[ttodd1292]

Picked up some leaf springs the other day from automotive customizes, I've been searching, but haven't found what I'm looking for. The kit didn't come with instructions, but it doesn't appear to be that hard to install. I was wondering if any of you guys knew how to do the install. I took some pictures around the stock springs so we might be able to help visualize it better. Thanks.

KIT

BACK VIEW

SIDE VIEW

U-BOLT PLATE

 

[SDHarleydad]

Man those are some long center pin bolts. Does the instruction call for them to be on the bottom or in the middle of the pack. sometimes the spring pack has to be removed from the truck, sometimes it doesnt

 

[ttodd1292]

Man those are some long center pin bolts. Does the instruction call for them to be on the bottom or in the middle of the pack. sometimes the spring pack has to be removed from the truck, sometimes it doesnt

Like I said it didn't come with instructions. Here is the kit i bought, maybe one of you have bought it before.

https://www.4x4parts.com/catalog/frontier-addaleaf-p-147.html

 

[ttodd1292]

found this, think it would be the same thing

http://fatbobsgarage.com/instructions/AAL.pdf

and i'm inferring that it goes under the overload spring because it is smaller. anyone know if that is correct?

 

[Irongrave]

it goes over the overload spring as the overload spring is a revers arch from the rest of the leaf pack

 

[VoodooSaint]

Couple of steps for this, this is how i did mine;
Jacked truck up by the frame, took off the tires, then jacked up the side your working by the axle a bit to take off some pressure

undid the ubolts and bottom braket, removed bumpstop, and took off center pin nut

lowered the axle a bit so i could work in there and take off the overload leaf (you'll be getting rid of this unless you wanna do some more modifications)

add in AAL (make sure its facing the right way) and put the center pin in, and your prophalactically gonna hafta saw some of it off in advance to fit it all in

use some c-clamps to put everything together and tighten the nut on top back on, make sure the new leaf is in-line, and jack your axle back up to put your leaf-pack back in place

reassemble, ubolts, bumpstop, and bottom bracket. lower truck.

then effin enjoy!

hopefully i'm not missing much, but thats the gist of it. just out of curiosity, about how long is the AC 2" aal?

 

[5speed_Frontier]

Your gonna want at least 4 of the big huge c clamps. You want to clamp up the springs before you ubolt anything so you dont have to bring them all together. Then unbolt the u bolts and drop the axle down with another jack. Then use more clamps to clamp up the add a leaf and get it aligned. Thats my real basic explanation. I did it a while ago. All I can remember is I tried doing one side with 2 3" c clamps and 2 4" c clamps and it was pretty hard and I bent the crap out of one of the little 3" clamps. Then I just went and bough 2 more 4" c clamps and it was a lot easier to compress the AAL up. Heres a couple pics of my install just for reference.

 

[SEMPERFI8387]

From their site............ https://www.4x4parts.com/catalog/how_to.php?how_to_id=30

 

[ttodd1292]

ok sweet thanks you guys.:goodjob:

 

[VoodooSaint]

Get 'er on yet?

 

[pidge]

Hey Todd you might wana make sure there is a front and back on that spring. Measure from the center pin hole to each end there may be a difference. I realize you have a 1st gen, but its like that for a 2nd gen. I realized this looking at the spring prior to install and called AC to confirm the orintation. Just a heads up you may wana break out the meausuring stick.

 

[VoodooSaint]

Ohhhh yeah i just noticed you have a 1 gen as well with the pack under the axle... hmmm better ignore my instructions they're for a II gen (altho there will be some similarities...)

 

[ttodd1292]

no havent got around to it. think ill just put it on when i start my BL.

just out of curiosity, about how long is the AC 2" aal?

they are a little under 2'


and one more thing, i'm wanting to put this on here so that the truck is not as low when im hauling my 4wheeler. Shouldn't i leave the stock overload leaf in there?

also on the 4x4 parts instructions, it says ill need bigger U-bolts and shocks with this installed with the overload leaf still in there. I couldn't find any u-bolts but would these shocks be a good idea?

https://www.4x4parts.com/catalog/rancho-rs5000-rear-shock-p-1864.html

Hey Todd you might wana make sure there is a front and back on that spring. Measure from the center pin hole to each end there may be a difference. I realize you have a 1st gen, but its like that for a 2nd gen. I realized this looking at the spring prior to install and called AC to confirm the orintation. Just a heads up you may wana break out the meausuring stick.

