coil vs. leaf

jerbacher · **Posted:** Mon Feb 19, 2007 7:02 pm

I'm pretty new to wheeling and would like to know:

Which is better for off roading? I think that coil springs are probably better because I think you would get better downward wheel travel. But, I don't have any personal experience with leaf springs, so would someone just enlighten me? I am like a sponge just waiting to suck up knowledge like water... :lol:

SnowgodCCR · **Posted:** Mon Feb 19, 2007 7:10 pm

Oh god...you opened a can of worms here...

MY opinion is that coils are better, they articulate better and have a more linear application of resistance during articulation.

Leaf Springs are much simpler, lower maintenece, easy to fix. If you blow a leaf in the field though, you're pretty much screwed whereas with coils if you blow a damper/shock the spring is still there to limp you home.

swyszomirski · **Joined:** Sat Oct 01, 2005 2:59 am **Posts:** 286

I think this battle between coils and leafs have been going on for as long as both have shared the off road suspension market. Both have their strong and weak points and in the end which is better probably comes down to preference.

Stephen

jerbacher · **Posted:** Mon Feb 19, 2007 7:20 pm

Interesting... Thanks Snowgod. Since you said I opened a can of worms, I assume that I'm gonna get a lot of mixed opinions.

jason thompson · **Posted:** Mon Feb 19, 2007 7:23 pm

swyszomirski wrote:

I think this battle between coils and leafs have been going on for as long as both have shared the off road suspension market. Both have their strong and weak points and in the end which is better probably comes down to preference.

Stephen

X2

I have seen both do very well in every condition
I have seen both fail also
You cant loose a leaf due to over flex but you can not break a coil sliding or hitting somthing just wrong
some think that leafs are easier to work on
I have never had any problems working on coils

FastTRX · **Posted:** Mon Feb 19, 2007 7:52 pm

Correct me if I'm wrong...but I see that there are many leaf to coil conversion lift kits availiable for XJs and TJs in some of the magazine adds. There must be something better about the coils in certain situations I'm assuming. Then again...I've had no experience with any other Jeep or leafs in general and I wouldn't have a clue. Just pointing out...

What Jeep models have/came with Leafs? what do you guys out west like better on the rocks?

USPLibby · **Joined:** Thu Jul 28, 2005 12:29 am **Posts:** 377

Coils are much better in the ride/comfort department.

As far as offroad, coils flex better and the leaf spring articulate better as they actually pull up as well as push down.

unixxx · **Posted:** Mon Feb 19, 2007 8:16 pm

I think the greatest advantage of leafs is higher load-bearing capacity, but most people aren't as concerned about that for off-roading.

Kniggit · **Posted:** Mon Feb 19, 2007 8:52 pm

My 75 4wd J-10 has inverted leaves, it sits about 6" lower to the ground then my brother's 04 2wd Ram 2500. Never wheeled much but the J-10 was/is plenty great for getting fire wood and other chores as its the lowest full sized truck we have.

K

KJ Taz · **Posted:** Mon Feb 19, 2007 9:04 pm

I personally like the idea of coils in the front for good flexing and leafs in the back for stability and towing. But I have to say I love my coils on my TJ.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Mon Feb 19, 2007 9:17 pm

People say that leafs take weight better.. And they do, but jeep must of really messed up with the Cherokee. Almost all of them sag really bad in the rear. My brothers Cherokee is just sad looking.

I like coils better. I believe they flex much more, and are easier to work worth/lift.

You can get shackles for leafs though. They lift it some and allow for more flex.

Its easier to get airbags for coils also.

RespectMyLibertay · **Posted:** Mon Feb 19, 2007 11:14 pm

At least in theory, coils have less "unsprung weight" than leafs.

Wikipedia has a nice little number on it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unsprung_weight
But if you're too lazy to read all that, I can tell you that less unsprung weight means better handling and vibration isolation.

jerbacher · **Posted:** Mon Feb 19, 2007 11:19 pm

Thanks for all the info guys! I knew I could count on you...

krazz1e · **Posted:** Wed Feb 21, 2007 7:16 pm

IMO coils ride better and flex better, however a coil setup is much more complicated than a leaf spring setup, it's more expensive too. There comes a point where flex brings diminishing returns so for most rigs a leaf spring setup will do just fine.

XJMA · **Posted:** Wed Feb 21, 2007 10:13 pm

This is the same question as "what's better, auto or manual?"

Both have their pluses and minuses. Some situations leafs are better, some coils are better.

coil vs. leaf

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