Technical Lift 4x4 by Adding leaf spring

[Hharbers]

Hi,

I was looking to lift my 1987 4x4 by 4-5cm.
I planned to make a nylon wedge block to put between axle and leaf spring.
By coincidence i spoke a guy who participated panda Raid and he recommend to instead of lifting to make rear suspension more stiff by add an extra leaf to the existing leaf spring set.
He said that most stock leaf springs are so old and worn they will bottom out on rough terrain. Lifting with wedge doesnt solve this

He advised to go to breakers yard and find a leaf spring set with same width of the panda and take one spring of it and add to existing pack
Sadley he couldnt give me more details how it was done on their car

Anyone done the same?
Where to put the extra pring ? Between longest and middle ond or between middle and shortest

 

[bugsymike]

Hi,

I was looking to lift my 1987 4x4 by 4-5cm.
I planned to make a nylon wedge block to put between axle and leaf spring.
By coincidence i spoke a guy who participated panda Raid and he recommend to instead of lifting to make rear suspension more stiff by add an extra leaf to the existing leaf spring set.
He said that most stock leaf springs are so old and worn they will bottom out on rough terrain. Lifting with wedge doesnt solve this

He advised to go to breakers yard and find a leaf spring set with same width of the panda and take one spring of it and add to existing pack
Sadley he couldnt give me more details how it was done on their car

Anyone done the same?
Where to put the extra pring ? Between longest and middle ond or between middle and shortest

It is not quite that simple, you may need longer spring U clamps, also the spring leaves are usually bolted in the centre to hold the leaves together under the axle beam. Another thing is I had a specialist spring company supply a heavy duty set for an Fiat Doblo 1.9 some years ago and found an issue with the leaves moving around after "spirited cornering". Usually multi leaf springs have a securing bracket either end to keep the leaves inline.
This picture may show what I mean.

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[Dragon Man]

in the car i am building i will be adding an extra leaf or 3.. not for height but to handle the weight.

sadly i have had my old springs at a place now for over a year and they just keep telling me that "they cant get the steel" so i have given up with them and just doubled up the spring.

 

[bugsymike]

in the car i am building i will be adding an extra leaf or 3.. not for height but to handle the weight.

sadly i have had my old springs at a place now for over a year and they just keep telling me that "they cant get the steel" so i have given up with them and just doubled up the spring.

Sounds like they have lost your springs.
I had the stronger ones from a company in London that was selling on eBay for my old 1.9 Doblo, but I see Midland and other companies are still saying they repair etc. leaf springs.
It makes you angry when let down by suppliers, many years ago I ordered a set of hand made steel arches for a 1960s Humber Super Snipe, after months of BS I drove the 200 odd miles to the address only to find a private house where the owner was tinkering with a rough Sunbeam Rapier and trying to tell me it was a "show car" whilst he was filling the cracks in the windscreen rubber with underseal!
I managed to get all my money back as he could see I was quite angry especially when he offered to make up a set in fibreglass, this was someone who was advertising in the Humber Owners Club Magazine.

 

[porta]

Midland Springs are who I’ve used for the Jeep and Iveco, they can also make up higher load springs, which I fit to the old L200