I just did they are equal distances. Thanks for the advice.

 

[RobertPlattBell]

Great thread. My 2013 Crew is hitting the bump stops with even a mild load (and blinding oncoming drivers due to headlight mis-aim. I put add-a-leafs on my 87 Toyota pickup and I recall it was no big deal (although I think they gave me new U-bolts to use). Worked great and gave the truck the proper '***-high' look to it.

 

[RobertPlattBell]

I just bought these for my truck as well. They gave this site as having the instructions:

http://uinstallation.us/installation/lk-ls.pdf

The instructions here are better than what they supplied. Thanks!

The worst part is jacking the truck up. I did this 20 years ago on a Toyota pickup.

My 2013 crew 4x2 only has abut 4" of suspension travel in the back (!!!) and bottoms out all the time.

Do I really take the stock overload spring off? I guess I'd have to, or the U-bolts won't reach. I can't remember if I did that on the Toyota.

The stock springs look like they are one upside-down - they arch UP when the truck is on the ground.

I was hoping to do this today, got the truck all jacked up and was just getting my air impact wrench out and a friend calls and needs a ride home from the hospital.

Maybe tomorrow!

If this doesn't work, I may add adjustable shackles.

We put a lot of stuff in the back, and it BOTTOMS OUT on even small bumps, at highway speeds (like going over a bridge).

Not cool.

 

[RBOWWOW]

A resurrected thread from 3 years 10 months 13 days ago.

 

[PedalBiker]

I left my overload springs in. I used longer U bolts - in fact they were so long I had room for a 1" block as well.

The overload spring gives 1/2" of "free" lift plus it helps prevent axle wrap in addition to providing extra load capacity.

 

[RobertPlattBell]

Just put them in today. I took the overload springs out, and it still lifted it nearly 2". There is 6" of suspension travel instead of 4".

Seems to ride great, and maybe the headlights won't blind oncoming drivers. Should help with towing as well.

$60 on eBay - best money I ever spent.

P.S. - putting clamps on those springs is really important. I didn't do it on one side, and once the springs got all cattywhumpus, it was a royal PITA to get them all to line up again.

P.P.S. - to the guy in Canton, Mississippi who puts on the shock absorbers, ease up a bit, willya? Took a 4" breaker bar to get the lower shock bolt off!

 

[Titan3865]

Going to install mine tomorrow and want to make sure I understand. I remove the overload and the aal goes on the bottom of the pack where the overload was? The aal is around 2ft long and says for 1.5-2in of height.

 

[RobertPlattBell]

Both ways work

Going to install mine tomorrow and want to make sure I understand. I remove the overload and the aal goes on the bottom of the pack where the overload was? The aal is around 2ft long and says for 1.5-2in of height.

If you leave the overload spring in, you will need to get longer U-bolts for the axle. Some folks recommend replacing the u-bolts anyway.

On both my '88 toyota and 2013 Nissan, I removed the overload spring (which is very heavy) and discarded it and put the add-a-leaf underneath. It raised the back by about 2" and the truck rides better and doesn't sag under load.

With the overload spring and the add-a-leaf, it would raise it about 1" higher.

On my old Toyota, it leveled out the truck. Those old 4 x4s used a torsion bar front end, and torsion bars work-harden over time, which is why some Beatles and old Chryslers go nose-high over time.

Leaf springs, on the other hand, sag over time. So when you see a 1980's four-runner or toyo pickup, they always look dorky nose-high.

The overload spring is an interesting animal. At least on my truck, it was hitting the bump stop when overloaded. I guess it prevents the leaf spring from inverting under heavy load. But it is so stiff and heavy, it really doesn't act as a "spring" as such, as it is only in contact with the leaf pack when you severely overload the truck.

5,000 miles on the add-a-leaf and I am very happy. Tows much better.

Good luck!