A couple of questions for you guys to ponder.Now I only want answers to the questions, no stupid crap or fighting and name calling so no children allowed.First question I know to do heavy offroading with blocks is a negitive. But light offroading I think you can,Now every pickup ,blazer ,ramcharger, bronco, etc ,has had blocks and you all know they have been offroading off some sort.Axle wrap comes on when you over tourqe the veichle we know this meaning you cant jam the go-go pedal down when your front is up on boulders and your rear is in smaller stones etc etc.So as long as you have the right composite of material in the blocks make up and they are installed right and you can use the t/c and go pedal in amanner that goes with what your doing I think blocks will be fine,But you have to use control and a couple of arms in the rear to the axle then to a strengthend part of the UNITBODY yup this is the way MA Mopar referred to these veichles with no frame (backbone) is a UNITBODY. I have one more question for all you guys and gals in jeep land, as far as an AAL compared to a Bastard pack I dont see much of a differance here each one changes the factory spring rate,what I see is really two of the same with differant names, they both require you to add a leaf or leafs they both change the factory spring rate they both will sag and the rate thay sag you cant really debate because each one you do will be sagging at a differant rate. PLEASE READ THE WHOLE THING BEFORE YOU ANSWER CAUSE IF YOU DONT YOU WILL KINDA LOOK LIKE AN IDIOT. PLEASE DO NOT CALL ANYONE NAMES MOST OF US ARE OUT OF SCHOOL OR CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE A MAN OR WOMAN ALL GROWN UP.iF YOU HAVE NOTHING IMPORTANT TO ADD THAN DONT.THIS DOESNT REFLECT ON MY JEEP OR PICKUPS OR ME AT ALL IT IS SIMPLY A COUPLE OF IMPORANT QUESTIONS THAT TO MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE IN THE NON TRUTHS ABOUT THEM AND DONT REALLY THINK BEFORE THEY ANSWER. HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BE A GREAT QUESTION AND ANSWER POST WITHOUT THE TYIPICAL FALSE ANSWERS THANK YOU EVERYONE SORRY SO LONG.And please no grammer *****.

 

There isn't a single "?" in your apparent request for info. Unitbody? Spell check and state your questions clearly. Otherwise all I can gather from reading your (entire) post is that you don't want axle wrap but you want to use blocks. I don't mean to post a "false" answer but I think there's room for clarification on your part. What goes around comes around.

If we were talking to eachother and you went on that rant, I'd probably drone it all out and as soon as I heard you say "blocks" and "add-a-leafs" I'd say, "No, stay away from both, save your money up, and do it the right way with a leaf pack suited to your lift."

 

As far as blocks go, I've been running 2" for over three years now with no problems what so ever. I don't use any kind of trailing arm or ladder bar. I do wheel "smart" with it though, I try not to put it in situation where I could possibly, tear a block out (I've seen it happen). As far as axle wrap, I haven't had an issue, but I'm using a heavy over-the-counter spring pack not an aal or bastard pack, also I do have to rely on my jeep in the winter so I try not to break it, too badly anyway, lol.

 

I installed 1" blocks and load-bearing leafs when I did my axle swap almost two years ago to "correct" the sagging of the leafs. No problems at all with this set up so far, but I also don't do any hard-core wheeling like rock crawling. Eventually I will purchase new leafs, but right now it's not a necessity to. Doing the whole college thing right now reduces my ability to have extra spending money.

 

so what are you really asking here?

 

I agree. Using blocks isn't such a horrible thing as people make it out to be, in most circumstances. I run blocks on my Jeep. BUT! I have seen idiots with lifted trucks running like 6" blocks. Think about it. The longer your u-bolts, the more leverage than can be created.

 

Blocks:

1) Blocks should not be made out of a composite material, Steel or cast is preferable. You dont want the block to have any flex or movement, you want it to be solid so that it stays in place. and has no possibility of moving when the U-Bolts are torqued down.

