leaf Spring Tech

[olywrestle]

I want to move my7 axle back about 3 inches. But I do not want to extend the frame to move all the mounts. Would it be okay to just redril a center hole through the spring pack thre inches back? It is a SOA with YJ springs w/ add-a-leaf. See attatched picture...

 

[mbryson]

I think drilling through 'spring steel' would SUCK.....I'd find a different spring with an offset pin and use that. I think you'd spend less time refabbing the spring mounts than drilling through the spring steel.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

3"... mabey, but remember that it may change the direction the axle rotates under droop and compression. When the pin is closest to the fixed end of the spring (shackles on end of vehicle), the pinion angle increases with droop and decreases with compression as is desired. Change the pin location and it now increases with compression and decreases with droop...

 

[olywrestle]

If I got a spring shop to do it though... Is it feasible? without damages?

 

[Tacoma]

see above.

[/obvious pointing-out] heheh

 

[tv_larsen]

Moving the center pin back will most likely hurt flex, and increase axle wrap. Yes, drilling spring steel sucks, I've done it. The best advise is to mount it in a drill press or mill, and use a very slow rpm with lots of lubricant. Also, have a few spare drill bits.

The biggest problem with redrilling a leaf spring is the original center pin hole, it creates a weak point. The leaf spring will begin to flex more through the old center pin hole and will eventually break right through the hole. However, if you only move the hole about 1", the old hole will still be located in the u-bolt clamped area, it shouldn't flex and would probably be okay. If you move 3" I garantee that it will break at the old center hole.

 

[BCGPER]

I would think that would make the spring very weak. The hole you're using now would end up being very near the edge of yor pearch. I would think that axle wrap would snapp that puppy in a heartbeat.

You could redrill your pearch, and get about half that 3" though.

If I got a spring shop to do it though... Is it feasible? without damages?

 

[Shawn]

Wagoneer springs are off set and almost the same size as the YJ's.

 

[tv_larsen]

You could use a Zero Rate add-a-leaf to move an axle 1" or 1.5".

http://www.offroaddesign.com/catalog/Zero Rates.htm

 

[olywrestle]

Wagoneer springs are off set and almost the same size as the YJ's.

what about flex?

 

[Tacoma]

they're pretty soft. I have a set I'd sell ya.

 

[Shawn]

what about flex?

Sweet!!!

 

[bobdog]

I have drilled leafs to extend the front axle of my Jeep, but I only moved it 1 3/4"(the original hole was captured by the spring plates and the perch) I ran those springs for many years and had no trouble with them cracking. The only reason I did it was because the cast sping perches on the stock Dana 30 did not lend themselves to just drilling the perches. I think 3" is unreasonable because you would be getting close to not having the other hole clamped. Any amount you can move the axle with a new spring pin hole can be acomplished much easier by just putting a new hole in the perches and plates. You will get maybe 2" safely. Anouther thing to concider is where your gas tank is. My rear has been moved back about 2" and modifications with a torch and big hammer were nessesary. I had to take about 2 gallons out of the tank (Dana 60 so with a smaller rear it may not be a problem).