After doing days of reading, read a helper spring and slight T-bar adjustment will give a goot 1 -1.5 inch lift. Saw good reviews on Superior Industries Overleaf Helper Spring (1000lb) so went and picked up a set. Threw them on last night battling dark and mosquitos.

Issue was I was only able to partially tighten them down for the most rear sides of the springs. About 3/4 the way back from the axle, there is a rectangular plate of metal bolted around a few of the stock leafs with rubber between the plate and springs. Looks as though I could unbolt it, though I imagine this would cause some problems.

Anyone have experience with these helper springs that could give me some advice? I was able to get about a 1/2 inch lift thus far, and when I hit bumps, I no longer bounce around like a bobber, so they are working to some degree, but it would be nice to fully crank them down and get about 1/2 inch.

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2003 XLT 4.0L V6 4x4
Mods:
2" Lift (T-bar crank & rear spring helper leaf), 33", Dualer AT's, 130 amp Alternator, Moog Sway bar link, Silverstar zXe headlights, JVC Stereo bluetooth/usb w/o cd deck

Are you saying the leafs are not fully compressed together? Like there still small gap?
If so Just use 2 C clamps on each side of the nut.

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GOLDIE
1999 2.5L XLT
Herculiner | Kobalt tool box | K&N Filter | 6k HID's | 31's BFG | Eagle Alloy 186s | 102'' Whip | Cobra 19 DX IV | Fabtech 3.5 Spindles | Pro Comp AAL kit | 15% Tint | Mustang Dome

Stock leafs seem fine, There is an obstruction in the way of tightening the helper spring I added all the way down. That obstruction is a sort of clamping device holding the leafs together.

these are the helper springs: http://www.pepboys.com/product/detai...elper_springs/

Will try to get a picture tonight up of what I am trying to say.

Edit: It's the rectangular plate in the center of the picture http://media.photobucket.com/image/r...e/DSC00227.jpg

Any ideas how to avoid snapping the helper spring due to the lever point that rectangular plate will create?

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2003 XLT 4.0L V6 4x4
Mods:
2" Lift (T-bar crank & rear spring helper leaf), 33", Dualer AT's, 130 amp Alternator, Moog Sway bar link, Silverstar zXe headlights, JVC Stereo bluetooth/usb w/o cd deck

that plate isn't on my truck...
And for that price you could have got the AAL kit from summitracing.com.

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maybe this can help
http://www.fordrangerforum.com/how-s...add-leafs.html

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GOLDIE
1999 2.5L XLT
Herculiner | Kobalt tool box | K&N Filter | 6k HID's | 31's BFG | Eagle Alloy 186s | 102'' Whip | Cobra 19 DX IV | Fabtech 3.5 Spindles | Pro Comp AAL kit | 15% Tint | Mustang Dome

Looked at that guide already, but thanks. Little more work and modification than I was comforatable doing right now, about to put a few thouand miles on the truck for work over the summer, and didn't want to accidentailly screw something up. May look into it for a later upgrade (although would probably just throw new performance springs in instead).

For the time being, this is working fine and I noticed the difference imidiately, just trying to get the 50% more out of it that I know is there.

__________________
2003 XLT 4.0L V6 4x4
Mods:
2" Lift (T-bar crank & rear spring helper leaf), 33", Dualer AT's, 130 amp Alternator, Moog Sway bar link, Silverstar zXe headlights, JVC Stereo bluetooth/usb w/o cd deck

your suppose to put the new leaf together with the old, have to take the original plate off, and put it inside with the others and put the plate back on

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my lil prerun run... tires and junk cool tube bumpers, fiberglass, cool colored lights, loud bass and a tire rack so you know im cool

Maybe AAL was misleading, this is a different sort of spring addition, an overleaf spring. Directions said bolt on with U bolts behind axle, a second pair can be added in front of axle as well.

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2003 XLT 4.0L V6 4x4
Mods:
2" Lift (T-bar crank & rear spring helper leaf), 33", Dualer AT's, 130 amp Alternator, Moog Sway bar link, Silverstar zXe headlights, JVC Stereo bluetooth/usb w/o cd deck

behind?

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my lil prerun run... tires and junk cool tube bumpers, fiberglass, cool colored lights, loud bass and a tire rack so you know im cool

yup, couldn't get picture bc we are getting enough rain to cause flash floods.

__________________
2003 XLT 4.0L V6 4x4
Mods:
2" Lift (T-bar crank & rear spring helper leaf), 33", Dualer AT's, 130 amp Alternator, Moog Sway bar link, Silverstar zXe headlights, JVC Stereo bluetooth/usb w/o cd deck

i got the same one for my 2011 4x4. how's it working out for you?