2) You see every big bad truck out there with blocks (heck the ford ranger from the factory comes with a 2" block/bump stop) because their leafs packs are much stiffer since they are meant for towing. And heavy loads so they can resist turning into an S shape much easier. But alot of trucks with blocks have ladder bars too. (atleast around where i live).

3) blocks are OKAY not great or recommended for a cherokee because the stock leaf packs are so soft (which is why they have a big sagging problem). The reason they are not recommended is because the axle can now create more leverage on the spring pack causing it to go into an S shape alot easier. It does not matter if you drive like a grandma or you are speed racer. The leverage point on the springs has moved and you are still magnifying the axle wrap even if it is only marginal.

4) it was mentioned by Shaggimo That he has not had any issues with his. he ALSO mentioned that he is using a heavier duty leaf pack---resists axle wrap.

AAL:

an AAL and a bastard pack are 2 different things. You need to step back and look at why they are different.

1) An AAL is 1 thick and stiff leaf (which is usually a 3rd leaf-short leaf) that forces the spring pack into a more arched shape to lift the vehicle.

2) a bastard pack is using several springs from 1 or more vehicles to make a leaf pack that works together to lift a vehicle.

3) So they are not similar in that instead of just throwing one leaf in with a high arch and high spring rate and forcing the pack to arch and lift the vehicle you are making a leaf pack that works together with a similar spring rate to arch the pack and lift the vehicle. The advantages are of a bastard pack are that you get a nice ride (depending on what springs you use) heavier load carrying capabilities, and the strain is placed thru the whole pack not just on one leaf which inturn reduces sagging.

general notes:

I have a Chrysler Corp. Factory Service Manual, Hayes Service manual and a Mopar and Crown Parts guide. All of them refer the jeep as a unibody not a uniTbody.

Unibody: monocoque compact SUV

unitbody: mopars rear wheel drive muscle car era: (all info found here on UNITBODY's)

http://virtualgarage.net/Automobiles...itBodies.jhtml

 

nominated

 

I hear all the arguments...but JC Whitney has 1" cast iron blocks with bolts for $36. That's a pretty reasonable way to take an inch of sag out of stock springs...especially until a guy can afford spring packs.

 

I agree on a 1 inch. I have about that much sag on mine and cant get the shackle bolts/nuts free after soaking for weeks with PB Buster so instead of breaking one I'm gonna throw a block in for now...Tj

 

yOU NEED TO READ THE POST AND YES I DID DO A SECOND ? GROW UP TOO.And you need to learn things unitbody is what mopar called them and since they made them well can you figure out the answer.[

If you cant figure it out you dont need to answer the others had no problems.

 

Alright guys, Please try to stay on Topic...Tj

 

I do know there is a cut off for blocks you can,t do a skyskaper stack a normal amount like the factorys do is all. Also as far as aals and bastard packs yes there are some differances, but if all you do is put one extra leaf in from say aS-10 than your only adding a leaf All I wish to show here is for the younger guys that you can use these forbidden parts on your jeeps if your smart even to know you have limits.This way they can enjoy the sport up to there rigs limits,and as the journeyman and women of this sport we should be giving them all there options,and quit telling them they have to do this and buy a 700.00 lift, you guys need to show them how to wheel on the cheap.And to all the people that will have negitive comments which two have already shown us how immature that they can be and there will be more.

 

I am of the opinion that blocks are OK if not exceeding 1", and are steel, or cast iron. I also think they, in combination with beefed up leaf packs, will not induce axle wrap in a Jeep with a stock motor. Modify the motor, and all bets are off.
The terminology used for added leafs, to me, means add-a-leaf is a new leaf designed as such. A bastard pack is also an add-a-leaf, but using leafs from another pack, whether it be another Cherokee pack, or something else.
I have added another long Cherokee leaf from a junkyard spring pack to my springs, and it hasn't sagged a bit. Got 1 solid inch of lift from it. Common sense says if the spring pack donating the leaf(s) is used, it is already broken in, and won't sag after installing, and I have found this to be true.

 

Enough with the bickering. consider this your warning.