'89 YJ - Source for OEM leaf springs

I have replaced the bushings using vise, sockets and threaded rod. The best
method for removal is the gas wrench. I am a little surprised that the
liberal tree-hugging commies still allow this. ;^)

Earle

"RoyJ" > wrote in message
ink.net...
> I went shopping for some OEM or very small lift non OEM for my '87 a few
> weeks back. General comments: any used springs are likely to have
> spring wrap bends near the eyes as well as pretty well flattened out.
> YMMV but I've pretty much ruled out used parts.
>
> My local spring shop/rebuilder would not rebuild them, see above. They
> wanted $100 for front springs, $120 for rear. $440 for the set.
> www.quadratec.com had rear OEM for $75 (but not the front??)
> http://www.quadratec.com/products/56010_09.htm
>
> Might as well plan on cutting off the bolts and putting in new bushings.
> The bolts are inserted from the gas tank side prior to the tank install
> at the factor, won't clear the tank to remove them. Bushings get
> vulcanized into the springs.
>
> Joe C wrote:
> > One of my rear leaf springs cracked and I'm
> > looking for replacement. Standard ones should
> > be easy to find, No? I'm in the Long Island, NY
> > region. Local spring shop wanted $500 for the
> > pair installed. Ughhh!!!
> > Thanks,
> > Joe
> >
> >



--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

Earle, Here's my plan.....

1)Remove old leaf, right side
2)Disassemble and remove bottom link with broken eyelet
3)Buy used leaf, about the same age or newer and disassemble
4)Assemble 4 upper leafs from my spring and 1 lower one from
the one that I purchased. This way, my YJ should sit about the
same, No?
5)Replace reassembled leaf

Seems straightforward, what could go wrong?
Joe

"Earle Horton" > wrote in message
.. .
> Yeah, my initial reaction was, "They don't break there!"
>
> Earle
>
> "L.W.(Bill) Hughes III" > wrote in message
> ...
> > What a really odd place for metal fatigue, I bet it would have
> > failed a Magnaflux test from new.
> > God Bless America, Bill O|||||||O
> > http://www.billhughes.com/
> >
> > Joe C wrote:
> > >
> > > The main leaf is broken. Almost half the metal that
> > > surrounds the forward bushing fell off. Money is
> > > not the problem, but there comes a time when you
> > > have to give up the ghost. I have done almost all of
> > > the work on the Jeep myself. If I had to pay a
> > > mechanic for everything, it would have been finished
> > > a while ago. It's a great ride and I still enjoy it so
> > > more than likely I'll be bustin my knuckles yet again.
> > > Joe
>
>
>
> --
> Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
>

> Seems straightforward, what could go wrong?

Famous last words !

Hey ya'll watch this!

Where's the problem,
the plan or the execution?

"billy ray" > wrote in message
...
>
> > Seems straightforward, what could go wrong?
>
> Famous last words !
>
> Hey ya'll watch this!
>
>

I am not getting something you said. It is probably a question of
terminology. The entire unit is a "leaf spring". The five flat parts of
which it is composed are "leaves", not "links". The top leaf is the one
with a bushing on either end. If you can find a top leaf the same length,
your plan will most likely work.

Earle

"Joe C" > wrote in message
...
> Earle, Here's my plan.....
>
> 1)Remove old leaf, right side
> 2)Disassemble and remove bottom link with broken eyelet
> 3)Buy used leaf, about the same age or newer and disassemble
> 4)Assemble 4 upper leafs from my spring and 1 lower one from
> the one that I purchased. This way, my YJ should sit about the
> same, No?
> 5)Replace reassembled leaf
>
> Seems straightforward, what could go wrong?
> Joe
>
> "Earle Horton" > wrote in message
> .. .
> > Yeah, my initial reaction was, "They don't break there!"
> >
> > Earle
> >
> > "L.W.(Bill) Hughes III" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > What a really odd place for metal fatigue, I bet it would have
> > > failed a Magnaflux test from new.
> > > God Bless America, Bill O|||||||O
> > > http://www.billhughes.com/
> > >
> > > Joe C wrote:
> > > >
> > > > The main leaf is broken. Almost half the metal that
> > > > surrounds the forward bushing fell off. Money is
> > > > not the problem, but there comes a time when you
> > > > have to give up the ghost. I have done almost all of
> > > > the work on the Jeep myself. If I had to pay a
> > > > mechanic for everything, it would have been finished
> > > > a while ago. It's a great ride and I still enjoy it so
> > > > more than likely I'll be bustin my knuckles yet again.
> > > > Joe
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
> >
>
>



--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

Yes, I used the wrong terminology.
I meant leaf, not link. Also, I had the
bottom and top leaf confused.
Joe

"Earle Horton" > wrote in message
...
> I am not getting something you said. It is probably a question of
> terminology. The entire unit is a "leaf spring". The five flat parts of
> which it is composed are "leaves", not "links". The top leaf is the one
> with a bushing on either end. If you can find a top leaf the same length,
> your plan will most likely work.
>
> Earle
>
> "Joe C" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Earle, Here's my plan.....
> >
> > 1)Remove old leaf, right side
> > 2)Disassemble and remove bottom link with broken eyelet
> > 3)Buy used leaf, about the same age or newer and disassemble
> > 4)Assemble 4 upper leafs from my spring and 1 lower one from
> > the one that I purchased. This way, my YJ should sit about the
> > same, No?
> > 5)Replace reassembled leaf
> >
> > Seems straightforward, what could go wrong?
> > Joe

This plan should work then, although you may find that the top leaf is
vehicle specific. It won't hurt to ask around though.

I saw a guy try to weld one once. It didn't work.

Earle

"Joe C" > wrote in message
...
> Yes, I used the wrong terminology.
> I meant leaf, not link. Also, I had the
> bottom and top leaf confused.
> Joe
>
> "Earle Horton" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I am not getting something you said. It is probably a question of
> > terminology. The entire unit is a "leaf spring". The five flat parts
of
> > which it is composed are "leaves", not "links". The top leaf is the one
> > with a bushing on either end. If you can find a top leaf the same
length,
> > your plan will most likely work.
> >
> > Earle
> >
> > "Joe C" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > Earle, Here's my plan.....
> > >
> > > 1)Remove old leaf, right side
> > > 2)Disassemble and remove bottom link with broken eyelet
> > > 3)Buy used leaf, about the same age or newer and disassemble
> > > 4)Assemble 4 upper leafs from my spring and 1 lower one from
> > > the one that I purchased. This way, my YJ should sit about the
> > > same, No?
> > > 5)Replace reassembled leaf
> > >
> > > Seems straightforward, what could go wrong?
> > > Joe
>
>



--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

Thanks Earle, I believe the leaf spring assembly for the YJ
is the same for years '87-'95, couldn't I use the top leaf from any of those
years? My quadratec catalog lists it as the same part for those years, But
it also shows it as a
6 leaf assembly. I think mine is a 5.....
Joe

"Earle Horton" > wrote in message
...
> This plan should work then, although you may find that the top leaf is
> vehicle specific. It won't hurt to ask around though.
>
> I saw a guy try to weld one once. It didn't work.
>
> Earle
>
> "Joe C" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Yes, I used the wrong terminology.
> > I meant leaf, not link. Also, I had the
> > bottom and top leaf confused.
> > Joe
> >
> > "Earle Horton" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > I am not getting something you said. It is probably a question of
> > > terminology. The entire unit is a "leaf spring". The five flat parts
> of
> > > which it is composed are "leaves", not "links". The top leaf is the
one
> > > with a bushing on either end. If you can find a top leaf the same
> length,
> > > your plan will most likely work.
> > >
> > > Earle
> > >
> > > "Joe C" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > > Earle, Here's my plan.....
> > > >
> > > > 1)Remove old leaf, right side
> > > > 2)Disassemble and remove bottom link with broken eyelet
> > > > 3)Buy used leaf, about the same age or newer and disassemble
> > > > 4)Assemble 4 upper leafs from my spring and 1 lower one from
> > > > the one that I purchased. This way, my YJ should sit about the
> > > > same, No?
> > > > 5)Replace reassembled leaf
> > > >
> > > > Seems straightforward, what could go wrong?
> > > > Joe
> >
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
>

I don't know. If you can get one that looks good, there are pros and cons
to using the entire spring, or just one leaf.

