Rear Spring Lift

[Gil-SX4]

Take those blocks of the rear right now and go out and buy some Rancho Add-A-Leaf or any other brand.
Blocks are a cheap way that the lift manufacturers use to make money out of us.
Blocks are dangerous front and rear. They apply to much torque to the spring and whit the fulcrum they increase the pressure apply to the leaf spring. The point at which the differential bolt on to the spring is were all that power from the engine and the suspension is coming together.
In the long run the leaf springs will start looking like a roller-coaster.
One of the best things for a lift on leaf springs is and Add-A-Lift for any thing more than 1”1/2.
For a higher lift go to a leaf spring package, the lift from them is a lot higher than the Add-A-Leaf. They will make for a much harder ride.
Then there are the longer spring shackles which to my way of thinking more then a 2” lift and the body will start to sway and fish tail to much. If you do go with longer shackles get some heavy duty ones one piece and use some type of polyurethane bushings (I swear by polyurethane bushings there all most for life)
You can always set up a combination of shackles and add-a-lift or spring package.
And don’t forget to put an angle wedge between the differential spring plate and the spring base to give it a bit of angle to help keep the U-Joint angle from being to steep.
The ultimate lift is going to a spring coil or better yet an air suspension but since there are no kits made for the AMC Eagle you will need to make and pick your own parts from other kits and see what works.
Some people think that air shocks will lift the vehicle but not really what they do is assist the springs and raise it to a level position when there is a heavy load on the car. If used to lift the vehicle they will soon wear out and be of no help to absorb the road socks.

[Spudz76]

Also of note on this subject, don't install a lift to compensate for saggy springs, all that will do is bend them even more 'backwards' and they will break eventually.  Cheap springs can be had from ESPO ($120 a pair) and there is no excuse for not replacing them if they already look 'flat' or even worse.

Though I personally ordered a set from them which was arched +1.5" from stock (extra charge), and they flattened out to stock within months, so I don't know about their custom arching procedures (you're supposed to heat them to cherry, bend them, and then let them cool - as far as I know... I think they bend them without heating thus they had a static 1.5" gain when I got them but once weight was on them for a little while they went back to their "memorized" position which was stock).

[admin]

Thanks for the heads up on thier lifted springs spudz and thanks for all your info Gil!!

[Gil-SX4]

We will sent you the bill for the service

[pony lover]

Thanks!! I've been contemplating all of the above. Add A Leaf sounds like the best solution. Part numbers anyone ?

[Gil-SX4]

I dont have one but all you need to do is mesure the with of the spring leag I think off hand its 2" an take that messure ment to any 4x4 parts store and askle for a Add A Leaf for a 2 " spring leaf. The lenth dosent matter.
You can allso use one that is a bit smaler not much but just a bit.
Since you habe to take the hole spring leafs I recomend changing all the bushings and hardware, soave on labor down the road. Specially if you use energizer bushings or any other brand of polyhuratane bushings.

[Thomas]

With a rear spring lift, ie new leaf sprins that are higher than oem or oem leafs with helper spring, what did you do for  longer shocks?

[Gil-SX4]

You just need to measure the distance from the shock mounting points.

[Hokie Eagle]

Anyone havce a part number for shocks for a 2" lift?

[Gil-SX4]

There isn't any, unless some one just did a 2 inch lift and save the part numbers of the ones he used.
Just do like I said or take it to a 4 wheel shop and they will tell you. They will provably try to sell you some KYB or some Rancho shocks witch are not bad at all.

[siguy8]

Does anyone have a good pic of the Add-A-Leaf things once they're in? I am wondering what they look like. Thanks.

[IowaEagle]

Scroll down in this thread to see Gil's set up.  http://forums.amceaglenest.com/index.php?topic=7013.0

[eagle88]

here is the one I used.  It can be seen on the bottom of the spring.  Payed less than 30.00 for it and gave me almost 3 in of lift.  Before that my tires rode inside the wheel wells, and would rub when hitting bumps.  It raised it up to just about stock height.  The rear end is stiff also, can hardly bounce it.

I don't have a manufactorer name, was labeled has a 2000 pound helper spring for pickups.  Bought it at the farm and fleet here in wisconsin

[IowaEagle]

So does it come with all the mounting hardware?   If I am looking at it right it has its own U-Bolt and plate.  Is it also bolted at the other end?

[eagle88]

it came with all the hardware.  I had to drop the axle from the springs and slide it in between the axle and the springs, has a hole for the locater dowel.  I probably should have replaced the dowel, only half of what went into the axle mount plate was left to lock it into place.  then there were the two u-bolts for right nest to the axle the ends ride free so that they can slide a little bit