Best springs for SOA conversion?

[SLOPAR]

I'm looking for input from those that are running them. What are you running? How do you like it? What would you change? I have beat the piss out of my RE XD4.5" kit for the past five years and the springs are all but clapped. My front passenger is bent bad and the rears are starting to sag. I swapped in an 8.8 a few years back and the 30 is as polished as it is going to get so I am ready to make the jump to SOA and 35-36" tires. I already have my parts list made up but I need to decide on springs. I have heard of many people running bastard packs, RE 1.5s, custom Alcans, etc. My main concern is to control axle wrap with anti-wrap perches and a stout spring pack without giving up too much flex. Thoughts?

[James (Cubby) Culbertson]

I have been extremely happy with my Alcans. You can have them built the way you want and for your rig specifically. More expensive but they've been great for me.
Cheers,
cc

[IV WHLN]

I run RE1445's (6 leaf pack) on a Dana 60 and 40's in front and have had no issuse for two years now.

[kloppk]

If you go SOA be sure to put in an antiwrap bar. Depsite the claims that some spring perch's are extra long to prevent warp... they won't.
Been there.... done that :banghead:
Without an antiwrap bar you'll end up twisting an "S" in your new rear springs.
I'd recommend the 2.5" BDS springs with the add a leaf for additional strength. If you ever bend them BDS will replace them.
(That's my setup that works and I beat the snot out of my YJ on the rocks)

[Pete88YJ]

Depends on your definition of "best".

I used stock 5-leaf YJ packs, front and rear. In the rear, I put an extra main leaf with the eyes cut off, to make 6 leafs. I used the 7" long anti-wrap perches on my 8.8 rear. No wrap bar.

Sure, 3 or 4 years later, they're a little beat up, but you can get stock YJ springs for anywhere between free and $20 each. Swap 'em out if you need to.

The rear flexes great, I could even put in some stiffer springs leafs, and lose some flex. Haven't worried about it yet.

Cheap = best for me.

Pete

[JTucker]

I run 7 leaf waggs i the front and old man emus in the rear with a full length add-a-leaf. Works fine, the waggys are both bent and the omes sagged pretty quick before the extra leaf, but it flexes pretty good.

[wcjp]

Another vote for Alcans. I didn't bother with an antiwrap bar while running 33's. I did add the MORE antiwrap bar when I moved to 35's. I've been running these springs hard for at least 4yrs with no problems. Also, my Jeep weighs 4300lbs. Not a light weight.

[Joe Dillard]

I run the RE 1.5" in my POS. They have worked fairly well for what they are. I removed the bottom leaf from the 6 pack rears to soften them up some.

If I don't go strait to coilovers - my next set of leafs will more than likely be a set of custom Alcans.

[jzj]

If you go soa, you should run a traction bar/anti wrap bar. Your springs will thank you and live longer. I could feel the difference on the street-no more vibes when I get on the gas because the pinion isn't twisting towards the sky.
As far as spring packs, I have RE 1.5 reverse eyes on the front and sky jacker 2.5 military wrap on the back. The sky jackers are nice and soft but I'm not sure if they're a great choice for a spring over.
Good luck with what ever you decide

[SLOPAR]

Thank all of you gentlemen for your feedback. It appears there is no clear "winner" except for a mandatory traction bar. I had hoped to avoid that, but as my father says "You can hope in one and crap in the other, let me know which one fills up first."

[BlackYJ]

Thank all of you gentlemen for your feedback. It appears there is no clear "winner" except for a mandatory traction bar. I had hoped to avoid that, but as my father says "You can hope in one and crap in the other, let me know which one fills up first."

You can always just stay SUA in the rear and go SOA in the front

On a side note, I have SUA Alcans and they are a VERY nice spring and super easy to deal with.

[zman]

If I don't go strait to coilovers - my next set of leafs will more than likely be a set of custom Alcans.

Don't kid yourself, you'll be doing coils.

[Larry]

My vote is for the Full Traction 0" made for SOA springs. They work very well, and don't get the Jeep sky-high. This Jeep runs 35" Krawlers (and is driven by a girl :))

http://homepages.donobi.net/unionguy/temp/WMoabFriday1.jpg

[Joe Dillard]

^^^You mean - driven by a lady. :yup: ^^^
I wanna know who was spotting? ;) :D

BTW: Aloha from Hawaii Larry - I'll be home next weekend.

[Larry]

^^^You mean - driven by a lady. :yup: ^^^
I wanna know who was spotting? ;) :D

BTW: Aloha from Hawaii Larry - I'll be home next weekend.

It wasn't the spotting, LOL! I'm going to go back there and try a different line until we get it right :laugh:

I think I'll be in San Diego in late October Joe, I'll let you know....

/hijack

[dan58]

RE1445s are awesome for SOA.

[SLOPAR]

I have halfway been thinking about making a bastard pack with a set of stock springs. I wonder if I would be able to cut the spring eye off of the top leaf of the stock pack then re-use my top military wrapped RE 4.5" spring by itself. It is a 4.5" SUA lift pack, but I'm assuming that only using the soft top spring it should net minimal if any lift but add the bonus of being military wrapped (to combat axle wrap). The reason this is enticing is the price....free with junk from my shop. Thoughts?

[Joe Dillard]

I have seen various packs cut up, mixed, etc, over the years. Naturally, some mixes work better than others. The key is to make the packs so that the leafs are not fighting each other - and keeping the friction between the leafs minimal while achieving a spring rate that's compatible with the shocks being used and the overall weight placed upon each corner.

One thing to always remember - great leaf packs, coupled with inferior shocks, will still have you wishing you had done something differently. :)

[Kooters]

I vote for the RE 1.5" SOA springs. They've worked well for me so far with 35's and a 302 V8...

Need to add a traction bar though. Good winter project.

[javik]

iv got alcans, but honestly, i dont know if i would do it again. they are really expensive, you can get re soa springs for like 600 to your door. if you go alcan your looking at atleast 1000 dollars to your door, and if you add orbit eyes on one end its another 400 bucks. and guess what, if you toast one, your buying another at full price and waiting on lead time. dont get me wrong, they are nice springs, but i dont know if they are that nice.

[TRL RDE]

I've seen the 1.5" RE SOA springs bend frequently, and the warranty isn't all that good. BDS has a 'no questions asked' warranty and they don't care how you bend or break them, they'll replace them.

Cheap works for me. I use a stock set of YJ packs, and cut up the main leaves from a second set to be used as AAL's. When I cut the main leaf, it's through the eyes about 1/4 way around. This allows the partial eye to wrap part of the main spring eye and give great support to the weakest part of the leaf pack, between the spring eye and where the 2nd leaf begins.

[IV WHLN]

"no questions asked" warranty means you'll need it. I've never seen a bent RE spring, and I run one tons and 40's are wheel it hard. Just my opinion though.

[PoorFarmPolaris93]

"no questions asked" warranty means you'll need it. I've never seen a bent RE spring, and I run one tons and 40's are wheel it hard. Just my opinion though.
Ya thats exactly what it means....at least the company will stand behind their product if it breaks no matter what...i dont see anything wrong with it....

I havent heard any of my buddies running BDS stuff complain...

MY SOA BDS setup seems to be doing pretty good:2cents: