Anyone using Add-a-Leafs

[Chevrolet4x4s]

Has anyone used the Rough Country (or any other brand) Add-a-Leaf kits from JC Whitney.How do they work?Do they give you the full 2 inches of lift? Is it better to get a true lift kit?Also what is the issue of running a lift kit with a body lift?
Thanks
Shane

[smokekiki]

With the add a leafs,the heavier the truck,the smaller the lift.Most trucks I know that have them,are closer to 1.5".
The biggest issue with a body lift,suspensionlift combo is raising the center of gravity point.On a full size truck,as long as you don't drive it like a sports car,should be no problem.Personaly,I don't like body lifts over 2".

[JAKES 68GMC]

I wonder if a inch and a half is worth about 110 dollars. I was also considering add-a-leafs just to raise my truck up a little, being the cheapo person I am .

[smokekiki]

http://www.offroaddesign.com/catalog/Zero%20Rates.htm
Here is one option.Front springs and blocks are fine,unless you are doing a lot,or serious off roading.

[see ten]

I have used add a leafs in the past. They will lift your vehicle but I couldn't say how much. You are taking one leaf and using it to re-arch all of the others in the pack. It works but it will be STIFF. They are cheap and effective, however if you want a good ride save the coins for replacement springs. I have also owned vehicles with a body lift. They work but they create a lot of leverage at the body mounting points. I think the last Jeep I had with a body lift had half of it's body mounts broken. And yes you can combine a body and a suspension lift. No matter what kind of lift you use the center of gravity will be raised. As previously stated you have to drive it like a lifted truck, slow down it's not a racecar.

[Musclerodz]

The ORD's are 1" tall and the nice thing about them is that they have different axle pin placements that allow you to center the axle in the wheel well. This is especially important when install large tires on a 67-72 K5 because the rear axle is not centered in the well for some reason.

Mike

[82 Silverado 4X]

A guy I work with used the JC Whitney Add-A-Leafs on his 78 Blazer when he put on a snow plow. It did lift his truck 2" in the front. He made 2" blocks in the rear to make it level. It is noticably stiffer than the stock front suspension.

[Chevrolet4x4s]

Thanks for the information.
Shane

[Zoomad75]

Originally Posted by smokekiki

http://www.offroaddesign.com/catalog/Zero%20Rates.htm
Here is one option.Front springs and blocks are fine,unless you are doing a lot,or serious off roading.

Front Springs and blocks are not fine!!!! NO WAY. That said, ORD's zero rates are not blocks. They are really an add a leaf that is shorter. The main difference is, the zero rate bolts to the spring pack with a longer center pin (just like a regular add a leaf) a normal lift block does not bolt to the spring pack at all. That is why blocks in the front are not safe, they can get squeezed out under braking and what not.

Ord's Zero rate does not add any additional spring rate since it is not as long as a conventional add a leaf. So you get the inch without the stiff ride that a leaf adds.

one could use 1" zero rates up front in addition to ORD's extended front shackles to make a overall lift of around 2 inches. Problem is his stuff is not cheap...