Cant get my add a leaf to install

[scorgnetic]

Last night I started installing an add a leaf in my 99 sport but now I'm stuck. I have a couple of questions.

1. The add a leaf if at a different angle than the stock leaf so, does the center nut get tightened enough so that the add a leaf is totally flush against the stock leaf?

2. I cant get the top of the bolt that goes through the spring pack to line up with the hole in the bottom of the axle. Do both sides of the car need to be lifted off the ground to get this to line back up??

Any beginning to end instructions would be great but as always any help at all will be great too.


Thanks
Randy

 

[Sethro]

1. Yes, you should tighten it down so they are flush.

2. I took each the leaf spring assemblies off, one side at a time, and did not have a problem lining the center bolt up. You may want to try that.

 

[Alec]

When I installed my addaleaf the axle didn't want to line back up with the leaf pack either. What we did was to line it up laterally, then we used a come-along between the axle and the frame to winch the axle into place.

 

[Robert]

scorgnetic - the add-a-leaf isn't supposed to be put on the mono leaf that you have in your '99. Sethro's is a 4-door and I believe Alec installed a 4-door leaf pack. The leaf pack from the 4-doors have several leafs. The add-a-leaf gets sandwiched between them. On your sport you only have one leaf. I have yet to see a manufacturer that offers an add-a-leaf for the mono-leaf sport. It looks like you found out why.

 

[scorgnetic]

First I installed the add a leaf and the bolt through the spring pack wouldnt line up with the axle so I took the leaf out and it still wouldnt line up.

Why can you not add a leaf with a mono setup? Correct me if I'm wrong, but all that the added leaf does is change the angle of the factroy leaf???

 

[Kinnish]

Loosen the U-Bolts on each side of the Axle ....It should be alot easier to line it up as long as your frame is on jackstands and you have jack to position the axle.

 

[Alec]

I've yet to see a successful addaleaf on a monoleaf, sorry. The addaleaf is meant to be sandwiched between 2 stock leaves to provide the correct spring and arch. The monoleaf doesn't have the correct construction or springrate to work properly.

 

[scorgnetic]

OK, so if the extra leaf wont work, then how about this.... on the rear shackle, there is the stock mounting point for the leaf, there is the stock mounting point for the shackle to the frame and in between these 2 points there is another hole. If the leaf is mounted in the holes that are higher, shouldnt it effectively raise the vehicle or am I just talking out my a@@?

 

[Alec]

No, the vehicle gets raised by using longer shackles, not shorter ones. Mounting the leaf spring in the higher hole wouldn't raise the vehicle, it would lower the frame

You can get Warrior 153 shackles. Those give you about 1.5" of lift, but they tend to make the monoleafs sag a bit faster. Or you could get a set of stock 4 door leafs and use the addaleaf. You actually have quite a few options, but they all involve a little more cash.

 

[offroadkc]

With all of us flipping our Explorers all the time wouldn't it be quite easy (and possibly cheap) to find a set of 4 door springs? :roll:

What do they run? (Alec?)
Aren't there more benifits to getting the pack?

 

[Okrazie1]

I have found an add-a-leaf for the monoleaf. It's made by Dayton Parts and is part number 510-1183. I found it Dead Link Removed. I emailed them about it and they quoted me a price of $160. I think I would rather change over to the 4 door leaf pack for that kind of money.

The reason a standard add-a-leaf can't be used is the monoleaf spring is a tapered spring, whereas the leaf pack used on the 4 door is a semi-elliptical spring. There is an explanation about taper springs here which explains the differences between them and the semi-elliptical springs.

 

[Robert]

Cool, thanks for the link Okrazie1. It might be just what I need to firm up the rear end. I wasn't looking forward to going down to a wrecking yard with my tool box and trying to take a 4-door leaf pack out from underneith an Explorer sitting in the dirt.

 

[Alec]

my 4door leaf pack cost me $100 from a junkyard shipped to my door. i found a decent set with only 13k miles on them. The swap is easy. for a sport switching over, it may eliminate some sag, increase your load handling a bit, and improve the rear ride.

 

[Robert]

Well I just heard back from John Stengel regarding the mono-leaf add-a-leaf. It will cost $194 including shipping to my house. It will stiffen up the rear end and provides about 1 1/2" of lift. If only I had a way to get the front up another 1 1/2". I might do it anyway and remove the Warrior shackles.

 

[Okrazie1]

Robert,

Ouch!! The shipping cost is a bit more for you. You might want to try www.bettstruckparts.com and see if they can get them. That might work a little better for you since they're in Phoenix.

 

[Robert]

That would be even better since I could pick them up locally. Unfortunately when I go their site and type in my vehicle information, this is the message I get:

" Make: FORD Model: EXPLORER Year: 1997 Axle: Both
Betts Ride Control Headquarters does not have any parts for this application. Please choose another application. "

 

[Okrazie1]

You might want to give them a call and run that part number I listed earlier in this thread by them. I would think that they could get it for you since they are a Dayton Parts distributor.