did prior. Most people complain about a crappy ride but its because the shocks are orignal or just crap shocks.

I will be back in PA around willogrove on the 28th and will be going to school around that area. If you would like you can test drive my truck to see how it is with all of my tools in the back.

BTW i used a long AAL from procomp.

Jon

 

[Paraphoe]

Excellent post, Jon. Appreciate all the info. I was leaning toward the AAL just because the 150 pack seems like it'd be a giant hassle with really old springs (and even finding the right donor rig in the first place). You're pushing me towards the AAL, but I'd like to take you up on your offer to check out your truck first. Drop me a line when you're in the area and we can set something up. Gracias.

 

[yellowford]

Here's some superlift one's
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SLF-2180/
pro comp
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EXP-13132/
trailmaster
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/TRA-R3536/
I'm going to guess most of these would work fine since they are the right width.

 

[beach]

Well scratch the idea of air bag helper springs, none made for the Explorer. I noticed other companies offer kits for every other make, literally except for Explorer/Mountaineer. None of the companies knew why. So I spoke to Firestone directly, their response "corporate did not want it associated with the Explorer after the Firestone incident".

I'm just going to do air shocks, my sag isn't bad but it annoys me seeing that sag on the drivers side, I'm just going to install Monroe Air Shocks as I know others have and said good stuff about them for the sag and ride. Gotta replace shocks anyway and dont want to bother with AAL as I've heard others say even when they did long pack it still rode harsher. I know my friend has Reflex shocks with his AAL but he only did the driver side, considering how much harsher you feel it on the drivers side, if he does the passenger too that will be even more annoying to drive with the extra stiffness.

If I was keeping the truck I would pry go through the hassle and have new leafs installed, but I only use it for a beater and pry get rid of it soon.