Add a Leafs, a quick question on them...

[Jay18]

ive heard alot about add a leafs and all i can seem to work out is that they bring life back to old springs, so basically all i want to know is would i gain any lift putting add a leafs on my newly fitted springs?

[Jordi]

Simple answer.

The better condition the current springs the more lift.

Add a leaf is an additional highly curved spring that forces the whole pack to be more curved.

So if you have new springs you should get near enough maximum advertised lift. One post said 2.75".

When i've spoke to suppliers before no one would say how much lift. Plus i find standard springs hard enough.

[ROBBIE]

I got about 2inch of lift from mine but as said they do make the ride a lot harder

[ScottieJ]

I wouldn't touch them! Ever!!!!!!!! Yes they add more arch, but that makes the shackle angle worse and that ups the effective spring rate, then add the additional spring rate of the add-a-leaf and it results in a very firm ride. They are also too short so a lot of the time the original leaves bend around the ends of the add-a-leaf under compression. I'm actually surprised we haven't seen more snapped leaves because of it to be honest!

[ROBBIE]

Scottie when you say change shackle angle how do you mean? My fronts were spot on but on the rears I had to cut the shackle stops off, but this has now settled and now the stops have gone it helps with flex.

Im not saying you are wrong, I personally would have rather had lift springs but money was short

[ScottieJ]

When the spring has more arch the straight line distance between the spring bushes becomes shorter, this makes your shackles sit at a steeper angle at ride height. The flatter the shackle angle the less effort it takes for the spring to compress.
The closer the shackles are to being vertical the stiffer it'll make the suspension, if the shackle goes beyond vertical, I.e. the spring bush is further in than the chassis bush then as the suspension compresses and the leaf lengthens as is flattens the shackle has to swing down (lifting the chassis) before it swings past vertical. Does that make sense? Maybe ill draw a diagram if not

[dan_2k_uk]

Bad shackle angle. This has now settled as there was no weight on it for months.

[ScottieJ]

That's a very bad shackle angle vertical is ok, I like mine at least the same as dans shackle in that pic but the other way around

[dan_2k_uk]

Its so much better now its had a few decent runs with a bit more weight from the new engine and bumper giving them a workout. Still needs improving tho!

[ROBBIE]

Ok get you my rear shackle was facing forward (not as bad as Dan) but is now going the other way. Must have settled over time