Some break-in occurs. If you mix and match, you are likely to accelerate
the process of spring wear. Plus you will need to install a new center
bolt, which can be a pain in the neck. Make sure to use the proper grade
bolt if you do. On the other hand, I think you are right, in that the four
or five bottom leaves from your broken spring, are likely to be a good match
to the other side. Don't forget to use new U-bolts, too. Maybe there is a
pair from a not-too-old vehicle somewhere close to you.

Earle

"Joe C" > wrote in message
...
> Thanks Earle, I believe the leaf spring assembly for the YJ
> is the same for years '87-'95, couldn't I use the top leaf from any of
those
> years? My quadratec catalog lists it as the same part for those years, But
> it also shows it as a
> 6 leaf assembly. I think mine is a 5.....
> Joe
>
> "Earle Horton" > wrote in message
> ...
> > This plan should work then, although you may find that the top leaf is
> > vehicle specific. It won't hurt to ask around though.
> >
> > I saw a guy try to weld one once. It didn't work.
> >
> > Earle
> >
> > "Joe C" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > Yes, I used the wrong terminology.
> > > I meant leaf, not link. Also, I had the
> > > bottom and top leaf confused.
> > > Joe
> > >
> > > "Earle Horton" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > > I am not getting something you said. It is probably a question of
> > > > terminology. The entire unit is a "leaf spring". The five flat
parts
> > of
> > > > which it is composed are "leaves", not "links". The top leaf is the
> one
> > > > with a bushing on either end. If you can find a top leaf the same
> > length,
> > > > your plan will most likely work.
> > > >
> > > > Earle
> > > >
> > > > "Joe C" > wrote in message
> > > > ...
> > > > > Earle, Here's my plan.....
> > > > >
> > > > > 1)Remove old leaf, right side
> > > > > 2)Disassemble and remove bottom link with broken eyelet
> > > > > 3)Buy used leaf, about the same age or newer and disassemble
> > > > > 4)Assemble 4 upper leafs from my spring and 1 lower one from
> > > > > the one that I purchased. This way, my YJ should sit about the
> > > > > same, No?
> > > > > 5)Replace reassembled leaf
> > > > >
> > > > > Seems straightforward, what could go wrong?
> > > > > Joe
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
> >
>
>



--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

Around here there are lots of old YJ springs kicking around. They all
go flat so folks toss them and get lift springs. You should be able to
find a leaf fairly easily if you check with your local 4x4 clubs.

I know the big rig truck spring shop that replaced my CJ springs can
order just one leaf in.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)


Joe C wrote:
>
> Thanks Earle, I believe the leaf spring assembly for the YJ
> is the same for years '87-'95, couldn't I use the top leaf from any of those
> years? My quadratec catalog lists it as the same part for those years, But
> it also shows it as a
> 6 leaf assembly. I think mine is a 5.....
> Joe
>
> "Earle Horton" > wrote in message
> ...
> > This plan should work then, although you may find that the top leaf is
> > vehicle specific. It won't hurt to ask around though.
> >
> > I saw a guy try to weld one once. It didn't work.
> >
> > Earle
> >
> > "Joe C" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > Yes, I used the wrong terminology.
> > > I meant leaf, not link. Also, I had the
> > > bottom and top leaf confused.
> > > Joe
> > >
> > > "Earle Horton" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > > I am not getting something you said. It is probably a question of
> > > > terminology. The entire unit is a "leaf spring". The five flat parts
> > of
> > > > which it is composed are "leaves", not "links". The top leaf is the
> one
> > > > with a bushing on either end. If you can find a top leaf the same
> > length,
> > > > your plan will most likely work.
> > > >
> > > > Earle
> > > >
> > > > "Joe C" > wrote in message
> > > > ...
> > > > > Earle, Here's my plan.....
> > > > >
> > > > > 1)Remove old leaf, right side
> > > > > 2)Disassemble and remove bottom link with broken eyelet
> > > > > 3)Buy used leaf, about the same age or newer and disassemble
> > > > > 4)Assemble 4 upper leafs from my spring and 1 lower one from
> > > > > the one that I purchased. This way, my YJ should sit about the
> > > > > same, No?
> > > > > 5)Replace reassembled leaf
> > > > >
> > > > > Seems straightforward, what could go wrong?
> > > > > Joe
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
> >