I've had my 1.5" blocks for about 8 months and both have a crack in them. The driver's side crack is all the way through top to bottom and the passenger side is about half way down.

I really want to take them out and use a different leaf spring setup.

Have any of you done an add-a-leaf? If so, how much lift did that create?

Or has anyone done a complete leaf spring swap? Any recommendations?

 

My rear add-a-leaf's were advertised as 1.5" lift, it ended up being about 1" after installing them.

 

yea, I think I'm gonna go ahead and buy a 1.5"-2" add-a-leaf from ebay... I should've done this to begin with instead of messing with the blocks but lesson learned I guess.

 

aluminum or steel blocks?

 

They were Rough Country 1.5" cast iron blocks.

 

wouldnt have thought that,ouch. doubt theres any warranty either,but idk.

 

Cast iron is really good under compression, but only if the load is evenly distributed on both sides of the lift block. Using a generic lift block, you need to make a saddle or mount or both to give that flat surface contact on each side.

I've used a spring shop to re-arch and insert a custom arched leaf on jeep springs to give me the lift I wanted. The price wasn't much different from buying the kits and I ended up with a pack where each leaf was arched properly to give the support and flex I wanted. With an add-a-leaf kit, you don't get that and the lift seldom stays.

 

Yea, when I installed the blocks originally, it looked and felt pretty tight. I couldn't rock the block back and forth. But, as you said, it wasn't 100% level and with that pressure over time, the block cracked to form to the mount.

Anyway, I removed the blocks yesterday and added a $35 (I don't think a shop would charge that little) add a leaf kit and it turned out great. I got a little more than 1.5" out of it which kinda surprised me. If it settles some, I'm ok since I still have a bit of rake to the truck. But for $35 I don't think I could be happier.

 

hold on a sec, was that $35 for 2 leafs? cuz i am buying these now! did you need a new u bolt? or did it turn out fine, also im assuming this leaf went in b/w the overload and last leaf correct?

 

Yea, $35 for 2 leafs and it includes 2 small diameter bolts and 2 large diameter bolts. The large diameter bolts are the same as the stock ones. The bolts are pretty long, mainly for ease of installation. You can have the axle dropped a good 3-4 inches from the leafs and the bolt will fit into the slot on the axle and go thru all the leafs. That way, all you have to do is tighten the leaf bolt and everything will come together as it should. And yea, it goes between the overload and last leaf.